Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Josh!

 New Years was spend at our house and with the Bolins and Sally.  We had a video game night.  While the little boys were awake they played Mario or Wii Play.  Once they went to bed we all played game show video games.  It was a fun, quiet evening with great friends. 

Playing the PS3

Making homemade Pizza

The boys had fun dressing up.

Our cheap champagne that was yummy tasting, I only had a few sips.

New Years/ birthday kiss for my wonderful husband

Happy Birthday to an amazing father and husband, Josh!

Josh's family bought him a receiver (for our entertainment center) for his birthday.  It happened to come a day before his birthday while he was gone (He was pet/house sitting for friends of ours and he had spent the night there).  I let the Williams know it had arrived and asked them if they wanted me to wrap it.  Before I did I had a great idea of surprising Josh.  I called back Dad Williams and asked him if he liked the idea, he did.  I called Josh to see how long until he came home and tell him the receiver had "stopped working and I needed hep to get it to work so the boys and I could listen to some music." He had just left so that would mean I should have 15-20 minutes. My story wasn't really that far fetched since we had been having problems with our old one.   As quickly as I could I unpacked it, unplugged (ALL the wires) and moved the old one.  In the meantime, Landon and Zach seem to need just about everything, so it was quite the tasks.  I also unplugged our computer (Thankfully we have a Mac and I only have to move a big screen) and called with Skye the Williams family who was visiting in Missouri with the rest of the family.  After I got them on and Zach and Landon said their hellos to everyone, I muted them and minimized the screen and set up the video camera.  Right as I finished, Josh walked in the door.  He went over to our cabinet with the electronics and opened the door.  He looked at the receiver for a second very confused before he realized it was a new one.  His reaction was perfect considering everyone was "watching" in Missouri.  I unmuted it, everyone said their hellos, and he got to say his thanks and share his surprise.  The best part was, this was the same day Josh surprised me with my scrapbooking day.  It was great!

Josh went out for a couple of hours with some guys friend to enjoy a birthday drink and some guy time.  While he was gone Landon and I had fun making him a birthday card.  Landon picked out the stamps and colors and designed it himself.  He even told me basically what to write in the card.    I was a little curious to how the card was going to turn out when the first things he picked our were red flowers.  I guess he knew what he was doing because he told me he was trying to make it look like a pond, which both Daddy and Landon enjoy.  He also thought Daddy would "really like Landon's hand prints" so he decided to have me help him put one inside and on the back of the card.  I think he did a great job!

We also watched a movie for Josh's birthday.  Landon enjoyed write his letters (which he is getting quite good at)  during the movie on his new easel. 

We had a great holiday/birthday.  Happy birthday, Joshua!!! We love you!!!!

Family photos

Our friend, Linda Bainter, ask to take some family photos of us.  Since we know she is a great photographer and I love having pictures we said "YES!"


Thank you Linda!!!

Here is the link to see the pictures...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3277703&id=2022607&l=8d7ccd7797

32 weeks

At 32 weeks

I had my 30 week check up 2 weeks or so before Christmas.  I forgot to post about it with all the Christmas stuff going on.  This pregnancy has whizzed by. I can't believe how close my due date is.  At my appointment in Dec. I was measuring exactly where I was suppose to.  Landon came with me and he was so excited to listen to Baby Williams heart beat again.  The only concern which was a little one, was my blood pressure had gone up.  Normally my highest blood pressure is at 110/72 and it was 128/85.  (I think 85) The main reason why Dr. Marichal is concerned is because I had preeclampsia with Landon.  My blood pressure started to climb about a month before he was due.  So if my blood pressure didn't go down, this time the whole thing would be starting earlier.

Since I am so late on posted I can let you know, I took my blood pressure at a friend's a couple of weeks later, it was the same but at my last appointment (Jan 4) it was back to normal.  I really appreciate all the prayers from everyone. 

We are looking forward to meeting our new addition.  I am a little nervous too, being a mom of two is a tiny bit scary.  Josh is just excited.  He loves babies and can't wait to add more to the Williams family.  I am really just a worry wort and worry about it no matter what.  I am very excited to meet him or her and to see Landon become a big brother.  He will make a wonderful big brother.

Prego Mom's Scrapbooking Day

I love my husband.


Here is the letter he gave me...

"Prego¹ Mom’s Scrapbooking Day!

I bet you didn’t know it but today is Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! 

Lady, you are in for a treat today!

A scrapbooking table will be set up, your supplies delivered, a special lunch has been prepared for you, and those kids you love so much will be put in good hands² for the day³ so that you can celebrate!

Sure, you’ve got stuff to do, so go get it done.

Figure out the minimum you need to get done to relax, complete your list, and then get to scrapbooking!

Those pictures, random paper menus, stickers, and miscellaneous pieces of sentimental paperwork won’t trim, shape or glue themselves! They need you!

If you have any questions, please ask any one of our team members⁴ and he or she will be happy to provide any information you need or fulfill any special requests that you may have.

From all of us in the business of selling paper bits at thousands of times their value in scrapbooking supply stores around the world, we sincerely and ecstatically wish you a

Happy Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day!

Disclaimers

1The term prego is used as a common slang term for the word “pregnant,” or the biblical phrase “being with child,” and is in no way affiliated with the Campbells® owned Prego® Italian sauce brand.

2The phrase, good hands, refers to the care of a reasonably competent, yet often absent-minded husband. The founders of Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! are in no way responsible for the care your children receive during this event.

3The word day in this ad refers to a minimal of 5 hours away from all responsibilities that are generally believed to hinder the average scrapbooking hobbyist. The founders of Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! are in no way responsible for this event coming to an end due to unforeseen circumstances such as but not limited to: husband’s flat tire, your water breaking,  child’s broken leg, husband’s broken leg, house fire, or any other natural or man-caused disaster. Note: man-caused disaster also referrers to terrorism, refer to Janet Napolitano for more details on this definition.

4The team members referred to are volunteers. The founders of Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! are in no way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided by these individuals. Have fun!"

My work station!

Play Time in December

Fun at the Williams house with two great little boys.

Playing game

Making castles, house, tents or whatever they dream up that day is a favorite

A little school work- Learning numbers, colors, and how to match

Best part about Christmas- all the boxes! 

Thanks to my parents and their awesome present to Josh and me (A new Sleep Number king bed) there were HUGE boxes to add to the fun.

 Play-Doh Fun

Landon's stories

Landon has become old enough to share with us thing things that go on in his head.  He has an great imagination.  He loves to make up stories.  On our way home from looking at lights on Christmas he told Daddy (and anyone in the car who would listen) this story... (As best as can be recalled)

Landon: Hurry! Lion chasing us! 
Daddy: Oh no, how big is he?
Landon: Elephant!
Daddy: A lion AND an elephant too?
Landon: No, lion! Lion big as elephant.
Daddy: A lion as big as an elephant? Oh no!
(Dramatic pause)
Landon: we're safe now.
Daddy, oh, is he a nice lion?
Landon: No, mean lion. Rrawww!
Daddy: How are we safe then?
Landon: Landon get him, Landon get lion.
Daddy: How did you get a lion as big as an elephant?
Landon: Landon get him, put in chair.
Daddy: Chair?
Landon: Yes, put lion in red chair, safe now.
Daddy: Where is he? Why can't we see him?
Landon: He's hiding.
Daddy:Where is the red chair, I don't see one?
Landon: Red chair in the woods behind trees.  Mean lion sitting on red chair hiding in trees.
Daddy: Well, that you for taking care of that mean lion, son.  

The End

I love this age!

"Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call. Their favorite time of the year"

This is the first Christmas that we have ever had at our house.  Josh couldn't take time off work and I have been having a lot of very strong Braxton Hicks (7-10 mins apart that last for  an hour or so about 2-4 times a week since a week after Thanksgiving) so I didn't want to be too far away.

We hosted a Christmas party since we weren't going out of town and had the time to have one.  Unfortunately, I complete forgot to take pictures.  It was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed having so many of our friends over to celebrate this special time of year.   Josh made a huge ham and I made cookies.  We had a pot luck.  The food was so yummy and boy was there a lot of it!  The weather was nice so we were able to enjoy our backyard and fire pit.  The kids enjoyed playing outside, in Landon's room and playing video games (I think there were several adults who also enjoyed the video games as well).  Chris and Crystal, very special friends of ours, came down for the weekend to celebrate.  They live in Fort Walton Beach, near where Josh and my parent's live.   Josh has been friend's with Chris since they were little boys and were in each others weddings as the Best Man.  It was great to have them down to visit and celebrate with us.  I hope everyone who came enjoyed themselves as much as Josh, Landon and I did.  Thank you everyone for helping us not miss traveling being home to be with our families this year!

Thankfully even though we were not able to make the trip home my parents, brother, Josh's parents, sister and brother all joined us for a wonderful Christmas.  Our friend Kevin also joined us on Christmas day for a few hours.

We were so excited everyone could come down and spend Christmas with us, even if it was only for 2 days.



The Williams arrived Thursday evening.  Landon and I were picked up by Grandpa Williams and we joined the rest of the crew, including Sally and Josh (who had to work out in Jonesville that day) at the Olive Garden.  We all enjoyed a yummy dinner and came home.  Friday late morning my parents and brother, Adam arrived.  We spent the day enjoy everyone's company.  The boys, minus my Dad and Landon, all went out to run a few last minute errands for a couple of hours during Landon's nap time. 
Josh made an amazing Christmas eve dinner for everyone.  Perfectly cooked salmon, Brussels sprouts, and Jeremiah made yummy mashed potatoes.  It was all so good!!  After dinner and ice cream, Landon opened one Christmas Eve present, another tradition of ours.  Landon opened a gift from my parents, a train book complete with 3 pages of tracks and a train that winds up and drives on the track.  Super cool!!  After Landon went to bed some last minute presents were wrapped, stockings stuffed, and a few hidden presents placed under the tree.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  We all woke up and started enjoying the day around 8:30am. It was so much fun to watch Landon opening up presents and giving the presents to our family members.  Sally joined us for a little bit in the morning before heading up to Tallahassee to spend Christmas with her family.  We had yummy banana nut bread for breakfast compliments of Aunt Jamiie.  Landon also had a nice helping of chocolate.  Sweets are very limited in our house but we made some exceptions for the Christmas holiday season.  Landon thoroughly enjoyed all the sweets this December- chocolate, peppermints, candy canes, cookies, and I am sure some other yummy sweets. 

Josh made a big turkey and lots of fixings for our Christmas lunch/dinner.  He is such a great cook and I am so glad I married him!  I don't mind cooking because I love home-cooked food but I LOVE that my husband really loves cooking and in my opinion is pretty awesome at it too. 

Present opening went on most of the day because we stopped and started so often.  Landon wanted to play with something, enjoying each other, or waiting to talk to the other family members around the states.  It was fun and relaxed.  Skpye helped make Christmas more fun because we could share in the Christmas joy with Jessica and the other Williams in Missouri as well as the newly marrieds- Jon and Merry in California.  Josh's family has always done secret Santa swap with the siblings and the wives of the boys, and in the future Jeremiah's and the girls spouse will be add I am sure, have joined in the fun.  This year I had Jessica, Josh had Jon, Jon had Jeremiah, Jessica had Merry, Merry had Jamiie, Jeremiah had Josh, and Jamiie had me.  We all opened our Secret Santa gifts on Skpye so everyone could see. It was fun as always. 
Once it became dark we loaded up in two cars, grandparents, Josh Landon and I in one car and the siblings in the other we went to look at Christmas lights.  We went to some neighborhoods and the pond at North Florida Regional.  Landon had a blast.   Before we went home we said our good byes to my parents and brother, they left super early on Sunday morning.  Josh's parents and siblings left Sunday morning also before we woke up to head to Missouri for a week and half. 
We had a great time, thanks everyone for coming and seeing us!

December Yummies!

I had fun baking and making some Christmas gifts this year.  Here are some of the results....

Peanut Butter Cookies

Banana Bread Muffins

Peanut Butter Oatmeal with Christmas M&M's

Box of cookies (this box was for my brother who had a few special ones including a computer)

a Snowman and his name

Sugar Bath Scrub

Its begining to look a lot like Christmas!

Landon had a advent calendar to help count down the day until Christmas.  This is a Gorman family tradition that I remember very well and have always been fond of.  I think I was just as excited for Landon to get one from Grandpa and Grandma Gorman as he was to eat the chocolate or as he says "choc-choc."


Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Gorman!

The much looked forward to Chocolate Advent Calendar

Here is a video of Landon opening one of the day on the calendar.



I have picked up several Christmas children's books over the years and Landon has been given some.  This year Landon really loved reading them.  We almost always read at least 2 books in the afternoon and 2-3 at night and at least one of those books was a Christmas book these last couple of weeks.  We got in a good share of Christmas book reading!  Some of the titles we read were- I Spy Christmas, The Gift of Christmas, The Three Miracles, Is Santa Here Yet?, The Little Drummer Boy, The Story of Christmas, and list goes on.
Also Landon, Zach and I had fun making a couple of Christmas crafts.  Unfortunately one of crafts didn't turn out. I bought the little stain glass paint ornaments.  We each painted one and the boys did a super job.  During nap time, I went to check on them and for some reason all the paint cracked and blew off when I picked them up. We were all really sad. Maybe we will try again next year.



Here are a couple of the projects we did.

Santa Advent Calendar and the Angel who send the Good News of our Savior's birth

This year I put up all of our decorations since we moved in to the house.  The first year we still had boxes every where and the second year I was too tied up with a little boy, staff infection of my own, and all the holiday traveling to most of the decorations.  It was fun especially because Landon was so excited every time I put out something new.  His favorite I think were the Christmas lights.  He loves them!! He also really liked having some decorations in his room.  I am afraid what he will do when I take them down (which will be the day after Josh's birthday, New Year's day per request of Josh- which I don't mind I am always kind of sad when I take them down ).


 My boys hanging their special ornaments.

Landon and Lighting McQueen

Josh and Sponge Bob Square Pants

Christmas at the Williams 2010

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

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!