Another activity on Kylie's Birthday week

So I forgot to add this to the end of birthday party post, but this is the dress that Aunt Amy and Uncle Josh got Kylie for her birthday. Kylie had to go for her 2 year check-up the day after her birthday and she wanted to wear this dress.
On Thursday of the Kylie's birthday week and Todd's week off work, we decided to go to the beach. We went to Tunnel Park in Holland, it was Kylie's first trip to the beach, and she wasn't so sure at first, but then she got used to the water and playing in the sand. We packed a light lunch of sandwiches and juice and water, Kylie ate all of her food and loved being outside. Of course by the time she got to where she wanted to go in the water by herself, we found out that the water was not o.k. to go in. Of course we had been in twice already, and then she wanted to go in again. We rinsed ourselves off when we got all done and luckily nobody got sick.





Kylie and Daddy went swimming while mommy stood on the shore and took pictures. She wasn't so sure at first, but then started having fun. She even started getting daring and walked to the water by herself. We had such a fun family week, it was great to have Todd home, Kylie and I both really apprecieated hanging out with him.


Mel and Todd

Kylie's 2nd Birthday

Our little princess turned two on June 23rd. We had Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Amy, Uncle Josh, Nana, Papa, Uncle Matt, and Great Grandpa over for Pizza and cake and ice cream. She is getting so big and is so smart! I always tell her that balloons are for birthdays.....only because I don't like having them around. I had Todd pick up balloons for Kylie while she was taking her nap and when she woke up and saw balloons she said, "My Birthday Balloons!" She was so happy to see them.
She had to sit and play with them, she would pull them down and then let them float up, it was tough to get a good picture of the balloons, but she was having so much fun!












Daddy got her a Tinker Bell balloon and then two helium balloons. The pink table is her gift from mommy and daddy, the others are from everyone else. She got a sandbox from Grandma and Grandpa so while we were outside looking at that, Todd came in and set up the gifts for her to see when we came in.




One of her gifts was fairy wings from Aunt Amy and Uncle Josh, she loves them....she will grab them still and need to put them on so she can "fly."
I asked her what cake she wanted, either Tinker Bell or Lady Bug and she picked Lady Bug, thankfully :) Making the simple lady bug cake was stressful enough!














She was so happy when her cake was brought to her, she even sat in her booster seat. While she was eating she kept saying her teeth were turning pink, so she had to show me.



Everyone got a chance to pose with Kylie, we did the same thing last year and they are such great pictures to have for her birthday memories.



































Kylie wandered around later with her green wings and new orange shoes.
She had such a good day and loves all of her gifts. Wednesday of this week we did NOTHING!! It was too hot outside and we were all tired from our first two busy days of the week.



























Mel and Todd

Kylie turned TWO!

Todd had the week of Kylie's birthday off from work. We started the week with the whole family (Mommy, Daddy, Kylie, Uncle Matt, Nana, Papa, Aunt Amy, and Uncle Josh) going to Binder Park Zoo, in Battle Creek. It was a very hot day, but we had fun anyway. Kylie wore her Happy Birthday to Me shirt and was very proud of it, even if it was the day before.



















Kylie had the zoo map and was trying to help Todd read it, I'm sure she was helping ;)

She loved the instruments, and wanted to stay and play them.





Kylie and Aunt Amy check out the animals in Africa.































Of course the highlight of the day was feeding the giraffes. Everyone had fun, Kylie was a little unsure at first, and then got the hang of it.








She had so much fun with everyone. She even stopped to dance once in awhile. Papa was lifting her up and she was laughing so hard and yelling.











She found some leaves and was walking behind Todd and I saying, "Go Daddy, Go Mommy." The were her pom pons I guess. Her and Grandpa found a nice place to rest along the path.



Yup, hands on her hips, two and already has an attitude ;)











Uncle Matt was trying to walk with the water bowl on his head.....Uncle Josh has a picture of Kylie doing the same, hopefully I will get those loaded to my computer soon :)



After we got home and everyone left, she was so tired. She asked to watch Tinker Bell and we put it in and let her just have some quiet time. She stayed awake, but was ready for bead early. She walked almost the whole time at the zoo, unless she was riding on someone's shoulders, we had her stroller, but she was too excited to stay in it for too long. Overall it was a good day!

Backyard fun at the Matzke's

On Saturday June 13th, we went to a backyard party at Abby and Brian's house. Usually when I get together with my friends that I still keep in touch with from High School, it is just us ladies. This time we decided to include our husbands and children. Abby and Brian have a nice size backyard with lots of seating room and also a lot of space for the kids to run around. The kids enjoyed playing on the toys and then then we also had water balloons, which led to getting the kiddie pool out and the sprinkler. Kylie loved being in the water and we had a tough time getting her out without a fit. She insisted on wearing her rain boats with her skirt and then she decided to put them on with her bathing suit at one point. Hilary and Phil came with Amara and also their 7 nieces and nephews, Heather and Brian and Alexis were there, Shannon showed up for a little while without Carl, who was home resting, and of Course Abby, Brian, Brandon and Evelynn were there. We had a ton of fun and the kids all got along so well!

Bring on the water balloons....the kids just started throwing them at the ground, so they didn't last long....but they were having fun, so we didn't stop them.


Kylie and Amara checking out the water balloons
When all the balloons were gone, Kylie and Amara climbed in the bin that the balloons were in.....they thought it was hilarious....they are only 4 weeks apart and don't see each other nearly enough, but always get a long so well!
Kylie, Amara, and Evelynn....I tried to get them all to look at me, this was the best I could do
Time to get out the kiddie pool, the hose itself brought entertainment....and none of kids seemed to mind if they got sprayed...there was a lot of laughter and no tears!




Hilary and Amara, that was Mara's 3rd or 4th piece of watermelon, it looked giant next to her! The next few pictures are after Kylie decided to put her boots on with her bathing suit....she brought the towel to the pool and got it soaked, she is so crazy. The last picture is after everyone was all dried off and settling down, Evelynn and Kylie were watching the Tigers game and Evelynn was explaining baseball to Kylie....it was too cute not to capture.