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!