Grandpa Williams

After dropping Josh off at work Landon and I were talking on he way home. We were going to see Grandpa Williams that evening so we had been talking about him the through out the week.

 L: "I don't know Gpa's name."
M: "Did you mean Gpa Williams?"
L: Yes.
L: "What is his name?"
M: "What is your middle name?"
L: "Bradford" followed by him laughing.
I then asked Landon what Gpa Williams name
L: Bradford
M: yes
L: "What is is name though mommy?"
K: Bradford Dean Williams
L: I don't call him that.
M: I don't either, I call him Dad.

He looked confused.
I told him he was daddy father and since I married daddy he was my father I law. So I called him father or dad.

L: Why did you marry daddy?
M: I love Daddy.
L: "Why did you bury him?

Apparently he misunderstood me.







September 9th

Crash!

Sadly a couple of weeks ago our computer crashed.  Not only does this cause me to be more behind on my blogging, emailing and such we also lost some of my photos.  I was bad and didn't back them up.  Josh thinks he might still be able to get them but....  We will see.  He did manage to recover some pictures so far and all of our documents.  I have faith he will do his best I just am pessimist about the whole thing.  Super mad at myself.  Josh did get the computer up and running, Yay for my wonderful husband!  A few post will have to wait(hopefully) for pictures.

Florida, Florida, Florida

At the end of July, Jessica come down to Florida to visit for 2 weeks.   The same day she arrive Josh's brother Jon and his wife Merry arrived in Florida. Jon and Merry will now be living in the Niceville/ Crestview area of Florida!!  Jon got out of the Marines and will now be in the Reserves as he goes to school and in just a few months be becoming a daddy to baby Owen!!!  (This will be BIG for me- come November I will be an Aunt for the first time!!!!  I am super excited!!!!!)  

Jon had to check in with his Reserve group in Jacksonville.  On the way back from there, Jon and Merry stopped in Gainesville for the night.  They arrived right before Landon woke up and he was so excited when he got up.  Landon received a awesome fold up play tent with Lightening McQueen on it. Arabella loved meeting her aunt and uncle for the first time.  The next day Jon and Merry played with their niece and nephew while I cleaned and packed.  Josh got off work as nap time was rolling around so it was about time to leave.  Landon rode with Jon and Merry and Josh, Arabella and I were planning on leaving with in the hour after them.  That didn't happen.  Things took longer than planned which seems to happen a lot with a baby around.  Plus as we were ready to go the car battery decided to die.  Josh had just driven to the gas station to get gas and air in the tires  less than an hour beforehand so I don't really know what happened.  Thankfully, our nice neighbor offered us a jump not too long after we realized what happened and the car was fine.  It has been since then too.  So Landon ended up by getting there about 2-3 hours before us.  He didn't mind because Aunt Jessica, Jamiie, Uncle J, Grandma W and Grandpa W were there waiting for everyone to arrive.  I think this was the longest Landon was away from both Josh and I.  I was stressing a little just because I am a little crazy and overprotective.  I was really glad Landon was able to spend lots of time with his family because I think that is SOOO important.(so Jon and Merry don't take offense to this overprotective mommy's worries)  Aunt Merry did a great job at helping me cope with my worries.  She kept me updated every hour with text about Landon and some pictures too.  Thank you Aunt Merry!!

Josh took 2 days off work and we headed up to the panhandle so we could see her for more than just the weekend. So we were in the Panhandle from Friday through Wednesday. 

We stayed with my parents and got to see them in the mornings.  We spent most of the afternoons and evening over at the packed Williams house.  It was great and a little sad.  Josh and I, more than ever, wanted to live back "home"(second home I guess even though we both still call Ft Walton Beach and Niceville "home") so we can be closer to our families.  We got to go to the beach with all the aunts and one uncle plus Grandma W.  Josh and Landon went twice.  Arabella and I came down with a little fever cold thing but thankfully it was short lived.  On the way back to Gainesville we stopped to have dinner with my brother Adam.  He took us to his favorite restaurant which I think has been our favorite so far too!  I only wish we could see Uncle Adam more with or without the yummy food!  ;)


It was a great vacation!  Family is the best!!

Pinterest

Do you know about Pinterest?  I am in LOVE!!! It lets you save websites and pictures.  I already did this and Josh was not too happy about all the space on the computer I was taking up saving all my pictures ideas and things so that I could do things for homeschooling, home decorating, crafting and whatever.  It is a very addiciting site for me and thankfully I can use it on my iTouch while I am nursing Arabella or need to waste some time waiting for an appointment because I might never leave the computer if I couldn't use it then.  Here is my site. Now I am super happy and so is Josh.

http://pinterest.com/krystlew/


  If you want an invite just send me an email.  I LOVE it!!! Wait I think I said that all ready.

Family fun in the Sun time: Our July

Here is a few of the happenings of our July.

Fourth of July was spent having fun with family and friends.  We had a great morning as a family and then headed to the Durrenberger's after nap for dinner and fireworks.   Julie and her kids also were there to join in the fun. 

One Sunday after Sunday school, we headed out to the Ichetucknee Springs with Sally and the Fairrows.  It was so funny.  Arabella wasn't too fond of the 78 degree water, it did feel pretty cold that day.  She and I hung out and watched everyone play in the water and to Arabella's delight there were some kids with balloon that we were able to watch.  Landon hung out on Daddy's shoulders in the water most of the time.  It was a no nap day for Landon but he did awesome! 






 We joined my MOPS group at the UF Museum of Natural History.  The Peines were there too and we walked around the building with them after hanging out in the kids center. 











Here are some pictures from the rest of the month.  Mostly just having fun around the house.  We took Landon and Arabella to see a little local play of Custard the Dragon, which is one of Landon's favorite books.  It was okay but Landon loved getting to hug Custard (see below).  Landon, Bella and I went on a nature walk/ treasure hunt and made a college (top right hand). Landon is getting to be a skilled toothbrusher.  On night Josh walked into the bathroom to go brush his teeth and found Landon already doing so (second row on the right)  Landon has been having fun with exploring his world with chalk drawings, spray bottles and Play-Doh (pictures various places below).  Landon loves cars and trains and Arabella is normally trailing him as fast as she can (See below for train track made of books and a train station on a table )


I went to Chaysen and baby Emma's shower.  Can't wait until we get to meet baby Emma, who should be here any day now. 

 Landon helped Daddy make Mommy a shelf for the bathroom.  Josh later painted it black. 

 Arabella has found the fish tank and loves it.  She will scoot over to it (now she crawls since she is crawling on all fours as of this past week!). She just stares at it for several minutes then pulls up on the ledge and bangs on the glass. 

 Trying to get to the pool as much as possible but this month it just didn't happen that much. 

 Arabella loves music and loves Landon's guitar from his Great Aunt Leah. 

This was one of the strangest thing I have seen Reesie our cat do, which is saying a lot because she is a very strange cat.  She loves Landon's car basket.  Once he dumps the cars out she tends to hop in there and try to stay as long as possible.  This day I couldn't even get her out so I decided she would surely get out if we just started filling up the basket.  As you can see below I was very wrong.  She didn't get out until EVERY car, truck and train was back in the basket and she still waited a few seconds/minutes to get out. 

From God

I had to post this before I forgot. Josh just walked in the room where Landon was playing and scolded at him. Josh said 'Where did you learn to make that face?'. He was thinking he would say mommy or daddy.

Landon's response 'From God!' in a very firm voice.

He cracks me up!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Needed to share

This story came in my email box from MOPS, which is a group I am apart of for mothers of preschoolers. I feel like I need to be reminded of this often.

Learning to Cherish
by Moyra Jean Stiles, mother of three

Four months ago, my friend was diagnosed with aggressive stomach cancer. And my life has been irrevocably altered by the days I have spent with her during her illness. Days that confine her to her bed or a recliner all day, very heavily medicated for pain, physically unable to do daily tasks as she moves through the letting go of the work that was hers as a woman, a wife and a mother.

"I want to be the one to love
my family in these tangible ways"
In the hours when we sit together and pray, her heart desires remain very clear: “Please, Lord, please, let me be the one that gets to dress my girls. Please, Lord, O please, let my hands be able to once again prepare a meal for the man I love and the children I cherish. I, Lord, I want to be the one to love my family in these tangible ways.” Of all the things she’s lost in this season, this is what she mourns the loss of most: caring for the ones she loves with the energy and creativity of her unique and committed heart.
Oddly enough, those are the very tasks that most often garner grumbles from me. I, who have an abundant amount of health and energy, grow weary of endless meals to prep, laundry to fold and diapers to change. And yes, these tasks can be tiresome. But because of my friend’s beautiful spirit and grace, I’m discovering just how precious they are, just how much they mark me my husband’s wife, my children’s mother. And those are roles I never want to lose.


Dear God, thank you for my family. Show me how to love them through the big and the small, the exciting and the mundane. Remind me to cherish them always. Amen.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Childhood Doesn’t Wait

I read this and had to share.


Childhood Doesn’t Wait


(Author Unknown)

I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a young mother
with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining,
“Pick me up,” I heard him beg
but the mother’s face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.

“Don’t hang on to me,” she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I’d had the courage
to go up to her and say…

“The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won’t ask for you to hold them
or won’t freely give a hug.

“The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can’t recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.

“Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we’ve known.

“So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer…

“When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can’t
`cause there’s no time to talk”
Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn’t wait.

“Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don’t wait another day.”
I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she’ll pick them up
before her chances disappear.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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A thoughtful thought from my sweet boy

A friend of ours recently was killed in a motorcycle accident. I am good friends with his wife. Landon was friends with his 4 year old son. We had just spent a morning and lunch with them less than a week before this happened. Our family was saddened by this tragic event. We were telling Landon that his friend had lost his Daddy and won't be able to see him. His daddy had gone to Heaven to be with Jesus. Although his friend would be very sad, his daddy is in a very great place since he is with Jesus. Landon was so concerned for his friend. I was some what surprised with the emotion that he seemed to have for his friend. He has asked about how his friend is doing almost everyday since then. He also asks to pray for his friend every night at bed time prayers.
Landon: "Help (his friend's name) not be sad. His Daddy love him and he happy cause he with Jesus. Amen." It is really hard for me to not cry when I hear this. Although Josh did pray with us all the day it happened this was not something Josh and I told him to do or what to say. It was something he came up with on his own. I am truly blessed to have such a great example of Christ's heart sleeping in the bedroom next to mine.

Events such as losing a loved one before we think it is time always makes me think about remembering to live everyday to its fullest and to treasure all of our blessings each and every day. I have had several close friends and fmaily members die but this one has been truly hard for me. I know and saw the love a wife had for her husband and the love and admiration a son had for his father. This time I also have a son who reminds me of something very important. Only Jesus can heal these wounds and we need to always be seeking him not just in times like these. Also remember that death is not the end for those who walk with God, just a wonderful beginning to their live in the Kingdom of Heaven. Hope you take the time today to strengthen your walk with God and love on your loves a little extra.