So sad...

Just packing up our suitcases and getting ready to leave tomorrow. Very sad :( The only consolation is that I know in my heart we will be back here very VERY soon! We would love to get a timeshare here and need to get more information regarding this... so keep your fingers crossed!!

For all of the family members - our plan is to leave tomorrow around 2pm - nap time. We are planning on driving 4 to 6 hours, depending on how our little traveller does. We are going to enjoy our morning here though. Our last hurrah!

Todays photo shoot at the beach

Lyla turned 2 last week and of course you have to get pictures done for such a milestone. Before we came to Hilton Head I thought about getting pictures done professionally here - both family and Lyla's 2nd birthday. After calling around and finding out the prices - yikes - I have taken to doing my own pictures.... Here are some of Lyla's 2nd year pictures. Thank goodness I brought Lyla's 2 shirt - Thanks Aunt Pam!

Running by a sea shell that caught her eye...

Stopping to check it out...



And picking it up..

Picture of the day....

Another beautiful day here on Hilton Head Island. We spent the morning on the beach and at the pool. Lyla is currently having her nap. Everything is going well and sad that tomorrow is our last day. Starting to noitice that Lyla is sounding croupy at night and nap time with cough and some stridor.. going to have to watch that. Otherwise we are all having a great time!

Hilton Head....

Some pictures for your viewing preasure of our vacation in Hilton Head. Can't write anything as Lyla just woke up from her nap and we have to head out to the beach or pool or go bike riding.. what ever we want to do... Hope everyone enjoys the pictures...

Our resort...

anyone knoe how to get this lens flash out??

Lyla's 2nd birthday

Today my baby doll turns 2! Where has 2 years gone? In fact, her actual birth time is 4:06 pm - so as I type she is 2 years old! She slept right through the 4:06 marker today. That is alright - we are going to celebrate when Daddy gets home from work.

Anyways, back to reminiscing - where has 2 years gone? How can my little baby be such a big girl. I feel like just yesterday that I was bringing her come from the hospital. Where it has been 2 whole years. Lyla has learned so much in these last two years it is astronomical!

Today has been a rainy day -similar to May 11, 2008. It was a rainy dull day the day she was born. Today has been a constant rainy day which reminded me of going to the hospital to have Lyla.

We celebrated her birthday this past Saturday at Nana and Papa's house. The theme this year was barnyard. This was very fitting as Lyla loves anything to do with the farm. She loves going to Nana and Papa's to go to see Windy the horse beside their house, and to go visit Uncle Bill's farm - especially Murray the Cow.

Here are some pictures from Lyla's 2nd Birthday party...

Such a pretty girl!! Love this picture - notice the cow in hand!

Our family photo!

Here is the spread. Yummy barbecued beef on a bum, broccoli salad, rotini salad, veggies.. mm mm it was all so good! Thanks to Huron Shores catering!

Cousins... Lyla loves playing with Jillian and Matthew. She looks forward to playing with them whenever we go to Nana and Papas house.Ta-Da! Here is the cake! It was a 9 x 13 chocolate cake that I made into a barn. Then white cupcakes decorated either like chicks, pigs or sheep! This cake was super cute and not too difficult to make. It was a lot of fun and a crowd pleasure too! The kiddies all loved the pig cupcakes. So much that I have only barn cake left and Lyla wants pig cupcakes for her actual birthday. So today I made more pig cupcakes so she can have some tonight.
After we sang happy birthday and Lyla blew out her candle she picked her pig cupcake right from the tray...

And boy oh boy it was yummy...Here are the girls admiring Lyla's baby cousin Kayley...Opening the gifts...
Jillian was a good big helper..

Here is a picture of Lyla and her grandparents - Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and Papa.

More cousin pictures...

Lyla loved the party hats and the party blowers. She enjoyed blowing the blowers very much!

It was a great 2nd birthday party! We all had lots of fun!

Tonight we are going to have our own small party. I haven't decided what to do for dinner but we will figure it out. It is still pouring rain here!

Dear Lyla -

Today you turn 2! Look at you! You have become such a big girl and such a big helper to me. I always am telling you that you have nice helping hands as you are always wanting to help me in the kitchen, cleaning the house or tiding up your toys. You love to read books and your vocabulary is fantastic. There is nothing you cant say. You talk to me in sentences now! You love other kids and love to play with kids either your cousins or kids at the park or gymboree. You love to be outside riding your bike, going for walks, or playing in your water table.

You have a funny sense of humor and make silly faces all the time. You ask 'why' a lot now. You are learning to potty train and haven't poop in your pants since before Christmas! You are very independent and try to do things yourself. You still need some help. You are even trying to put on your own clothes at times. You love trucks, diggers and cranes and look for them while we drive. You still call me Muma which makes my heart melt. Your favorite shows are Caillou, little bear and Thomas. You are a very sweet girl and I love you with all my heart! Happy 2nd Birthday baby doll! xoxo

Day out with Thomas

Yesterday was one of the best days ever. First of all it was Mother's Day which is reason to celebrate in itself. And to me, Mother's Day is like Lyla's birthday since she was born on Mother's Day. But yesterday was extra special because we got to spend the day with Thomas the Train! Thomas made his way to Greenfield Village. This was the perfect venue for Thomas as you felt like you were on the Island of Sodor and Thomas was taking us for a ride to show us his island and the village had many similarities to the Island of Sodor. Lyla was super excited about this event. In the morning we just started talking about Thomas and said to Lyla 'Lets go for a drive and see if we can find Thomas.' Sure enough, we found him - and oh it was a great day!

Here is Lyla seeing Thomas coming around the bend of the track when we got there. She was so excited and pleased that we had truly found Thomas. Here he was - our first sighting of our beloved engine.

We quickly made our way to the train station as we were on the next ride. Here we are waiting for Thomas to come into the station to pick us up. Lyla brought her own Thomas on the ride.

Here he comes to get us!

Love this picture.. Lyla with Thomas' number 1 as he coasted into the train station.

Getting ready for the train to leave the station. Can you tell we were excited??

Enjoying the scenery sitting on Daddy's lap as Thomas chugged along.

The one handed family photo as the train rode along.. Truly - Lyla loved it. Even though in this picture she looks bored to death!

The train went through the village and then out into the woods. Here is a shot of Thomas going around the corner, steaming along, pulling his cars.

Back in the station admiring Thomas...

Here is a Cranky the Crane!

Daddy and Lyla strolling along the street to go find Sir Topham Hat...

While Daddy was waiting in line to see Sir Topham Hat, Lyla and I went to the Shed to see where Thomas sleep and to see his wash down station where he has his bath.. Here is the shed and the turntable so Thomas can turn around and go back to work.

This steam engine was warming up as we were walking around.. Here is was blowing his horn at Lyla.

Oh finally! Sir Topham Hat! Lyla wanted to say Thank you to 'Topham Hat' for bringing Thomas to visit us. She whispered it so quiet when we got up to him, but she did thank him.

Here is Topham Hat and Lyla!

It was a perfect day to blow bubbles. They had a tent with bubble wands and Lyla enjoyed this.

Next Lyla went onto the driving track and drove around some small cars. She loved this as well..

Of course, more Thomas photos -- here he comes into the station again....

Lyla looking at Thomas in awe...

A real close of up Thomas... Here Lyla got her picture taken with Thomas. We got a family shot as well, which we purchased and I put it in a frame in Lyla's room. That was the first thing she talked about this morning was her picture of Thomas and us.

The great thing about the village was that it was widespread and you could go away from the crowds and see Thomas coming without a lot of people around.. Here he was coming around the bend...

As he passed by us...

Here was our little engineer as she was waiting for Thomas to pass by..

Other sights to see where the horses - another favorite for Lyla. You could go for horse carriage rides, model t car rides, and old bus rides through out the village..

We opted for the 100 year old carousel. Lyla had a hard time waiting in line for this, but she absolutely loved it and was very disappointed when her turn was over! Here are some cute pictures of her looking for me in the crowd...

Oh boy was she ever proud of her ride on the carousel!

After the carousel, we went to the gift shop and then made one more stop over to the station to see Thomas one last time...

Looking at the time on her new Thomas watch. Funny - every time Lyla checks the time it is 8 o-clock!

Happy Muma's Day!

Lets just say Lyla felt the water with her hands and wanted to go for a swim too!

Exactly 12 minutes after getting in the car here was our girl....

A day out with Thomas was one of the best family days we have had in a long time. Greenfield village provides the best setting for this venue. I would highly highly recommend this for children who love trains and love Thomas. Or as a matter of fact any child would love this. We worried that Lyla would be too young - but she enjoyed all that the day out had to offer. It was perfectly timed as a birthday outing for Lyla as well! We are already looking forward to going again next year.

Today Lyla has worn her Day out with Thomas shirt, played with her new train set, has taken her Thomas Balloon everywhere she has gone and has talked and talked about Thomas! It was so great! I am so glad that we got to go! Thanks Thomas for such a great day out!