Do you want to play Blue's Clues?

Today was Rachel's 2nd Birthday, can you believe that my little girl is 2!!? On Friday she had her 2 year check up, she is still small for her age (32 1/2 inches tall, and 22 lbs) but if you were to sit and talk with her for a few minutes you would think she was older. This morning when she woke up we asked her if she knew what day it was. After showing her the Happy Birthday banner and telling her what it said she said "Happy Rachel Birthday!" She was so excited for her birthday and for her cousins to come up that she kept talking about it all morning. I guess I should back up a bit. The night before Marc and I made her birthday cake. It as originally suppose to be a Blue's face cake but after looking at it (before we had it cut up and decorated) we thought it wouldn't be enough cake so we decided to bake another one and make a a layered Blue's face cake. Well AFTER baking the cake we realized that it would be enough cake but what were we going to do now with 2 cakes!? Well, make a Magenta cake too (Magenta is a friend of Blue's on the show). So we ended up having 2 cakes. The cakes were super cute and all of the kids loved them...but we do have a lot of cake left over...anyone want some?

Okay so back to the party. While Rachel was taking a nap Marc and I attacked the back yard with balloons and streamers, and filled up the pool. When the cousins arrived (just in time for Rachel to end her nap) they all got on their suits and splashed for a while in the pool. When everyone had enough they got changed into dry, warm clothes and came inside where Aunt Amy and I had prepared everything for them to build their own pizzas. That was a hit with everyone, it was fun and super easy. After everyone was fed and happy we had a rousing game of Blue's Clues. Marc was sport enough to play the part of Steve (or Joe) - the host of the show. Everyone got a 'handy-dandy notebook' to put their clues in. The clues were: 1. a present 2. Rachel 3. the garage. After thinking about what the 3 clues could mean Zac the ever clever one said 'maybe we have to find Rachel's presents in the garage!' Boy is he smart.

Inside the garage the kids found a wagon full of Birthday presents for Rachel. There were so many presents from those that love here I couldn't have posted everything that she got. But she loved everything (thank you everyone for the gifts!). She got several books (one that makes noise from Uncle David and Aunt Amy-she loved it! She got the biggest grin on her face when she discovered that it makes noise), dishes from grandma and grandpa Anson, super cute clothes, puzzles, an Aqua doodle set that I'm excited to have her try out (thanks Aunt Amy and Uncle Joseph), a Triceratops and 'cell' phone from grandma Dorothy (the real one) and the biggest hit of all the gifts a red wagon from mom and dad!

The kids all loved taking a ride in Rachel's new wagon. Marc was kind enough to be the 'horse power' for that fun activity. While the kids continued to play and begged to open Rachel's gifts "NOW," I went inside to get everything ready for the big reveal of the cakes. Up to this point Rachel had not seen them and I was excited to see her reaction. After Marc set the cakes on the table we called Rachel over to see them. I guess I was expecting a bigger reaction then what she gave, but I do know this, she liked them and was happy. The cousins were excited too...almost more excited it seemed.

Most everyone got a little slice of Blue and Magenta. Rachel enjoyed the frosting more...in fact that's all she ate. But everyone else enjoyed the cake, it was super moist very delicious. After eating cake the kids insisted on playing more Blue's Clues, so uncle Marc humored them again and again. And what was Benjamin doing during all this you ask? Well just hanging out with who ever was yearning to hold him. Thanks everyone for what ever part you played in making Rachel's 2nd birthday so much fun.