C-H-E-E-S-E!

More October Pictures

Tyler wasn't in the mood to smile, I guess.

I caught him with this little grin...





Cross the lake with friends Micah, Rigdon & Matthew.



The boys found a caterpillar on the ground!  It was all white.




I don't think he is going to fit!




Alex building a tower of blocks at Dawes Arboretum.




And another caterpillar!  This one was all brown.





Alex found himself a really nice walking stick at Dawes.



Fall Pics



Nothing says Fall like apple picking!  We go several times each year, but this was the first trip with our friends Matthew (pictured), Micah and Karen.



Much to John's dismay, Tyler likes to carry my purse around the house.

Alex is still learning to ride his bike (with training wheels).  Tyler keeps the pace riding his trike!

Niagara Falls Trip





In front of the American Bridal Falls



The Maid of the Mist near the base of the Horseshoe Falls

 

Beside the Horseshoe Falls



BEHIND the Falls!

I think Tyler is looking more like a toddler these days!



Daddy made us a splash fountain on our patio!



The boys just love to play to in the water!



Anna Maria Island Vacation - Part 1

After packing and loading everything I thought we'd need on our vacation, we hit the open road bound for Florida!  Of course, there were a few things I forgot that required a stop (or two or three) at CVS and Target.  But that always happens.  The more frustrating thing is the fact there were several items I packed that we didn't even touch.  Oh, well!  Better to be over prepared, I guess.

Our first day of travel would end in Duluth, Georgia, where we spent the night with John's sister and her family.  The boys were so excited to play with their cousin, Gina.  We arrived around 7:00 pm and let the kids play outside in the backyard since they had spent the last twelve hours in the car.  The next morning we loaded everyone back into the car and headed for Florida.  Eleven hours later, we arrived at our rented condo just in time to see the sun setting.  We all rushed out to the beach to see the spectical.  The sand was pure white and oh, so soft.  The waves were gentle and splashed onto shore as the big orange ball sank into the ocean.  Alex explained to us that the Sun needed to take a nap.  So did we.  We went back into the codo to unpack and get some sleep.

We rented a codo called La Plage 5, and it was perfect!  It had two bedrooms and an office where I set up Tyler's pack-n-play.  There was a veranda with a view of the ocean.  The kitchen was well equiped and even had a laundry room (like I wanted to do laundry).  The living room had a huge flat screen TV and each of the bedrooms also had a TV/DVD.  This worked out nice because Tyler was constantly asking to watch "Choo Choo!" (Thomas the Train).

I'll post more pictures when I have some more time...

Birthday Party Pictures

Nothing better than chocolate birthday cake!

So many new TOYS to play with (Thomas is his favorite right now)!

My niece, Lorelai (9 months old)!

Let the birthday fun ROLL!

Tyler's Birthday!

Today, my baby turns two!  This morning I pulled out the announcement we mailed to friends and family when he was born.  It seems like just yesterday.  After we picked up Alex at preschool, we did one of our favorite things - eat lunch at the park and then play!

The boys always have so much fun, but it is better now that Tyler is big enough to chase Alex up the steps and down the slide!  I think Alex still laps Tyler at least once, but he doesn't notice much.  I like to sit in the shade at the picnic table and watch.  When their little legs get tired, they run over to the swings and then I get a chance to work on my arm muscles pushing the two of them.  "Push me higher!" Alex yells.  Tyler just giggles and watches as his brother flys back and forth.

Tomorrow I take them to the peditrician for Tyler's annual check up.  I love our doctor, but hate taking them into the office because one (or both) of them always ends up getting sick from all the germs.

We are celebrating Tyler's birthday on Saturday with our parents (both Memaw's and Papa).

The Works

Today Alex's preschool took a field trip to The Works in Newark.  Tyler and I tagged along for fun.  Of course I forgot to take my camera, but a friend took pictures of the boys and promised to email them to me.  I'll post some here when I get them.


The Works is a hands on activity museum (like a mini-COSI).  We built a race car and watched it race down a gravity track.  Alex wore out his little arms using the cranks to generate an electrical current.  Tyler had fun in the little tykes area playing with paint brushes (dry) and plastic vegetables in the Farmers Market.


All in all, it was a good morning.  Getting them to leave for lunch was the challenge!

Spring has sprung!

We, in the Hayes Household, know when Spring has sprung when Daddy fires up the tractor and begins his daily roam of the grounds.  Daily?  Yes, he can always find a reason to use the tractor.  If he's not mowing the grass, he is spraying the lawn with some concoction of beer, dishwashing detergent, salt and who knows what else!  Whatever it is, it works!  This weekend he launched an all out assult on the dandelions.  Alex still enjoys riding on the tractor now and then, but Tyler won't have anything to do with it yet.  Daddy keeps trying to coax him onto his lap, but he is adamant. 

We put new play sand in the sand box and the boys have kept busy displacing each piece onto the ground.  Tyler is officially too big for the baby swing.  He actually sits on the regular swing and holds on while I push him. We don't go very high though.  He has also discovered the superman style of using the swing!  The boys love to run around the yard kicking a ball or shooting rockets.  They are ALL boy, let me tell you!

We are taking them to the beach later this summer and Alex is looking forward to seeing the ocean again.  Tyler loves the water, so he will have a good time too.  We are driving them to Florida so that should be fun for Mom and Dad...

Birthday Pictures