Okoboji Vacation

We got back this past week from our annual summer trip to Okoboji.  Tessa and I were blessed to spend two weeks there and Tommy was there for about 8 days.  As always, we thoroughly enjoyed it and feel so blessed that we have such a fun place to visit in the summers where we can relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the activities we love so much.

While there, we spent time with all of my family that lives in the area as well as friends.  It was wonderfully relaxing and great to get out of the heat (even though it got to 100 one day and everyone thought it was horrible=)).

It was fun to think back to last year when we were there and reflect on how much Tessa has grown.  She was just toddling around then, didn’t spend much time in the water, and didn’t talk much.  Now she’s all over the place and doesn’t shut up=). It was so fun to see her enjoy her time there (as was having other people give her the attention she constantly requests).

Of course all of our pictures of Tessa, so here is some of the fun stuff she did:

Rode her bike:

 

Played “Green Light” with Auntie Dawn (also known as “Red Light, Green Light” but she ignores the “red light” part):

 

Picked flowers and smelled them:

 

Watched the fireworks by boat.  We were a little worried she wouldn’t like them, but her exact response was, “I scared….oh, that’s pretty!  It’s green!  That’s so fun!”:

 

Helped Grandpa clean the deck:

 

Colored:

 

Put together puzzles:

 

Jumped on the beds in the loft:

 

Went swimming:

Got read to…

by auntie Dawn

by great-aunt Judy…

by Grandpa…

and Grandma too!

 

Played in Great-Grandma’s house:

Went on the boat:

Went under the bridge:

Went on the jet ski:

 

Helped Daddy with all types of activities including:

Putting the boat in the hoist…

Taking naps…

Swinging on the hammock…

And, of course, fishing!

It was a great vacation and I’m already looking forward to next year!

Turning Two!

I now have a 2 year old!  It actually doesn’t seem any different as I feel like I’ve been saying Tessa’s “almost 2” for a while when people ask how old she is.  Now it’s official!

Nothing welcomes one into the terrible two’s like a marathon of birthday parties. 

Party #1

Because we went to Iowa on vacation over Tessa’s actual birthday, we had a small party with Papa and Nana and Uncle Dan and Aunt Johanna the Sunday before we left.  We bought Tessa a small cake the day before (I’m not much of a baker) and she happened to see it.  She must celebrate a lot of birthday’s at her babysitter’s house, because she immediately knew what it was and said “Happy Birthday cake!” and talked about it non-stop.  Unfortunately, by the time we had lunch after church, she was so tired, she wanted nothing to do with it.  She was also less than enthusiastic about opening presents.  Tommy and I were pretty disappointed because she was so excited about it all before, but we learned our lesson and will plan any future parties AFTER nap time.

Dress up clothes!

Party #2

Tessa and I were in Iowa on her actual birthday, which was a Wednesday, but Tommy didn’t come until Friday, so we decided to wait until he was there to have the birthday party with my family.  We couldn’t, however, not celebrate at all, so my parents and I blew up some balloons, got her a cupcake and got her a couple of small presents to celebrate.

She loved playing with the balloons:

She loved blowing out the candles (didn’t really care much about the cake).  In fact, we relit them 3 or 4 times because she was having so much fun blowing them out!

This time, she got nice and excited over her presents!

Party #3

When both my sister and Tommy arrived, we had ANOTHER party for her which included more cake and presents…spoiled!

A Folding chair:

A fishing pole kit!

An Aqua Doodle:

 

And a bike:

Now, how do I teach her that everyday is NOT her birthday?=)