Mommy's little helper....

         Due to weather circumstances we had to miss Breakfast with Santa in Cedar Falls with Aunt MissLissa, KiKi and Keagan.  So we decided to take the opportunity to decorate the house for Xmas. So while dad's out hunting with the boys,  Hayden helped mommy decorate the tree and thoroughly enjoyed going UP and DOWN the stairs to bring the decorations up from storage.  She was pretty impressed with the finished product and all the pretty decorations around the house.  Hayden loved the "cute lights" and "twinkle, twinkle little star" at the top of the tree.  She was a great little helper. Santa would be very proud.

 

Halloween - year two.

Hayden was a cupcake this year.  We did not put the costume on until last minute, and Hayden was NOT a fan of dressing up.  However, once we started outside on our trick-or-treat adventure...she was all smiles.  Hayden got really good with saying..."trick or treat" to the houses in our neighborhood.
Also, Hayden was able to see a lot of her friends during the night.  Many stopped by for treats: Kaeley and Eva, Kaci, Seth, and Levi, Keaton, Lola, and Nash, Lily, Colten and Tate, Cora, Colten, and Caleb. Hayden's favorite vistors were her best-buddy Jonah and her babysitter Ann.  Jonah was a whale and the two were more than happy to pose together for a picture.

Hayden turns 2

Hayden had a Cat and the Hat themed birthday after one of her favorite cartoons.  Grandma and Papa Reimer hosted and Grandma Vicki and Papa Mike came to help celebrate.  Aunt Missy, Uncle Josh, Aunt Chelle, Grace and TJ also came to her party.  Even though she had a fever and a double ear infection she was a trooper and enjoyed the day.  She loved all the balloons and wrapping paper.  She got a firetruck, some really pretty Xmas outfits, a Sit and Spin, a Dr. Seuss memory game, a toddler bed, a knitted cupcake stocking hat, a Disney library,  and some spending money for Daddy to put into savings.  Hayden was so happy to celebrate with her family.  It was a lot of fun.

Her favorite meal: "Macanoni"

Learning her shapes...

We've used wooden puzzles to learn...and she's really picked things up quickly.  She's so much fun to work with...

Shihata's Apple Orchard

A chilly fall morning we decided to beat the busy traffic of leaf lookers tour of NE Iowa/SW Wisconsin and head to an area apple orchard.  Shihata's Orchard was very kid friendly and busy with exciting things to do.  Hayden got to pick out her own pumpkins and apples to take home.  Shihata's owners had a tractor/hayride tour of the orchard and a small petting farm for kids to enjoy.  Hayden loved the miniature ponies Rudy and Ruby and the baby goat Billy.  There was equipment to play on and sweet treats to taste.
It was a great family trip to the Orchard.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

By Eric Carle.  Hayden's read aloud.

Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus.....

Grandma and Grandpa Wing took Hayden, Andy and me, with cousins Rylee Jo and Taylor to the Circus at the Mark in the Quad Cities.  This was Hayden's first opportunity to experience something so amazing. The Acts were very entertaining and got all of our attention.  Hayden was able to sit through most of the Circus, with frequent breaks to exercise her legs, and enjoyed the motorcycles in a cage the most.  Before the Circus began we all had the opportunity to go on the floor underneath the BIG TOP to see the entertainers and the star of the show Kelly Jo the Elephant.   Thank you Grandma Vicki and Papa Mike for such a fun afternoon!

Hanging out at Niabi Zoo...

Grandma and Grandpa Wing took the grand kids to the zoo for the day.  It was so much fun and Hayden got to experience a whole new world of animals.  She saw elephants, giraffes, gibbons, camels, zebras, bears, lions, kangaroos, parakeets, parrots, snakes, lizards, miniature horses and so much more.  Her favorite part was being able to hang out with her cousins and riding on the zoo train and the merry-go-round.  The train brought a smile to her face every time she saw it toot it's horn and drive by as we toured around the zoo.  It was a great adventure and she enjoyed every minute she got to spend with her cousins and Grandma and Papa at such an amazing zoo.