Merry Christmas!

I know Landen's name isn't spelled correctly, but you get the gist! Hope everyone's holiday was great!

Landen meets Santa

We had our ward Christmas party a couple of weeks ago, and of course Santa came. He was a pretty good Santa. Even though most of the kids in our ward are pretty young (young enough to either scare them, or they don't really know or care who he is), he did do a good job of entertaining the adults with good stories of the elves and reindeer. Landen was able to get some pictures with him, and Santa even gave him a Christmas bell, since a candy cane wouldn't have been such a good idea. So, I hope you get as much a kick out of the pictures as we did!

Tagged

So, I was tagged, and it's been awhile, so I'd thought I'd post this one. It ended up being really fun to think about anyway!


8 Shows that I enjoy watching:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Private Practice
3. House (noticing a trend?)
4. American Idol
5. Dancing with the Stars
6. CSI: NY, Miami and Las Vegas (I'm not picky)
7. Smallville
8. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (that should really be #1)

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. If 1:45 in the morning counts as yesterday, then I began my day with feeding him
2. Did laundry
3. Fed Landen
4. Made baby blankets for girls in the ward
5. Fed Landen
6. Went shopping
7. Fed Landen
8. Played with BJ (my day was pretty lame because Brian was in Pocatello for drill)

8 Things I am looking forward to:
1. Christmas (whenever we get to celebrate it since I'm working that day)
2. My birthday (same thing as #1)
3. Going down to Utah between Christmas and New Years
4. Brian to graduate and start working in April
5. Going to Vegas in the summer
6. Brian completely graduating in April 2010
7. Moving out of Rexburg
8. Finally being done with the whole school lifestyle

8 Things I love about Winter:
1. The snow (but not as long as it lasts in Rexburg!)
2. Christmas
3. Hot chocolate with peppermint ice cream (you should try it..yum!)
4. Soup
5. My birthday
6. Sweaters
7. Christmas songs
8. Christmas lights

8 Things on my Wish list:
1. To be completely debt free (house paid for and everything!)
2. To be able to stay home more with Landen
3. To be stationed someplace warm for 4 years (like San Antonio!)
4. To move back to Kansas permanently someday
5. To have healthy children (and be able to have more children)
6. To be a good mom, someone that my children will like to come home to
7. To always stay completely in love with my husband
8. To live closer to family

8 People I tag:
1. Amy Royer
2. Danielle Gurr
3. Quinci M.
4. Morgan Hillman
5. Melanie West
6 Laurie Wilcox
7. Kim Hannon
8. Karie Strong

Back to work

So, I kept hearing from so many moms how hard it was to go back to work after having a baby and how much they cried...I haven't cried, which strangely enough really bothers me! Is there something wrong with me? So, I've come up with a few reasons why I guess I'm handling the transition pretty well:

Option A: I have a cold, cold heart
Option B: Since I'm leaving him home with Brian and not sending him to a sitter, I don't feel like he's being neglected (not that he would be with a sitter either).
Option C: Since I had to leave him in the hospital for his first 25 days of life, I got used to idea of separation
Option D: All the above

Family Pics...finally!

I've been meaning to post these for the past few days, but with going back to work, I haven't really had time. So, enjoy, these are are few of our favs!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

So now that I'm no longer sicker than a dog (where did that saying come from really?!), I can finally post again. We've been getting excited about Christmas around here. On Thanksgiving, Brian hung up the Christmas lights on the house all by himself and did a wonderful job. We went shopping for a Christmas Tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving (yes, we have a real tree, because I love the smell, and no I don't want to just by a tree smelling candle!), but didn't get it decorated until yesterday for Family Home Evening. I don't think we're quite done with decorating the tree, because it still looks pretty bare, but it's a start. I think we're going to invest in a star/angel this year and maybe some more decorations, because the lights and ornaments that we have just don't do it justice, but none the less, we love our tree! Oh, and it's finals week, so Brian will be all done by Thursday, and I'm back to work tomorrow...boo!

The before shot

The after shot...see, it still needs something!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a different experience for me this year, a lot of firsts. I am proud to say that I made my first Thanksgiving turkey and am quite proud with how it turned out. Some of Brian's family was able to be here for the holiday, which always makes holidays better. Unfortunately, Brian's mom was sick the whole day and didn't even venture out of her room, I felt so bad for her! Hence, that is why I was flying solo with making a turkey. I have to say, without the help of my sisters-in-law, the meal wouldn't have come off as well as it did. There was a slight mishap with the oven not being turned on when we thought it was for a couple of hours while the turkey was supposed to be cooking, but all that did was set meal time back a couple of hours...it still turned out OK. We also had a couple of friends over for dinner (thanks again for the yummy food!). Landen did great and let mom get a lot of cooking done. It was nice having the extra hands to help with food and watching Landen.

How Landen felt about the day
Landen's favorite place to sleep

West Yellowstone

We went up to West Yellowstone for a couple of days this week just to hang out. Unfortunately, pretty much everything was closed because it's "off season", but it was still fun to hang out with family and walk around town. It still surprises me how nice it still is out here!

Some of the beautiful scenery on our drive
Watch out for the bear....oh, it's not real

Getting ready to walk around the town, yes, that's Landen bundled up under there with aunt Mamy

Dad and Landen doing what they do best!

Warming up by the fireplace

Landen's blessing

We blessed our little Landen this last weekend. It was great having family come up from Utah to be there for him. Here's some pictures of him in his little outfit.

He'd about had it with the pictures
I was surprised at how well his blessing outfit actually fit him!

I love Landen's face in this picture!

Being cute

Hanging out with Grandpa

4 Years Ago Today...

...I married my best friend. It's been some of the best years of my life! Although the majority of our first year was spent apart while he was in Iraq, it proved to become a blessing in our lives as our struggles and separation actually made us stronger and closer as a couple. We've celebrated our anniversary in more extravagant ways in the past (cruise, themed hotel), but this year we're looking forward to just having a quiet evening together alone and to talk about other things than our sweet Landen. It will be nice to be able to walk hand and hand again without carrying a car seat. So, here we come sushi, and to my wonderful husband, I love you and look forward to eternity with you! Oh, and a shout out to Mamy, Ashley and Genae for watching our little squeaker for us so we could go out!

My poor boy

This has been Landen's day...poor guy! That's right, it was time for his 2 month old shots. I felt so bad for him when they attacked from both sides at the same time. I don't think I've ever seen such big tears come out of his big eyes!

My Heros

As I see all the American flags lining the streets this Veteran's Day, I'm reminded of a couple of my heroes!

First, my brother Ryan (not sure why this picture is so small), who's Marine platoon was the first to enter Baghdad. He saw a lot and did a lot that he's had to overcome since coming home. I'm very proud of him!

And of course there's my awesome husband, who also served over in Iraq with the Marines.

I'm very proud of both of my heroes, and am grateful to them and so many others who have and continually serve their country to protect the freedoms they are so willing to die for. Thank you veterans!

Landen's first sick days

Poor guy hasn't been feeling well the past couple of days. What first set us off was him being more calm and wanting to sleep more (especially after 2 weeks of grumpiness). All things considered, he's being quite the trooper!

Whoopie (sarcasm)

Ya know, I used to love snow, when I lived in Kansas, and it was such a novelty to actually get some, let alone have a nice white Christmas. But, since living in Rexburg for the last 3 years, I have come to dread days like today...the first snow, because it indicates another 6 months of snow...too much snow. I would love if it would stick around until after the holidays, then go away! Many others around here I'm sure would disagree with me, because they love the winter sports, but where we don't have the toys or the money to participate in such events, I just hike to work in my snow boots until April-June sometime. Yes, the snow really does last that long. It's kind of depressing! I really wish Rexburg had more definitive seasons!

Halloween...a little late

This was his $4 costume we found, that is still too big. It's 0-3 months...yeah, I know, kinda sad. He's currently in between newborn and preemie sizes...awkward!

This shows how he's been the past couple of weeks...grumpy. Yeah for growth spurts!

Very disturbing

Check out this link. This is very sad that America is coming to this! Parents need to be able to know what their children are being taught, and have the right to refuse some types of "education". Vote yes for Prop 8!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1815820715/bctid1822459319

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween! I think I'm more excited about all the cute trick-or-treaters coming by in their costumes than they probably are (OK, probably not!). I love scary movies, I love haunted houses, and I mostly love Halloween because it's the start of the holiday season...which means party time for the next couple of months ;)! So, enjoy your sugar buzz day!

By the way

Today was my expected due date...crazy huh?!

Dinner-in-a-pumpkin

So, my coworker gave me this recipe that she uses every Halloween, and I thought I'd give it a try. It sounds yummy! So, if any of you decide to try it, tell me what you think!

1 small pumpkin, hallowed out
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
8 oz can water chestnuts
1 small onion
1 1/2 C cooked rice
2 lbs hamburger
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 can mushrooms

Brown the onion and hamburger; drain grease
To the meat add: 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 small can mushrooms, 1 can cream of chicken soup
Simmer mix for 10 minutes
Add 1 1/2 cups cooked rice and can of water chestnuts
Place mix in the pumpkin and cover with pumpkin top or tin foil
Bake pumpkin @ 400 degrees for 1 hour
Scoop out casserole and part of pumpkin to serve (Pumpkin tastes like squash)

May cook in a casserole dish and top with almonds or Chinese noodles. Bake @ 350 degrees for this method.

6 Weeks

So, can I just tell you how excited I am that we've reached that magical 6 week mark? I feel like I haven't worked out in forever, and I still have plenty of baby weight and then some to get rid of. I'm so excited to be able to do that now! I don't think I ever thought I'd be so excited about working out, but it's the whole of idea of being told you can't do something that makes you want to do it even more! Probably not the best time to start Weight Watchers with the holidays coming on, but carpe diem right? If not now then when?!

A visit

Aunt "Mamy" came up this weekend to visit, and was wonderful enough to get some pictures of him for us to make a birth announcement (by the way, I need some current addresses from some of you...you know who you are!), so I thought I'd post some of my favorites...don't worry, I'm not posting the one that's on his birth announcement!

Sleeping in the car seat after church. This is the first "real" outfit he's been in...I love his shoes!
Looks like he's thinking hard

My boy

With daddy

Yeah for Aunt Mamy!

Freakin' Finally!!!

So, I'm sure that for many of you, this happened a long time ago, but for some reason, Rexburg is always behind! But, today, gas is $2.99. Finally below $3!!!!!! It's been dropping about 8 cents a day the past few days, and I hope it keeps up it's trend. This is going to make me sound old, but when I was in High School, gas was only 98 cents and I could fill up half my tank with $5! Ahhh the good old days, and I'm glad that the gasoline companies are finally giving my pockets a break (they really aren't that deep!).

Not much going on around here

Sorry if ya'll get annoyed with the overabundance of pictures of Landen, but that's all that's going on right now. I'm so used to being more busy with work that it's kind of taken an adjustment to learn to just sit and relax and try to get as much sleep as I can. But, he's started waking up more, and by that I mean that he doesn't just eat and sleep, he'll actually stay awake after eating for a little while which is turning out to be so much fun. He's such a doll...don't get me wrong, the kid has quite a temper when he doesn't get what he wants right away, but most of the time, he's very content. So, here's some pictures of what he's been up to the last week and a half at home...not much!

Here's him with his 8 inch comparison bear to get a measurement for him at one month.
Shading his eyes from the camera
Taking a bath in the sink
Usually he loves his bath, so him being cranky about it was kind of cute
Here's the happy guy we usually see at tubby time
He's graduated to the big boy bath

Just hanging out with dad

A close up of his cute face

No pictures please