Easter

Easter started out with the Easter Bunny coming to our house a day early.  After first stopping to eat candy, Tyler figured out that ALL of the eggs probably had some in it an he had to find them! 

 

 

 

On Saturday afternoon, we headed to Stanton and all the kids did the Care Center Easter Egg Hunt, then Kyle and Heather helped them color eggs. 

Last, the great hunt at Papa John's and Grandma Julie's house.  The two littlest got a head start, then the big kids joined.  I think all had plenty of candy when all was said and done!!

 

New Big Boy Room!!

Tyler finally got his big boy room!!  Grandma Denise and Papa Knute came to visit just before Easter and helped us paing Ty's room, as well as a closet or two.  Apparently Papa even let TY help when mom wasn't looking!  In one weekend we enjoyed a great supper at Ohana's, a few ISU basketball games in the NCAA tourney, and finished the room.  As you can see, he was totally excited!

 

Winter Fun

Tyler figured out this year that snow is fun!  Thank goodness he likes going out on his own a bit, too - this particular day I sent him out while Andrew was kindly scooping the drive. 

 

 

In early March we made the road trip to Omaha to see Aunt Carrie and Uncle Josh - lucky for us they still had snow, so Tyler (and Carrie) got to go sledding!  We just went behind their house - but it's a steep hill with a litte creek at the bottom.  Ty would fly down the hill, and Josh would attempt to stop him without breaking his arm!  In the end, the $2 sled bit the dust, there were a few tears, and then a snow ball fight before hot chocolate! 

 

And - lesson to mom - make sure markers are out of reach, and if you hear silence, check on the 3 year old faster!  What a nice piece of art work with markers and a toy fire house!

Christmas 2012

Christmas this year was 'almost' back to what we consider normal, after Tyler's first Christmas with a snowstorm and second Christmas in Des Moines when Andrew hurt his back.  We spent Christmas Eve at the Newman house, and all was good except one thing - Tyler had a high temp and wasn't his normal self.  He was still a trooper and played and opened gifts as best he could. 

 

 

Christmas Day we headed to the Hallquist house to open stockings, then on to Grandma Pete's.  We seemed to perk up a bit by then, as you can see in our cousins photo's!  Thanks for our new hats, Aunt Val!! 

Don't we look like a normal, good bunch?!? 

One can only worry the trouble these two will get into over the years together!

 

This year, we started what is hopefully a new family tradition - ice skating and sledding at Papa's Pond!  It was perfectly frozen, so everyone threw on warm clothes and had a great time!  Tyler figured out that his favorite part was throwing golf balls onto the lake and making everyone chase them!  Carrie, Josh, and Zach played some hockey, and Allison was smart and stayed on 'shore.'  Unfortunately, Andrew had to go back to work in Des Moines and missed it - so we have promised to do it again next year for him!!



Newman Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 - we started out the season picking out our Christmas tree - this may have been the first time Tyler really got to help and he thought it was lots of fun!  Santa came to our house before we headed to Stanton for the weekend.  As you can see, one of the favorite stocking stuffers was the chocolate candy!  Mom's favorite gift was the home-made wreath Tyler made me.     

Oh - did we fail to mention - that this was one of our pictures sent in our Christmas card?  Tyler got to tell everyone over Christmas that he is going to be a big brother!!