When it comes to parties, Thisbe Grace McWilliams is a seasoned veteran—especially when it comes to capturing them. The photographer is all too familiar with the importance of paying attention to the most minute details, so for her son Oceano’s second birthday bash, her focus shifted from behind the camera to creating a picture-perfect scene for her tot and all his pals.
This “picture” clearly came to life through the party’s “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” motif. A contrasting departure from Oceano’s sea-themed fête for his first birthday, this year’s celebration was complete with a cake in the shape of a plane, jellybeans in bags with car motifs and more. “I wanted something cool and fun that O would really trip out on,” says McWilliams.
But amidst all the excitement and games, a multigenerational thread made the party all the more meaningful: As a treat for the celebrant and his guests, a mini train that could carry petite passengers stole the show. But this was no ordinary locomotive—it was the very same one that McWilliams rode as a child, and the very same one that her grandmother rode when she was younger. And on the day of the party, the youngest generation had its turn to take a ride on the grand heirloom. “Oceano’s great grandfather Victor Jackson spent the last four months restoring it with care, just so we could set it up for his birthday,” says McWilliams. “All the kids loved it!”
Great grandpa also provided vintage railroad badges and conductor hats for everyone so that guests would really feel like they were all playing a part in the celebration.
And as the party came to a close, friends and family were sent home with a homemade CD of hand-picked tunes pertaining to the party’s transportation theme, as well as a gift book suggesting places to take kids before they grow up. As for the little ones? Each of them was given a wooden train whistle to remind them of their ride on Oceano’s very special train.
Between chugging along, running around in circles and cake eating, by day’s end, it was almost certain that every tyke in attendance would be dreaming sweetly that very evening—perhaps about their next journey in the sky, on the tracks or along the road.
