Party like a Rock-Star!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, it was Dominic's birthday on Saturday 09.13.08 - I asked him what his two favorite places in the whole-wide-world were to go to and he said "Chuck-e-Cheese and the park!" Well, buddy boo, you got your wish. Here are some pics from his BIG day!

Because we wanted to include as many people as we could to celebrate D-ster's birthday we had two birthday parties, 1 in the afternoon and 1 in the evening. Dominic really "complained" about 2 parties - let me tell you!! RIGHT, he was absolutely out-of-his-mind with GLEE!! So, the 1st party started out, of course, at...Chuck-E-Cheese (where an adult can be a kid)! I have to preface this by saying that I obviously took my camera with us to the parties and I got about 3 pics at the Charles before my battery died. So, angry eyes I start asking my family members if they just happen to have their camera's with them and to my joy my Aunt Cynthia had hers - so I start snapping pics left and right and just as I go to snap another fantastic shot..."memory card full" was the response from HER camera! I refuse to believe it was a sign!! Anyway, the above photo is of Erica and Dominic with Chuck-e!!

I cut off (or out) some of the people at the Chuck-e party (sorry guys - I was trying to get a shot of the kids watchin' the show) Anyway, this was the gang for the 1st party: my mom, D-ster, Skyler, Autumn, AmberLee, Kyle, River, Erica, Mario, Me, Theresa, Cynthia, Kristina and Brady. He got a hot-wheels super-cool ramp thing with extra cars to go with it (those cars get shot clear across the room - it's awesome) from his new cousins: Skyler, Autumn & River - AmberLee & Kyle's children. He got Disney Junior Scrabble from Aunt Cynthia & Uncle Jim. He got and ABC game from Kristina & Brady - which he is already excelling at! Last but not least he got a "fun box" and doodle pad from Aunt Theresa, Uncle Gary, JoJo & Erica. The "fun box" has all kinds of things to help with learning and brain development. Now, don't panic Dominic DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT have a learning problem. For those that don't know, Aunt Theresa is a Kindergarten teacher and I specifically asked her to give him things that will prepare him for Kindergarten so that he can sail right through with flying colors. So, this is what this box is designed to do. It's amazing to me that things like holding a pair of scissors or a pencil is a challenge for small peeps - who knew that you really have to "learn" to do these things?? Aunt Theresa, that's who. Dominic LOVES the "fun box" and is already digging into the different things and soaking it all up!

Except for Aunt Theresa and Erica, these guys couldn't join us in the evening so we were VERY happy to have been able to celebrate with them during the day - thank you so much for coming guys!!

The 2nd part of Dominic's b-day was held at a park near our house - it's a great park and the play area is SO close to the pavillion that you can see your kids the entire time and don't have to worry about them running somewhere that you can't see (except when the sun is setting and you are completely blinded by the west sun - sorry guys!!) I, of course, didn't get pics of everyone who attended (I may or may not have been a bit busy!) so here is the list - I hope I don't leave anyone out: Grandma Dorothy, Grandma Kathy, Aunt Theresa, Erica, Scott, Helen, baby Charlotte, Rick, Jeri, Chelsey, Ronnie, Cat, Joe, Tino, Abby, baby Ava, Uncle Manny, Melissa, Brad, Brayden, Dallyn, Gracie, Landyn, Melissa (Jeri's friend who lives next to the park) and her children, Mario, me and of course Dominic.

I LOVE the above picture (for a few reasons)!! I give you the future Mr. & Mrs. Dominic Santos!! I just know they are going to get married, which would be fantastic because we already get along famously with both sides of the fam!! This is Gracie, my friend Melissa's little girl and I just love her to pieces and they are so cute together - you watch, this will be at their wedding on the sign-in table. Anyway, I also love this pic because I think it's the only one of both Dominic's grandma's, (that my camera captured) I love that - we don't always have them together so that was so nice!

Some of the b-day gifts!

This is the Transformer - Optimus Prime - that Grandma Dorothy and Uncle Manny got for Dominic. He LOVES the T-formers and he LOVES Optimus Prime so nice job G-ma D and Uncle Manny! As a side note, notice Gracie in almost EVERY single shot. I am telling you, it's meant to be!! ;)

This is the pirate ship Grandma Kathy gave Dominic. Once again - nice job G-ma K. Anything have to do with blowing things up, he is all over!! A Spidey punchin' bag. Now maybe dad will get a break!! Yeah right! This is the most adorable pics EVER. Not just the pic taken of Dominic un-wrapping but the pic inside the pic. It's of Dominic and his daddy at Amber's wedding - it's priceless and I love it. This is from Uncle Rick, Aunt Jeri, Chelsey and Cody. They also got him a...bounce-house! It's awesome! We had no idea they had gotten him this because we were at the park for his party and Jeri had gone to our house to set it up before we got back to the house. Because things got started a little later than planned :(, we didn't get home until it was WAY dark so we really didn't get a chance to see it until the next morning (more pics of that to come - stay tuned) but needless to say Dominic is ECSTATIC!! All day the day before Dominic kept complaining that he didn't have anything to ride - you see he has grown out of all of the other bikes we have for him (go figure). So mom & dad bought him a brand new bike - that he crashed oh about 4 times upon riding it for the first time! He was very excited though and hopped right on and started peddling away just like the pro that he is!

Ronnie, Cat, Abby, Tino and baby Ava gave him a helmet to go with his new bike - good thing too cuz' at the rate we are going he will for sure be needing this!! Thanks you guys!

Last but not least, the D-ster blowin' out the candles! He was so cute, when I told him to make a wish and blow out the candles, he closed his eyes - not tightly - just like he was in deep, deep thought and then opened up his baby dark choco's and blew the candles out two at a time (he even did it in a pattern :D). This cake was baked and decorated by Cat (Ronnie's - Mario's nephew - wife) of course it was Optimus again and he/we loved it!! Thank you Cat!!

The pictures I don't have (on my camera to upload) are of the actual people that came and some of the other gifts. So, I will tell them to you.

Scott, Helen & baby Charlotte: "rented" out the movie theatre and took him to see Kung-Fu-Panda with all the treats he could imagine. He was beside himself with excitement and entertainment - even Scott had the time of his life!! ;)

Melissa, Brad, Brayden, Dallyn, Gracie & Landyn: Optimus Prime and Mega-Tron battle thing. I don't know the actual name of it but you put them on these fighter pedestals and use spin them around and around until one falls off. He LOVES it and has loved it for years - he played with it at their house months and months ago!

Melissa E: Tow truck - he tows EVERYTHING with this thing and thinks it's the greatest thing ever!

Melissa (Jeri's friend): Two tambourines - that make great music!! :) No, he loves making music and it's funny to hear the songs he comes up with! Thanks for being there spur-o-the-moment!

Mom & Dad: The bike, clothes & shoes. The only really exciting thing was the bike - the clothes sort of got "tossed" aside. But, that's what parents are for - to give you what you need not necessarily what you want!!

Gosh, I hope that is everybody - I would hate to leave someone out!!! If I have, just know you are just as loved as everyone else and he LOVES each of you SO, SO, SO much! Thank you to EVERYBODY for making this day for Dominic such an incredible one - he had such a good time and he is in 7th heaven with all his new treasures!!