2nd Birthday Celebrations

Daniel's 2nd birthday was September 9, but I feel like we celebrated for a week straight! We started with a trip to Lubbock over the Labor Day weekend. We got together with Abuelo, Abuela, Uncle Luis, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Cristi. I had figured we'd open presents and eat cake, but Abuelo & Abuela turned it into more of a party! We ended up having a little birthday party and invited Brian and Cristi's other 2 adorable nephews, Kolbe and Reagan, as well as their parents and grandpa. Here are some pics from the party:

Abuelo & Abuela bought a giraffe pinata, and the boys enjoyed taking turns trying to open it. None of them were very successful.

David had to finally help Daniel. When the giraffe's legs started falling apart, Daniel started bawling. He was so upset that the giraffe was breaking! I guess we should have explained the whole concept prior to cracking it open. He cheered up when toys started falling out.

Kolbe, Daniel, and Reagan enjoying dinner - or at least forcing a little down in order to be allowed a piece of cake later.

The much anticipated birthday cake.

Daniel blew out the candles all by himself! He did really well during the whole singing of "happy birthday," but started crying when everyone clapped at the end. It was too much!

Enjoying the red velvet cake.

Daniel opening presents. He received a Mr. Potato Head and forbidden snacks from Uncle Luis, an AquaDoodle and big-boy underwear from Uncle Brian and Aunt Cristi, a dump truck and a Highlights subscription from Abuelo & Abuela, & 4 new books from the Asmussen's. He hasn't even opened all the presents from my side of the family yet! That will come next weekend in Roswell when we extend the birthday celebration for one more week!

Group hug!

Sanchez side of the family

So then we had Daniel's actual birthday. Here are some pics of our spoiled boy!

Mommy made a special breakfast of peanut butter and berry waffles. He ate it up!

Ms. Sarah (his sitter) had helped him make a birthday crown the day before. She said she let him pick the activities all day, which I'm sure he enjoyed. She also gave him a Thomas the Train puzzle!

After breakfast, we spent most of the day outside because that's what Daniel wanted to do. We also went to the library (one of his favorite places) and played with the new AquaDoodle a lot! We opened a few more presents that afternoon. He got a new outfit and Tikki Tikki Tembo (a book Mommy loved as a little girl) from Grandma and Grandpa, money from Great Grandma Fox, a toy plane, shirt, and book from the Gonzales' and some PJs and vitamins from Mommy and Daddy. Before you think we're torturing our child by only buying him PJs and vitamins, you must understand that Daniel has been looking forward to taking vitamins for a long time! He's been telling people for months, "When you turn 2, you get to take vitamins!"

And to spoil him even further, in the evening we all went to Sonic, and Daniel ate his first ice cream cone. It was fun teaching him how to lick the ice cream!

Sonic has a sand volleyball court and playground, and Daniel loved rolling around (literally) in the sand. By the time we left, he was covered in sand, as all the sticky ice cream allowed it to stick tight!