How We Celebrated Three
3 parties for a three year old seems reasonable
Somehow, I’m already a week into being a mom of a three-year-old.
When people ask how we celebrated Charlotte’s birthday, the answer is...a lot. If you’re turning three, apparently you need three birthday celebrations! (Mostly kidding.)
Between family visiting from out of town, her actual birthday falling on a Monday, and a pool party with friends that had been on the calendar for months, we ended up celebrating all week long. And honestly? I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Birthday Celebration #1: Family Pool Day
Charlotte has absolutely loved swimming this summer, so kicking off her birthday weekend with family by the pool felt like the perfect way to celebrate.
My parents hosted, my aunt and cousin flew in from Boston, and my mom somehow managed to pull together the sweetest birthday setup in just two days. There were balloons, plenty of sunshine, and a menu curated entirely by the birthday girl: hot dogs, pineapple, and chocolate cake. (Even if blowing out the candle felt just a little overwhelming.)
Simple really is magical when you’re three.
Affiliate links: cake topper, pool noodles, reusable water balloons
Birthday Celebration #2: Her Actual Birthday
Charlotte’s birthday fell on a Monday, and my husband surprised us by taking the day off so we could celebrate as a family of four.
We spent the afternoon at Young’s Dairy feeding goats, seeing cows, riding the carousel, and, of course, eating chocolate ice cream in the car before we all melted.
Lately she’s been obsessed with Madeline’s 1, 2, 3, and every time we read it she asks about riding a carousel, so this felt like the perfect birthday adventure.
Sometimes the best celebrations don’t require much planning at all.
Affiliate links: 3 balloon, stars and streamers, pink balloons, Charlotte’s outfit, stroller fan,
Birthday Celebration #3: Splish Splash, Charlotte’s 3rd Birthday Bash
This was the party she’d been waiting for.
Since moving back to Columbus, Charlotte has built the sweetest little group of friends through playground mornings and our neighborhood pool, and I’ve found an incredible community of mom friends too. It finally felt like the right year to host a true friend party.
Our local pool rents picnic tables for parties, making it one of the easiest birthday venues imaginable. We leaned into a classic blue-and-pink pool party theme with gingham, bows, watercolor details, and lots of swimming
To make the weekend even sweeter, my best friend drove in from Chicago with her two daughters to celebrate with us. How come you never take pictures with your best friends?
I’ll link everything we used below—from decorations to party favors—since so many of you asked.
Affiliate links: decorations, balloons, favors, sunglasses, cups, tablecloths, bows, towels, Charlotte’s swimsuit, Charlotte’s coverup
A Few Favorite Details
One of my favorite things about planning children’s birthdays is that the little details become the big memories.
Charlotte didn’t care whether everything matched or if every balloon stayed inflated.
She cared that her friends were there.
She cared that there was swimming.
She cared that her chocolate cake had brownies on top.
She cared that everything was blue.
Mission accomplished.
What We Gifted Charlotte This Year
One of my favorite parts of birthday shopping has become buying gifts that encourage imagination, creativity, and getting outside. At three, Charlotte is in such a fun stage where she genuinely gets excited about the simplest things. We tried to choose gifts that she’ll play with all year long rather than toys that will end up forgotten in a week.
A few of her favorites have already become daily staples, and I’ll link everything below in case you’re shopping for a three-year-old soon. From pretend play to books, outdoor toys, and a few special keepsakes, these are all things we’d happily buy again.
Affiliate links: Little Blue Truck Book, A Collection of Stories for Three Year Olds, sidewalk chalk, sticker book, T-ball set, Poke a Dot Shapes and Colors, art supplies, water books, light up bath toys,
If you’re planning a summer birthday, I’ve linked everything we used below in case it’s helpful. Many are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Held Together—it truly helps me continue creating here.
Now...I’m taking a short break before I start thinking about Henry’s 1st birthday in November.