Kyla's 2nd birthday!! Yes, it was in MAY!

The above picture is of Kyla cuddling with Nana Di in the blanket after her pre-birthday party bath!!

Yes, it was in May, but yes, Mama has been running around like crazy since school ended- as we are closing on our new house today (Wednesday, June 29th) and I've been packing, trying to get to the gym, trying to catch up on DVR'ed non-important but important-to-me shows, visiting family up North, going out with friends, having play dates, and again, packing.

So Kyla Whitney had her big 2nd birthday bash on the weekend following her 2nd birthday, on May 19. We had a bash at home, and were so excited to have a few friends from daycare and a few friends from the neighborhood, as well as family, join us.

The day started out hot and humid and pouring rain. I was devastated that all the outdoor activities I had prepared (new roller coaster riding toy, bubbles galore, wagons, bikes, etc.) would have to be put on hold and everyone would have to squeeze into our house for the party. However, begging for prayers worked! The skies stopped pouring out rain and instead, the sunshine took over an hour before the party began! Thank you, God! It was gorgeous! A bit on the humid side, but gorgeous, nonetheless!

My parents and Chris and I were flying around all day- cleaning, picking up supplies and food, cake, etc., decorating and oh yes, cleaning! LOL Nana Di could not stop even upon my telling her to STOP and sit down, but we were so thankful for their help! We had a basic lunch of Hot dogs and baked ham for sandwiches, rolls, fruit, veggies, chips and dips, and baked beans. Keifer pretty much decided the lunch- she told me that maybe Elaine (their daycare provider)could make some beans to bring because she makes the best beans! LOL My mom did the beans, and they were fabulous!

The party guests arrived and the day was gorgeous! The kids enjoyed riding on their toys I had suggested they bring, as well as our toys that we own. Here is Miss Birthday girl herself, in profile enjoying a juice box, while her friends and their families look on.

Obligatory family picture - per Mama's request! :)

Buddies! Keifer's fave neighborhood girls, sissies Brynlee and Teah, and our friend, Aidan!

Kyla and Eddie: friends forever. She was trying SO HARD to help pull his car along. She eventually figured out that pushing him worked better! :)

Keifer ready to ride in the wagon with Eddie. My niece and nephew (Abby and Mason) worked hard on providing wagon rides for all the kiddies!

Sager welcoming you to the house with the "Barn Yard" theme! :)

Most of the kids squeezed in around our table! What a fun sight this was! Keifer and Kyla were in hog heaven with their friends at their house!

Everyone loved Kyla's birthday gift from Mama and Daddy.

The birthday girl enjoying her cake! I am NOT kidding when I tell you this girl had 2 pieces of cake and ate every last piece. She was literally the LAST ONE at the table, enjoying HER cake!

Sweetest 2 year old ever!? I think so!

Mama yakking away, as usual, and waiting for the only child left inside to finish her cake! LOL

Aidan was very excited to help Kyla enjoy her birthday wishes!

Playing!

We opened the few presents later- I am a mean Mama: I requested no presents, as my girls are spoiled beyond belief, but some people still gifted her! :)

The cake! We put the invite on the cake- as all the kids apparently enjoyed her invite that Mama came up with and my friend made!

There are so many, many, MANY more pictures, but that's enough for one post, yes? :)

"hi, honey" (*mwah mwah*)

Introducing the talented Miss Kyla, who LOVE LOVE LOVES to pretend play with "people" aka Little People. She loves to take any "people", some Barbies and the infamous Annie doll (that Papa Dale got off Ebay a few years ago!) and have them talk to each other. It's quite adorable to hear this tiny little voice directing "People" around. "honey, honey", I hear and wonder if she's talking to ME or the people.

I also hear "C'mon, honey", or "Mwah mwah" sounds, as she has her people give each other smooches. Yes, melt those heartstrings!

To make things especially cute, I found the "people" in these places in the dollhouses a few nights back. One person sleeping in the crib.

And a few more people watching as the blond "people" tap dance on their dining room table! How cute! LOL

I love to see her dance

So I am a slacker, as usual. These pictures were just some of the many that we took of our dear Keifer girl, in early May, as she performed in her final "dance recital" for Miss Gwen's "AB3's" class. She loved the class, making friends and twirling and dancing to her delight. I loved that Miss Gwen had routine and structure and repeated the same things, over and over, which our girl loves. I was sad to see the year end, especially as Keifer is not sure if she wants to continue in dance. She wants to do Tap, but that isn't until she's 5 at this studio. Who knows? We may have a future gymnast or swimmer on our hands......

Look at all the beautiful "stars"

Saying goodbye to Miss Gwen for the summer

Wordless Wednesday: They say reading is cool

Taking thing literally! *things K1 said*

So Princess K of the Milky Way. Last week at dinner, she dropped her cup onto the floor. "Oops", she said, "Oh Lord, thank you! You gave me the cup, to drop on the floor!".

Are you scratching your head? I was. LOL At least she is a thankful little person.

Posing for Papa Dale in her Birthday Crown, that she worked so hard on.

Grinning because Nana Di got her a new dress. She is obsessed with wearing dresses lately. I shopped a consignment sale last month, and THOUGHT I got plenty of dresses for her to wear. Apparently not enough; she goes through them like water.
During the day, before Kyla's birthday party started a few weeks back, Nana Di was singing, "Heaven, I'm in heaven.....".

Keifer looked at her, very sternly, and said, "No we're NOT, we're in Lakeville!"

*Hurmpf* Yeah, Nana, get your locations right!

Also a few weeks back, I was trying to start the explanation process about how Auntie Mooshie helped mommy be able to have Keifer be inside my belly to grow. I was talking about the "special eggs" and how she gave us part of her, so that we could all make her. Keifer looked up at me, astonished and quietly asked, stunned, "She helped, with GOD?"

Yep, baby, God was certainly a huge part of that process, wasn't he!

Because our girl is right smack dab in the curious stage of HOW things get made, and right now, she is really into God,and how God made our teeth , and he made our hair, and how God made us to be kind to people, to love each other (that's mama trying to influence her to be a kind and empathetic person). This message is really getting into her head, because many times Keifer has pondered where God lives, what does he look like, and (really!) when is He going to come down to our house and visit?

Man, the things she says hit me right in the heart.

LOTS to tell you!

Not only do I have to fill you in on my BABY GIRL's 2nd birthday party, my mother's day, my birthday, my work news, Keifer's therapy news, the GLEE CONCERT I went to last night, and all about how we've been house hunting....with plans to rent out our town home....but......we just found out yesterday:

OUR BID WAS ACCEPTED on a new house!! We will close in 4 weeks on this house, in the SAME city we live in now (which I so wanted, which I THOUGHT might be impossible), and it's our "dream home!" More to come soon! We are excited, to say the least!