Niabi Zoo! First trip to the Zoo

This past weekend (July 13, 2014), we decided to go to the Niabi Zoo near Moline, Illinois.  Uncle Robert, Aunt Brenda, and Gabe came along with Aunt Katie and us.  I wasn't sure how Caden would react- turns out, he loved it!  It is great for kids.  He got to feed a giraffe, feed goats, pigs, cows, fish, and watch Aunt Katie feed a Lorikeet!  

Aunt Katie and Caden with the giraffes

Giraffes ready to eat

Caden (with his bump on his forehead) and the giraffe

Caden feeding the giraffe some lettuce!

Aunt Katie and Caden

Gabe and Caden

Caden and the cow

Feeding the Sheep oats

Feeding the Goat

(We may have found some left over oats in Caden's mouth when we left the petting zoo!)

Another close up of the giraffe feeding

Caden and Gabe (15 months)

The end of the zoo!

Happy Birthday Caden (3 months later!)

We celebrated Caden's first birthday in Des Moines so that all of our family could join.  We were lucky that there were cousins in town as well!  Since he has a Monster room and all the accessories, we decided to stick with the theme for his birthday.  The cake and cupcakes turned out so cute and daddy did a great job carving a Monster watermelon!

We started the big day with birthday pancakes!! 

Caden's Monster Smash Cake

Caden's Truck he got from Grandma and Grandpa

Balloons!

More decorations

Tired birthday boy in his birthday shirt

We made frozen lemonade slushies!

Daddy's Monster Watermelon fruit bowl!

All the food!

Caden with Aunt Katie

Close up of the cupcakes and decorations

Caden's cake

Happy boy ready to eat some cake!

The frosting was a hit!  (Thanks for the crown Coelle!)

Almost gone!

Oh no!  Blue is everywhere!

Birthday boy!