Santa Visit!

It's 9 days until Christmas and we realized that Landon hadn't seen Santa yet.  We were at the mall finishing up our shopping when Landon saw Santa.  He of course just looked at first with curiosity but then all of a sudden he started yelling, "Santa, Santa, Santa."  We got in line and of course he was really impatient.  Once it was our turn he wasn't really sure he still wanted to do it.  I walked him up there and of course made it in half the pictures. 

Why not, I'll take my picture with Santa too!

He finally got a picture with just Santa but he kept his distance.

Then of course we had to give Santa a high five!  

22 months on 12-12-12!

On 12-12-12 my little boy turned 22 months!  It is so hard to believe we are 2 months away from turning 2!  My little boy keeps surprising us each an everyday!  Here are a few of our favorites:

-  Each morning Landon has to pick out his own shirt; he always wants to wear the one from the day before but I have to explain that it is dirty.  So, I have been giving him two choices. He even has names for his shirts.  Papa's truck, Scotty's guitar, Go Big Football (Go Big Red) shirt, Rarrrrrr (dinosaur) etc.  He'll even make these associations when we are out and about and sees something that reminds him of someone he knows. 

- He loves helping mommy cook (that's when I do :))  Making waffles on Saturday mornings is his favorite.  He also loves helping me peel oranges. 

- Taking showers is his new thing!  However, he still loves bath time (aka splash time) with daddy!  

- He can count to six NO WAIT TEN! (He just counted to ten tonight, but he skips 9)  Each morning we count the stairs as we are walking out the back porch.

-  Whenever I cough he'll say "Bless You."

- When ever you say thank you he now says "Your Welcome."  Sometimes if you forget to say it he'll say "Thank you, Your Welcome."  

- He is starting to show ownership.  Daddy's truck, my ball, Mikki's house, etc.

- You should see his bed.  I'm probably a bad mommy but he sleeps with 4 different blankets, a pillow, a puppy stuffed animal he got from Hayden when he was born, usually a toy truck and a couple of books and of course his binky.  If one of them is missing he usually won't go to sleep especially if he sees it in his room somewhere.  

- Landon is starting to get really interested in the "big" bed in our guest bedroom and he loves laying in  our bed with us on weekend mornings.  When I go wake him up in the morning he looks so long in his crib.  We may be approaching that time; however, I'm waiting as long as I can.  I am just excited to start working on his big boy car room!  

- He stills loves  Mickey Mouse and Bubble Guppies (ok...obsessed). We usually let him watch one of each when we get home in the evenings.  He is starting to interact with the questions they ask and he'll point to the answers.  

Decorating!

I absolutely love this time of year and decorating the house. Kurtis always gives me a hard time because I have so many decorations, but we love how warm and festive it makes our home feel when it's all set up.  I was a little worried about it this year with a 22 month old but he is doing amazing!   As soon as the tree was up he of course started grabbing the bulbs off the tree going "ball, ball, ball."  We then told him they were pretties and not to touch and he hasn't touched them since!  We even have a few presents underneath that he hasn't even attempted to touch.  He has his own Little People Nativity set that he plays with.  I'm sure that will all change someday! 

 2012 Guitar ornament from Mommy & Daddy 

2012 Football ornament from Grandma and Grandpa Phillips

Growing up as a little girl my grandparents and parents always gave me an ornament for each year.    I was putting a separate tree up with all our childhood ornaments; however, I need to get a new one so I haven't done it yet.  We started this tradition with Landon last year and these are this year's ornaments.

Helping mommy; cheese! 

Pretty!

Looking at last year's ornament he got from Mommy and Daddy.

The finished product!

This is one of my favorite decorations.  My mom and dad made this license plate countdown tree.  Each day we put a new license plate number on the tree.

My Nativity scene is finally complete!  

My new Santa I got from my parents last Christmas. 

The stockings are hung; even Wally has one!

The only decoration that has not stayed in its place are my candy cane gel stickers.  The ones at the bottom are all rearranged.  I don't even attempt to put them back together so that is Landon's little area.

November Photo Dump

I actually have pictures this month!  

After visiting Grandma and Grandpa Dudo over Thanksgiving, Landon has a new obsession with trains.  That same week our neighbor Mark brought this over for Landon and he loves it.  

Erin, Monroe, Jackie, Will and Landon and I met at Party Hut one Saturday morning. Landon is starting to love this place. He always used to be afraid of the bouncy things but now he is loving them especially when mommy gets to go too.

This is just too cute!  

He actually likes the nose sucker :)  He wanted to try doing it by himself.  

Landon got a new giant coloring book from Sam's.  I wanted to keep it for Christmas but couldn't.  He loves coloring Mickey.  

For girls night one Thursday we were having a hard time deciding where to eat.  I put Napoli's on one book and Wild Buffalo Wings on another book and we let Landon decide.  He chose Wild Buffalo Wings.

Landon jumping on the mini trampoline at Mikki's sister's house one Friday morning.

Our outside lights. It's been 4 years and we change it every year.  Our house is so tall and my husband hates heights so this might be the extent of our lights.  One year we did candles in all 12 windows but Kurtis hated the cords.  Guess we'll see what next year brings.

Friday night Landon and I met my parents in Kearney to pick up Wally.  We of course had to go eat with them.  Landon loved the chips and salsa at San Pedro.  It was fun to watch him because he would dip, take a bite then get a new chip.  He was using his manners and didn't want to double dip but by the end of the night he had almost 20 random chips in front of him that just had one bite taken out of them.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we headed to Grant to spend time with Kurtis' parents.  Kurtis' sister and her family just moved to the other side of Wyoming so they weren't home this holiday. It was different without them; we missed them!  Thanksgiving day we headed to the Community Thanksgiving dinner.  It was delicious as always.  We then spent time playing the usual; ball, cars, trains, etc.  Landon even took several walks to see the "big" trains.  Friday we went to watch the Husker game with some of Kurtis' friends. Then Friday afternoon I started not feeling well.  We'll just say I was sick the rest of the time we were in Grant.   I spent most of my time laying in bed.  No fun at all.  Landon loved all the Grandma time though.  They did lots of playing and watching Peter and the Wolf.  He loved that movie!  Thank goodness for Grandma; there is no way I could have kept up with him. Saturday we headed home and to this day I am still not feeling 100%.  Sad way to end a wonderful break.  

Friday morning before heading to watch the game; we headed to the hardware store to see Grandpa.  Grandpa also had to show him his train in the window.  

Playing football with Daddy.  This is his touch down move.

Taking a bite out of every piece of Grandma's homemade bread.  He wasn't thrilled about me taking his picture.

What will keep a 21 month old entertained in the car for 3 hours?  A plastic bowl!!

Thankful!

  This is a wonderful time of year to reflect on all those things in our lives that we are thankful for.    Yesterday during closing circle at school it was fun to hear my students share things they are thankful for as well.  So many people have also been posting daily thanks on Facebook; however, I thought I'd compile them and sure them here.  There are so many things I am thankful for in my life here are just a few.

*  I am thankful for an amazing family on both sides.  Their love and support has been amazing.

* I am thankful for a healthy, fun, loving little boy.  Landon is the light of our world! 

* I am thankful for my husband.  He is the greatest man I could ask for.  

* I am thankful for all the opportunities our lives provide us.

* I am thankful for God's love and forgiveness.  

* I am thankful for Kurtis' special talent and his willingness to share this at church.   

* I am thankful for my job and the opportunity to teach and touch lives of children.

* I am thankful for my friends at work; they are AMAZING and I am blessed to work with every single one of them.  

* I am thankful for the college education my parents provided me.  Look where it has gotten me.

* I am thankful for my health and the health of my family and friends.

* I am thankful for my friends who have stuck with me through the good times and bad; even if miles have separated us.

Kurtis and I are truly blessed and we have so much to be thankful for this holiday season.  God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving! 

Dodge Ball

Friday night Carissa, Landon and I headed to a Thirty One/ Origami Owl party in Aurora and  afterwards we headed back into Aurora for the intramural dodge ball tournament. It worked out perfect that is was all going on the same night. The high schoolers all had teams put together and dressed up for the occasion in various costumes.  (There were the Avengers, Red Necks, Blonde Squad, etc.) My brother and his staff were also on a team (aka Staff Infection) that played the students.  Landon absolutely LOVED it!  He kept yelling for Scotty!  There were a few times his face turned red and he got so intense I thought he was going to pass out.  We can't wait to take him to basketball games coming up he loves sports!