Sofia's 3rd Birthday Party

Yesterday (Saturday the 16th) was one to remember as we celebrated Sofia's 3rd birthday. As I awoke yesterday morning my first thought was that it was her birthday today and WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?! It seems like yesterday we were driving her home from the hospital a few days after she was born. And now she is a running, talking, eating machine that loves to swim and color! Anyways, enough of the reminicsing and on to the details of the party!

Vanessa and her mom spent the entire day (as well as myself once I got out of work!) preparing for this grandiose birthday party (we invited 70 ppl and expected close to that). They spent the morning and afternoon preparing potato salad, chicken salad, toastada's, fruit salad and tinga (shredded beef with chipolte pepper), as well as cleaning the entire house. As soon as I got home, I arranged the tables and chairs outside, as well as got the jumper up and running as well as getting the drinks ice cold. 5pm rolled around and without fail we had our first vistors, with others only minutes behind. Parents and kids arrived, and within minutes the pool was rocking and the jumper was bouncing. Despite the 105 degree heat, the backyard was soon filled with kids and adults alike.

Around 7pm we fired up the grill and got the buffet line going. We had quite a smorgesboard set out which included the food listed above, as well as kobe sliders (mini kobe beef burgers), hot dogs, cookies, mini pastries, guava chiffon cake, Fia's Dora the Explorer birthday cake and the big hit of the night: the Nacho Machine.

Once everyone was full, the kids party festivities really went into high gear with the famous pinata! Vanessa bought what seemed like the biggest pinata in the store, and it was filled with as least 10 pounds of candy! Thanks to Jose and Cisco who hoisted the pinata high above the ground despite its overwhelming weight! They did a great job of swinging the pinata up and down, as well as side to side. The kids all took some hard hits at it, but in the end it was Tito who had to break it open. The kids then swarmed the grass filling their bags with as much candy as possible before it was all gone. It was hilarious to watch them go! Even some of the adults snagged a few pieces of candy!

After the pinata fun, it was time for Fia to open presents. She had so many gifts and it was fun to watch her and the kids open them up. Lots of gifts were Dora themed since that was the theme of her birthday party. She received such gifts as a Dora playhouse, Dora doll, coloring books and crayons/pencils/markers, sandbox, Radio Flyer wagon, Dora kitchen toys, and lots of clothes. She was certainly spoiled, that's for sure! Thanks to everyone who gave her a gift. It is much appreciated.

This is a funny picture of Sofia! She fell asleep in the car with her sunglasses on and when we put her in bed she wouldn't let us take the sunglasses off (she was asleep but kept her fingers on the glasses!)

This Sofia playing in her kitchen with her new Dora the Explorer ice cream play set. Thanks Tia Heather!

This is Fia at the playground.