The Terribly Terrific Twos!!!

Leah is officially in her third year as she turned the Terrible Two on Friday! I can't believe how fast time flies and it scares me. There has got to be a way to slow down time and enjoy life more. She is such a cutie these days. So funny and full of personality. She can also throw a tantrum like no other, but she makes up for it in cuteness. To celebrate her second birthday, Sarah threw Leah a Princess Masquerade party!

The Trospers welcome you to Leah's Masquerade Birthday Party!

Sarah put together quite the spread of sweets and treats and had a table set up where the kids could make and decorate their own masks. She even had a Masquerade dance party via the Wii.

Leah scheming to get her grubby little birthday hands on some sweets!

Caught! Red Handed!

Yummy! Of course, Leah ate a ton of candy and didn't get to sleep until close to midnight.

Leah's personal birthday cake

The birthday girl didn't quit understand the blowing out of the candles. She eventually got it.

I love my Leah

And then she boogied!

She got a little too intimate with her cupcake

She loves her some sugar!

So many of our family came to support Leah. Unfortunately, my family could not attend, but I am blessed with such great in-laws. The Ostler Family, Aunt Kate, Josh, The Reed Family, The Peirces, The Salas Family, The Kelley Family, The Ashby Family came to show love for Leah Loo! My family was represented as well as they sent the little Princess their love by way of presents.

Aunt Kate loves birthday parties and shopping for gifts to give. Thanks for coming, Crazy Aunt Kate!

The Kelley Family came as represented here by Dezrea and Jason. We missed you Andrea. Thanks for coming Kelleys!

Of course, Leah's cousins wouldn't miss a dress up party for anything! Elijah "Indiana Jones" ad Cole (Quick Draw McGraw) had a fun time. Thanks for coming boys!

Josh and Molly trying to act like they appreciate each other. Thanks for coming Molly and Josh!

Mom and Dave. When they arrived, Leah yelled "GRANDMA"! She loves her grandmas and grandpas.

Jakey wore the Man in the Big Yellow Hat costume that Sarah made him. Thanks for coming Jakey!

All of the Ashby family came with the exception of Tyler. His priorities must need tweaking! Just kidding...he is on a mission in Pennsylvania. Thanks to the Ashby's for coming to Leah's party.

Cole with the mask he made. He looks like a duck!

Amy and Jaime' Salas came to support our little angel. Thanks, Amy and Jaime (Jasmine and Christian too!)

Thanks Rhett and Marissa for coming to the party! It is a rare sighting to see Rhett at a family outing these days. His girls are so cute though...Even Jenny!!!

Duane in the Big Yellow Hat came to celebrate with Little Leah Caity B!

Jenny, Amy, Dezrea and Jasmine chowing on some cupcakes.

Candace wouldn't miss Leah's party for nuttin'!

Leah didn't seem interested in presents. I am totally okay with that as I believe we get too caught up in gifts, myself included. Nonetheless, there were kids playing with toys and Leah was more interested in that. We had to force her to open presents which had both great and not so great results.

Like I said, Leah's interest in opening presents was spotty at best. Sarah had to do the present opening duty for a little bit.

Leah got a cool Elmo book and a Cookie Monster from The Peirce and Salas Families...I think.

Her boy cousins have her so excited about Batman! She loves anything Batman. The Ashby Family gave her this Batman Action figure and a pink Batman t-shirt.

After a few presents she went into meltdown. What kind of Father would I be if I didn't take a bunch of pictures with her 16th birthday party in mind!?

Grandman Trosper spoiled her with a couple outfits.

Uncle Jim, Aunt Sam and cousins Hailey and Madyson gave her this cool poster of her name.

Leah taking a pretzel M&M break.

Once she got her binky and bottle she was good to go the rest of the present opening time.

Mommy and Daddy got her a princess dress, a princess Barbie doll and a Prince Ken doll.

My little Leah Loo Who

Happy Birthday to Leah. Leah, you have changed my life. I never thought I could love a child as much as I love you. Thank you for bringing smiles to me daily. Thank you to Sarah for being such a wonderful Mother to Leah. Leah is very bright and will no doubt need direction and learning. Sarah has already proven to be fantastic in this arena. Thank you to Caity for granting us such a wonderful blessing. Thank you to everyone that shows us love on a regular basis. It is noticed and it is appreciated.

I am the most blessed dude in the whole wide world!!!

CHOCOLATE IS BLISS!!!

The purpose of our trip to Pennsylvania was the Bliss Family Reunion in Hershey, PA. After all...Chocolate is Bliss! Hershey is in rural Pennsylvania. It is beautiful and green.

It was also freaking HOT!!!! Apparently Pennsylvania was in the middle of the hottest weekend, hottest July, hottest Summer and hottest year in the record books! We felt it. Luckily, the reunion was at a pool center.

Leah loved the kiddy pool. She enjoyed filling buckets with water, emptying them and then refilling them again.

She also ran everywhere! I had to work hard to keep up with her.

Eyes of blue!

I can't tell you enough how much this girlie loves water and how much I love her.

Our next door neighbor, Tyler Ashby, was called to serve in the Pittsburgh, PA, mission a few months ago and is currently serving in Hershey. We took him, his companion and the other two missionaries in Hershey to lunch at the Hershey Chocolate Grill. It was great to see him and deliver this box from his family and other members of the ward.

Leah was excited to see Tyler too and we enjoyed visiting with him.

I always expected that Tyler would be a good missionary, but I am sooooo impressed with what a focused, obedient and diligent missionary he is. He has quickly learned what it means to serve the Lord and dedicate his life entirely to His service. Because of this, he has experienced great success already and will no doubt be one of the best missionaries to serve in PA. We are so proud of him.

Bliss Family Rules!!! This is my Grandma and Great Uncle Art Bliss, my Grandfather's brother. He is the Patriarch of the family and looks so much like my Grandpa. I miss my Grandfather greatly, but am so lucky to have my Grandmother with us. She is awesome!

Mary Bernice and Mike Lewis traveled from North Carolina to be with the Bliss Family!

Aunt Susan Bliss Nietfield came all the way from Colorado

Aunt Lynette Bliss Weber flew in from Salt Lake City and her daughter Gillette drove in from Ohio.

Of course, these special ladies came from California and Utah to join in the festivities.

What a cutie!

Nathan and Heather Bryner are from Hershey, PA and helped to organize a fun and relaxing reunion. Thanks for your help, Heather and Nathan!

MMMMMMMMMMMM!!!! Bar-b-qued Chicken! Eyes of Blue and BBQ!

Three of four Bliss generations. Leah's middle name is Bliss.

Mary Bernice and her Dad, my Uncle Art.

Ted and Bobby Bliss from Petaluma, CA. These are two great guys that I am always excited to see at the reunion.

We took a brief break from the reunion to visit Hershey's Chocolate World

We took a trolley tour around Hershey, PA, to learn about the town's and company's history.

Sarah and Leah riding the Trolley. They both liked the ride because it provided several free samples of chocolate.

The tour guides were funny, informative and sang lots of songs.

MMMMMMMMMMMM....CHOCOLATE!!!

Leah loved the packaging plant experience at Chocolate World.

She even had the official hat!

Here is Leah packaging a box of Hershey's Kisses...with Mom's help.

Factory worker, Leah reporting for duty!

Where are my Hershey's Kisses?! SIGH

Mum, Sarah and Leah at the end of a busy day filled with Chocolate.

Of course, what better way for Sarah to spend her birthday than in the city of chocolate!

I bought Sarah a birthday cake not knowing that my Mother also had done so. Here is Sarah eating two pieces of chocolate so as to not offend either of us.

Leah and her cousin, Grace.

We have a Bliss family reunion every three years and each time I always look forward to visiting with my cousins from Arizona, the Sneps and the Perkins. This is Mike and Patty Sneps. Unfortunately, the Perkins were unable to join us.

Grandma, my aunts and my Mum got Sarah a big chocolate bar. This is good because we were afraid to buy any chocolate for fear it would melt in the smoldering humidity and heat.

She's a little tea pot!

Make a wish!

The Sneps Clan of the Blisses!

The last day we had breakfast at Hershey Lodge to say our goodbyes and take some final pictures.

The kids, Ted and Bobby included, made glasses out of these waxy sticks that all the restaurants in the area gave to kids.

Sarah loved that all the street lamps in Hershey, PA looked like Kisses. When the lights were on, they were called light chocolate. When the bulbs burn out, they become dark chocolate. Some crooks stole them which made them hot chocolate...they were caught...or "foiled" and put behind chocolate bars! HAHA!

The famous Chocolate Factory

Milton Hershey's home across from the factory. What a great American success story this is about not giving up and persevering. I would encourage all to read.

This is the home Milton Hershey was raised in as a child. It is currently on the grounds of the Milton Hershey School for Boys. Milton and his wife could bear no children so they adopted hundreds over time and educated them at this school for boys they created and they continue to do so today. A great example of giving back.

Every day was long and hot and tiring. Leah loved coming home and hitting the pillow!