Birthday Party Weekend!

This weekend was a birthday extravaganza at our house!  Brian turned 31 on Wednesday and we celebrated on Friday night with his family and then on Saturday we celebrated Anna's upcoming 2nd birthday with all of her grandparents and some friends!

It was a wonderful weekend full of fun!  Here are some pictures from the excitement...

Daddy's birthday at Jukebox.  Anna was really excited to help him open his present; she is an expert at present opening!

The birthday kids!

Anna loves eating out.  She refuses to sit in a high chair or booster seat, so we always try to sit in a booth so we can keep her contained.  This time Great-Grandma and Daddy were in charge of the munckin.   

After supper we came back to our house and sang Happy Birthday to Daddy with candles on his pizza cake! 

Brian and his surprise pizza cake.

Grandpa F, Brian, and Great-Grandpa posing with Brian's birthday present...a jointer for his shop.  He's getting really crafty out in the garage these days; the current project is a big girl bed for Anna so the jointer will come in VERY handy!

Friday night we stayed up pretty late prepping for a few birthday surprises for Anna.  Daddy spent some time putting together her new basketball hoop. 

And Mommy spent time decorating her cake. 

It was a butterfly...with a Twinkie body!

Of course when I was almost done, and out of frosting, I dropped a big blob on the table...it had to be rescued...

Saturday morning Anna woke up early and excited for her party!  She got right to work getting ready...she and Great-Grandma swept off the deck together. 

She's a very good cleaner...she even sweeps under the rug, rather than sweeping everything under it!

Once the deck was clean, it was time to relax!

Family photo opp before lunch!

Grandpa S and the Great-Grandparents before lunch. 

Anna got her food first and dug right in!  Jessica came over for the party too!  Notice the beautiful balloons here too, Daddy picked them out for Anna.

After lunch, it was time for presents!  Daddy brought out the big one and Anna was REALLY excited!  She kept running up and down the hall as he was trying to get it out of the bedroom!

Daddy had to help her, because it's a bit too high for her...but that's ok, better for her to learn how to shoot!  She quickly learned that she could get her stool and reach the rim.

Time for more presents.  She had waited so patiently all morning!

A new dress from Great-Grandparents. 

New markers!

A package that came in the mail from Aunt Amy and Uncle Jason and Cousin Will!

New books!

Giant bubbles from Auntie Katie!

My Little Pony from Cousin Will!

Testing out her markers with her new coloring book.

Another package came in the mail!  This one was a popcorn popper for camping this summer from Lindsay and Andy!!

More presents!

A new dollhouse from Grandpa and Grandma F!

A new cradle for her babies. 

Showing her house and markers to Great-Grandpa. 

Anna got lots of wonderful gifts, many not represented in the pictures...she got books, markers, lots of cute outfits and dresses, fun new games (Candy Land and Ants in the Pants), puzzles, oh my! 

Her finished birthday cake!

Singing Happy Birthday to Anna!

Very proud that she blew out the candles.  That may have been her favorite part...we even re lit and did it twice!

Eatin' some cake.

She's so polite and uses a napkin. 

Cleaning up her mess. 

Outside with Grandpa and Grandma F. 

Great-Grandparents!

Checking out Grandpa F's phone.  The grandpa's and their phones are always an interest of Anna's. 

Coloring with all her new markers and books!

Pretty girl with her pretty flowers.

After all the fun of the party inside, we headed outside to enjoy the beautiful day.

Our yard work continues...and Anna loves to be involved and play in the dirt. 

All the hard workers! 

Great-Grandpa helping her with the stroller. 

Going for a stroll with Grandpa S. 

Honorary Auntie Shari stopped over with another present for Anna--a swimming suit, cover up and an adorable summer dress!!

Saturday afternoon some of the crew headed back to Iowa and Grandma and Grandpa S stayed until Sunday.  It was a great and beautiful day for a party and to celebrate our little princess! The celebration will continue next weekend with a trip to Chuck-E-Cheese on her official day!  (Daddy's idea of course!) 

Sunday was a wonderful day despite the rain to celebrate Mother's Day.  We spent the day shopping with Grandpa and Grandma S and had an awesome and very successful time!  We were headed out in search of a full-size mattress for Anna.  Brian's building a bed for her so we needed to find the mattress to get exact measurements.  It was so great to go furniture shopping and have two extra people around to help entertain Anna while we actually were able to make a decision.  They loved pushing her around and she loved having them there!  She really has them wrapped around her little finger--she got more than one cookie at Hom Furniture, and Grandpa bought a bag of animal crackers for her to have all to herself!  She's very spoiled and she knows how to work the system!  On Saturday she walked around to all her party guests looking for "nickels" to put in her piggy bank...many were forced to empty their pockets! 

It was a great weekend.  We can't believe that Anna's turning two.  She's so grown up now, and definitely a little girl now.