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

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

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.