Busy, busy, busy

It has been super busy around this household the past several days...cooking, packing, laundry, haircuts, shopping, wrapping gifts, Christmas decorating, and a new patio!! I guess the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us.

David found this train on sale several years ago and got it in hopes of putting it around the tree for our kids. It's actually kind of nice having it around the tree, because it keeps Landon from getting to all the "balls" on the tree! Ha! We got a new tree this year and let me tell you that I L.O.V.E. it so much...it is beautiful. My favorite part of it is that it is pre-lit--no more fighting with a huge tangled up mess of lights for me!!

Two happy boys!Here is our patio being put in. This is something that we have wanted to do for a very long time, and it finally happened!!Oh how I can't wait to sit out here during the summer evenings.

I guarantee that at the time this photo was taken, Landon was saying, "ewwwwwww".

Little man helped me make banana pudding for Thanksgiving...well, he helped me clean the utensils anyway!

"Ummmy"

This kid cracks me up...

We did some cleaning today and little man was eager to help as always. He seriously loves to clean and does not like things to be dirty. He will see a crumb on the floor and say, 'ewwww'. David always asks me, "What are you doing to him?" Ha! I always tell him that if Landon is going to be a good husband one day, he is going to have to know how to clean, right? This kid truly brings so much sunshine and happiness to our lives. I can't imagine life without him.

And off he goes to find more things to clean!

Blessing Ring

I have seen these Blessing Rings on several blogs, and I really like them. Rather than purchasing one I decided to make one today! I put all the cards that Landon received when he was born on it, and it turned out perfect...I love it!! I can't wait to share it with him when he is older, so that he can see just how many people were excited about his arrival into this world. I am going to make one for all of Logan's cards as well. A dark day could be brightened by looking at all the blessings hanging on the ring. On the Blessing Rings that you can purchase from THIS blog, this passage is written on the back of a large charm:

"Our heavenly Father has given us the gift of His blessing. A blessing is not only speaking well-seasoned words, but also putting in action those words of encouragement and praise. And so to you I give the blessing ring. Each time someone encourages you in a word or action, place it on your ring..." A card, a letter, a token, a Bible verse, a photo...punch a hole in it, string it on your Blessing Ring.

Wordless Wednesday...almost

This is what happens to your kitchen when a cute little boy gets hold of the laundry baskets sitting outside the laundry room.

Playing

Who knew that giving a curious little toddler a flashlight would keep him entertained for a very long time?!?!

Landon played with playdoh for the first time, and to my surprise he didn't try to eat it!!

He was more interested in the empty container than he was the playdoh. He would take the lid off and then put it back on, take the lid off and then put it back on!!

Petting Zoo

A high school here in our school district was having a FFA fundraiser with a petting zoo, so we decided to take Landon. The weather has been gorgeous lately and anything to get us outside is just great fun before winter gets here.

Before we headed over to the petting zoo, the boys decided to watch the end of a little league football game. I thought they looked so cute standing on the hill watching the game together.

I think this goat liked Landon.

Once Landon got inside the pen with the sheep and goats, he kept trying to hug them. It was just too cute. I tried to get a picture, but every time Landon put his arms around them they would get startled.

Things I Love

Things I love about Landon:

• I love how he gives hugs to his stuffed animals. He squeezes them really tight as says, "oooooh".
• I love how he gives his stuffed animals Eskimo kisses and says, "mmmmm".
• I love how he wakes up on some mornings and says, "opsicle" aka popsicle and walks to the freezer.
• I love how when we drive by a park he says, "weeee", and whimpers when we don't stop to play (I don't love the part where he whimpers with sadness).
• I love how he gives me a kiss on the cheek then turns his cheek for me to kiss his.
• I love how when he goes to bed he has to make sure that he has every stuffed animal and blanket that he sees within arms reach.
• I love how he pretends to talk on the phone and then laughs hysterically as if someone is telling him a funny story on the other end of the phone.
• I love how when he sees a crumb on the floor he says, "uh-oh".
• I love how when he sees a letter of the alphabet he says, "eee". Every letter that he sees is the letter Ee.
• I love to watch him try to skip.
• I love to watch him do the motions to "If You're Happy and You Know It".
• I love how when he hears a noise coming from outside he says, "air pae" aka air plane and goes to the window to look for one.
• I love how he is intrigued by birds.
• I love how he gets so into playing with his books and cars that nothing can distract him.
• I love how when he gets really tired he will walk into his room and say, "nigh, nigh".
• I love how when he hears the garage door open he immediately starts looking for dad and goes to the door.
• I love it when he is eating and says, "ummy" aka yummy.
• I love when he sees a picture of himself and says, "dat me".
• I love it when he goes to the closet where we keep our vacuum and says, "voom, voom".

This list could go on and on...I just wanted to get some of the things that I think are cute written down, because he changes and does so many new things each day. I don't want to forget one minute of precious time with him.

Look at this slobbery boy--he peeled this price tag sticker off of one his books and it kept him entertained for quite some time!

He kept putting the sticker on his forehead and then would look at me and do a big cheesy laugh as if to say, "Hee, hee look at me...I'm so funny".

It's NOT the piggy flu...

I decided to take Landon to the doctor this morning. He had a very low fever (99.4), and was very congested with a cough. With it being Friday, I didn't want him to get worse over the weekend and have to take him to a walk-in clinic...my last experience there wasn't fun. Fortunately, it was not the flu. We all got regular flu shots, but not the H1N1 shot. Landon's ears and lungs were clear, but we did find out that he has a sinus infection. So, with his antibiotics he should be back to his regular self in a few days! Here are some pictures from when we got home.

As soon as we walked in the door, Landon went straight to his high chair and said, "Eeee", which means 'eat'. Good thing we stopped at Sonic and picked up lunch!!

After his 'nutritious' Sonic lunch this little man must have been worn out, because he walked into his room, pointed to his bed, and said, "nigh, nigh". So sweet. We are going to make a trip to the library this afternoon and get some books to read over the weekend (not that he doesn't have enough in his personal library, he just enjoys going). I think we will be hanging out around the house this weekend and getting rested for the next week.

Blessings

My sweet little Landon woke up with a fever this morning, so we are home resting. I pray that the piggy flu has not found our house. His fever broke with some Tylenol, but he is very congested. I hope he feels better soon.

While Landon was napping, I went outside to check the mail to find the most precious gift in my mailbox. My dear friend, Jennifer, sent this Holding Cross engraved with Logan's name. What a special and thoughtful gift. Jennifer and I became friends when I was pregnant with Logan, and have been friends since. I love the fact that Jennifer and I can be talking school stuff, and then in the next sentence talk about Logan. She is such a dear friend and I value our friendship greatly. It comforts me to know that others still think of Logan. I know that he touched so many lives during his short time here, and to know that others continue to remember him truly brings me joy.

I love seeing his precious name on this cross.

Trick-or-Treat

We had a great Halloween and had fun sporting our CRAYONS!! I have to say that I am very proud of the results of my first sewing project!! David wasn't too fond of being a green crayon, but I'm glad that he was a good sport and played along! We took Landon trick-or-treating around our block with some of our neighbors. I'm not too sure that Landon really understood the concept, but he had fun nonetheless.Landon wanted nothing to do with camera, he was such a wiggle worm and wouldn't even look at the camera. We tried numerous times to get a family photo and this is the best we did.

After trick-or-treating we went to the neighbors for some fun. The kids ran around like crazy animals and the adults sat back and watched! I am very thankful that we got an extra hour of sleep last night!!