When I was pregnant with Jordan, her due date was three days from James’ birthday.  I spent a good part of my third trimester wondering how we’d manage James’ 6th birthday if I went into labor at that time or on the day of his party.  Turns out, I didn’t need to worry because she was ready to enter the world 2 1/2 weeks early, just two days before my birthday! I never even imagined that! It’s still crazy (in the best way) that I’m 43 (today!!) with a two year old! I’m always hoping these kiddos are keeping me young instead of aging me faster!

I’ll be going out to a girls’ dinner tonight to celebrate my birthday with some of the best moms I know (Ali-Shaun included!) and then we’ll celebrate with the fam this weekend.  For Jordan’s 1st birthday, we threw a garden themed party and I spent months planning it.  For her 2nd birthday, although just as special, the party planning was a bit more, um, spontaneous! Thank you Pinterest and Etsy! 

PAW PATROL PARTY

One of the first shows Jordan went crazy for and asked for by name, just “Paw” at first, was Paw Patrol.  So, it was only natural to throw a Paw Patrol themed party! I figured it would be easy and found a few cute and inexpensive things that would be darling to her.

I wish my photos came out better- I’m rusty!  But, at least we have some to remember this occasion by.  Jordan is the most cheerful, adventurous, independent and smart babe I know. She eats everything, likes playing with every kind of ball, maneuvers the iPad like a pro, won’t go anywhere without her Lovie ?and loves to cuddle. You would think she’s turning two by her vocabulary and how well she puts sentences together!  And she already knows her alphabet and can identify all the letters.  #Harvardherewecome;) 

But, when you have a toddler named Jordan having a Paw Patrol party, you better make real sure that they bakery knows that your Jordan is a girl or they will give you a “boy” cake! It was fine, but the cake I ordered was white with pink icing and had pink and purple Paw Patrol decorations on it! My husband went to pick it up and didn’t realize it wasn’t what I ordered.  :/ But, it was still delicious and she didn’t care what color it was.  She immediately picked up the firetruck when we put the cake down in front of her!

It always takes lots of kiddos to help open the gifts!

We got a bounce house and that was actually a great idea.  All the kids loved it from age 1 to 9 and we had great weather for it.

Jordan likes to do her own thing too, so she kept wanting to color chalk on the little plastic patio table.  #itsyourparty!

I sat down and colored with her for a bit and that was the only picture that we got together! We didn’t even get a family photo! UG!

I got one more pic at the very end of the party of me in my maxi dress, just before clean-up time!

FOOD

Her party was from 11-1 on Sunday, so we served MIMOSAS! Ha, but true, some appetizers to start and around noon served mini pulled pork sandwiches and baked beans. We’re obviously loving the fast/slow pro!

The appetizers were: cucumber and smoked salmon bites, bacon wrapped jalepenos, and caprese skewers.  The cucumber bites were my fave and nice and light.  You slice a cucumber, then add Phili cream cheese with chive and onions (it’s premade that way), smoked salmon, and sprinkle with fresh dill.  Really yummy for an easy appetizer!

We also had chips, popcorn, Twizzlers, and animal crackers served in pink plastic doggie bowls from Petsmart to go with the theme of the party.  I used Paw Patrol food tents and had fun with the names of the food.  Petsmart was near my grocery store, but if you have more time to plan, I bet you could find cheap dog bows at the dollar store.

Minkaprintables FOOD TENTS

My friend Sally makes the cutest custom cookies! But not only are they adorable, they are DELICIOUS!  I kept them in their individual wrappers to give to the kids who came to the party.

We also gave these little plush puppies with an adoption certificate and a thank you tag. I thought that was the cutest idea!  The stuffed puppies came in a pack of 12 for only $19 and were actually really cute.  The adoption certificate was from TheGreatInvitation on Etsy.

Minkaprintable THANK YOU TAGS

The Paw Patrol invitations were also from Etsy, PartyInvitationsHQ.

It was a small party, but still just as sweet to honor our precious girl!  We could not love her more!

Including this guy!

 

Thank you so much for Jordan’s sweet birthday wishes! I can’t wait to show them to her when she’s older- how wild will that be?!