Tulip Time Parade

We took in our first Tulip Time Parade this year; it has been so long since I've done that.  Brighton of course loved it.  We left Tilden at home with Grandma.  Uncle Braden reserved a wonderful spot for us - Thanks Braden!  We didn't struggle with parking or getting out of town.  It was quite slick actually.  On the way home they had all the lights off with cops directing traffic; I think I got home quicker than normal.  We just might have an annual tradition on our hands...

Tilden is 3 Months

All About a Zoo

Saturday, we made our very first trip to Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek.  What a place!  We had a great time and we will be going back for sure. 

 You can feed giraffes there! 

Brighton wasn't sure at first, but he eventually fed CeeCee and loved it.

That night we kept the day's theme going and watched We Bought a Zoo.  What an adorbale movie!  Family friendly for sure with the exception of a few bad words.

Tilden's Baptism

Tilden was baptised last week at our church by her grandpa, Pastor Dan Walcott.  We don't have a minister at our church right now, so it worked out really well.  What a beautiful day!  She was Dad's first baptism, and it was obviously special for all of us too.  Pictures of us at church will be here eventually thanks to Rob & Lisa.  I really just have one picture of us at church right now as we were all just too happy and too busy to take more.

Oh, yes, she needed two dresses.  Kinda like a bride who can't make up her mind and gets one dress for the ceremony and one dress for the reception, right?  Well, the baptismal gown is new, but it is already on its way to heirloom status in the Raterink family, so we didn't want her to spit up on it (yes, she's a bit of a spitter).

And just a couple more great pics to share.  Here are Great Grandpa & Grandma Genzink with Tilden.  You haven't seen them here with her before because they were livin' it up in Florida.  Welcome home "Great" Genzinks!

And here is the four generation picture that we kept forgetting to take. That's my mom and my grandma - so special. 

Lil' Til' had two sets of grandparents and four sets of great grandparents at her baptism. Amazing!  We are so blessed!