2 year photo shoot

I was hoping to get a few good shots of my girl for her 2 year pics, and ended up with a ton!

We "practiced" a couple days before Mikenna's shoot in her room.

 She loves the camera and as soon as I pull it out she starts giggling.

A few days later we went out to a park/nature preserve near our house.

It ended up being HOT but Kenna was a trooper.

Ready for picture overload?

Apologies... I just love them all! 

 LOVE.

A quick wardrobe change... what's a photo shoot without a tutu?

Do you want to pinch those cheeks as much as I do?

Fave.

I couldn't ask for a more perfect 2 year old to photograph running through the woods in a tutu.

Thanks for cooperating and showing me all the beauty the world has to offer, pretty girl.

Happy 2nd Birthday Mikenna Faith

I have a 2 year old.

Seriously, where did the time go?

I know people always say that, but I feel like this was yesterday.

Time has passed in super-speed mode it seems since Mikenna was born.

Here we are, two years later, with a sweet, sassy, stubborn, funny, beautiful little person that we created.

Life is pretty crazy when you sit and think about it.

We started off the morning with our birthday girl at home with a new bike.

(I'm pretty sure she was more excited about the balloon attached to the bike, but whatev.)

She picked out her special birthday breakfast-mommy's french toast, yogurt, and blueberries.

After eating we headed to gymnastics and this time Daddy got to come with us since he took the day off! 

Kenna was so excited to show Daddy everything at gymnastics, it was so cute to watch her "show off" and show him everything she's been learning.

She walked right up to her teacher, Mr. Andrew and hugged him and just stood there staring. I told him it was her birthday and he said "well happy birthday Mikenna!" and then she came to sit down. Apparently she knew it was her day and was just waiting for him to acknowledge it. (Love that girl!)

After nastics we headed to the park for a picnic.

Have I mentioned how much she loves the swings? 

If we had one at home I really don't think she would ever do anything else.

We took our tired girl home but had to try out her bike outside before a nap.

 She may only be able to pedal herself downhill...

But how cute does she look on that bike anyway?

We spent the birthday girl's evening with Grandparents, Titi and Unco, cousins, a nacho bar, and yummy cupcakes.

YUM!

Happy Birthday to the sweetest and most beautiful 2 year old around.
I love you princess and can't wait to see what this next year has in store for you... we cherish every single day with you!

Happy (early) Birthday to my (almost) 2 year old!

We celebrated Mikenna's 2nd birthday a couple weeks early this year, for two reasons:

1. I really wanted to have it outside and was hoping for some nice, sunny fall weather...

2. My work schedule is crazy at the end of the month, and this way I could focus all my attention on my birthday princess. (who of course on the day of her party was WAY too busy to stop and smile at the camera. But, she looked cute anyway.)

We couldn't have asked for a better day at the park... sunny and warm with a breeze, the perfect weather for a garden party!

 We decorated with lots of pink and green and a banner made by mommy.

Not gonna lie, I cried a little putting the banner together.

I love having an almost 2 year old, she is amazing and so much fun right now... but where did these 2 years go? I wish I could slow down the days around here.

We all had a blast playing at the park... there is so much to do at Whitney Park, who wouldn't love it?

Lots of Mikenna's friends came so we got little flower pots and foam stickers for each of them to decorate. I also put together a little bag of dirt and seeds for each flower pot.

I was glad I bought so many... even the older kids made one!

After lots of play and some yummy food we gathered to open some presents. 

Kenna still doesn't really get it.

She likes opening the gifts, but as soon as she opens it she's ready for another.

I don't think she has a clue that the things she opened are the toys she is currently playing with.

But, she enjoys ripping em open anyway!

She got some seriously cool toys and clothes.

Mommy and Daddy just might be having more fun with her gifts than she is...

And finally after opening the mound of presents it was time to sing Happy Birthday to my girl and eat some flower cake and dirt cups! 

I  managed to hold it together and not cry during the singing this year, but it was not easy.

She blew out the candles all on her own this year.

The cake and the "dirt and worm" cups were definitely a hit.

 Love those frosting faces.

We ended up spending hours at the park with lots of friends and family.

It makes my heart so happy that there are this many people that love my daughter.

She has so many cousins and friends already... we are blessed!

Happy almost birthday princess!

Pumpkin Patch (Round 2)

We went back to Bishop's Pumpkin Patch a second time with Daddy, this time with a well rested girl who was ready to play!

We ended up spending most of the day there, enjoying everything they had to offer.

First up... pony rides.

I thought I was going to have to stop mid-way through and take Mikenna off the pony, she was crying SO much.

Then, once she calmed down enough to listen to me, and I showed her she could pet the pony, she decided she loved it and started smiling and laughing, telling the pony "good boy!"

I was really proud of her for sticking it out and giving it a shot.

She calmed down and realized everything was ok and then we had a hard time getting her OFF the pony!

I was dying to take Mikenna to the hay jump.

It's basically a bunch of mattresses covered in hay that the kids can play on.

She LOVES trampolines so I thought she would love the hay jump, and I was right!

We came back a few different times and it was harder to pry her away each time.

After lots and lots of jumping, and lots of hay everywhere... we went to visit the animals.

Kenna loved feeding them and couldn't stop giggling each time an animal came near her.

Can you just see the love in her face? 

She did a great job of showing the animals how to eat.

 "See goat, yike dis! Open yours mouf yike dis!"

The alpaca (right? I need a serious touch up on my farm animal knowledge) was her fave.

She repeatedly asked to "ride hims." We stuck to feeding "hims."

We had to take another trip on the choo choo of course, Mikenna loves the pumpkin tunnel and I swear would sit on that train all day!

(Side note... self pics with a DSLR are not an easy task)

After the choo choo ride we ate some lunch and Mikenna spotted Wubzy, her favorite cartoon.

I asked her if she wanted to take a picture with Wubzy and got a "YES PLEEEEAAAASE MOMMY PLEASE!"

Until next year pumpkin patch, we'll miss you!

The "Punkin" Patch

We LOVE the pumpkin patch in Wheatland.

I never really enjoyed the pumpkin patch much as a kid, but maybe that's because I swear they are way cooler now than they ever used to be! 

There is so much to do... GIANT pumpkins, yummy food, pony rides, hay rides, train rides, big slides, a petting zoo... Mikenna couldn't get enough of it.

I couldn't wait to take Mikenna this year, mainly because I was DYING to get a shot of her next to the height chart, and pair it with last year's photo.

(I've literally been waiting patiently since last October to do this :)

We ventured out to Bishop's once with Titi and the boys, then again with Daddy.

Mikenna went a third time with Grammy and Aitachi too, and she's still asking to go back!

Here are some shots from our first trip with Titi (and a very TIRED girl).

After exploring for a little bit, Mikenna spotted the "choo choo."

Tired as she was, she was so excited to ride the train!

Mikenna has so much fun with her Titi and cousins!

Cutest pumpkin at the patch!