Saturday January 6th - The Bug's Party

I suppose if I want to keep this blog up to date that I better do just that & update! As I mentioned before, we had a Dora the Explorer Birthday Fiesta to celebrate The Bug's 2nd birthday. We had some friends over (who happen to have kids that are her friends), if we lived near family we would have just done a family party. I have got mixed reviews about my choice in having a party (isn't that the best part about being a parent... having anyone & everyone tell you their opinion on your parenting styles & often times mock your choices?) Being that I am the mom & it is ultimately my choice & because I love birthdays, & feel that they are a big deal, (because it's YOUR day) I opted to do this little party with friends. And with it all said & done, I'm very pleased that I did it. The Bug & her friends had a great time, and the adults enjoyed the evening also.... okay, sorry about all the ramblings... back to the party details.

I had been trying to find a theme, something that I could base the cake around & then everything else would follow. It was a very hard choice, because she loves everything, & she would be thrilled with anything. But a dear friend from church had mentioned a Dora party she had attended & how they had mexican food & it was a lot of fun I considered that avenue. I looked through cake books & couldn't find a Dora cake, but found a cute Strawberry Shortcake cake that I thought I could do something similar & just have a fun girl themed party. I wasn't sold on my decision as it got closer to starting the cake, so I went back to the Dora theme. Partly because I knew The Bug would be happy either way, & because there were going to be mostly little boys so a girly party didn't seem quite right, & my love of mexican food played a role!

So the planning began, on Tuesday the 2nd I started looking for Dora decorations & little bags to fill with toys & treats. We had decided to do a pinata & bought an inexpensive horse pinata, but on the way home I wasn't loving it & decided I could make a pinata. So during the remainder of the week, I did just that... I made a purple backpack pinata & I was pleased that it resembled Backpack enough that the kids could recognize the character.

Wednesday I started the cake. I knew it was going to be a process, as I had decided on a 2 tier colorful cake that I would put a Dora figure on top. So I knew I needed to make the cake let it cool & then fill it & do a crumb coat & let them set up before icing & decorating. I also knew that there was no way I could do any of this if Hannah was awake, so it would have to be worked on during nap times & after she went to bed to eliminate distractions. I was able to have the cake finished by Friday so I wouldn't have to fuss with it on Saturday. YIPPEE!!

Saturday morning I started the shredded beef and right before the party there was a lot of running about getting the last minute things ready & getting the food out in time for the 5:00 start of the Fiesta! We served chips & salsa with guacamole, there was the option to have your shredded beef on a salad or more like a burrito, with corn & beans, cheese quesadillas, a fresh fruit plate & a mango-guava-pineapple punch. Yum Yum! We had the kids go out to do the pinata right after they ate, as it was getting dark. Then back inside for birthday cake & the opening of presents. Sorry that this ended up being longer & more detailed than I had planned, butt this blog is sort of like my own journal, so I am including all the details that I feel are needed or wanted.