My son Grant's birthday is in December, and our family is head over heels for Christmas! So I knew when he was born that I would want to do a Christmas theme for one of this party! So, I thought it would be a great idea to do for his 2nd birthday! I started planning for his party about 5-6 months in advance! I was trying to find a specific theme geared towards Christmas! He also likes trains so I decide Grant's Santa Express party would be perfect! 

INVITATION: I found this adorable clip art that would match the theme to a tee! There was Santa driving a train with toys and all kind of presents, there was also and adorable elf, reindeer, etc! The idea would be that Santa would pull up on the train with everything Christmas!  I sent the clip art to Make My Day, LLC and she made the most cutest invite! To add to the party, I thought it would be fun to wear your FAVORITE Christmas pajamas! Adults and kids!  The invite stated Twas just days before Christmas and comin' down the tracks was the Santa express, and it was loaded to the max! The elves were proud of the gifts being carried, there's no telling what treats are stacked and buried! Follow the train whistle when you hear it, wear your Christmas pajamas and come rejoice in Elf Grant's birthday spirit! The party was held at a local fair ground hall! It was a big wide open empty space which was needed for the ideas I had!

DECORATIONS/ACTIVITIES: There were several different sections that were decorated! First, we had three big door backdrops(usually used for weddings) and we covered the middle sections(cake table) with a red and white polka dotted fabric. On top of that I made a Christmas banner from the cricut that said Happy Birthday Grant! I covered the table with a red tablecloth and covered that with a cute polka dot Christmas table runner! My mom made two precious Christmas ribbon topiaries. And then the cake was in the middle. On the side sections we covered the backdrop with lime green cloth and on top of that red and we pulled each of the red fabrics back to make it look like a window. I also made party banners for these two. One was sweets and the other was Candy Buffet.

We also decorated with lime green, red, and white polka dotted balloons! In the next area we had a 7 ft life size Santa with a lighted sleigh and reindeer. This is also where we had a ride on train and train tracks for the kids! In the next area, we had 3 Christmas trees decorated, and on each side we had a 6 foot toy solider, and poinsettias, and then a big chair in the front for a Special surprise visitor! The next section was set up for picture taking and present opening! We put fake snow and I had someone make a Santa's toy shop and a Santa on a train to match the clip art! It was adorable and now I can use it for my Christmas decorations in my yard! I also had a lighted yard snowman and so cute 4 ft whimsical Christmas trees! Basically, a cute North Pole set up! We also had table set up for the guest to sit! We had poinsettias as the center pieces and my mom made some beautiful arrangements in a Santa boot. We also had Christmas pom pom tissues hanging all over from the ceiling!  

ACTIVITES: We had different section set up. The first section was Christmas crafts! I had a few different crafts for the kids to make and take home! The next section was set up for the kids to each make a ginger bread house! Even the parents were in on this activity! We also had a section for the kids to make reindeer food to leave out Christmas eve for Santa's reindeer! I also had a candy buffet set up with all red and green Christmas candy! Each person(even parents) were given a bag to put their candy in! We also had a section as stated above for the kids to ride the train! That kept them quite entertained! Once the presents were opened we gathered the kids together for a special surprise! Santa arrived! (It was definitely the real Santa and no helper of his) He was BEAUTIFUL! The kids were thrilled and the parents were so excited too because he was so real! And so good with all of the kids! Each kids was called up to sit on Santa's lap!

They got to take a few pictures and tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas! And then Santa gave each of them(which was the party favor) a stocking filled with a Christmas stuffed animal, a candy filled candy cane, a Christmas swirl pop, stickers, bubbles, and stamps! The kids could not wait for the name to be called! Right before Santa left we gathered all the kids together and Santa was to choose one boy and one girl for the best dressed Christmas Pajamas! And then all of the adults where gathered together and one prize was given to one adult! Everyone really got into this! It was fun for all! We also had a face painter at the party! She painted the kids faces to look like Santa, reindeer, elves, butterflies, etc! The kids and adults both got into this activity! And of course, the SEC championship game was on the night of the party so being big time LSU FANS we had a TV set up to watch the big game!!! GO TIGERS! 

FOOD & SNACKS: The main food was Hot Dogs, Homeade chili, and chili fritos! We also had vegetables! On the sweet table we had tea cookies, rice krispy treats, and brownies! We also had custom Christmas cookies and cake pops made to match the party décor'! We had Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa Cake pops! They were adorable! We also had a Hot Cocoa buffet set up! We had every topping from cool whip, marshmallow crème(which is the best btw), candy canes, peperidge farm sticks, and evey kind of different type of marshmallows! We also had soft drinks, juices, water, and a green Christmas punch and a cute Santa container!

CAKE: The cake was two tier! I was absolutely ADORABLE! The bottom tier had a Train with a big number two loaded with presents! On the top tier was a chimney with Santa's feet sticking out of the top! And then there were reindeer hanging all off the cake wrapped in Christmas lights! And the back had Christmas trees on it! Everyone LOVED the cake and not to mention it was DELICIOUS!

This party was a lot of work! And I had lots of wonderful family and friends to help prepare the day of the party! But, the kids and parents all said how much fun they had! They couldn't believe how the place was decorated! Santa's Express definitely pulled thru and made a magical Christmas  birthday party! And, Santa was out of this world! The birthday boy was exhausted after all the fun he had!