Hot Pink Cake, the Number Two and Naked Marshmallow

This past weekend we celebrated Emma's 2nd birthday!  I know that you always hear parents talk about how fast your children grow up...but seriously, I can't believe it has been two years since she was born!  I love my girl!!!
We decided to do something a little different this year.  Last year we had a great first birthday party. However, I just wasn't in the mood to plan anything this year and wanted something a little more low-key and laid back.
So here's how we spent Emma's birthday this year...


Friday night I began to bake her cake.  Every time we would mention that her birthday was coming up she would talk about cake.  And when we would ask her what kind of cake she wanted she would say, "a hot pink cake." SO, Friday night I had this grand idea that I was going to make a rainbow cake with pink icing.  I must admit I was secretly looking forward to cutting open the cake and everyone oooing and ahhhing over how beautiful and awesome the inside of the cake was. Well, long story short I am NOT a cake maker (Angie if you are reading this please look past the next picture...it is SO embarassing!). Pride goeth before a fall eh'!? :) I have no idea what happened. None whatsoever.  I greased my pan.... I waited for the cake to cool.... I attempted to remove the cake from the pan... and THIS is what it looked like after I tried to reassemble it.










Absolutely the worst cake I have ever seen in my life! The next morning Emma woke up and asked for "Hot pink cake" for her breakfast :) So I just gave her a bowl of the rainbow scraps and she was just as happy.    

She opened a few presents...

 Then we headed off to IHOP for something a little more substantial than rainbow cake scraps

Just a little side note: we were so blessed to have Emma's Aunt Bekka, Nan and Pop join us for all of the birthday fun!

After a DELICIOUS breakfast at IHOP we headed to the Aquarium.

 

Emma's favorite part of the aquarium was the otter exhibit.  They had it set up where the otters swim right up to the glass.  She sat there for quite awhile while they swam back and forth!

 

After the aquarium we headed home for an afternoon of naps. Actually, the kids took naps and I attempted to make another cake for the celebration supper :)  And...again, still not sure what happened but the cake kept falling apart when I tried to remove it from the pan.  Bekka and I were able to to "glue" it back together with frosting.  It's amazing what three jars of frosting and pack of sprinkles can do :)  For Emma's birthday supper I made her favorites... Homeade Mac n' Cheese and Brats. Yum yum ;)

 

At the aquarium Emma's Nan told her she could pick out a stuffed animal for her birthday.  They walked around the shop and Nan would suggest different animals but Emma would just look at them and put them back.  When Nan picked up the otter Emma grabbed it and and decided that was the one.
Back at home as I was laying Emma down for her nap I was talking to her about her new stuffed otter.  I told her that we needed to come up with a name for her otter.  Here's how the conversation went:

Me: You need to think of a name for your otter.  What do you want to call him?
Emma: Ummmm... Naked!
Me: No...we are not going to call your otter "Naked." Think of another name.
Emma: Ummm... Marshmallow!

So... the otter's name is now officially Marshmallow.  :)  He can thank me now or thank me later that his name isn't Naked!

We had such a great day celebrating Emma's life! :) I am so blessed to be the mommy of such an amazing little girl!!!

Hope everyone is having a great beginning of your week!