Party, party, party

Last weekend, our friends Todd and Timi Zimmerman had a birthday party for their daughter Zoe. She is just a month older then Megan so it is always fun to see them when they decide to leave Florida and come to Michigan for a visit. It didn't take long for Megan to find the sand table.

I figured every 2 year old loves balloons so I had Megan carry the balloons in to give to Zoe, she carried them around everywhere (one had a crab on it that said "Don't be crabby it's your birthday") Apparently Zoe thought she needed another accessory and sat on the dog, Pudge. Poor dog.

Megan wanted a break from all the stuff outside and had fun walking around and playing with every toy known to man in the house. This one by far was the favorite. It bounced and rocked and it was a horse. For Megan it doesn't get any better.

Beth Wiley was loving the fact that Megan was talking to her (we all know Megan is shy for the first 20 minutes or so) Beth was waiting on Megan hand and foot, it was very cute.

While Zoe was opening her gifts, Megan opened the gift Todd and Timi got Megan for her birthday next month. It was a Disney Princess "CD" player that played a ton of Disney songs. It kept Megan occupied for most of the car ride home. I think she liked that she could change the "CD" and songs all by herself.

Zoe opening her mound of gifts with a little help from her mom Timi.

Megan and Zoe playing a the barnyard together. Megan didn't get the memo about having to wear a tutu and heals to work in the barn. Zoe was so cute walking around in her dress up clothes. It was great to see Todd, Timi and Zoe can't wait until we can all do it again.

She is starting early

The other day I was looking for a slide for Megan to have in our backyard. Thinking I could find a slide no problem, I was very disappointed when I couldn't find any taller then 2 1/2 feet. Of course I told Megan we were going to the store to buy her a special toy, so when I came across a "golf set" I knew that would make her just as happy.

She couldn't wait to show Daddy what she got. She had to show him every piece that came in her set. Mark was trying to show her how to swing and aim for the cup...

...but Megan already knew how to get the ball in the cup!

Since I had to use the grill to fix dinner, the golf game moved outside. Daddy just hit the ball and Megan was watching to see where it landed.

Megan wanted to make sure Daddy had his choice of club.

Daddy was done with his golf game, but Megan couldn't get enough of her new toy.

Big Mess

I had a ton of dishes that needed to be washed and I had a child that really wanted to play. Thinking like a mom, I had to find something new to keep Megan occupied so I could wash the dishes. Ah ha...shaving cream! I asked her if she wanted to stand in her tower and play in a big mess, while I did the dishes. She was excited, even though she had no idea what I was talking about. At first she was a little confused, but when I started to draw in it, she was hooked.

Just loving how is feels in her hands.

She loved to show be the big mess on her hands. She would play for a bit, then show me her hands, then go back to playing some more.

Since I was doing dishes anyways, I asked her if she could cover a plastic dish with shaving cream. At first she starting covering it with her hands, but then switched to the cake frosting method.

It was only a matter of time before she discovered that if she shook her hands, the big mess would go flying every where! She thought it was funny and I had time to wash dishes with out having Megan interrupt me every few minutes. I think shaving cream will having to be added to my list of secret play toys that we don't do every often.

90+ degree weather and a play date!

A couple weeks ago Michigan had some very hot and humid weather, to the point of being very miserable. Grandma Berthold had Megan's kiddie pool from last year (when Megan was much smaller) and as you can see it didn't exactly fit 3 people. Carter and Grandma could only put their feet in but add that to the strawberry smoothies and it gave the illusion of feeling cool.

She looks comfortable doesn't she!?!

What you don't see in either of these pictures is me, my Aunt Lynda or my cousin Allison sitting and looking at the pool wishing it were bigger. But the next day, Grandma went a bought a bigger kiddie pool, enough space for 2 adults plus Megan to sit in, or at least enough room for 4 adults to have their feet in, while Megan "swims"

Also during this HOT week, Megan had a play date with Rosemary Olsaver. Her mom Tiffany had a teacher's workshop so Rosemary came to play with us all day. When Megan got up she was extremely happy to see Rosemary. She even wanted to put on a dress that was similar (she hardly ever wants to wear a dress) I don't know how, but some how the big turtle and giraffe that were in Megan's room, ended up down stairs and the girls took turns riding them in circles around the house.

Knowing that I had 2 outdoor kids and hours to entertain them, I couldn't keep them inside all day. I had them stay in the garage while I filled up buckets of water for them to play in. I knew they would get wet just splashing around plus both of the girls LOVE water. When I got back (I was never far away just had to carry somethings to the front yard and the only direction the could have gone was towards me) both of them decided to sit in the bike trailer. Very cute! We would have gone for a bike ride on any normal day, but it was too hot, so I just took a picture instead.

It wasn't love until Megan just sat right in the water. She was hot but still wanted to play.

Rosemary had more fun playing in the sand. But the temperature was climbing quick and both girls were starting to get warm. So we relocated to the back yard and busted out the sprinkler!

I will say that both girls were very good at drinking water. I told both of them that if we were going to play outside, that they would have to drink lots of water. Then when I asked them to take a drink I wanted them to take lots of big sips. They were great and following that order (and yes it was an order)

Before I even had the sprinkler on, Rosemary asked if she could sit in a bucket of water, my response "Of course you can!" Then I turned the sprinkler on. Megan wasn't sure what to do, so I scooped her up and ran through. Rosemary followed and then the girls were off! They caught on real quick to the joys of running through a sprinkler, with your clothes on :) Rosemary had a second set of clothes and I knew Tiffany wouldn't care, plus it was more fun that way!

Then after a long morning of trying to stay cool, we went back inside in the air conditioning and dined on a fine meal of hot dogs and mac-n-cheese! Good times were had by all. But the best part was that it was all good simple fun!

***One more very cute thing that didn't match with any picture. When Rosemary went potty, Megan had the best time clapping for her. Because that is what we do when she goes on the potty***

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It's no secret that Megan likes to play in the kitchen cupboards. If allowed she would pull out every dish, container, tool etc. multiple times a day. I learned real quick that if you put them away, she will get them out again. So my kitchen is a mess during the day and I'm totally okay with that! I don't know what was going through Megan's head during this kitchen raid, but she found a big strainer and immediately decided she needed to sit in it. Since then, when I can't find her, 9 times out of 10, she is tucked around next to the pantry sitting like this. She's a goof ball and that way we love her so much.