Another Pentwater Weekend

Special thanks to Mike who has to keep up with my chores as well as his while I am on bed rest. This weekend my mom insisted I go to the beach and I am really glad she did. It was gorgeous out. She dropped us off and I only had to walk a few feet from the van to get to our spot. It was the best hour of my weekend and much needed...

Favorites

When questioned "Tyler, who is the best?"
The best: Papa
2nd best: Bake (Blake)
3rd best: Bake
4th best: Papa
5th best: Papa
6th best: Bake
7th best: Papa
8th best: Daddy

He loves me and Nana, Bent (brent), and I-ley (Riley) are his buddies.
Good thing he is fickle or feelings would be hurt. :)

Spring Fun-Part One

Last Friday was beautiful and warm. The neighbors had their sprinkler on and we brought Tyler over to join in the fun. We grilled hot dogs for dinner and played cards...Here are some pics of the neighborhood kids having fun in the sun. I have lots more, just need more time to edit.

Holland

Feeding Time...

We spent some of our beautiful Saturday at the park by our house.
Tyler rode the gator and the kid drives like an old man.
He only goes one speed, doesn't stop for anything, and is all over the road.
Consider yourself warned...

Birthday Wishes

Dad-
We love you so much! Thank you for being an amazing Papa to Tyler, I love that you and Tyler have to see each other every day and go into withdrawals if you don't. I know that you have developed a life long bond, buddies forever.
Happy Birthday!

1. 5th Generation Farmer
2. Shopping at Sears
3. Tyler giving Papa a ride
4. Planting Kale this morning
5. Playing tractors
6. Papa letting Tyler "drive" lawn tractors
7. Hi-lo ride
8. Fire truck ride at the orchards
9. Waiting for Papa
10. Planting a garden
11. The obsession begins
12. Watering flowers at the cottage (a Papa/Tyler weekend ritual)
13. In a greenhouse
Did I mention I am obsessed with collages...because I am

Hello Spring...

Tyler and the neighbor kids enjoying the long awaited spring weather.
(Apparently I am obsessed with collages right now...)

Easter on the Farm

1. Tomato Plant in Blossom

2. Cousins Checking on the Cows

3. Cutie Pa Tootie
4. Ready for the Pepper Plants
5. Need a Fence?
6.The Babysitter's Club (Monica and Kayla)
7. James and Tyler
8. Sarah the Sidewalk Artist

Love these eyes....

Love these guys...

Need a lift?

Tyler's birthday present finally came in...
just in time for this lovely spring weather.
His gator has two speeds, reverse and no brakes...Great.

Photoshop Fun Continued...

Movie Star

Tyler got Milo and Otis for Christmas from Aunt Kelly. He thinks that Riley is a movie star...

CONFESSION: Sometimes I give my 2 year old a mini Tootsie Pop while I am shopping so he will behave...

Guilt factor on a scale of 1-10:

ZERO

Farm Fresh

I'm Baaack!

Tyler turned two yesterday! I can't believe how fast it has gone. Two really quick photos before I go to bed. Once again, I have stayed up way later than I wanted to! We went to Chuck E Cheeses on Sunday and I am not very happy with the way my photos turned out. It was pretty dark in there and I had to use my flash which is the quickest way to ruin a photo. Krista made Ty a tractor cake that he LOVED!

Yep, that's his tongue on the glass...pretty sure he will come down with some sort of illness this week.

More photos to come tomorrow.

Oh, I am really loving the song in the latest JC Penny commercials. Check it out...the song is Unbelievable by the Sleepy Rebels. The commercial has a remix version that I like a little bit better than the real song. Lucky me, itunes has both.

What's happening in our world...

Tyler is kind of young to start the potty training thing, but he is OBSESSED with going on the potty. He even dumps it into the toilet and flushes when he is done and then washes his hands. Now all we need to do is get him to actually get his pee in the potty instead of all over the floor...

I am starting on line classes this week here for photography and photo editing. I am super excited and will be posting photos from my assignments over the next 6 weeks.

Breakfast with Papa and Nana

My parents started a tradition about a year ago of taking Tyler every Saturday morning for breakfast. They go to the Peppermill Grill by my house. I even tag along once in awhile if I can get ready in time. Tyler loves going to breakfast and pancake is one of the few legible words in his vocabulary. He knows all of the waitresses and gives them all hugs before he leaves. It's pretty cute.

The best part of the Saturday mornings is that they usually take him on trips to the tool store or the grocery store and I have a Saturday morning free. I should be cleaning or getting groceries right now and here I am wasting my time...

My parents sometimes run a little late getting here and Tyler always waits by the door saying there names over and over and over and over and over again...

Last week I was getting ready so I could go along and the doorbell rings. I went to see who was ringing my doorbell at 7:30 in the morning and it was my dear Tyler. He had managed to get outside by himself and was trying to get back in. Scared me to death. I locked the door and then took photos of him mad because he couldn't get out and then he rolled over tying to plot his escape.

Love

We had a nice low-key Valentines Day. Mike and I are fortunate enough to go on dates at least twice a month, that we didn't really want to battle the crowds to go out on Valentines. We didn't do any cards or gifts either. Mike helped me a TON around the house over the weekend plus was super patient at the mall on Saturday evening. Romantic? No...but just what I needed.

Tyler having a more and more common two year old moment. Where did my sweet baby go???

Photo Edits

Original Image

I have had some people ask about how I edit my photos. I used to use a free trial of Lightroom by Adobe, but now use Picnik. A friend from work told me about it. The best part...it is free or you can pay $24.95 for a year of extra features, which is what I do. I took an original photo of Tyler and edited it 6 ways at Picnik to show some of the things you can do. I like to combine multiple actions to get the results. Have fun!

Sunny Sunday

Click on each strip to see images larger if you wish...