Birthday Party

Today we had a birthday party for Rachel (her birthday is next Friday). She has been SOOOO excited about it for the last few days. Especially her birthday cake. Ever since I told her we'd have a Dora the Explorer cake at her birthday party, she's been walking around saying "I need my Dora cake right now!" She wasn't too happy when I told her we needed to wait until her party. And today when her friends were all here she told me "I need my birthday party." I told her "We're having your birthday party now." She said, "No, my birthday Dora cake!" Apparently her party = cake. So we had cake.

Rachel is getting over a cold and has a cough that is hanging on, so I decided to use some of the leftover cake from cutting out the Dora head to make a separate cake for her to spit on blow out her candles.

I must say, I was rather surprised and proud of how well the cake turned out. And I rather enjoyed making it. Maybe I've found a new hobby. (Too bad Rachel is the only one who really likes cake around here, or I could practice more often.)

Before the party started we pulled out this rock 'n ride trike. It converts between a rocker and a regular tricycle. She was very excited about it!

We had some friends come join in the fun.

The girls decorated some foam frames with stickers (I have so many of these-they came 30 for $3 or $4 from Oriental Trading Co.-I keep trying to use them up, but even now I have at least 10 left).

Ahhhh. See food! Rachel was very satisfied with her cake. I guess it was well worth the wait. Her lips turned black from Dora's hair.

The presents were a hit with her. She got sidetracked with this singing birthday card for at least a minute or two. See her "whoa-a singing card?!" face.

This little people set was very exciting, she got down on the ground trying to play with it and we had to convince her to finish opening the rest of her presents (while she tried to shoo off the other kids if they got too close to her new toy).

Grandma and Grandpa Knight got her her very own laptop! And she is soooo excited about it. Now when she tries to play on ours, we can send her off to play with hers. Also, notice my mom with Lydia on her lap. She was the entertainer of the little kids while the rest of us sat around talking. I have another picture (that turned out blurry :( ) of her with Lydia and Rachel on her lap, and Aiden standing next to her, all benefiting from the Grandma love.

After the party Rachel opened 2 more presents from Mom and Dad (yeah, maybe we spoiled her a little bit). Notice the stylin' glasses.

She LOVED her Dora tent/tunnel thing. See her look of pure joy?

It was a fun party. Happy Birthday, Rachel!

(Yesterday we were making a card for Rachel's aunt, Marie, who graciously let Rachel share her birthday, and when I took it to fold and put in an envelope Rachel protested. I told her "This is for Aunt Marie for her birthday." She replied, "No! Happy Rachel birthday!" I guess we'd been building her birthday up a little too much.)