Just a Glimpse ...

... of our last few months ...

Last month, we were at a wedding and I was talking with one of my sweet readers about whether or not I plan to continue my blog. Of course, I answered "Yes," but quickly followed by explaining how I have trouble finding time in my days to just sit down at my computer and get it done. She challenged me to make a goal of writing an entry once a week, not necessarily for my readers, but so that I have a record to look back on all that went on when my kids were little. It's definitely been several weeks since I accepted her challenge, but I think we're finally starting to settle into a fall schedule and it's the perfect time to get back into blogging. So, here goes Week 1! :)

My little family is doing well. Beyond well, I'd say, and everyday I thank God for how blessed we are. Healthy kids, a nice home, a job for my husband, food on our table ... we really are lucky. So, let's start our update with my sweet little Landon ...



Landon is my little boy who LOVES to have a good time. Everything is funny to him and all he wants to do is have fun. He is talking nonstop. Speech therapy worked miracles for him and now he never STOPS talking. LOL! I love hearing what he has to say, though, and it's so nice knowing what he needs or wants without having to guess. The other night he was crying, so I went into his room and he said, "Mom, I'm scared!" WOW!!! It was so nice to know right off the bat what the problem was! So refreshing! Jon asked me the other day when we would stop speech therapy. I told him it was probably time to be finished. Landon had just said to me that morning in the car, "Mom, I have a booger on my finger!" Truly, we've made great strides since March! :) One last new favorite saying of his: "Tanner did it!"



Landon is also working on potty training right now. Actually, he pretty much does all of his business on the potty, we just had a few rough days last week where he had several back-to-back accidents, so I decided we would try pull-ups for another week before we switch back to underwear. I really can't take any credit for training him. He has basically done all of it himself and it just wasn't a big deal. All of the sudden, he was just interested, and wanted to do what Tanner was doing, so he started going. He is getting to be such a big boy. People ask me all the time if he and Tanner are twins because Landon is so tall (but so skinny!). I ask him sometimes "Are you my baby?" and he says, "No, I'm HUGE!!" So. True.



Speaking of Tanner, it's "Monkey See, Monkey Do" around here, and everything Tanner does, Landon is also determined to do. Tanner started back to preschool last week, and Landon is just DYING to go, too! He makes sure he brings his little backpack with him every morning when we take Tanner to school. It's too funny. I can't tell who is more excited in our first day of school pictures:




Tanner is so happy to be back at school. He loves his teacher, Miss Lori -- she's the same teacher as last year and we all just adore her. He has "homework" this year, which is new -- just a quick sheet of handwriting or connect the dots to teach them a little responsibility. Last night I put him to bed and he was crying. I asked him what was wrong and he said "I didn't do my homework page!" I assured him that I was a teacher and I was NEVER going to let him go to school without doing his homework ... I already had it laid out on the table for him to do while he ate breakfast in the morning. I just thought it was so cute that he was so concerned about it!




I cried all the way to school when I dropped him off the first day. I'm not usually emotional about stuff like that, but on the way there, he asked me how many days he'd go to school when he was 5 -- probably everyday. "How about when I'm 6?" -- ALL DAY everyday! That's when I started tearing up! So sad to think about!




Another sad thing to think about ... our best friends here are moving very soon and although I'm sad to see MY friend go, it's even more depressing thinking that Tanner has to say goodbye to his little buddies. They are so close and have so much fun together ... I just can't imagine them leaving!

Jon is doing really well. He finished his first Olympic distance triathlon last month and was awesome. We had a great time cheering him on and I was so proud of him for working so hard. Next on his checklist ... a Half-Ironman. I'm sure those of you that know Jon well are chuckling right now -- that man CANNOT pass up a good challenge. Seriously. He is also going back to school this week. Yes, you read that correctly. Didn't he just FINISH school? Oh yes, he just decided he wanted to go back ONE. MORE. TIME. This time, he's going through the Sports Administration program at Northwestern. Hopefully, it's not as intense as his MBA program was!





I'm doing ... well I'm doing okay. I've been REALLY tired the last several weeks. Like, I just climbed a mountain today -- TWICE -- tired. It probably has a little bit to do with the newest Hall who has taken up residence in my tummy -- okay, a LOT to do with that! I'm a little over 15 weeks pregnant right now, so hopefully almost out of the woods as far as exhaustion goes. Jon and I found out just after 4th of July that we were adding to our crew. It was pretty much a shock for both of us, but we have gotten over the initial surprise and now we're just really excited. My due date is March 13th. This has been my hardest pregnancy by far. I felt so sick from 5 wks all the way to about 12 wks. I had shingles, then strep, then strep again. I'm just ready to be feeling GOOD again! Tanner has made it all worth it, though. He is BEYOND excited about the baby. When he goes to bed at night, he often asks, "Hey Mom, when we wake up, will it be March?" I'll try to remember to post a belly shot next week :)

I've still been sewing a lot (when I can!). I had a craft show a few weekends ago where I sold my camera straps and key chains. Unfortunately, I could only be there for the first day, since I came down with strep later that evening. But, I did sell a few things this time, which was promising. I've also starting doing a little bit of photography lately for other families. It's been a lot of fun, and I really enjoy the extra money.

I think that's about it for now! Next week I won't have to spend so much time filling you in on what we've been doing the last several months!