Birthday Celebration: Part I

We're home
from a lovely, magical, and busy trip.
We came home with a two year old
and to no internet. But it's back
So, I'm a little behind on photos, blogging, a to-do list that now includes printing Disney pictures, putting together a birthday video, and the always fun commemorative photo book.
And our big girl mattress arrived today.
All that being said, we've got lots to share
and with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all on the horizon
I think this family of three will stay quite busy until we become a family of four
(plus two furry babes)

While planning our Disney World dates, we quickly realized we had a bit of a scheduling conflict. Matt was planning to attend the Engineering Career Fair at Iowa State. After discussing options, some of which included my 7 month pregnant belly flying solo with Lauren {nah...},
we quickly realized that Lauren and I traveling to Iowa with Matt was an option.
A really good one.
One that allowed us to get an extra visit in with our family and friends
and maybe even a little birthday celebration.

So, the planning began.
We went with a Minnie Mouse theme, decided on a park in Ankeny, and began preparing as much as possible from home. I shipped a couple of boxes of party supplies to Matt's parents house and we spent Saturday running around Ankeny crossing additional items off of our list.

While we weren't sure how well a two year olds birthday party
in late September Iowa weather,
planned from Texas would go over...
it couldn't have been better.
We had beautiful weather, the perfect venue, and so many family and friends,
which made for a truly perfect celebration for our sweet little birthday girl.







Since it was a Sunday morning party we went with a brunch theme for food,
including bagel bites and mimosas
{because who doesn't want a mimosa at a toddler birthday party?}.
We tried to put little Mickey & Minnie details throughout the party,
on the party hats, drinking straws,
and at the Mickey Mouse cookie decorating station and Mickey ear decorating station.

One thing I learned about preparing the day of the party,
start earlier than you think you need to...
even when you tell your husband what time you want to arrive to the location and he looks at you like you're crazy and tells you a new time which will allow plenty of time.
It's not enough time.
Enough time allows for complete set up before guests arrive and the opportunity for party detail pics and birthday girl pics.
You will not see any of the above.
Lesson learned.





















It was an absolutely lovely little party and the perfect way to celebrate our Lauren. We felt so much love from all who attended and Lauren had a precious smile on her face throughout the day
{except when everyone sang Happy Birthday... that was pretty serious}.

That perma-grin gave way to this before we reached the first stop sign...


But somehow by the time we arrived home,
she was ready for a cake pop and skipped her nap all together...

... I think we may have a party girl on our hands.


Highlights from the rest of our Iowa adventures:

Babies, Babies, Babies


From cousin Miles at home, to Baby Benjamin at her birthday party, and a little playdate with Baby Roslynn, Lauren got her fair share of baby introductions.
And she liked it.
She requested to hold Miles, cried when I took Roslynn away from her, and appeared to be interested in all things baby.
I'll take this as a good sign for her upcoming big sister role.

Cousins

Lauren got to spend a whole weekend with her cousins, which is always fun.
She adores playing with Hayden and it's fun to see their interactions change each time they are together.
This time Lauren showed her bossy side and had a few lessons about sharing and the word 'mine'. Also good practice for that upcoming sister role.

Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch visit

While dad was working, Lauren and I went pumpkin picking at Center Grove with Grandpa & Grandma McQuinn and enjoyed an afternoon of fall activities.














It was the perfect visit.
The perfect amount of beautiful fall weather.
The perfect reason to get together with friends.
The perfect way to celebrate with family.

A perfect kick off to our little Lauren Elizabeth's golden birthday...

and it's not over.

Let's Play Catch Up: June

When I saw July 1, on the calendar I did that thing that people do...
You know, where they talk about how can it be July already and where oh where did June go?

Well, here's where ours went...

Astros Game:

We kicked off summer with an early Father's Day outing, Lauren's first Astros game.
She did fabulous, lasted the entire afternoon game, sampled nachos and the staple hot dog, and cheered the Astros to a win.

Auntie Alysa visits:

My sister came to visit for a long weekend and we loved it.
Lauren requested to hold her hand everywhere we went and thoroughly enjoyed having someone else around to read more books.



Our girls weekend included some shopping, meals at some of our local favs, tea parties, and the highlight, Lauren's "Final" Gymnastics class.





Iowa Visit:

Matt's youngest sister, Marcie, welcomed her third little precious boy in May and my dear friend Heidi was being celebrated as she prepares to welcome her own sweet little darling next month, so a trip to Iowa to celebrate babes, with family and friends was the perfect summer getaway.

Lauren & Miles {& Hayden}







Playdate with Gracie


{these little girls haven't played together since Memorial Day 2014, but just like their mamas, they picked right up where they left off. Which made this mama, oh so very happy.}

Celebrating Heidi & Baby K


Summer Road Trip

From Iowa, Lauren and I met up with my mom and made our way North to visit the Great Grandparents, my Grandpa & Grandma McGuire in Minnesota and Grandpa Clet & his bride Val in South Dakota as well as Aunt Betty.

Unfortunately Grandma's camera has many of the photos from our visit and I forgot to get them from her before we left. But since I promised to be a better blogger, the show must go on.

In Minnesota, Lauren had lots of fun with Grandpa Joe & Grandma Barb and was introduced to a bismarck donut {a tradition of Grandpa Joe's}. She played with cousins Lilly and James and enjoyed walks to the park and watching the birds in the backyard.

In South Dakota, Lauren got to visit Aunt Betty's vet clinic where she got to visit all the dogs and was introduced to kittens for the first time. The real highlight came when Betty introduced Lauren to some cows that were at the clinic.
Now she is obsessed with cows.
Giddy, light up, pep in her step, obsessed.
City girl loves her some country cows.
We also paid a visit to Grandpa Clet and Val where we enjoyed a nap, played in the yard and did puzzles with Grandpa.





We had a great time on our little Midwest adventure and was so thankful that we got to visit so many loved ones.

But our summer road trip wasn't over...

Part II: Tennessee