Missouri Christmas Vacation continued

The two days after Christmas, we headed out for Missouri. We did our 10 hours or so traveling the first day to Paducah, TN. Landon did awesome! We were a little worried how he would do this year since he was old enough to realize that he would be in the car all day. We keep him entertained, with books, music, toys and a lot of bubble blowing.

Uh, Mom are you sure this car ride is going to be "fun?"

Playing in the car

At the hotel

desperate to find things to play with at the end of the trip- Mommy's wallet

Naps with family

Much to my pleasure we arrived in Kansas City, Missouri there was a nice thick layer of snow on the ground. It snowed several days while we were there. A blizzard actually kept us from leaving on the way home and we stayed an extra day so the road could clear.

Grandma Williams was in the rehab center for most of the time we visited. She fell a few days before Thanksgiving. Thankfully she was able to come home two days before we left and we were also able to help with making some adjustments to the house so that it would be easier for Grandma to get around on her wheelchair and hopefully soon her walker.

Visiting Grandma at the Rehab center

A warm welcome from the Stratton and Boyce family at Grandma Williams.

Hanging out at Grandma Williams' house

More Presents!!!

The bad part about the snow, getting stuck. Thankfully for Aunt Christy there was a house full of strong boys to push!

We went and visited Grandpa and Grandma Monk’s farm. Since we were out in the country Josh brought our gun and we were all able to get a couple of rounds off for the first time. Thanks again to everyone who chipped in for our “home security system.” The Strattons and Christopher were able to come out too and we all had a nice big dinner.

Out at the Monk's farm

Josh and his gun

Mom even came out and tried a couple of rounds

After visiting Jessica church we were able to have a big family dinner out. I meet Josh's Great great aunt (I think that is how is was related) plus Uncle Kim and Elaine and Uncle Mark joined us too

We were there for the Stratton’s yearly New Years day party. The food is always great but Aunt Christy topped it this year. The shrimp and crab legs plus all the other yummy food was just perfect!

Happy Birthday Joshua!

New Years Eve

New Years Party and Happy Birthday Joshua!!!

Watching the football

playing games

Landon got a New Years Day ride with Grandma and a cool balloon from one of the nurses!

Josh and I were able to go out on a date for Josh’s birthday. It was really nice to have dinner together, just the two of us.

Landon and I enjoyed the snow the most, and we don’t mind the cold (especially me when it is companied by the snow). A few of us went out and played for a while in the snow one of the last days we were there.

We had a great time and hope that we can make it out again there soon. We love our Missouri family, and especially miss the newest member out there Jessica.

Tebow's Commerical

I missed the talked about Tim Tebow commercial even though I did watch the Super Bowl. I happened to be out of the room when it was on and so, being interested in Tim and also wanting to see what all the hype was about I searched online after the game. I came across a Web site that had the commercial paired with a new article about it.

Here is the site if you can to look at it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/07/tim-tebow-super-bowl-ad-v_n_436383.html


While checking out the page I saw there was a poll. I coped the poll question below.



Quick Poll
Was CBS right to air the Tim Tebow ad?

(A) Yes, everyone is entitled to express their beliefs

(B) No, the Super Bowl should not include commercials with this type of message


So hopefully you all know I clicked on "Yes, everyone is entitled to express their beliefs"

I don't know why but I was really surprised and disappointed in the results of the poll.

Quick Poll
Was CBS right to air the Tim Tebow ad?

Yes, everyone is entitled to express their beliefs

55.64%

No, the Super Bowl should not include commercials with this type of message

44.36%


Why I am I surprised about this I really don't know. I just don't understand why people don't get that most of the ads on TV today convey opinionated messages that having sex is OK before marriage, or that it is OK to look at half-naked women, or be disrespectful to parents, or anyone you want to disrespect. There are plenty of other opinions I find offensive on commercials but that is a few.

I think the Tebow "Pro-life" commercial was done very PC. I am very against abortion and think we (Christians) need to be more proactive in standing up for the unborn children, but tastefully. Are there people who are out there that think we should stand up for pre-martial sex? I know there are lots who don't see anything wrong with it, but do they say "hey I hope our daughter grows up to have sex with lots of men before she gets married." I find that hard to believe, but that is exactly what we are letting our children think by allowing them to watch things that push promiscuity.
What is the difference between being tolerant of promiscuity and being tolerant of pro-life perspectives?
I hope that many of you will read this and change that poll results. Regardless of your political or religious perspectives, isn't freedom of speech a principle that covers both sides? Even if you don't agree with me completely, its ridicules that 44% of polled individuals believe in the suppression of a vaguely pro-life perspective, considering that nothing in the commercial was controversial, but merely showed a Web site where the values of pro-life individuals are promoted.
Anyway, vote, and thanks for listening to be rant about my opinion.

Christmas part 1

It's about time I got this posted!

Landon and I went home early this year so we could spend some extra time with my parents. Since I was driving on my own I didn't want to make the whole 4.5 hours drive straight through. We decided that a great stop would be in Tallahassee to visit my brother. We played at his house for a few hours. Adam also took us out to dinner at a super great restaurant. The food was amazing! We didn't realize until after we were there that it wasn't really a place you take children too. The hostess even had to ask if they had high chairs. Opps, well Landon did great and we got several compliments on how sweet and polite of a little boy we had. I managed to make almost the whole trip with Landon asleep. First 2 hours was nap time and the second started at Landon's bedtime. The drive was great!

Uncle Adam's house had a ton of great new toys, or at least Uncle Adam made them into toys.

Landon LOVED Uncle Adam's juggling!

i

He even tried it himself.

I got in at my parents around 10pm. Landon wore up when I was bringing him in the house. Grandpa Santa and Grandma Claus must have done some early gift giving because Landon was greeted by an early Christmas gift under the tree! Since I knew about it I caught it on video.

We spend a few days with my parents, around the house, out to eat and explore the stores. Landon loved playing with his new train! I brought home my scrapbooking supplies and was able to scrapbook several pages of Landon’s scrapbook. My Aunt Leah came over and visited with Landon.

Opening up Aunt Leah's present

Climbing my parents' new stair, the house is finally finish with the remodel!

Being silly with Grandpa while we were out and about

Landon got spoiled at the mall, two free (the lady was doing free ride since it was Christmas Eve as a gift to the children) Merry go round rides

Plus he play at the indoor playground, they have a ocean theme

and rode on a spaceship!

Wednesday evening, Josh got in late and came over to my parents Thursday. We spent the day with my parents and opened our traditional Christmas Eve presents. Christmas morning we woke up early opened presents at my house and then went to the Williams to have Christmas breakfast and open presents. We got on iChat with Jon and Jessica so they could share in the opening of presents.

Christmas morning at the Gorman's

Enjoying his presents

The missing Williams on the big screen through iChat

Talking to Jess and Jon

I love this picture because of Landon (aka the blur)

Unfortunately, not everyone’s presents arrived to the destination on time. I was really disappointed because I had Jessica this year in our secret drawing gift swap. Her gift got lost in the mail so she wasn’t able to open it on Christmas. Thankfully it arrived at the Williams house since I used their address as the return addresses the night before we left for Missouri and we were able to bring it to Jessica. I made her a UF gator blanket with her name embroidered on it and got her some of her favorite perfume.

Once my parents and brother arrive we did our gift exchange. Jamiie Jo had me and got me a replacement copy of The Creative Counterpart (I love this book by Linda Dillow, it was stole when our house got burglarized this summer, it happened to be in the pocket of one of the bags they used to cart our stuff out of the house) and a beautiful necklace and charm that says, “My sister, My Friend.” Jeremiah had Josh and he got a Wii game he had been wanting. Josh had Adam again this year. Josh and I both helped get this year’s gift for my brother. We made him some custom art for his walls. My brother LOVES video games so we did 2 canvasses a “Good” and an “Evil” and a “Nintendo legends.” After our secret Santa gift sway we opened our other presents.

After Presents it was Christmas dinner time. We had a great crowd, the Williams (Niceville and Gainesville), Gormans, and the Marshals (Niceville and Crestview). The food was yummy and so plentiful. It was really great to be able to share Christmas with so many we love.

Landon was the offical gift giver and handed out everyone's gifts

Thanks Jamiie for the very special present! I loved it!

Christmas dinner

Merry Christmas, Baby! 6 Christmas married and 8 together and many wonderful Christmases too come!!

I Love You!!


Landon seeing his train for the first time!

My battery kept dieing so I had to keep restarting the video.




Playing with his new train bubble blower

Landon and Sally

Landon has several people that he loves seeing and get very exciting about seeing. One of his favorites is Sally. Saturday, Landon and I went to pick up Sally on our way to Tallahassee. I was going to spend the day with my family there for my mom's birthday. It is a good half way point between my parents and Gainesville and Since my brother lives there it works out great. We had borrowed the van after our Christmas vacation so we could live Niceville sooner since the van was already packed with our stuff. Jeremiah was going to also meet us in Tallahassee to switch cars. Since Sally is Jeremiah's girlfriend, I thought it would be nice to bring her along so she could see him and I could have some company.
So the whole reason of this post is to tell what Landon did when he saw Sally come out of her apartment. He said "sally" and signed "friend." I had never done both at the same time so I was really tickled and so was Sally that he made that connection.

I can't believe how much he is learning everyday. He is just so much fun to be with, such a happy boy.


Landon and his friend, Sally


(At his birthday)

A quick visit

My parents came to visit before Christmas.  Both my mom and I love arts and crafts.  I have been trying to get my mom down to see the huge craft fair at the O'Connell Center.  It finally wasn't on Thanksgiving weekend, so they were able to come.  

It was a quick visit but a fun one!

Playing with Grandma through the car window

Snugging with Grandpa at the craft fair

Visiting the Swamp playground in the mall

Playing with Grandma and Grandpa before saying good-bye