South Haven

We have really awesome friends. There are two in particular who had an awesome idea to take an awesome trip to South Haven, Mi and invited us (because we're also awesome???). It was literally the most perfect week of the whole year. A few weeks after school started so the tourists were gone, still warm enough to go swimming (at least the girls thought so) but not too warm that anyone got sunburned. Our friends, Kelsey and Jordan Winter, also have a 2 year old whose name is also Lily. It can get a bit confusing at times, but our Lily quickly remedied the situation by renaming Lily Winter, Winter Lily. I guess she thought she had a Native American vibe to her. Either way, it stuck and she will be referred to as "Winter Lily" until she tells us to stop :)

Vacation Recap:

This was our first visit to the beach after we got the house unpacked. The girls LOVED seeing the water. In fact, Winter Lily didn't hesistate to jump right in the freezing cold water, not minding she was fully clothed. Our Lily was a bit more timid, but loved it just the same. 

We mainly spent the rest of our time at the beach. It was pretty windy, but the sun was out and it was in the high 80's so we didn't mind. Winter Lily really enjoyed playing in the water, while our Lily found her entertainment in the sand with the toys Jordan (or as Lily calls him, "Uncle Kelsey") got for the girls. 

Our evenings were filled with yummy meals cooked by the men and playing in the backyard. After the kids went to bed we watched TV, had dance parties, and ate a LOT of junk. It was a true vacation! 

Lily really couldn't get enough of Winter Lily. Especially when it came to holding her hand. She loves this girl so much! 

We spent an afternoon downtown looking at the shops, but the main goal was to get ice cream. It was Lily's first experience with Superman ice cream and needless to say it was a delicious mess!

My family (mainly my Mom) has a tradition of taking a million sunset pictures on the dunes of Lake Michigan. Lily started running a fever the day before we left, but was luckily feeling well enough to indulge her Mama in this simple pleasure. I won't share the million I took, but here are some of my favorites:

It was a really great trip with really great friends. We are so thankful to have such wonderful people in our life who are so great at planning trips!! Thanks again to the Winter's for this great vacation!

Turning Two

I'm just going to assume from here on out that you know these posts are always behind. These things obviously happened on Lily's birthday, in August, and it is obviously October. With that being said let's move on and talk about BIRTHDAYS! Lily's second birthday was a really great one, but that's just my personal opinion. I woke her up by throwing balloons in her crib, which she loved playing with, as shown below. 

Afterwards we had our traditional pancake breakfast with hers cut out in a "2." I added candles to everything she ate and she thought it was so fun to blow them out, plus I figured she needed some practice before the big party. 

 We had a pretty laid back day because we were getting ready for her party the next day and I didn't want her to over-do it. Memaw sent a BIG package of gifts that we opened right after breakfast and that kept her occupied for the rest of the day. 

 Popsicles for lunch, she was a little excited...

 When Brynt got home we let her open her present from us. I found a baby doll crib with high chair and sink because her baby dolls are her favorite things to play with right now. She loved pretending to feed her babies and rocking them to sleep singing, "rock bye baby, rock bye baby."

La Fiesta

We are so incredibly blessed to live by our family and friends. We were not blessed, however, with a house to accommodate them all so we kept the party to close family this year. There were a few very important family members who weren't able to make it this year, but they were there in spirit. Our neighbors helped us set up a tent in the backyard and it was such a nice day we were able to eat and visit out there almost the whole time. I have to admit, I could never ever be a party planner. Don't get me wrong, the party was awesome and everyone was impressed, but I never realized how much work goes into something like this. I am lucky to have such wonderful family in my life- if people weren't bringing things to the party, they were helping me in the kitchen or reminding me to stay on track. We decided to have everything be centered around Lily and her favorite things. The theme was Hello Kitty, we did a hot dog bar for dinner (with fancy toppings, buns, and different types of dogs for the adults), and donuts and cupcakes for dessert. Here are some of the highlights from a truly awesome "Hello Kitty" 2nd birthday party.

Thanks to Uncle Shawn for frosting cupcakes!

Thanks to Auntie Em for blowing up all the balloons!

Thank you forever to my amazing kitchen helpers!

 

Special shout-out to my mom who spent a loooong time making these veggie cups, and putting together these vases to put around the yard. It really made the party special, thanks Mama!

The biggest thank you to Brynt, for volunteering to grill hot dogs and donuts for Lily's special day. You kept me sane (well, as sane as I was going to be) and cooked amazing food. For that I love you. 

The gifts for the guests were Hello Kitty temporary tattoos because we're classy like that. 

This face makes me laugh so so much. 

 Presents!

Such a big thank you to everyone who brought gifts. I truly believe she loved them all and even though I asked that no gifts be bought, I am glad she has them so she can think of you when she sees them. 

Overall I am really proud of this party, my family and my baby girl. I can't remember the last time I felt so much love in one place, and even though it went by in a flash I will always remember it in my heart.