Haselhuhn Cousins over Labor Day Weekend

Aunt Nicki came home from Pennsylvania to see her new nephew so we decided to all drive to Knoxville to spend some time with her. The Cousins had a great time as usual - they run, jump, climb, play, beg grandma for snacks, and chase each other all day, which is a great break for their parents! About the only time they hold still is when the cartoons are on...and then it is only when they aren't fighting over who sits in which chair to watch!

Tyler loved helping his new baby cousin Jacob - from holding his bottle...

...to holding him! Mostly because he saw his big cousin Sarah holding Jacob and so when he found his opportunity, he climbed into the chair, held his arms out, and said "baby!"

He sat really still, mostly because his favorite cartoon had his attention!

All 3 of the Haselhuhn grandkids!

Playing with play-dough

Aunt Nicki supervising

Playtime outside - teamwork in the rock pile that is part of a landscaping project

After all that messy fun it was bath time!

They even had to both brush their hair together!

More Tyler Tales

We moved Tyler across the hall (the former spare bedroom) and into his new room decorated in the Disney Cars theme and into a big boy bed! He has made a pretty easy transition. We even left the baby monitor in the nursery and told him to come to our room if he needs us. He loved the independence of being able to get out of bed on his own in the mornings! Usually one of us is up by 6:30-8:00am when he normally cracks open his door, but one morning something woke me up at 5:30am and I went to check on him...his door was open and he was not in bed and I started to panic, then I heard a whimper from the top landing of the staircase and found him sitting there - broke my heart! He was wide awake, however, and demanded breakfast - we were both ready for a nap that day!

Tyler stays in bed very well at night once we have red him books and close the door, but nap time has been more difficult. One day I had to put him back in several times and I finally came in the find this....

Tyler has been taking his climbing skills to new heights in our house recently...

He has also found a new hobby in stashing his toys under things that are hard to get them out of - like under the stove, fridge, and china hutch - no matter how many times we tell him not to.

Words have been pouring out of him lately, and numbers, and people's names he hasn't said before, he also likes to point out each stop sign we drive up to by saying "Stop...and GO!" Letters were a surprising achievement. I got some crackers at the store that have Scrabble letters on them and during his snack he walked over to me and held one out and said "O". I thought he was just trying to share them with me, but he insisted on showing me that the cracker had an "O" on it - then we went through the rest of the crackers and he got most of them right - and I haven't even been teaching letters to him - I guess our IPTV viewing is entertaining AND educational - who'd have known!

Here is one last "photo with a story to tell" that I wanted to share...

I was upstairs with Tyler putting clean laundry away and I heard Tyler pull his laundry basket out of his closet and I heard him walk back down stairs to watch the end of the movie we had left running. However, I did not hear the thump of the basket going down the stairs...so I was surprised to find this when I came down the steps! Not sure how he managed to get it down the stairs, up on the ottoman, and crawl into it - but he did! Then he intently watched the credits from his own "car" while I took a picture!

Summer Camping Trip #2

The extended Stephens family gathered for another summer camping trip in August at Lake Icaria near Corning. The weather was PERFECT - warm to ski, but breezy so we weren't too hot and slept well, and the bugs didn't bother us. We had a relaxing morning and Tyler got to play with puppies and second cousins (and Daddy)

Our only worry came on Saturday morning. While the weather was still cool we gathered around the campfire circle (above) to eat breakfast and warm up. Here is Tyler sitting by the fire..

By the time we were ready to gear up to ski the campfire was mostly warm ashes (thankfully)...but that is when Tyler backed up and fell backwards into the fire pit. It was not as bad as it could have been as Aunt Martha and Adam quickly pulled him out, but It scared us all. He was fully clothed, which helped, but the back of his hair got singed, his right lower arm and his back right above his diaper where his shirt pulled out had blisters from the heat. He is a trooper, though, and still wanted to go on the boat after we put Disney Cars band aids on the blisters. They are mostly healed now 2 weeks later.

Before we got on the boat Tyler had fun tossing some rocks into the lake - he preferred the BIG rocks!

Adam skiing
Traci skiingTyler driving the boat after the 3 of us rode on the tube again
Just another relaxing weekend at the lake making great memories!!

Cousin Kelsey's Visit

Cousin Kelsey came to stay with us while her Dad was busy at the State Fair. She got to sleep in Tyler's crib overnight since Tyler has GRADUATED TO HIS BIG BOY BED!!
We spent time enjoying the weather outside by spalshing around in our pool. Kelsey looked so cute in her swimsuit!Her favorite things to do was throw all the toys out of the pool...and then put them all back in...and then do it all over again!

Cousin Jacob's Birthday

After a day at the State Fair on August 18th we were very excited to go see our brand new family member - Tyler's first male cousin and our new nephew! He is a beautiful 6lbs, 3oz, and 18.5 inches long. Welcome to the World Jacob Ryan Haselhuhn!!!

2010 Iowa State Fair (by Tyler)

So, my daddy took the day off in the middle of the week to take Mom and I to the State Fair. They tell me I went last summer too, but I don't remember - not sure what all the excitement is about, and I feeling kinda grumpy this morning, but off we go anyway! Here is what we did at the fair...

After FINALLY parking and walking to the fair, I got a stroller ride to see baby farm animals inside a big building. Ducks, calves, pigs, chickens, goats...I was NOT happy that we were only allowed to look and not touch - what fun is that?!?

Then Mom & Dad decided to make me work on the farm! I picked vegetables and apples and harvested corn and beans....

...then I even collected eggs! The sign said I had to be taller than 2 chickens to ride the tractor - I thought I'd better lift my hat up a little to be sure I was tall enough, because the best part of being a farmer is riding the tractor, don't you know!

Now this is FUN - watch out, here I come! I just find something fun to do and then my parents tell me we have to stop and they drag me away!

At least I get a Popsicle for all my hard work!!

The Midway was next! Dad said only two rides and we finally found two that I was tall enough to ride on (in my opinion height is overrated anyway)! I got to drive a car AND ride a horse - around and around and around! It was fun - and then I got dragged away again! This fun just doesn't last long enough - I just want "one more!"


We visited the Varied Industries Building so dad could get an ISU tattoo and look what I found...a model train!!!!! I wanted to stay here the rest of the day, but my parents made me go get a diaper change instead...I screamed all the way in protest! Being 23 months old is so rough!


Off the the 4-H Building next and look who we found...ME! My babysitter took this picture of me "watering" the whole back yard. The photo even got a blue ribbon! She called it "Future Firefighter." Mom says her future firefighter likes to run up her water bill, but I'm not sure what the big deal is!


Cool a giant slide - so much fun! What do you mean we only get to go down once?!? I just find something fun again and you drag me away again!


Well, this is a good consolation prize, I guess. Mom let me play in this giant water sprinkler with my clothes on! It was a BLAST! I played and played and my mom is so nice, she even brought dry clothes and a towel!


We ended the day with a ride on the sky glider! I had fun pointing to all the things I could see from way up in the sky! I was even able to spot Dad on the ground before Mom did. I liked the fair, but I think I should get to plan the itinerary for the day next time we go!

Resident Artist

Tyler loves getting dirty - as most boys do, but thankfully he also loves bath time and does not even mind getting his head wet/hair washed! Lately he has demanded to use his tub crayons during each bath. Here is his latest work of TUB ART. Enjoy!

My sister, Emily Spencer, lives in Albia, Iowa and she invited us all down to spend some family time near Lake Rathbun. We rented a cabin at a small resort area that had an outdoor pool, mini-golf, a restaurant, and other attractions we didn't have time for. We did spend one afternoon at the Honey Creek Resort Indoor Waterpark. Tyler had a great time with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle John, Aunt Emily and his parents! Grandma has the photos of mini-golfing when Tyler played in the water hazards while we golfed - but I will have to get them from her and ad them here. Tyler also got to see boats on the lake and trains in Albia - two of his favorite things.

Cousin Sarah's Birthday Party

Our other niece, Sarah Jane Haselhuhn turned 6 in August and we celebrated her birthday party in Knoxville on August 8th. Tyler loves hanging out with his cousin Sarah, as you can see! He also loves his papa, helping daddy play computer games, and playing with grandma;s cool vintage toys!

Cousin Kelsey's Birthday

On Sunday, August 1st our niece, Kelsey Lou Stephens, celebrated her 1st birthday with a party in Humboldt, Iowa. She loved her cake and being sung to! Tyler had fun at the kid's pool party after dinner and eating cake & ice cream. He tried hard to resit the urge to help his cousin open all her presents.