Evan turns 2!!!

We got to share Evan's 2nd birthday celebration with his Uncle Kevin. It was a relaxing, small event, but everyone had a great time!

His new scooter from "mimi" and "bumpa".

Uncle Kevin got a few presents too :)

Visits to the zoo...

This summer we headed to Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek with the Todish clan. The kids and parents had a great time and were worn out by the end of the day. Feeding the giraffes were a favorite and always the highlight.

We also ended up getting a membership at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. We went once with our cousin, James. His little sister Lillian also went, but she was still inside Kris' belly! Three boys running around with two pregnant mamas = a fun, but tiring day and ice cream was a must!!!

James and Joshua

Then, once we took Mia and Rowan. It was warm out, but we all had a fun time. They each got to pick out an animal to see before we had to get lunch and go home. The gorillas and wallabies were the lucky winners. Corn dogs and lemonade for the kids and I had an order of chili cheese fries...YUM!

Joshua's 1st Blastball season

This spring/summer, Joshua played his first year of "Blastball". It's very similar to tee-ball. The kids hit off the tee, but just run to first base. There are just 6 kids on a team and they all bat, then rotate out into the field. We found out that he enjoyed batting more than fielding, but he had fun learning the basics.

Joshua's Big Birthday Weekend!!

On Joshua's actual birthday, his day started off with a "special" Mickey Mouse pancake.

Happy Birthday to you...

I wanted to paint him a sign for a surprise when he got off the bus from school (great idea Jeanine), but that morning went by so fast that I had very little time. The next thing I knew I was painting and trying to tape up a wet banner (in the wind) all within 10 minutes! I got it done just in time as the bus rolled around the corner. I went out to meet him and what does he say to me???

Joshua: Mom, why do you have that sign up there?!

Good grief.

His big birthday gift was this red pedal car. His friend, Harry has one and Joshua loved riding it. We knew that he really wanted a motorized Jeep/4wheeler/Escalade/anything, but we like that fact that he is getting all of his "4 year old" energy out pedaling around. As you can see, he loved it and it took him less than an hour to learn how to do a spin out in the driveway...tip it over and scrape his elbow. Slapped on a Band-aid and off he went again. Boys will be boys.

On Saturday, we had his birthday party at Rockford lanes. There were nine kids bowling and it was a hit! Even the grown-ups got to have fun. We want to thank everyone who came to celebrate Joshua's 4th! We had a great time!

Watching it go....

Woohoo!

Fun playing outside...

I don't know who is happier when it's nice outside. I used to think it was us (the kids), but now I am realizing that it is the parents.

A quick Easter celebration..

We got to spend a few hours at my parents house on Easter on our way back from Hilton Head. Poor Evan was fighting off an ear infection (which was diagnosed the next day), so Joshua got to find all of the eggs in the yard. The highlight was when Joshua got to drive Bumpa's tractor and take Simon for a ride in the trailer.

Good bye Hilton Head...

Tuesday night after dinner we went for a walk on the beach

Then the boys enjoyed a treat of Oreos and milk

After that was cuddle time with mommy before bed

The next day was spent at the pool

In the morning, we went to Sea Pines and the boys went up 114 stairs to the top of the lighthouse. I stayed down and shopped :) Unfortunately, the nice woman that took our picture didn't know how to zoom in...

This morning was the last day on the beach and the boys went crazy. Evan was still timid about going into the ocean, so TJ and Joshua made him a little mini pool that he could splash around it.

So ends another year at Hilton Head. I can't believe how much a year has changed our plans on what the boys want to do. Joshua was on the go as soon as his feet hit the floor and Evan even tried to keep up with his big brother and skipped a few naps! We are packed up and ready to head back with one stop in Columbus, Ohio for a friend's wedding on Saturday. Then back to Michigan...home sweet home!