I can't keep up!

So Todd got me doing facebook and I guess I can't do two things at once. We have had a lot going on since Landon's birthday. Bruce and Shanon came for Thanksgiving which was wonderful. We are really excited for this Christmas. Landon has finally picked up on the Santa thing and that he will bring gifts. I love seeing the excitement in his face when he talks about Christmas. We are also glad that on Wednesday Todd will officially be half way done with Law school. I am so blessed to have a great husband who works so hard for his family. As thrilled as I am to watch Landon this time of year I have not at all forgotten why we celebrate. We have been so blessed and we are grateful for the greatest gift we will ever receive and that is the gift of Christ.

No more binkies YEH!!!

So a few weeks ago we finally go rid of the binkies. Todd and I have gotten sick of having to pull them out of his mouth when he is talking. We also figured it was a good time since we have nothing major going on to disrupt his schedule right now. So one afternoon I told him big boys do not need binkies and that he should take his and put them in the garbage. Imagine my surprise when he just did it with out a fight. Since that day he has asked a few times but has been ok with it over all. We did not even have any problems with him going to sleep a night without it. Now to be honest part of the reason for that maybe that we have been keeping him from taking naps. I am sure some of you moms are questioning my sanity regarding this, but let me explain. Our church time has changed to 1:00 pm and I knew it would be hard if he was used to having a nap during the 1-4 time period. So our solution was cold turkey on the naps. The funniest time of day now is around 6:00 pm sometimes he can't even keep his eyes open and falls a sleep just sitting on the couch or laying on the floor. We have to be creative to try and keep him awake until at least 7:30.

All of these changes make me realize how old Landon is getting. He is so excited about his birthday that he talks about it all the time. He is also already telling people that he is three. I have been so blessed to be able to stay home with Landon and enjoy all of the milestones. I just love watching his personality. He really is a little man with all his own ideas and talents.

Sorry it has been CRAZY.

So the past few months have just flown by. I can not believe that Todd starts school on Monday. We will not be seeing him much this semester. Todd will be working full time for the Honorable Judge Annette Berry in Detroit and going to school full time. I am so proud of him and all he has accomplished. I know that this year is going to just fly by and before we know it we will be in Florida.

I have to admit the only reason I decided to post today was because Landon said the best thing to Todd. We were sitting around and Landon told Todd he needed to take a shower. Todd asked if he was stinky and Landon stated that Todd smelt like his bum. I would assume that smelling like Landon's bum is not a good thing. Sometimes Landon makes me laugh so hard I want to pee my pants. For those of you that know me it is not hard to get me to wet myself. I am a big girl and feel secure enough to admit I have this one flaw.

On a better note here are some pictures from this summer which I will go into more detail about later.

Landon and Todd at Tiger Game

Landon and Ben in Chicago

Landon and Marissa

Landon and Shannon at Tiger Game

I HAVE TO PEE!!!!

So a week ago we started down the potty training road. It all started when I got out of a shower and found Landon naked and his diaper in the garbage he did not want to wear it anymore. I would say that is a pretty good sign he might be ready. One day I did put him in the the tub and he pooped. That was one of the most disgusting things I have every cleaned up. At least he was smart enough to not want to stay in the tub. The best potty training story happened this weekend. We decided to go on a day trip to a local German town called Frankenmuth. It was hot and humid but we had a lot of fun. Landon peed once on the toilet and had no accidents all day. At the end of the day we went to dinner and at the restaurant took Landon to the bathroom twice with no results. As Landon sat next to Todd I saw him start to grunt and I picked him up and ran. Once we got to the bathroom him did not need to poop anymore. What I had not realized was he had already peed in the chair. So as I ran through the restaurant we left a trail of dripping urine. Don't worry I did not leave it I did sheepishly informed someone that they might want to clean up the pee trail my son left. Sorry to anyone who may have been sprayed on the run to the bathroom, my pediatrician says urine is sterile so you should be ok.

Day Out With Thomas

Landon loves Thomas the Train so what would be more appropriate than to see him in person!! We went to Henry Ford Museums Greenfield Village to see him and we went with some great friends. Landon, Clark, and Cora loved riding the train and waving at everyone. I did not know that Landon had such a sense of humor. They had a magician perform some very 2 year old appropriate magic tricks, in other words it was a little lame. Landon loved it though he was slapping his knee laughing and holding his face in shock and eventually clapping in the end. We actually made this a two weekend trip because we have a membership to the park so we went the next weekend for free ( we did not pay to ride Thomas again). Landon took a new group of friends and had just as much fun.Landon and Sir Topham Hatt

Landon and Ashlyn holding hands

Landon and Clark clapping at the Magician

Update!!!

So I let a little over a month go by without blogging. I would bet the world has not suffered because of this but who knows? Most may know how busy we have been this past month. Todd has finished his first year of law school and what a relief we made it through finals. The most exciting thing I think happened to me. The Saturday before Mothers day was beautiful!! Landon and I spent the day at the Henry Ford Museum with friends and visited Thomas the Train. The fun really started when we got home and the pains I had been feeling all day got so bad no medicine would relieve the pain. Todd was in the middle of finals and I did not want to bother him so when he got home at 11:30 pm I told him I should go to the ER. Come to find out I have gallstones and had a gallbladder attack. I would like to thank Bruce and Shanon for coming to help with my surgery that we found out I won't be having until June 12th. Sorry about your cross country trip for nothing although Landon was glad they came. Hope everyone else is doing well and I will down load some fun pictures and video soon.

Ok, Ok so it has been awhile!

Yes it has been awhile but we have been very busy. Landon and I have had a great month. Thanks to Sterling and Susan we were able to fly to Seattle and visit for one week. We then drove to Coeur D' Alene to visit Papa Dave and Grandma Kim. After about 3 days we flew to Salt Lake to see Papa Bruce and Grandma Shanon. Now of course I would love to say it was the perfect vacation but then it would not have been my vacation. Lets see was it Landon's really bad pink eye or the diarrhea that lasted one week, perhaps it was the cough that only started at bedtime. I guess I will let you decide what made this trip so special. Seriously though we did have a great time visiting everyone. We got to see so much in Seattle that Sterling and Susan have more than convinced me I would love to live there. Landon and I had so much fun visiting everyone in Coeur D' Alene even is most of the time was in the ER. As always Landon was so excited to see his cousins in Salt Lake. We had a great time at the zoo.

Pay Back Dad!!!

So Todd may not win the father of the year after this story, but Landon does get his payback. On occasion Todd has not held back when his son was near his rear end. To put it plainly Todd has passed gas on his son. So the other night we were all laying on the floor playing cars and Landon walks up to Todd and puts his rear end by Todd's face. At that moment we both wondered what he was doing until he let it rip. We have not laughed that hard in who knows how long. So perhaps Todd has learned a lesson and will think before he passes gas near his son.

We Have A Genius!!!

OK so maybe he is not a genius but at least he knows when mom and dad are plotting against him. We have learned that we must spell words out now so not to upset Landon when we are planning something like bed time. So last night I look at Todd ,while Landon sat between us and said it is time for B E D. Within the next instant Landon says NO B E D. So I guess he may not have been sure of what we were spelling but he was sure he wanted no part of it.

I Thought You Were 2 not 13?

So I thought certain behaviors did not start until a child became a teenager, but Landon has taught me that is not the case. He has a habit of running into his room when he gets hurt or is sad. It is really funny, not that I would ever laugh at my son. So the other day he hurt him self and I was concerned so I followed him in his room to check on him. The next thing I know he points at me and yells get out of my room then slams the door behind me. I have to admit after the shock of what just happened I laughed pretty hard. He is just getting to be so independent in his young age.

Landon's Grandma and Papa Allen can attest to his personality after spending one week with us in Nauvoo. He does miss them already!! When we were almost home from the trip Landon wakes up from his nap and all of a sudden starts saying Papa's car. We could not see anything that looked like Bruce's car but I am sure Landon did.

Watch What You Say!!

Landon gave me a friendly reminder that you should always watch what you say. Todd did something that caught me off guard so I said "Oh my word Todd" next thing I know Landon repeated the phrase. Of course I had to hold in the laughter but I am sure this will come back to bite me in the behind.

We have had a few fun nights lately also. A couple of nights ago, about 1 am Todd and I woke up to a weird scratching sound in the wall. We just got new neighbors and thought maybe it was them. Then it happened again so I went to the office and they thought maybe we had a mouse in the wall so they set a trap. Well last night Landon woke up and I went in to comfort him, he has not been sleeping well lately and I heard the scratching in his room. I went to the office again and now they wonder if it is a squirrel because of how loud it is. No wonder Landon is not sleeping. I just don't want anything chewing through the wall I know that would freak me out to have a large rodent running around the apartment. I will give you all a follow up as we figure this out just pray I don't wake up with a crazy squirrel on my chest.

OH BOY WHAT A DAY!!

So I about had it today. My sons new favorite phrase is what happened? So for an example lets say he throws his food on the floor he would then say what happened, like some ghost came and tossed the food. So between that and the ever favorite mom,(what) mom, (what) MOM. I was glad to have Todd come home. When he was walking in one of my friends had just left she told him that I was going to be thrilled to see him. I am sure at that moment he wanted to turn around and go back to school. This is why Todd is awesome he walked through the door and took over with Landon. I am one very lucky woman!!

What a rough life!! This guy always makes me laugh. Although this may be a pose for the camera he really does relax like this. Nothing is better for Landon then his Boppy and a little chocolate milk (Thanks Grandma). Todd and I have been shocked a lot this week with Landon's vocabulary. He is finally associating pictures of his family with names. His favorite now is Ro Ro for his cousin Raul. He also knows alot of his Aunts and Uncles. I knew that he would grow up fast but who thought he would change everyday.

COLD, COLD, COLD!!!!

We were supposed to get a big storm in last night and Todd was really hoping school would be cancelled. Well all the school districts cancelled school but the universities were still open (Sorry Todd). We may not have gotten all the snow they said we would but boy have we had the cold. When you walk outside your nose hairs freeze instantly. The doors to the car have been frozen shut a few times and everytime Todd is cold all he has to say is "I hate Michigan in the winter". I can't believe how when the wind gets going it makes everything ten times worse. Of course none of this keeps a two year old from wanting to have some fun. So I bundled Landon up and gave him a dump truck and let him have a little fun. This winter sure makes moving to Florida next year look great.

Not A Baby Anymore.

We have reached a new phase in Landons life. On Sunday night Todd and Landon took out their drills and turned the crib into a toddler bed. I have been impressed at how well he has done going to bed in his big boy bed. I will admit that I cried a little bit at the thought of not having a baby anymore. I am so proud of him though and what a big boy he is becoming. Dad is very proud of his son and how excited he was to help change his bed.

Friends

Landon's social life never stops to amaze me. I thought I would introduce you to a few of his friends. Kurt is 10 months younger than Landon yet makes up for his age by being bigger. They love playing together with cars. Landon also has some girl friends Marissa, and Cora. Marissa is 2 months older than Landon while Cora is abouth 7 months older. Both girls do a good job keeping the boys in line. Cora has a brother Clark who Landon loves. Clark and Landon like to be boys and get a little crazy sometimes. I am just greatful Clark does not mind Landon always jumping on him.


I am so greatful for our friends and the hours of entertainment they provide for me as well as Landon. We really do love Ann Arbor and will hate it when it comes time to move.

Heavenly Father Must Love A Childs 1st Prayer.

Landon has been folding his arms and mumbling what he thinks is a prayer for weeks now but tonight was his first clear prayer. It went a little something like this "Bless my trucks, Bless my light, Bless my whoo whoo(firetruck), Bless my light (again)". At the end I thought he should at least say thank you for Jesus so I prompt him and as soon as the word Jesus comes out of my mouth he says "Amen". No one can say that he was not honest and sincere in his prayer it truly came from his heart. As a mother who had a day full of cleaning up an overflowing toilet, smashed play-dough in the carpet, and the constant mom, mom, mom, I was grateful to see his sweet spirit. Who knows he may just live to see another day.

Angie's Fault

So Todd loves Angie's blog so much he felt I should do one for our family. It will not be as cute or creative but maybe something interesting now and then. Yesterday was a great day to be a two year old. Landon learned that blue play dough up your nose hurts and is hard to get out. It was great when at dinner time he finally sneezed a blue glob into his spaghetti. Who new that life as a mom was so glamorous.

Whoohoo

Shannon's blogging. About friggin time.

Peace out.

Todd.

-It's all yours now Shannon.