Pit stop at the Qarmout's

Our final stop on our way back to Ohio was in New Jersey at Ethan's cousin's house. We stayed with them a few years ago and have seen them a few other times since then. Their kids are really growing!

Nina-Katherine and Taya bonded over gathering rocks. Jenny recently posted on Facebook that all of Nina's dolls are now named "Taya".
Laila took a liking to Nima. She really loves animals. Jenny posted that all of Laila's stuffed animals are now named "Nima".

Taya managed to find a comfortable spot in Laila's lap.

Along the trip we stopped at a truck stop and I saw Alan Jackson's tour trucks. There were 4 of them.

Taya was a very good girl on the 10 hour trip home. At one point she was intertaining herself by smelling her toes.

Connecticut trip

Taya and I were blessed with a week at Fenwick with my mom and Jarv while Ethan finished up some tasks in Omaha. I didn't get my camera out very much but Ethan took a few on our last day there. We are able to take Jarv's golf cart over to a playground near the beach. Taya had a blast!

Ethan let Taya help "drive"

First family photo sans braces!!! Look at those pearly whites!

We took the long way back to Ohio via NYC. Ethan was determinted to drive in the city (not just by it)

Citi Field where the Mets play

Getting on the Brooklyn Bridge

The United Nations which was new for us; we didn't make it there during our previous visit.

I took some pictures while Ethan was driving in the city. He did an awesome job. He even got in the thick of it with the yellow cabs...

Driving by Union Station, which we toured during our previous visit.

Entering Times Square

Times Square

We walked about 4 or 5 blocks down to the river near the Intrepid Museum which we saw last time. Ethan remembered there was a nice park near there so we bought some pizza at a local joint and hung out for about an hour before we left town.

One night at the Banks's

A few pictures we took of Taya and Eli one evening during our stay there.

Taya says goodbye to Donna's Little Darlings

Taya's last day at Donna's Little Darlings daycare was Friday, May 7, 2010. For the last few weeks the staff there kept telling us how sad they were that Taya was leaving and that they really loved her. That made me sad on her last day and again, I teared up a little. I was thinking back to the first day we took her there and how sad I was and how I felt like a bad mother that I couldn't stay home with my child. Taya has grown so much over the past 20 months and I feel that her (and my) experience at daycare was a good one.
Taya can now count to 5 by herself and with prompting can count to 10. She loves to sing the "Bumble Bee" song, "Patty Cake" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" by herself but loves it even more if one of us sings with her. She is now eating by herself with less mess and is wanting to sit in a grown up chair more than her high chair. I just feel her development is great for her age and I think daycare helped with that!
Anyway, I left my camera at Donna's on Taya's last day and they got some adorable shots of Taya with her friends. I feel bad that I don't know everyone's name in the photos.
Taya getting a hug from Sam who has been with Taya since her first day.

A kiss for Sam. How cute is that?

Sam is on the far left and Taya in the center.

Taya's favorite staffer, Corrine. They had a special bond. Corrine told us she wants a girl just because of Taya (she already has a son).

Another staffer, forgot her name...

Kissing more boys.

Eating lunch like a big girl...no highchair!

Corrine again.

Taya in the toy box?!

There is a castle at Donna's and Taya loved it.

Corrine, Taya, and Stephanie (another staffer). The little one is Stephanie's daughter but I don't know her name.

Thank you to Donna's Little Darlings for the great care. Taya misses you!

More random pics

Ethan's boss in Omaha had a going away BBQ. Below are a few pictures from that evening.
Taya being a big girl sitting on a stool.

Taya helping Ken's daughter, Laina, spread out a picnic blanket.

Taya and Laina reading.

We stayed with Ryan, Emily, and Eli Banks during our last week in Omaha. We are so blessed by their friendship and hospitality. One evening we tried to get the kids to bathe together (mostly to get some cute pictures) but Eli wasn't having anything to do with it.

Ethan's co-worker and friend, Jennifer Endres, and her family had us over for dinner one evening. Her daughter Layla is so cute. Below are a few pictures.

What a cutie, huh??