Seattle

It's been a few years since the Morningside girls got together for a trip, so we decided that Seattle was the place! In May I headed away from Tyler for the first time overnight with my girlfriends Jennifer Ramola, Bridget Rottinghaus, and Barb Rottinghaus. Like any trip, we walked a way with many stories of the ups and downs of traveling and many great memories to last until the next one!

The trip started with airline troubles. Our plan was to leave at 6 AM Thursday and arrive in Seattle, meeting up with Jen (she lives in Texas, whereas the other 3 of us were flying from DM). We found out at maybe 9 PM the night before our flight was cancelled. Numerous calls, waiting on hold (Thanks Barb & Bridget!) later, we drove to Cedar Rapids for a 6 PM flight....after numerous delays and running through Chicago O'Hare to make the connection, we made it there - with luggage! After lots of chatting, we finally made it to sleep in early morning hours.

We spent Friday touring Seattle downtown, including the Pikes Place Market and Pioneer Square. I had a coffee at the 1st Starbucks and we ate some local pasteries. We took the Underground tour and learned about how Seattle got its start and rebuilt the city after a fire - I recommend this tour if you are ever in the area - well worth it! We all loved the flowers and fresh fruit at the market - I wish you could ship flowers economically - we all would have done it! That evening we saw the Space Needle and headed to a piano bar. It was not very full, but we had a great time none-the-less. Saturday we did a whale-watching tour. Unfortunately, we only saw a slight glimpse of one whale, but we had a nice time on the island we visited, including a great lunch. Saturday night we ate sushi and went to a comedian. Sunday we saw the Chittenden Locks (known as the Ballard Locks), crossed the floating bridges, and saw the Snoqualmie Falls. We then had a great supper of appitizers and drinks to celebrate our last night. Monday we all few home...I was sad to see the trip with my friends end, but excited to see my boys waiting for me at the airport!

View of the Sound from the Pike Place Market

This is one of the last skylights left from the old Seattle downtown.
Part of the Underground tour.

The flowers at the market!

The name begged for us to stop for cookies - they were great!

Space Needle

Allison, Barb, Bridget, Jen

Snoqualmie Falls

Go St. Louis Cardinals!

We finally got a chance to take our first real trip away - Tyler spent the weekend with both sets of grandparents in Stanton while we headed to Kansas City to watch a St. Louis Cardinals game with our friends Angie & Joe. We had a lot of fun and the Cardinals came away with a win (actually- 2 out of 3!).

What do you think..future Card?

Farming with Papa

And of course, while home we had to go farming with Papa Knute....who was abnormally dirty due to switching out planters earlier that morning....

First Haircut

Ok...so this was my fault that this happened way to late - but none-the-less, we took Tyler to Stanton to get his first hair cut! As you can see, he really needed one!

He jumped right in his chair and began to play with tractors.....

He cringed a bit when the clippers started....but realized it didn't hurt so let her finish...

Apparently it was nothing exciting because the trucks kept his attention...

And the Easter Egg...

And when we were done, little Tyler was gone and in his place was this little man....

Easter at Grandma & Grandpa's

After Easter we spent a weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Hallquist's house - and of course we have to do another Easter egg hunt! Tyler did great against Aunt Carrie, Uncle Josh, Mom, & Dad. We enjoyed a relaxing weekend with some great meals & laughs....

Tyler after egg hunting....or is it Haloween?

Tyler watching cartoons with soon-to-be Uncle Josh.

Papa was thrilled that Tyler liked playing with his home-made elevator. They were busy moving wine corks up and down!

Elmo is one of our favorites....you can see he was all involved!

Oh, the puppy. This dog has so many stories. It is Carrie's originally - I think. When you turn it on, it walks torwards you, barks, then flips over. Tyler is absoultely terrified of it, but Papa gets it out every time we come home. Over time he's gotten a little better, and this night he even started laughing a bit.

Easter Egg Hunting!

We spent Easter in Des Moines this year. The Baysinger kids hid eggs in the yard for Tyler and neighbor girl Ashton. The big kids seemed to have fun hiding, and then helping the little ones find! Ashton had it down pat, Tyler got easily distracted. But he had a lot of fun - especially when he figured out there were candy in the eggs!

Abby Baysinger, Ashton Port, Nate Baysinger, Tyler Newman, & Jacob Baysinger

So while I was making lunch, I thought Tyler was playing so nicely in the hall - little did I know he was eating all the M&M's...there goes a good lunch!

Sorry I can't get these to flip - but they were so cute I had to include them!

Tyler and Ashton sharing candy - don't they look so innocent?!?

And of course, it's not Easter without an egg hunt in your PJ's at home!

Up Up!

Basketball, football, orange ball, yellow ball - it doesn't matter if it is a ball! A few months ago on a particularly warm April day, we took Tyler outside to play in the yard with his plastic ball. After playing around, he took his ball and headed toward the street. He was so determined, we followed.....down the block, across the street, about 5 houses down - to a basketball hoop! He stood below it, looked at as, and said "basketball?" Then shot his ball. For the next week, we couldn't take a step outside without heading straight for this house. So, next trip to Stanton, Papa Knute lowered his hoop and they played, and played, and played! Since he needed a lift, he would get his ball, stand in front of Papa, and say "Up Up?" It worked, as you can see!

Well, we decided that maybe this warranted a new purchase...so we got him his own hoop to play with indoors for now, and outdoors this summer. It was the best money we have ever spent on babysitting! :)