Easter Weekend Fun

This weekend was a fun, but busy one. Friday night Jimmy and I met up with some high school and college friends at Old Chicago in Ankeny. It was a good time-whenever we are together, it is just like old times. We ate pizza, drank, and watched the NCAA basketball games. I was bummed Kansas lost because I had them in the championship game...oh well! Unfortunately I didn't  bring my camera so I don't have any pictures. =(

On Saturday morning Jimmy and I took Nolan to the West Des Moines Easter Egg Hunt presented by the West Des Moines Fire-station and DMACC West. We thought Nolan would love to see the firetrucks and the hunt was inside for 1-2 year olds.....which worked out perfect because it was raining.  Nolan did love the firetrucks and kept walking around saying "More firetrucks!" However, he did not care that much to put any candy or eggs in his basket. When we tried to help him, he would empty his basket and say "EMPTY!" Maybe next year we will have more success.

Walking to the firetrucks.

Nolan was very spoiled this Easter as he had 3 different Easter baskets! (Grandma/Grandpa, Nani and Poppi, and the Easter bunny at our house. He received a coloring book, crayons, books, Thomas trains, a flashlight, multiple cars, a toy bus, Elmo and Count figurines, animal crackers, a Thomas the Train toothbrush and toothpaste, eggs filled with candy, and an animal lufa. He enjoyed spending Easter with both sides of family. He ate half of a cinnamon roll that Grandma made and loved finding Easter eggs at the Morano's.

"Elmo's World!" Nolan loves to sing that part of the song when he sees Elmo.

Squeezables!

Looking at his Easter basket

Yum!

Ready for Easter lunch!

"Bean!" (Green)

Trying to reach the egg without stepping on the leaves..ha!

Filling his basket.

Nolan enjoyed naming the colors of the eggs as he picked them up.

Looking for eggs.

Q and Nolan looking for eggs.

Nolan's 2nd Birthday Party

We celebrated Nolan's 2nd birthday on Saturday with our immediate family and my Aunt Mary. (At this age too many people can be overwhelming for a toddler.) We did a school bus theme and it turned out great! Everyone had a great time and Nolan really enjoyed opening up his presents. It's amazing that just since Christmas he has really become more engaged in opening things. We watched a slideshow, ate fajitas, opened presents, and had school bus birthday cake. Here are some pictures from the party....we have already started to think about a theme for next year!

Nolan's pop-up bus invitation.

Door sign

Entry way

Dining room

Table centerpiece and confetti

Hallway

Cake table

Awesome school bus cake Jimmy made!

Gift area-we also watched his slideshow.

Photo bus-year in review

Nolan was obsessed with his new Elmo doll from Aunt CC...it had to be in the picture.

Grandma and Grandpa

Birthday Boy!

He loved Ernie!

Mr. Potato Head

His new grill!

Aunt Mary

Playing with his new Thomas trains

Family photo

Singing happy birthday...he loved it! We had to do it multiple times!

He ate green beans and crackers instead of cake.

Build A Bear Birthday Celebration

On Nolan's actual birthday (Friday) we took  him to Build A Bear Workshop. (We wanted to come up with something fun and memorable for him to do since we weren't having his party until Saturday.) We had never been there before and were extremely excited to take him. Overall we had an awesome time and would recommend it!

 Here is how the trip went:

First, Nolan picked out an animal. He picked a dog.

Then we picked out a sound device to put in the dogs paw.

We actually picked 2-a barking sound and a giggling sound.

We took the dog to the stuffing machine.

The dog was stuffed and you get to pick the level of softness.

Nolan picked out a heart to put in the dog.

The dog then had an air bath.

Nolan helped pick out some clothes for the dog.

The dog was taken to the "dressing room."

All dressed!

Nolan carried his dog around the store.

Then we created a birth certificate for his dog. We named him Caramel. He has the same birthday as Nolan!

Nolan excited about Caramel!

Snack break and playing with Caramel.

Buds