Columbus Zoo

Tyler trying to figure out how to get us to the Train Station. Tyler thinking we are on the right track to the station!

Found the station, but no train today! Polar Bears playing ball.

Today was a cool day (high of 72 degrees), so I thought it would be a great day for Tyler and I to go to the Columbus Zoo. I was not the only person who thought that! If we still lived in Florida, I would have thought we were at Disney by the crowd! It was so crowded you had to wait your turn to see animals, and the walkways were so crowded you had to take baby steps! It was not at all enjoyable for us!

Tyler was very impatient when it came to walking around with all the people. But when we finally got up to any animal he just worked his way up to the front then SCREAMED "Grandma where are you"! People let me go up front with him . . . . . . so it worked, but it was also embarrassing for me!

Tyler was our Tour Guide. He is into giving me directions where ever we go, and since we had a map, he was constantly reading it. It was very entertaining just listening to him tell me how to get where he wanted to go. His main goal was to get us to the Train Station for a ride around the Zoo. It took us a few hours to get to the Train Station (by his directions) and once there we found out it was broken down. Tyler was not at all a Happy Zoo Goer!

The Polar Bear exhibit is new to the Columbus Zoo. It was absolutely wonderful. Once Tyler got us up front (by his method) we had a great view of the polar bears playing. We stood for over an hour and watched them. They played in the water directly in front of Tyler. He laughed and yelled every time the bears would throw the ball at the glass in front of him. He also yelled when one of the bears "pooped" in the water!

We had a fun day even though it was super crowded! Tyler had a good nap on the way home!

Grandma Kerr

Hemmert Family Vacation

The boys exhausted after a long day of play!


Tyler helping Grandpa drive the boat

Uncle Todd taking Tyler & Erik on the tube

Daddy & Tyler tubing

Cousins enjoying the boat ride

This weekend we went to Seneca Lake for the Hemmert Family vacation. All the cousins had a great time running around the cabins, eating smores, and of course riding in the boat!

Tyler has not had many rides on a boat before, so when he asked to ride in the tube, I was impressed! Daddy and Tyler had a great time riding in the tube together. After they were finished, Tyler wanted to go again. So, Uncle Todd took Tyler and Erik on a ride together. They were all snug together, I thought they were going to take a nap! When Tyler wasn't riding on the tube, he enjoyed just looking over the edge of the boat at the water.

The boys were on the go all day long. There was a beach area that had two slides in the lake. They loved those slides! It was hard to keep them out of the water. When they were out of the water, they would run and roll in the sand, build sand volcanoes and sand castles. Once we were back at the cabin, they still found energy! They went on nature walks, threw football, played at the park and enjoyed eating smores around the campfire. Needless to say, at the end of the day we had some very exhausted children!

Tyler is looking forward to his next Hemmert Family vacation. He may just try to tube by himself!

Construction Equipment at COSI

Driving a Steam Roller. Tyler and Grandma on the End Loader.

Driving a Bulldozer.

Actually operating an Excavator.

Getting picked up by a Crane.

Who is thinking"7th Heaven"! That's what Tyler was in on our trip to COSI ! Tyler has every piece of construction equipment and knows it's use. We have a number of books and DVD's which he reads/watches over and over again! While driving in the car, Tyler is always on the lookout for more equipment. So this day was definitely Tyler's Day!!

Once we arrived at COSI (which is known as a "Hands On Museum") he was given a yellow hard hat. He wore it proudly and felt like a real construction worker! Tyler was beaming from ear to ear and said "WOW this is pretty cool man"! We went from machine to machine. He got to sit on all and some he got to actually operate!

Some of the machines he had fun on was the bulldozer, crane, excavator, forklift, backhoe, end loader, front loader, steam roller, skid steer loader, and power trowel. Grandma didn't know one from the other, but Tyler knew them all!

Tyler was lifted into the air by a Crane! He sat on a forklift and moved the fork up & down and in & out! But the biggest smile came when he got to operate his favorite machine, the Excavator! He actually got to scoop up dirt and dump it out! Once the crew worker explained to Tyler what to do, he went to work! He was one excited little guy scooping and dumping!

It's going to be a challenge to try to top this day for Tyler!

Grandma Kerr

Pedaling

Riding his new bike. Loves to watch the wheels go round and round!

Tyler and Mommy.

Anyone who knows Tyler, knows he is a little on the stubborn side. He has pedaled "backwards" for quite awhile now, but has refused to pedal "forward". He tells us "it's to hard for me". Well, that is behind him now. Tyler loves to pedal his bike now! I do think his favorite part of riding the bike is watching the back wheels! He is not ready to have the training wheels off, but he loves to ride up and down the sidewalk.

Grandma Kerr

Great Aunt Mary

Purple beaded necklace from "the Treasure Box" Eating dinner at Taco Bell.

Great Uncle Mike performing.

Tyler upset with Aunt Mary.

Nothing makes Tyler any happier than a Play Date with his Great Aunt Mary. She plays anything he wants; whether it's getting buffalo out of a tree, Lone Ranger, football, race cars, trains, Monster Trucks, or working with his tools. He tells her how to play and what to say, she has learned to follow his directions very well.

On Tyler's last of school, he got to get in the "treasure box" to get himself a special treat. But instead of getting something for himself, he chose something for Aunt Mary. He chose for her a lovely purple beaded necklace. Mommy and Grandma were very envious of her! lol Tyler was so excited to give the gift to Aunt Mary and see her big smile!

To show off the lovely necklace we went out to dinner. Mary wore it proudly! Mommy is craving Taco Bell right now, so we eat there with a stop at McDonald's for Tyler.

Great Uncle Mike was performing at a local ice cream shop so after dinner we stopped by to listen to him sing. He had a nice crowd to listen. Tyler doesn't know the songs he sings, but he does enjoy the music. But there was one thing Tyler did NOT enjoy! Aunt Mary got up and danced with a man and Tyler was very upset. He cried and said he wanted "my Mary to sit here with me NOW"! He has learned jealousy at a young age of 4!

Once we got home they continued to play until it was bedtime. I know Tyler dreamed of all the fun he had with his favorite Aunt Mary. And I am sure Aunt Mary had a good nights sleep also!

Grandma Kerr

Hair Cut Alone

Driving a tractor while enjoying a haircut! The powder cleanup for the itches.

Proud to say "cheese" after the haircut!

The finished haircut!

Haircuts have always been a very big challenge for Tyler. He has "The Hemmert" hair which stands straight up, so we need to keep it short (almost buzzed). Grandma Kerr used to cut his hair and it took Mommy, Daddy and Papa to hold him down. Tyler would kick his feet, arch his back and scream bloody murder. (check older postings for pictures) Once we cut his hair in the garage, and the neighbors came out to see if he was okay!

We all dreaded the haircut nights, so Grandma retired her clippers and we started taking him to the pros for their help. When we first started going to "Cookie Cutters" he had to sit on someones lap and he still cried! After a few visits he realized they weren't going to hurt him so he quit crying, but still wouldn't sit by himself.

That day is behind us all. Tyler is now a real big boy! He sat by himself for his first haircut and seemed to have enjoyed it. He kept a smile on his face the whole time. He was as pleased with himself as we were of him.

Grandma Kerr

Last Day of School

Tyler with Mrs. Stark and Mrs. Garrett. Tyler with teachers and classmates.

Today was the last day of PreSchool for Tyler. He loves school and he loves his teachers. Mrs. Stark (Head Teacher) was wonderful with the children. She was very soft spoken and easy going. Tyler loved following the daily routines she set up. Mrs. Garrett (Teacher's Aid) was a joy to be with. She loved Tyler's laugh and he loved it when she would hug him.

With 5 children in the classroom and 2 teacher's, Tyler got a lot of attention and a good start on his education. They provided us with a big stack of worksheets to continue his learning this summer.

I am looking forward to spending time this summer with Tyler and seeing life through the eyes of 4 year old.

Grandma Kerr

Luau at PreSchool

Tyler and his new girlfriend, Genny. 3-Legged Race with Genny

The Sack Race.

Tyler hugging Genny good-bye.

School is coming to an end, so the school celebrated with a Luau. To Tyler it was just a fun party with NO pizza. But FUN he did have. They cooked hot dogs and mac & cheese, so Tyler soon forgot about NO pizza.

Tyler and his friend Genny, had a great time. Genny did whatever and went where ever Tyler wanted. They were partners in the 3-Legged Race, which was a lot of fun to watch! They ran in a Sack Race, which Tyler was not very good since he doesn't know how to hop. But once again, it was fun to watch. They played in a swimming pool of bubbles, ball tosses, squirt gun fights, plus a lot of running around and laughing. It was such a fun day for everyone.

To end the day Tyler and Genny hugged good-bye to a fun filled day.

Grandma Kerr