A Day At The Park

After a few days of really rainy & cold weather we got lucky & it was 57 degrees & the sun was shining...which meant we needed to spend some time outside!To make the day even better Mark got out of work & was home by 3:30 pm. We packed a little snack & headed to the park for some family fun. Landon has so much energy these days & we needed to wear him out!

The park was really nice & had 3 different play sets to choose from. Landon had a blast running back & forth between all of them. He is quite the dare devil now & he climbed the metal bars all by himself (of course daddy was there to catch him just incase)!

He loved the fact that there were about 15 different slides to choose from & I think he went down each one!

Next he made his way over to the swings. He giggled & screamed with joy as he told daddy "higher, higher"!

It was a blast watching him run all over the place & to see that big gorgeous smile on his face! What a great day at the park...

The Joys of a 2 Year Old!

Landon & I have been stuck in the house the past couple of days due to yucky, rainy weather so I brought out all of his cars, blocks, & crayons to keep us occupied. While I was in the kitchen my little monster decided to do a little re-decorating himself. He is quite the artist these days & decided that our chair needed a little color...blue to be exact! Oh the joys of having a 2 year old! Luckily it was only crayon & I was able to scrub it all off of the chair. I think we are in trouble now...

Snoring...

Landon is quite the character these days. I don't know where he picks this stuff up but he is just so funny lately! He now likes to act like he is "sleeping" & he fake snores! Well I know I don't sound like that so he is definitely imitating Daddy! ha ha! He has quite the sense of humor & I just Love It!

Love Saturday Mornings!

I really don't think there could possibly be a better way to be awakened on a Saturday morning than by having your 2 year old run into your room & tug on your arm. It was about 6:45 am & I heard the little pitter-patter of his feet running into our room. He came to my side of the bed & tugged on my arm to help him in (our bed is a little to high off the ground for him to get into himself). He cuddled for a little while & fell asleep on top of me, which lasted for a total of 15 minutes! Then he put his precious little face right in front of mine & said "Toons in your bed Mommy please". How could you possibly say no to that! Oh & then it was "Piggy Mommy Please". So I went & grabbed his piggy pillow (it's his new favorite now & he takes it everywhere) we turned on some cartoons & all 3 of us laid in bed for a little while. I couldn't help but think as we all cuddled in bed...This is PERFECT!

We did eventually get out of bed & Landon used the big boy potty again! He is really getting the hang of it & he gets really excited. I can't believe how fast my boy is growing up! I'm just amazed by him everyday & all of the cute things he does now. This age is awesome!!!

Our Next Journey...

So we have officially heard the news today that our next duty station will be (drum roll please)...Yuma, Arizona. Mark is very excited because this is where he really wanted to go. He will be an instructor pilot at Marine Aviation Weapons & Tactics Squadron 1 where he will be "Venom 71" (which is the 71st Cobra Instructor Pilot in the AH Division). We will be heading to Arizona in July of 2011 & will be stationed there for approximately 3 years. We are looking forward to meeting up with some great friends that will be stationed there as well. I'm a little nervous because I can't stand the heat, but hopefully I'll be able to get a great tan! So begins another journey in this wonderful USMC life...

It's "Potty Time"!!!

Today was a very big day for us. I just got Landon out of the bath tub & he looked at me & said "Go Potty Mommy"? So I dried him off & said sure buddy go potty. He sat down on his potty and had a very serious look on his face & began to pee. I got very excited & started clapping & singing which got him very excited! He sat there a little while longer pushing & making these hilarious faces (which is when I ran to get the camera of course!). We cheered a little while longer & then proceeded to get him into his Jammie's. As he walked out of his room he turned & said to me "I not baby anymore Mommy". Mark & I just started cracking up, we couldn't believe he said that! I guess my "Baby" really isn't a baby anymore. I'm so proud of my boy!!! So now it begins...Potty Training Time!!!

Ouch...Shots for Landon & Mommy

2 Year Checkup:

33.1 lbs. & 2'11''

Landon had his 2 year well child check today at the Martin Army Hospital. Although we have all been sick the past week with a pretty bad cold, the doctor said he looks great! He did have to get two of the required shots in his thighs but he took them like a champ. He is such a strong boy. He is right on track for all of the 2 year requirements & growing like a weed!

I had a doctors appointment today also which was right after Landon's (needless to say it was a pretty long day for us). I just couldn't kick this cold/bug that Landon gave me. I had a terrible cough that kept me up all night (for about 4 nights straight), severe throat pain, burning sensation in my chest, tons of congestion, & to top it all off a double ear infection. So lucky me I got to get two shots today also! The nurse gave them to me in my hip & boy did it burn!!! I was also sent home with Antibiotics, Benzonatate Capsules, & also some Cough Syrup with Codeine so I can finally get some sleep!

Landon was such a good boy during both doctors appointments. The nurses & even the Doctor commented about how well behaved & adorable he is! We are finally back home & relaxing. I'm waiting for Mark to walk through the door so I can take some of that Codeine & catch some ZzZzZz's!!!

Cake, Cake, & MORE CAKE!!!

Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday Sweet Landon...Happy Birthday To You!!!

After we came home from Chuck E Cheese's we had to have a little birthday celebration at the house because what kind of birthday is it if you don't have CAKE! We had a little chocolate cake just for Landon & let's just say it was quite a hit! I don't know who enjoyed it more though...Landon or Daddy!!! ha ha! It started off pretty normal & before I knew it I was snapping pictures of a cake fight! Landon loved it & so did Mark! The squeals of laughter just melted my heart. I learned a very valuable lesson from a two year old today. Life is about laughter, fun, & most importantly Love. This is what life is all about...

Let the cake fight begin!

As you can see it was a blast! Happy Birthday Landon...Mommy & Daddy LOVE You!!!

Chuck E Cheese's

We had a great morning/afternoon & it just kept getting better from there! Mark got home around 5:30 & we headed to Chuck E Cheese for a little family fun. Landon really seemed to enjoy himself & of course loved all the lights, music, & games.

After playing for a little while we sat down & ate some pizza while we enjoyed the show. Landon got pretty excited while watching the characters & got up to dance a little! It was pretty funny watching him have so much fun.

We played a few more games & then Landon got to meet Chuck E Cheese! He thought he was hilarious at first & kept laughing. Then when I took him to get his picture taken with Chuck E Cheese he acted real shy. All in all I think he had a blast & he was all smiles the entire time, definitely a great family day!

Landon Turns Two!!!

Hip...Hip...Hooray! I'm 2 Today!

I can't believe our "Baby Boy" is Two Today! What a wonderful two years it has been having him in our lives. Landon is truly our little miracle & our lives are better because of him. Landon & I started out the day with a wonderful birthday breakfast. Landon LOVES pancakes & bacon so I took him to iHop where he ordered the "Happy Face Pancake".

He really enjoyed his breakfast especially the Whip Cream Nose!

The ladies at iHop came out & sang Happy Birthday to him & even brought him a chocolate pancake with vanilla ice cream on top of it! He seemed to get a big kick out of the singing & then proceeded to dig into the ice cream & get whip cream all over the place!

We enjoyed the rest of our breakfast & then we headed out to Toys-R-Us to have a little birthday shopping spree! The ladies at Toys-R-Us heard it was his birthday so they gave him a Birthday Balloon & Special Birthday Hat! He loved them of course! I told him to pick out whatever he wanted so of course he finally got his "Vacuum"! For those of you that don't know, Landon is obsessed with Vacuum Cleaners. He just goes nuts every time I vacuum around the house or if he sees one in the store. He also got a new helmet & horn so that he can ride his big boy bike outside & some new crayons & easel to create his masterpieces.

We are now at home relaxing a little bit & waiting for Daddy to get home from work. Once Mark gets home we are heading to Chuck E Cheese for Landon's Birthday Dinner & a little play time! It's been a wonderful day so far & I just love seeing Landon smile!!!

Snow Day

Well it was supposed to be Mark's first day at work but we had a "snow/ice storm" & by that I mean there was a light dusting of snow on the ground so everything was shut down for the day. Boy you gotta love living in the south! So instead we started a fire & got back into our Jammie's & are now relaxing listening to the crackling of the fire...I can definitely get use to this!

Recap of 2010

Before I start the New Year I would like to recap a little about 2010. We lived in Jacksonville, NC in 2010 & Mark was gone most of the year for our 3rd deployment. 2010 brought many joys & also sadness throughout the year but in the end our family is stronger than ever.

Landon had to go through 2 surgeries while Mark was deployed. The first surgery which was on June 25, 2010 was to have tubes placed in his ears & Landon experienced some complications from the anesthesia. Let's just say that was one of the worst moments of my life. I was very blessed to have my sister Elaine there with me because I was a nervous wreck! Landon was supposed to be away from me for a total of 15 minutes from beginning to end of the surgery, well almost 2 hours later after the doctors got the complications under control he was finally back in my arms. The second surgery which was on July 1, 2010 was for a blocked tear duct. Going into the surgery I think I was more sick/nervous than Landon was. Thank goodness Uncle Andy came to help me & there were no complications the second time around!

Mark & I both turned the big "30" in 2010 but were apart for our birthdays due to the deployment. While Mark was away I got into running again. I ran my first "Marine Corps Half Marathon" with a great friend Chris Larson on March 27, 2010 & was able to check one of the boxes off on my "to do list" which was a great accomplishment for me! I also participated in The LoTide run (a run for Cancer) on March 11, 2010 with my friend Holly & The Beaufort Road Race on July 17, 2010 with my friend Heather (oh & the kids too!).

This 3rd deployment was a tough one for numerous reasons & I was very ready for Mark to be home by the time it was over. He returned home on August 11, 2010 & we were finally a family again. Unfortunately for Mark, Landon wasn't to sure about him at first & clung to me. It took a little while but soon enough Landon was giving Daddy some welcome home hugs & kisses!

Thanks to some wonderful friends Mark & I were able to go on a few dates & enjoy some "Alone" time. Although it was tough leaving Landon it was really nice going on an adult date & spending time as a couple again. One of our dates was an "overnight date" & we spent time in Wilmington. We went out to a very romantic dinner where we had our own private balcony, shared some wine & great food, & listened to some wonderful music (there was live music being played by some local artists). We also met up with our friends Holly & Bill & went to a few bars/clubs & drank & danced the night away...it was fantastic!

In September we decided it was time for a little Family Vacation & we headed to Boston. We all had an amazing time together & really enjoyed the city. We took walks through the park & experienced the freedom trail, we went to the Sam Adams Brewery, we went & had

dinner/drinks at "Cheers" & also caught a ball game at Fenway Park! While we were there we also celebrated our 5 Year Anniversary & we all went out to a very nice dinner!

In October of 2010 we dropped Landon off at my sister Michelle's for an entire month & Mark & I headed to Italy! We went to Sicily, Naples, Rome, Florence, Milan, & Venice. It was the trip of a lifetime & we were able to fall in love all over again.

We visited our good friends the Rainey's in Virginia for Thanksgiving & Landon loved spending time with Mary & Barbara. We were also lucky enough to spend the night at my Aunt Debs while we were there, as you can see the boys made themselves very comfortable!

(Our Home in NC)

As December rolled around it was time for us to pack up our Home & move AGAIN. We left NC & headed to Phenix City, AL which is where we will call home for the next 6 months. I was very sad to leave our "home" in NC...I had so many wonderful memories there. Such is life, so we got to AL & we unpacked all of our boxes & tried to make this new house a "home" & then got on the road (AGAIN) to head to IN to spend the holidays with family.

(Our New Home in AL)

Mom & Dad brought the entire family together by having a Christmas Party at the house & even had a birthday cake/celebration for Landon! It was so nice being with the whole family & seeing Landon interact with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, & cousins. He sure loved all the attention & we even had to get a car top carrier for the drive home so that we could fit all the presents he received! He is quite the character & started calling my sister Michelle "Peanut" while we were visiting. I have no idea where he came up with the name "peanut" for her but it sure did give us all a laugh! We were quite the party animals & brought the New Year in by having a little champagne toast at Sean & Michelle's house while we watched the ball drop on TV (even Landon stayed up to watch it drop!). I believe by 12:15-12:30 we were all asleep! ha ha!

Although with all of the joy & happiness of being with loved ones for the holidays, December also brought some heartache as we laid to rest my Uncle Wally. It was a beautiful service & he will be missed dearly. May you Rest In Peace Uncle Wally.

So that's 2010 in a nut shell & I do have to say I have high hopes for 2011.

Mark is not supposed to deploy at all this year (first time in 4 years I can say that!) so it will be nice to have some "Family Time" for a change. I look forward to spending as much time together as a family as we can & enjoying all the little things in life that mean so much. Landon will be turing 2 & he just amazes me more & more everyday, he is such a blessing! We will be moving again this year around June (where to??? should find out this week) & then begins another new journey for us. So now I will close up this blog & start fresh for the New Year. Of course I will add lots of pictures & post all of the adorable & funny things that Landon does/says throughout the day. Happy New Year Everyone!