David's Three-Rex Birthday Party |

ugh….how is this precious boy of ours already 3? It seems like just yesterday we were headed to the hospital, Daddy hobbling in on crutches and all.

David has been talking about having a dinosaur birthday for months! There are so many fun ideas floating around out there on the huge world wide web, so I was super excited to execute some of them for him.

**this post contains some affiliate links at no additional cost to you, which simply means a small percentage of items purchased help support the cost of running this blog**

One of my most used Christmas gifts is the Silhouette Cameo my sweet Mama gave me a few years ago. I have so much fun using it for all sorts of things!

This sweet boy got his donut! He had originally asked for donuts at the park for his birthday. But the weather was showing a super high percentage of rain, so we changed plans last minute to a different venue in the afternoon (with pizza, one of his other favorite foods). We purchased the balloons and banner here. If you look closely you can see his T Rex birthday chalkboard. Another tradition in our family I love doing is drawing something special for them on the chalkboard..

I read Sacred Holidays a while ago, and I love the encouragement Becky gives to create meaningful traditions. Part of the curse of my personality is a I have a hard time choosing things like this (because which one is the best?) One of the things the Lord is constantly teaching me, is to let go of best and choose something good, trusting Him over myself. I don’t think it matters so much rather you choose donuts or cinnamon rolls for birthday breakfast, but more so- just choose something to intentionality celebrate the ones you love well. Maybe next year we’ll spring for the fun donuts that spell out Happy Birthday. I also have to remind myself often to try not to spend too much time making decorations, planning the meal, the party, etc to the point that I miss spending time with the child– the very one we are celebrating- all in an effort to celebrate him well. There is a constant tension in our culture between documenting and be-ing (one of the biggest reasons I went on a Social Media Fast)- it’s the Martha versus Mary heart- the one who wants to prepare for the guest instead of enjoying time in His presence… Oh to find that ever elusive thing called balance and to discern which things He wants me to carry and which ones I need to lay down. (Mama, Stop Trying to Carry All the Things)

to say he LOVES this T-Rex Dinosaur is an understatement. He’s slept with it every night for a month.

“Dinosaur” menu:

Pizza
Herbivores: Veggie Tray
Fossil Cookies: Sugar Cookies with Dinosaur toy foot imprint
Pterodactyl Nests: No bake cookies with whopper eggs on top
Dinoscales: Lays potato chips
Dinobones: Vanilla Yogurt Covered Raisins and Pretzels
Meteorites: Cheese Balls
Cake
Cupcakes with Mini Dinosaurs on top

I made this cake using this recipe as an inspiration.

We used these Mini Dinosaurs as cupcake toppers.

This recipe was used for the pterodactyl nests. I may make them again for Easter.

The boys LOVED helping me make the fossil cookies- simply stamp a dinosaur foot into sugar cookies before you bake.

I was crazy and brought all 3 boys with me to shop for the food. They saw a gigantic container of cheeseballs and begged for them- I had a hard time saying no…so I stretched it a bit and called them “meteorites”.

crazy crew getting the goods for D’s party. (I’ve only taken all 3 of them grocery shopping a few times- every time I end the trip thinking, “What was I thinking?!” It’s like all those times we try to do some fun family outing only to be met with many tantrums and tears.)

We purchased this set of Dinosaurs as a party favor. Each guest got to go home with a foam mask as well.

The Decorations:

Made the banner using my silhouette-bought the ROAR balloons here.

We had his party at an indoor play place for children called We Rock the Spectrum, and it was so much fun! We highly recommend it for a good time for little ones (all of the kids were 4 and under and it was perfect for that age group).

I got the paper goods at Target. You can find them linked below:.

You can get a “rustic” letter board here.

I made the shirt using my Silhouette Cameo. Don’t forget to flip horizontally before you hit send!

Maybe one day when they are in their 20s we can get everyone to look the same direction, lol.

We Rock the Spectrum is such a fun place!

my beautiful sister and my precious niece and nephew

Ethan and his future wife (*fingers crossed*)

Some gift ideas:

You can often find David sticking swords (or anything that could potentially pass for one) down his pants (I know?!?) so I thought maybe a sheath would help- turns out…not so much. But all the brothers love the Deluxe Knight in Shining Armor Set!

Royal Oak Giant 40″ Flying Saucer Tree Swing for the front yard- it hangs so easily with these straps and the swing is rated for 700 lbs! (Mama likes it, too!)

if you don’t have Magna-Tiles 0r PicassoTiles (cheaper and work just as well/are compatible with magna tiles)– you are missing out! Our boys have played with these every single day since we got our first set about a year ago. We got more because they often fought over the squares. The more you have the bigger “castles” and “animal homes” you can build. D is obsessed with animals and has been for a while now – another great gift option that is great for hours of creative imaginative play.

please notice my oldest is wearing the knight’s armor from the costume set mentioned above. This Pure Fun 360 Swivel Kids Seesaw is another hit that was a gift from Mimi and Paw Paw!

Sometimes we bring the Royal Oak Giant 40″ Flying Saucer Tree Swing in the backyard to hang from our swing set. I really want to get a rectangular one in the future for the back, as it would fit better in the narrow space. Also, for more about that play set, check out this post: What my 4 Year Old Taught Me About Work and New Years Resolutions

For a more extensive (60 gift ideas worth!!) check out this post here:

3 year Old’s Wish List- 60 Purposeful Ideas from a Mom of Three

Sweet David Robert,

How can you already be 3?!

You are so sweet, you love your brothers almost as much as you love watching your favorite movies/ tv shows (right now favorites are Superbook, Daniel Tiger, Paw Patrol and Tarzan, a new favorite).

You love Mary, the Bible (especially David and Goliath), playing outside, dinosaurs, really any “aminals”, stickers, reading books, painting and doing “activities”. You ask for them often. Thank you Busy Toddler and Days With Grey!

You still like to be held and love love love your loveys (and want all 3 of them all of the time).

You love going to CBS (Community Bible Study)- it has an incredible children’s program and I cannot recommend it enough! He loves his teachers so much! I would love to invite you to join our group or one near you- they have them all over!

You often tell us you like us and a few days ago you looked up at me and said, “Mama, you look so beautiful.” #heartmelted

Favorite foods include hummus, peanut butter, pizza, pancakes, donuts, any kind of sausage, chips, guacamole and queso.

You have an incredibly extensive vocabulary and remember things from a year ago. You often surprise us with your funny observations, strong opinions, resolve to dress yourself, and drive to always do whatever your big brother is doing. Your newest tactic to getting out of trouble when we call your name is to say, “I’m not DAVID!” When we ask who you are, you often respond, “Goliath” or randomly “a soldier”, “a tiger” or some other animalYou hate having your picture taken, so much so it’s a joke at our house. Your two brothers will smile and you give us your classic David stone-cold stare. But in all seriousness, you are truly a gift and bring such delight to our family. I say this often, but you so live up to the meaning of your name- David (Beloved) Robert (Bright). Thank you for bringing us so much joy!