The VandenBerge's Texas Adventures: August trip to Michigan!

July 29 - August 7, we took a road trip to Michigan to visit family and friends, and to celebrate Aida's birthday Lake Michigan style! Aida did awesome sleeping 11 of the 13 hours in the car. We began our trip in Grand Rapids spending time with Grandma & Grandpa VB and Aunts Rebecca and Katie. We spent lots of time outside enjoying the "cool" air (it was much cooler in MI than GA) and watching Aida play and laugh with everyone!

On Sunday, August 1, we had Aida's first birthday party at Great Grandma VB's cottage in Holland. The weather was beautiful! We had almost all of Aida's grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even a few friends around to celebrate with us. After a BBQ of hamburgers & hot dogs we opened Aida's presents outside. Aida did not really understand the concept of the presents, and why every time she would get one open I would take it away and give her a new one to open. Then it was cake time! We had a special cupcake made for just for Aida along with her adorable caterpillar cake. She wasn't quite sure what to do with the cupcake at first. She kept trying to pick it up, but she didn't like getting the frosting on her hands. So we flipped the cupcake upside down and she ate a little of the cake part, but all in all she didn't eat very much of it and really wasn't too messy. I am not too surprised though, she has never really liked to be too messy when she eats. By this point she was pretty tired from only taking a 20-minute nap all day, but we got her in her bathing suit to take a little swim with all of her cousins. Thankfully the water of Lake Michigan was pretty warm and Aida loved it! She dug in the sand, swam a little and eventually crashed under and umbrella on the beach! It was a wonderful day, and we were so thankful to be able to celebrate her first birthday surrounded by so many loving faces!

After spending a few more days in Grand Rapids, we headed to the East side of the state to visit Grandma & Grandpa VN. Daddy had to work two of the days, so mommy & Aida relaxed. We took a little trip up to Great Grandma & Great Papa's to celebrate Aida's birthday for the 2nd time. After a nice dinner we tried the cake eating again, but this time with chocolate cake and she caught right on. There was cake everywhere and I think she even ate a little of it as well. While up north we took Aida over to Lake Huron as well, which was much colder so she wasn't as thrilled about it, but she loved the park!

It was so nice to see everyone in Michigan and let Aida have a little time with each family member and even some friends. We were exhausted by the time we arrived back home on Sunday morning! But we can't wait to do it again at Christmas...we already miss everyone back home!