The Lowdown

Boy, oh Boy! I know this blog has been severely neglected. Is anyone out there still reading? I'm sure you've all given up on me by now. However, I'm not quite ready to give up blogging yet. After all, this is really my only written record of our day to day lives. So even though it's usually the very last thing to get done on my to-do list, I'm still hoping to get it done once in a while. :)

We are just starting to catch our breath here at home after several road trips so far this summer. Two trips to Ohio, one trip to New York, with another trip to Ohio still in our future! WOW!! Our kids are pros at long car rides and we've gotten very familiar with the best rest stops on the Ohio Turnpike!

Our first trip to Ohio was Mother's Day weekend for a wedding. Just 10 days later, we hopped in the car again and drove to beautiful West Point for my baby brother's graduation. What an awesome trip -- we hadn't been back to visit Jon's alma mater in over five years. I know it sounds cheesy, but it really is such a beautiful and awesome place (unless you are a cadet in the middle of winter, I suppose). There is just this feeling I can't describe that goes along with being in the presence of so many young men and women in uniform. So, SO cool. I was so very proud of Eric for all that he had to go through in order to graduate from such a prestigious school. Now, he's on to Fort Rucker, AL to become a helicopter pilot. I know ... sounds kind of glamorous, doesn't it?!

Our last trip to Ohio was just a quick one to visit the Hall family Lake House and enjoy their family reunion. I always love being with the whole Hall gang. I couldn't ask for a more loving, supportive, and fun extended family. Even though we were there for less than 36 hours, it was definitely worth the trip!

The weather so far this spring/summer hasn't been very good, but we've been trying to make the best of it! Anytime we get a day that's even slightly warm, we're swimming in the baby pool or splashing at the spray park. The boys and I have been taking swimming lessons every day for the past two weeks. Landon and I are in the "baby" class, but Tanner is in a class by himself and really seems to be making some progress. I'm so proud of him! Landon is just a CRAZY man in the pool. I promise I'm not exaggerating. I usually hop in before him and then try to help him down. "Go, Mom," he tells me as he sticks out his hand. He really does not want me to help him or hold him, which is kind of hard considering he could drown if I'm not hanging on. So most of the lesson is spent with me just trying to keep hold of him. The child has no fear.

Tanner started pee-wee soccer a few weeks ago and LOVES it. He's pretty easy to pick out ... the only one there whose dad has him decked out in shin-guards and cleats. Oh yeah ... and he's usually trying to direct the other kids just like someone else I used to know ;) I'm pretty sure his first day of practice was one of the best days of Jon's life so far -- his firstborn is now officially participating an organized sport. I have to say, he is very focused during practice and seems to follow the coach's directions really well. And he definitely hustles ... I think he has it in his blood. :)

Speaking of ballers ... Landon is totally blowing us away with his interest in basketball. Can I brag for just one second? He totally knows how to shoot the ball with correct form. He uses one hand to "shoot" and the other to keep the ball stable. It's really kind of unbelievable. Maybe all boys just come out of the womb knowing how to shoot? I don't know -- that's definitely not how it happened for me! "Basketball" is truly one of the first things he says in the morning and the last thing he says at night. I told Jon that he has to start teaching this kid how to handle the ball. If you knew me when I played, you know that ball-handling wasn't really my forte'. Check out the video of him shooting a few weeks ago. Stay with it to the end. He finishes with a lay-up, then a fade-a-way (LOL!!).



Landon is also making huge progress with his speech. Still not where he probably should be, but SUCH a difference from where he started when we began therapy just 3 months ago. His favorite things to say these days:

"I don't like that one!"
"Mine!!"
"I want TEET!" (Haha ... he means Treat, of course:)

He also gave up his pacifier about 2.5 weeks ago. After our last road trip was finished, I decided it was time. I cut a little piece off the tip of each paci and then gave them to him. "It's boke!" he said, and then threw each one in the trash. I wish that would've been the end of it, but it was a very long first week. He basically cried for three days straight. He still cries everytime he goes to bed or down for a nap. He doesn't cry for the pacifier anymore, he just doesn't really know how to soothe himself to sleep. Now he just lays there and says "lay down, Mom!" What a difference from the little boy who's always laid right down, pointed to the door, and said "Go!" when I put him to bed. Ahhhh! I know we did the right thing, but now bedtime really is a huge ordeal. Sigh ....

We decided to have a birthday party for Tanner again this year. Our policy was going to be having a friend party only every other year, but I guess that was quick to go out the window! Tanner basically has the last birthday of all his friends, so by the time he goes to every one of their parties, you feel kind of bad telling him he can't have one, too. So, we are going to have just a little shindig with pizza, cake, etc in our backyard last week. Tanner's only request was for a pinata. Last night, we went on a "pinata date" just the two of us to search for the perfect one. We had the BEST time. We really just shopped at a few stores and then got some Target popcorn at the end of it. As we sat down to have our snack, I started telling him stories about when he was a baby and he couldn't get enough. "Tell me more about when I was a baby!" I tried to remember as much as I could, but after an hour, I had to apologize and tell him I couldn't remember anymore. So, I promised to show him all of the pics from his babyhood on my blog.:)

Jon is doing awesome. He's become a total gym rat now that he's got a bit more time on his hands, but he looks FANTASTIC ... totally diesel if I do say so myself ;) He also just got promoted last week, so we were all very excited about that! He is just loving spending time with his boys and I have to say, there is nothing more attractive in a husband than seeing him truly love on his kids. My boys are so lucky and so am I.

I've been good, too. I feel like I stay so busy just trying to keep up with the day to day -- laundry, making food, cleaning up, going to the gym, etc. I had my first craft show last weekend, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment. All I can say is that it wasn't really the right crowd to buy what I had for sale. It was at one of the town "festivals" close by, and I think most people came for the entertainment, not for the crafts. The good news is that all my hard work building an inventory wasn't for naught. A random woman who I met in line for a ride at Disney noticed my camera strap there and also happened to own a gift shop. Just before the craft fair, she ordered several straps to sell in her shop. So at least all of those nights spent sewing went towards something good!

Tonight, we are off to see Cars 2 as a family. Got to get some dinner goin' so we don't miss it. Promise to update again soon! Enjoy the pics :)