Cue the tears and the wailing “how is my baby TWO already!?” You know how it goes.
Well, technically his birthday isn’t for a few more days, but we had a party last weekend for the family and this is how it went down….
P.S I’m using these pics for my 10 on 10 photo post – where I talk less and show more. Ooh, boomchickawahwah, that makes me sound really sleazy. But you get my drift… I share 10 photos from one day and at the end, I’ll give you a link to another blogger who has done the same thing and you can hop around to a great group of much more talented photographers than me.
Thud had a construction themed birthday. His favourite thing to scream in my ear as we drive the streets of Canberra is TRRUUUCCK! We are also surrounded by construction with three houses being built on our street right now, so he’s a bit fond of all the big machines and noise.
So there were yellow and black balloons (obvs). I considered hiring a helium cylinder which we did for his first birthday, but I decided the first birthday had been so OTT that he didn’t need helium balloons for at least the next five years. Kinda glad we went the cheap and cheerful option because nothing gave him more joy on his party morning than running up and down the hallway kicking the balloons.
Happiest birthday boy alive. Lots of squealing.
And here we have the cake.
Last year I went all out. We had a jungle themed party and I made a fondant cartoon monkey by myself (which, I’m not going to lie, was spectacular) but there was no way I was spending 8 hours on the 2nd birthday cake. Sorry mate.
This year it was a plastic truck stuck on top of the cake. Some boulders and rubble, with a couple of road sign cookies and we’re good to go.
Was delicious. All cakes should come with a side serving of Violet Crumble and Maltesers.
I like cookies. I like cake and cookies. #Idon’tquitsugar
I made little road sign cookies for the party. The ‘2’ is a speed sign. Which is sort of hilarious because Thud is more of an 80km/h type of kid.
Road sign cookies slathered in royal icing and fondant #diabeticcoma
Thank you Pinterest for this idea. No thanks however for the mini-tantrum that ensued when we showed Thud his new truck and then took it back off him to use for party props. In hindsight, it was a pretty cruel thing to do.
He lived. And he enjoyed the corn chips.
I’m all for party food like pies and sausage rolls, but when I saw the recipe for BBQ ribs on Shannon’s Kitchen, I knew that’s what we’d be having. They were amazing.
We also served up some beer-can chicken, a sublime potato bake made by the Sarge and some sausages for the kids. And a salad to make it look like we are somewhat healthy people. No one ate the salad.
Warning. You need to cook these ribs for three hours in your oven. The smell will reach every corner of your house and will drive you mad with desire until you are willing to sell your body for a taste of that sweet, sweet BBQ tang….
And then presents!
Why do we make faces like this? Do we think our kids will be more excited if they see us flipping out over a toy lawnmower?
Luckily Thud had his cousins on hand to help him work his new mower.
Boys and machines. It’s genetic.
And then cake.
Cake was almost lost to a bear attack. It survived.
Happy birthday to you! It was sung three times so he could blow out his candles three times.
He was not happy I said no to a fourth rendition, but you know… boundaries.
sniff…. blowing out those two little candles….
And then an awful lot of cake was eaten. Blergh…..
He looks so gentlemanly eating cake with cutlery, but in actual fact, he was just scooping the icing off the cake so he could eat that. Cue a sugar high for the ages.
So there we go. Little Thud’s 2nd birthday party. Such a big boy!!!!
Now it’s time to head on over to my gorgeous friend Sasha’s blog at From the Left Field. She’s a much better photographer than I am and she has two totally adorable little girls. You’ll love them xxx
53 comments
I’m also doing a truck/car themed bday for my 2 year old and came across your page. Can you tell me what truck toy you used for the cake topper? All the toy trucks I’m finding are the wee tiny ones or giant ones. Loved your party!
Sooo cute!!! I want that cake. That’s awesome!! Isn’t it freaky how quickly the time goes. I can’t believe out babies are two already!! Yikes! Jx
That cake and the cookies are awesome!! Happy Birthday little Thudster! Can we have a throwback post on last years party and cake please.
Happy birthday THUD!!! I love that first photo Lauren! My mum made Archer a cake similar to that one this year. Welcome to the terrible twos! x
Thanks Fleur! Hoping the twos aren’t as terrible as they say… Fingers crossed!
[…] How cool is this truck-themed party? […]
Happy birthday, Thud! My little on goes bananas over those lawn mowers at playgroup. Heaven Forbid I should try to take her home during a lawn mowing sesh. Cue tantrum.
I’d kill for a piece of that cake right about now….
You nailed it, and you made it to two! Hope it was a wonderful day! Xxx
Yes, we survived! So far… Now we just need to get through the terrible twos. Then the threenager. Then the fucking fours…. Oh my god it never ends!
I would like you to be in charge of my next birthday party. I’m not really into trucks, so please adapt. I DO like cake, candy and Doritos.
Thanking you in advance,
movita
It would be my absolute honour. Please compile a list of your likes and dislikes and I will start preparations immediately xxx
You are such an awesome Mumma! I am so stealing all your ideas for my kids 3rd birthday party at end of the year!
He will love the lawnmower. My son got one for Christmas and uses it nearly every day. I sort of wish it really worked. That way my lawns would look immaculate all the time.
Happy Birthday Thud!! xo
Oh god, wouldn’t that be awesome!!?
Great pictures Lauren! That cake looks awesome. In Dutch we say that a child’s hand is filled quickly so I bet Thud had an awesome day. Even if you didn’t go all out this time 🙂
I love that saying Erik!!! I’m going to use that one. Thank you xx
Toddlers and balloons – you can’t go wrong! Love your photos Lauren and yes, I too make those same faces when my tornadoes are opening their gifts. Hope Thud loves his cool lawnmower! My Mr TT turns 3 next month so I better get my act together. I forsee a lot of cars and things that are red. Excuse me while I get lost in a Pinterest rabbit hole for a few days…
Bloody Pinterest! I’m not sure whether it’s a help or hindrance sometimes Tash.
What fun! You sure can throw a good party! Every photo captures the day perfectly. young Mister Thud is a lucky little man. Where are you Lauren? Northside? We could be neighbours. 😉 we must organise a Canberra Cookies meet up soon! It would be great to have some face to face chat time with everyone.
Yeah Northside! It’s the best side.
Great photo’s loving the cake and those cookies – how clever are you lady! Happy happy birthday to Thud. x
Thanks Vicki! xx
Happy Birthday Thud! I giggle at the thought of new chapters you’re in for! All adorable of course 😉 that cake looks scrumptious. I really need to step up my cake skills. Most spelt cake I’ve ever done is an icecream cake with every lolly imaginable. Sugar high for sure!! I just loooove the balloon picture if Thud. The light is perfect x
Oh lord I love ice cream cake Jo!! My fave. Will have to try that one.
Nailed it Mama! Love it, I get a bit squealish around balloons too. And cake. Lots of cake. Oh sweet Jimminy Crickets, remind me to show you the fucking mermaid scale cake I did for the biggest little lady’s 4th b’day. What the fuck was I thinking? It wasn’t even a spesh 1st birthday cake for crying out loud! Lovely pics honey, hope Thud had a cracker of a day and happy b’day for his actual upcoming day! x
Yes please, I want to see the mermaid cake! I can already imagine it and it seems like a lot of work in my head.
Hahaha! We finally passed that phase! The construction building trucks phase! I love your cake! and the cookies are so cute! Yeah right! Why boys are all into machines? strange… So next year, I predict… dinosaures! We’ll see… xx cathy
I think you might be on to something Cathy. Dinosaurs are on the way!!!
That photo of Thud with the balloons is gorgeous. The light and the action. Looks like a great day was had by all and you’ve done brilliantly with all of that food prep. Looking forward to photos from birthday number 3! x
Thanks Ellen! It was the cutest moment of the day. He was having too much fun with those balloons.
Oh Happy Birthday to your little Thud! My little princess will be two in two weeks and i’m so sad! It went even quicker the second time around! I completely know what you mean about not going so crazy with party number two.. I planned for months for the first and have only just started thinking about this one and am resigned to giving in to her Peppa Pig demands! That balloon photo os so awesome too! Perfect!
Oh Peppa! You can resist the Pig!! Hope it’s a good one Amity.
Happy birthday Little Thud! Keep truckin!! x
Thanks Bron! xx
Happy birthday Thud! It looks like y’all had a great time! I love that picture of him kicking his balloons down the hallway. So precious. Those little hands with the spoons – equally precious!
Hehe, those little hands grabbed a lot of icing that day. Yuuuuck.
That chubby little hand next to the cake – I die! My chubby little hands just turned 4 & to my regret, aren’t that chubby any more – hold on to two, it’s tough, but it’s soooo cute!!! x
That cake looks epic. You had me at Violet Crumble. And don’t get me started on the road sign cookies. You are way too clever! Happy Birthday Thud! Here’s to the Terrific Twos!
Our boys must be days apart, Lauren. My kid’s is on the 20th. 🙂 Must swap birth stories some time. hehe
I saw a similar cake on someone else’s blog last week so maybe it’s a sign that we should be doing that cake too. He’s not that into cake at all so maybe we need to do a Hugzilla schitzel cake? Happy Birthday to The Thud #thudlife
Hands down that is the best birthday I have seen. Totally banning your blog from all the computers in this house, so my children never have the opportunity to know what they are missing out on. xx
Great party Loz! Great clear pics too. I have my last kid about to turn two too. Thanks for the inspo…. I must make an effort! I will, I will, promise. Please don’t tell me you made those cookies yourself? They are AH-MAZING! JT xo
Great job! Happy Birthday & well done Mumma! 🙂
Impressive effort Lauren! Love the Violet Crumble rubble… my guy is 2 next month so I may just be stealing a few of these ideas!
Love the theme and ideas you used! #idontquitsugareither 🙂
I’m so with you on losing the OTT’ness of parties! I’m currently preparing for my son’s 5th birthday party on Saturday, and when I think of the hoopla that was his 1st bday party, I cringe (and vividly remember the tears 5 mins before everyone arrived – mine of course)!! Those ribs look YUM, am heading off now to see the recipe…. xx
Oh Gabbi, I nearly gave myself a breakdown over the first birthday party! I don’t regret it because it was just as much a party for me and the fact that we had survived the first year, but I knew I wouldn’t be doing it again this year. This year was much more low key and was about a third of the guest list. Much more manageable and I had more fun!
I love cake. I think we would be very good friends.
Happy Birthday Little Thud xxxx
Life would be so sad without cake Lana. I think we’d be GREAT friends.
Naaaaw Happy 2nd birthday Thud! Love all of this and those road sign cookies are exquisite. I want to dive head first into the cake as well, so that should tell you something.
There’s still bloody cake left. You’re welcome to it!
What a gorgeous party! I’m totally with your re: not going over the top for subsequent birthdays, our littlest man was two a couple of weeks ago and was lucky to get a party at all!
Oh Lauren there was very nearly no party. I put so much effort into the 1st birthday I swore he didn’t need another party for years. But then I couldn’t help putting in a little bit of effort for him. Mainly because I love cake and cookies! Any excuse.
These pics are adorable Lauren. What a fab party for little Thud. Love the truck as a chip bowl but yes.. you cruel mumma 🙂
And I also gave up on helium balloons after the OTT 1st birthday. Lets face it… the adults have more fun with them anyway talking like chipmunks! Xx
ps. Really want to see monkey fondant cake!
Thanks Shannon! Last year I swore he wasn’t even having a 2nd birthday party because it was SO much effort.