A day at the park, dog park!

We decided that Bourbon was long over due for a trip to the dog park.  After being left home for over a week, with good company (Thank you Bolins and Jesse for staying with our needy puppy dog), we thought he could use a hour or so going some place fun.  After church and lunch, we gathered everyone up and headed over to Squirrel Ridge Dog Park.  We use to take Bourbon there all the time when we lived on that side of town but since we moved and Landon has been born Bourbon has not been back. 

Bourbon had a blast and all the dogs were well behaved.  Landon thought all the dogs were great!  About half way through Landon saw the playground and since I was a little worried about a playful dog barreling me over I thought we should head over to play while Josh stayed with Bourbon. 
Landon and I had fun exploring the playground.  Our favorite was the swings.

(Click to enlarge)

At the end of our trip everyone had fun and was tired.  It made for a nice family nap afternoon. 

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music."

I love listening to music.  I love singing too, although I am not very good at it.  Josh LOVES music, listening, playing and singing (He is pretty good at all of it too).  It only makes sense that a child who comes from two music lovers would be one himself.  Landon love listening to music, singing, dancing, and playing it.  He has an amzing beat too.  Since he was 6-7 months old he could find the beat in a lot of songs. 

Zach, the little boy I care for during the week also loves music. 

To encourage this love, I try to do music things with them during the day.  I hadn't taken Landon to a music class at the library in a long time (Traveling, pregnancy, and life has gotten in the way) .  When Tonewood emailed me and let me know there were a few openings for their free demo classes I signed up the boys right away.  Landon has been to several demo classes and the library classes- he loves them. 

All morning and the night before Landon was talking about what he wanted to play, mostly about the drums.  HE was so excited.  When Zach came over, Landon told him we were going to music class.  Zach became equally as excited even though he really didn't know what we were doing.  

Landon is normally shy around new people or ones he isn't around a lot.  He must have remembered the instructor, who is amazing!  He was talking away and even gave him a big hug at the end. 

Both boys had a blast and did a great job.  I think they were the life of the class.  Singing loud, dancing in the center of the circle, copying all the moves of the teacher, and playing the instruments.

Thanksgiving, 50+ hour car trip, and a Wedding

I love Thanksgiving.  It has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember.  It is great because family and friends get together and spend time with each other and there is normally less stress than we all add to ourselves during Christmas season.


   This year was completely different than any other Thanksgiving Josh or I have ever had.  Growing up our families celebrated with local family or friends.  This year we joined the Niceville Williams (Josh's parents and 2 youngest siblings- Jeremiah and Jamiie) for a 24+ hour car ride (which means it was closer to a 30+ car ride for Josh, Landon and me) to Connecticut.  Why would we drive all the way up there?  Well, Jon's, Josh's oldest younger brother's, fiance lives there and they were getting married the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  So we joined the LaCombe's in there Thanksgiving celebration.  It was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed meeting Jon's new family.  It was really nice getting to know Merry and her family a little better.  Josh's family, including Josh and me are all about family and have been a disappointed that we don't know Merry as well as we would like.  We have been so excited for them and looking forward to having a new family member but really wanted to know her better.  Traveling up and meeting all of her family helped a lot.  We were able to meet some of Merry's friends and all of her family.  It is great that now we feel like part of her family because in our minds she is a wonderful blessed addition to our family. 

Friday afternoon/evening was spent decorating for the wedding and reception, at the rehearsal and with Merry's family and friends at the rehearsal dinner.  This was also a great time to get to know Merry and her friends and family.  Everyone was so welcoming and friendly.  Merry's family treated us just like we were a part of the family and it was obvious to us that family is very important to them.  To us, family is only second to our relationship with Jesus Christ.  It was warming to see a group of people who would soon be apart of our family to think so much of family.  The reception was held at the church that the wedding was to take place in.  The girls, Jessica, Jamiie Jo, Sally and I helped with the decorating.  Everything was beautiful.  That evening after running home to change we all meet up at the church for a quick rehearsal.  Everything went well so we packed up and headed to Merry's dad's house for a casual rehearsal dinner of pizza and salad.

Saturday we woke up early to get ready and get to the church.  The wedding was at 10 am.  The church was about 20 minutes away from our hotel.  Almost all the wholes family was in the wedding- Josh, Jessica, Jeremiah, Jamiie Jo, and Landon so we had to make sure to be there early. The wedding went off without any hitch, that I could tell.  Landon did amazing and was so handsome.  He was very excited to be the ring boy and in his Mommy's opinion was the best little ring boy ever!  Josh was so handsome in his tux.  Wedding always remind me of our wedding day and reminds me of the commitment I made to the man of my dreams that God blessed me with.  I felt very special having two handsome guys to call mine.  Merry was gorgeous.    They had a breakfast buffet for the reception which was very yummy!  Everything was great and we had a wonderful time.  We also were able to see our college roommates.  Jon invited the Hurst and since they only live 4-5 hours away from where the wedding was they were able to come and sat with us at the reception.  After the reception was over Ryan and Landon played in the nursery of the church while the grown-ups chatted and changed for our car drives home. 

After saying our good-byes and sending Jessica and Sally off with the LaCombe's to the airport we set out on our very long drive back home.  Traveling on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving was not the best.  We were stuck in stop and go traffic for about 1-2 hours on Saturday and on Sunday it was vloser to 3-4 hours.  Sunday trafffic was a lot more stopped traffic than anything, which meant our 10 hour day turned into a 13-14 hour day and driving much later than anyone wanted to be in the car.

Landon did really great on the drive up there and back.  He played, read books, talked to everyone, looked out the window and napped during the drive.  The only time he fussed about being in the car was on the way back once it became dark and past 6-7pm.  Really by then no one was happy about being in the car.  We had him wear a diaper just in case.  Also the stomach flu issues was a little worrisome with a toddler.  He had a clean dry diaper both ways the whole time!  We actually never had to stop just for him.  He just happened to go when everyone else needed to go. 

On the way up to CT.   Charlotte, NC was one of our stops.  Our good friends, the Whitlock's live there so after checking in the hotel and helping everyone get their luggage inside, Josh Landon and I headed over to their house for a yummy dinner and some time with our friends.  Landon and Issac had fun playing together.  They are both quiet calm boys so  I think they really enjoyed each others company.  Josh and I had a great time catching up with Jimmy and Katie.  It is great to see friends who live so far away and just pick up where we left off. We all loved meeting their news addition, Jovie.  Josh and I really miss the Whitlock's and loved spending a few hours with them. 

Katie- I think we brought you the stomach flu.  Sorry for getting you and Issac sick, especially over Thanksgiving.  Sorry!


The only downside to this whole Thanksgiving trip/season was Josh, Landon and I ended up with a stomach flu.  Landon and I started with the flu on our second day of traveling.  Josh didn't until the middle of our trip.  Thankfully it wasn't as bad as the stomach flu we had earlier this year.  Let me tell you know, being pregnant and having the stomach flu after already spending 22 weeks with morning sickness, is NO FUN!  Landon and I could eat but only a few bites of food during meal time and nothing to flavorful.  I kept getting dizzy and nauseated from not being able to eat enough but would have to run to the bathroom if I eat to much and be nauseous for a couple hours afterward, so it was a loose loose situation.  Josh, Landon, and I spent the first day there resting in the hotel room while everyone else went out.  Our last day in CT, the day of the wedding, both Landon and I  had most of our appetite back.  Josh's flu although but more mild lasted a day or two after we returned home.


**Click on any of the colleges to enlarge them**

Traveling and in the hotel

Whitlock Visit

Thanksgiving

Brothers' Night out

The Rehearsal and Dinner

 Wedding and Photo Sessions Favorites

Before and after the wedding favorites

When Traveling with the Williams this is a stop we always make if near by.  They have yummy free treats and the best ice cream shakes!!!  This time we made it during when they were showing how they made all the yummy candies.

A quick hello to the Gormans before heading back to Gainesville

Landon and his opinions

Landon although only a few months past his second birthday is VERY opinionated.  He is willing to compermise but not always.  He is typically very vocal about his opinion. 

I thought a great and a funny example of this was yesterday when Josh took him to the store.  I think they were buying a Christmas present for Mommy but I wasn't aloud to know.  Josh came home and told me this story.

They had finished up their shopping and went to a check out line.  The lines at Wal-Mart were VERY long- they actually waited for 15 minutes in line!  While waiting a lady was pulled her cart behind them.  She had done some grocery shopping.  Landon was riding on Josh's shoulders so he had a good view of everything including the lady's cart.  Landon started naming the things in her cart, "bananas, apples, cereal," and etc.  Then he said "No mayonnaise! Where is the mayonnaise? NO mayonnaise!"  Apparently he thought this lady should enjoy one of his favorite things to add to a sandwich, eggs, or a number of other things. 

I cracked up laughing when Josh told me this.  Not only is what Landon said funny to me it just show's how much he is like his daddy!  The Williams boys sure do LOVE their mayonnaise and aren't afraid to let people know it. 

Fall is Here

Landon enjoying the cool air and fall leaves.

Daddy Love

What a way to start the day!

Food

I decided to post about food since I noticed I had taken several pictures of things we had made.

Homemade turkey pot pie

Chicken eggs, from one day!

Daddy and Landon made so homemade liver worst.  Landon even liked it!

yummy pumpkin!

Helping mommy make pumpkin/ banana bread muffins- again!

They are so good!

We also made some corn bread

and pumpkin cookies (dozen plain, dozen with chocolate chips and half dozen with walnuts) - I forgot to take a picture of them when they were done but they tasted yummy!

Bolin visit!

The Bolins stayed with us for 2 days.  Matt has been staying with us a couple night out of the week, the rest of the time he works here and drives to his sister in laws house were Ashley and the boys are staying.  We are so excited they are moving back and are praying that soon they will get to sell their house in Iowa, live in a house in Gainesville that they own. 

25 Weeks

Before heading to go visit my parents for the week I had my November check up.  Baby Williams and Mommy are doing great!  Landon was super excited to hear his baby sister/brother's heartbeat.  He started dancing to it.  It cracked Dr Marichal up. 

I have also stopped with my morning sickness.  22 weeks was enough!  Plus I seem to not be getting the migraines I was getting and got the whole 2nd and 3rd  trimester with Landon.  I am praying that they stay away. 

Can't wait to meet you little one!

November visit to see Grandma and Grandpa Gorman

Landon and I drove up to visit with my parents.  I always worry a little making the drive by myself with Landon but he did great.  Unfortunately, we both were sick most of the time we were there. It was good timing going because Josh was hired at UF and he still had jobs lined up with his business so he was working over 40 hours that week.  It was nice to have help with Landon all day while I was sick.  Even though we were sick and Landon took a trip to the ER because of some breathing problems we had  fun visiting. 

Bubble time!

Landon was very spoiled at the ER.  They give a stuff animal and a ticket to the local aquarium to any child who checks in but Landon got 3! Plus a handful of cool Band-Aids and sticky hands.  Considering he was sick he had a great time!

Grandpa and Landon making the same silly face

Love you!

Some things I missed posting in Oct

Some things I just didn't get to post about...



Our small group had a little birthday for JP before we started one Friday night.

We added a few finishing touches to Landon's room.  Thanks Linda B for thinking of Landon and giving him the gecko.  I painted it so the colors go a little better with his room.  He loves it.  He also loves his little art wall display.

We finally have chicken eggs!  We ate, with the help of our small group, 4 of the red roosters.  They were pretty tasty.  We had a big "down with the mean red roosters" cook out with some of our friends.  Thanks everyone who came early and helped Josh with the de-feathering.  I didn't take any pictures because although I really enjoy eating chicken and really disliked those mean red roosters, the whole killing and cleaning them just is not for me.  Michelle and I stood back and made sure one children hurt themselves and supervised far far away.  Now we have 2 white ones (which I might add are very sweet), plus a friend of ours just recently gave of 3 brown chickens which are called Easter egg chicken due to the fact that they lay blue eggs.  We also found out we have a female duck so we are also getting duck eggs.  We typically get 3-5 eggs a day.

A couple of pictures are just of Landon and Zach playing since I now watch Zach regularly.



This second group of pictures is from out field trip to UF's bird guy.  Our friend Michelle arranged a  private tour for her and her boys, Landon and I and our friends the Blaszczyks.  It was very interesting seeing all the eggs of thousands and thousands of birds.  The stuffed dead birds was cool and a little strange at the same time.  The kids really enjoyed it.  Thanks Michelle for putting the tour together for us!

 I love this smile!!!!

Silly Boy!

UF Butterfly Fest

We went to the Butterfly Fest at UF.  It was a free event put on by University of Florida Museum of Natural History.  They released butterflies and had lots of booths to look at, make crafts, and buy things.  Aunt Jamiie and Uncle Jeremiah were in town for the weekend so Sally and they joined us.

On our way
We had Grandpa Williams' van which was great

Landon loves the big windows



They had lots of cool things to look at...

Birds

Shark attack!

Landon loved the butterflies.

and touch...

Baby Gator

and make...

Watching how to make the butterfly

The ladies making the ears were very nice!

Decorating his butterfly

We had a great time!

Fall Festivals and Halloween

Our sweet pumpkin

This year was lots of fun because Landon was old enough to get excited about dressing up and going to all the parties. Landon was a fire man this year. We also had a elephant costume that a friend had handed down but it was a true Florida fall so the elephant costume was to warm to make the cut.  Depending on how Landon grows and how cold next year is, we might try it again. 

I am trying out the college feature on Picasa.  It is pretty neat what you can do with it.  I had fun :)

Pumpkin Baked Yummies

When the temperature starts to drop a little it put me in the mood for baking.  Landon loves cooking so he has been helping me out a lot.  He LOVES baking, especially when I let him hand mix the dry ingredients. 
 We made several pumpkin recipes but mostly pumpkin banana bread.  Landon's favorite!


Duck Pond Fall Festival

I heard about a local Fall Festival that had free food and game for the kids so I thought it would be fun to take Landon.  I watch Zach now during the week and Kayla on Wednesday afternoons so I thought they would enjoy coming with us.  The kids had fun getting to dress up.  I help Kayla with some Rock Star glitter. Zach was a dragon or dinosaur (he changed his mind a couple of times when I asked).  Josh got off work just in time to go with us.  We had free dinner which was just hot dogs, chips, homemade cookies (they also had meat loaf which Josh had but none of the kids were interested in that... big surprise!).  They had lots of games with prizes to win and a bounce house. Landon's favorite was the bounce house.  The kids all had a lot of fun and filled up on way too much sugar, in my opinion- they handed out cookies layered in frosting like it was water at a summer out door event! Zach, Kayla and Landon left with a hand full of little toys from the games and smiles.

Harvest Fall Festival

We went to our church's Fall Festival.  Josh cooked the food while Landon and I enjoyed food, game booths and line dancing.

We had a great Halloween/ Fall season celebrating all the fun you can have getting dressed up, spending time with friends and eating pumpkin baked goods!

Buddies

Lets go to the circus!

I won 5 tickets for the circus.  It was super small and way out in the middle of no where.  We actually got lost looking for it but we did get there.  It was in Hawthorne off some small country road.  It was kinda funny because on the road there were more signs for the local church's fall festival than the circus.  We brought along Landon's friends Joshua and Nate.  It was fun and we stopped at a local burger place and had some of the best burger ever!

Josh wanted to ride the ponies so all the boys joined him.

Landon loved it.  He still to this day (almost 2 months now- I really need to stop being so behind on posting things) talks about riding a black pony, NOT a horse.  He will also tell you, Hold tight to horn.  Which is what I told him ONCE right before he got on.  This kid has an amazing memory!

Main enterance

The boys and me- sitting on the second row from the bottom

Ready for the show

The ring master

Hanging out with Daddy

It was very intense for Landon- he loved watching the girl with the hulu hoops

Hulu hoop girl

This little boy had some juggling skills

This was his older brother

The older brother did a Michael Jackson skit while juggling flaming pins

The lady with her ponys

The clown picked out a few "Strong Men" to help- turns out he just wanted to make them look silly

A table of men- they held it there for a while

Landon loved watching Daddy preform!

STRONG!

Flying "Strong" men- Josh is just a good sport!

Watching the little girl with Daddy

This little girl was pretty amazing!

Dad juggling his daughter while she did the hulu hoops

 

Last show was the ladies on her horse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a fun free night with the boys even if it was the tiniest circus I have ever seen.