From the time my son was able to talk he was obsessed with brooms. This obsession soon carried over to all type of cleaning things including rakes and shovels. Because of this I decided to do a cleaning type theme for his 2nd birthday.  I looked all over for ideas but couldn't find anything so I decide to combine the construction theme with cleaning for a cleaning crew". Although the party was for a 2 yr old it was planned for 15 families with kids ranging from 9 months to 10 years. Due to the wide range of ages a parent took their child to each of the "stations".  INVITATIONS: I handmade invites using scrapbook supplies and pictures I took of my son. The invites read: (front) Rakes and shovels mops and brooms(pic of my son with rake and shovel) cleaning is what I love to do (pic w/broom) but it's even better with a friend or 2. (back) -----'s calling you to join his CLEANING CREW (pic of him cleaning window).  Report for work (date) Job Site (location) Clock in / clock out RSVP forman (my name and #. on the bottom in smaller print I noted that cleaning was a messy job workers will want to wear swimwear. DECORATIONS: I went with the orange/yellow and black color theme. These colors were used for tablecloths napkins cups etc. By the front door I had a shovel with a note that read "I dig having you at my party" and foam hard hat hanging from them. The hats had cleaning crew on front and the workers name on back. I used square yellow paper plates (tuned to make a diamond) with black letters to spell out "Cleaning Crew" strung together as a banner. I used these same plates with either wording or clip art(slippery when wet and man digging) from the internet to to make signs for each station. I also hav a few caution cones stratigically placed and some yellow and black crepe paper.  On the food table I had a couple yellow construction hats holding cheetos and doritos. ACTIVITIES: I had different stations set up througout the yard for the kids to visit as they wanted. 1)Dirt zone:I had a large area of dirt with a large mound of new fresh dirt for easy digging with assorted shovels rakes hoes etc. 2) Sandbox and water table with assorted toys 3)Carwash; I had my son's power wheels and a couple tri-cycles with buckets of soapy water and sponges and the hose. 4) Messy table; kids picnic table with shaving cream and assorted songes and playdough toys.  the shaving cream was spread out and then the kids can draw on the table with fingers or different shapes then wash clean.  (whipped cream may also be used) 5) wash zone: we had a plastic wading pool filled with a ton of bubble bath then I had cans of foam soap the kids could draw on themselves with and then wash off (it look similar to mouse).  The last thing I had was a large water slide for the bigger kids and a small pool for the younger ones. GAMES: because of the wide age range I didn't plan any games. COSTUMES:  Each child was given a foam construction hat with cleaning crew on the front and their name on the back. I thought about making flouresent vests for each child but did not due to time constraints.  SNACKS:  We had a bar-b-que with hamburgers and hot dogs (sign said Lunch Wagon) I had assorted chips in construction hats and plates of fruit.  CAKE: I made a large cake in the shape of a number 2.  It was chocolate on the top 1/3 and vanilla the bottom 2/3. I decorated this in sections with little people figures and handmade accessories.  The chocolate section was the digging section of the cake. I cut the round part of the 2 at an angle to make it look like a big pit being dug and then made a pile of dirt on the top of the 2. I covered areas of this with smashed oreo cookies to look like dirt.  I found people with construction hats that had assorted digging tools.  The next 3rd of the cake I frosted in a light grey color to look like a side walk. These two sections were seperated with caution cones. I had a figure with a push broom sweeping the dirt off the sidewalk. The bottom third I frosted in white to be inside.  I seperated this from the sidewalk with a rug I made from fondont. I had a figure vaccumming (made from fondont) dirt (grahmcracker crumbs) off this rug.  I also had a figure with a broom and one with a mop and bucket (all made with fondont). On the cake plate above the straight part of the 2 I had a car wash with different figures. FAVORS: Each child received the hat(noted above) a shovel (noted above) and a broom with a note that said "thanks for a sweeping good time" on one side and a pic of my son sweeping on the other. In addition each worker had their picture taken with my son with the goodies to be mailed in the thank you cards"