Our Snowy Weekend

We had a rare weekend with no plans. It was cold and snowy out, which made for a great weekend to relax and enjoy some quality family time. Here is what we did...

Baked bread - holiday coffee cakesTyler wanted to help with the "play dough." He made his
own small cake and discovered he really likes craisins.

Dad and Tyler cuddled on the couch and watched a Thomas the Train movie

Playing with a new nativity set from Grandma

Baking bread wore mom out and Tyler wanted to "go nite nite too."

Snow ended so we bundled up Tyler for some fun in the snow

He loved it!

Helping Dad shovel snow

Fun Times with Dad

Decorating For Christmas

Tyler helped decorate the Christmas Tree this year.
He wanted to put the star on top...

...then he got distracted by the tinsel!

Kitty Kisses

Grandma Stephens was gone for a few days, so we went over to Ames to keep her cat, Paws, company. Tyler gave her some love. She was more patient with all his attention since she was lonely. Tyler does NOT get this close to our cats at home before they run away.

Go Clones!

In November, Adam and Tyler had the opportunity to attend several ISU women's volleyball games and a men's basketball game together! Tyler learned several cheers and had a lot of fun cheering on ISU with Dad.

Even Grandpa Stephens got to come along one night.

Halloween 2010

Ready to trick or treat! We had been gone all weekend seeing both sides of the family and Tyler did NOT get a nap on Sunday, so I was surprised he would even put the Thomas costume on. He had a GREAT time and did so well for his first time! Although he wanted people's candy AND a tour of their house (not shy at all, just walks on in!). As we drove back home from our last stop I finally had to tell him Halloween was over and from the back seat I heard him say "OH MAN!" - I laughed so hard, never heard him say that before! Today he asked to wear the costume again and pointed to the door and said "outside get candy". I tried to explain it is a once a year deal! Not sure the 2 year-old agrees with that arrangement!

Welcome Back Party

Adam took Tyler to Ames to welcome the ISU Cyclone Football team back from Texas.

Tyler's cousin Kelsey and her parents were there too.
They had fun running around the field waiting for the team to arrive.

Trying to stay awake with somersaults (it was way past bedtime!)

Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

I spent last weekend in Clarinda with my Mom and Sister for the Craft Carnival. I left the boys at home for some quality guy time. Friends from church asked us to go to an orchard with them on Sunday, so I drove home in time and then we all met up and drove to the Center Grove Orchard near Cambridge. None of us had been there before and it was much bigger than any of us expected! Tyler and Julianna had a great time playing in/on/around all of the activity areas. Here are some of their adventures:

Getting ready to jump on the giant pillow

Chasing each other around the straw maze

Mom and Tyler going down the giant slide!Holding hands and leading the way in the corn mazeHere is the BIG pumpkin patch!Our chosen family "gump-kin"The giant "corn pool" way a big hit!Tyler got to drive a tractor AND ride on a tractor/wagon at the orchardTyler's highlight at the end was eating an apple from the big bag we bought in the store on the way out! Dad got ice cream and Mom got some apple donuts and we shared some apple cider (YUM)! It was a great family outing and we had lots of fun with our friends who were kind enough to invite us along for the adventure!

New Sand Box

Way back in June, my dad came over to help Adam build a sand box for Tyler

Tyler helped - by lifting the "heabee blocks"

Here is the finished project...and here is where it sat - for the last four months!Finally, the moons aligned and it worked out for Adam to take a day off to do yard work and get the sand box set up in the yard - and for grandpa to be home to help load and unload the sand from their yard and bring over to fill the big box!

Tyler played and played in his new sand box today!

He had so much fun, he was laying down and rolling in the sand!
He had to have a bath before lunch!

Thank you Daddy, Grandpa, and Uncle David for helping give me this fun place to play!!!
Love, Tyler

Playing Ball with Grandpa

Tyler has been excited to "break in" his new T-ball set! He has played with Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma Haselhuhn, and then took it over to Ames to play with Grandpa Stephens. He likes to bat one-handed and hit the ball with the handle of the bat, just to see if that worked better.

Birthday Party

We celebrated Tyler's second birthday this past Saturday with a Thomas the Train themed party with our family. Tyler loved opening all his presents, getting to play with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents....and eating cake! He is growing up so fast!

He couldn't wait to play with his new drill and all his new train toys!

I decorated his Thomas cake - took a long time, but he really liked it!

2nd Birthday Cake

1st Birthday Cake

Same bib, same blue eyes, one year older!