Monday's zoo visit

"Mom, I don't care about the animals. Where are the snacks?"



"Now we're talkin'..."



"MMM... these are good. HEY WAIT! What does Dominick have over there and why don't I have some of those?"



At the end of the morning, Landon was clearly worn out from all of his snacking.

Things I have learned...

Okay, here are a few things that I have learned living in Texas:

1. Today, Ms. Kathy was playing “pee pie” with Landon. Turns out that “pee pie” is “peek-a-boo.” Hmm…who knew?
2. Every road in Texas has a minimum of 3 names. Apparently, this is just to keep things interesting.
3. Everyone here loves Sonic….and the “Sonic ice.” I don’t know…it’s a big deal.
4. I really like the “yes ma’am / yes sir” thing.
5. Bugs really ARE bigger in Texas.
6. "Awl" is really just a Texan trying to say “oil.”
7. “You might could” is like saying “you could” or “you might”, I guess in Texas they figure that putting both of them together really emphasizes it….so “you might could.”

Sweet, sweet boy

Make a Smilebox postcard

19 questions for JENNY!

Okay, those of you who are looking for "Landon updates", this post has NOTHING to do with him. More later this week! : )

So, Jenny...the challenge is on to you to answer these questions:

1. What is your middle name?
2. What is your favorite dessert?
3. Sweetened tea or unsweetened tea?
4. How did you meet your husband?
5. How many siblings do you have and who is your favorite?! (Uh-oh!)
6. What is your favorite sport?
7. What is the last movie you went to?
8. What is your favorite holiday?
9. Where would you vacation in the world if money were no object?
10. Salty foods or sweet foods?
11.Where would you choose to vacation if you could choose between MICHIGAN and Wisconsin?
12. What is your favorite pastime?
13. What is the most boring sport to watch?
14. Who is neater—you or your husband?
15. What are your pet peeves?
16. Favorite pet? (Even past ones count--R.I.P.)
17. Favorite male movie star?
18. What time do you normally go to bed?
19. What is the funniest thing that Tate has ever done?

Cake Nazi

Okay, I'm taking a cake decorating class so that I can be crafty and decorate cakes for Landon's birthday(s). That is all I want to do. I'm certainly not applying for "Ace of Cakes" anytime soon(but, I'm not TOO bad either. I did the cake in the picture tonight. Obviously, Landon's b-day cake will look nothing like this--I was just playin' around). The instructor, Barbara, scares the crap out of me though(Angie can verify this...she's scary people!). She is a total cake nazi and lives, breathes, and dreams all things "cake decorating", I swear. Let's put it this way: she had to get us out of there early tonight as she has a 4 a.m. flight tomorrow to some big national convention that she is VERY excited about. In fact, I've been hearing about this convention since June. To give you a good picture of who she is let me just tell you that she is a heftier woman, has glasses and grey hair, sweats on her upper lip and neck (ICK!), and has a VERY thick Texas accent. You know, the kind you almost need an interpreter for--for example, she says JOOligh which, translated into English, is"July." She also has another hobby--she and her husband dress up like Mr. and Mrs. Claus. It's frightening, really. Trust me--I saw the picture. But, they are dedicated to it. So dedicated, in fact, that he now grows his beard year round. None of that fake white beard stuff for this Santa, his beard is REAL and she told us that he has a hard time going to Walmart because people approach him all the time to tell him "Santa stuff." Hmmm...and I'm pretty sure that his "bowl full of jelly" is from eating his wife's cakes. (Sidenote: Do you know that if you type the word "beard" enough, it can look like a VERY odd word? HMMM. I don't know....maybe it is the night time cold medicine I took but it just doesn't look right) But I digress. I took "Course I" from her in which the ultimate goal was to learn how to make the "Wilton Rose." She is VERY excited about the Wilton Rose and seems to enjoy it as much as anyone POSSIBLY could. And by "enjoy", I mean lives for it and is passionate about it as much as Landon loves Cheerios & animal crackers. I, however, didn't get so excited about the Wilton Rose. In fact, I will go so far as to say that I couldn't give a rat's you know what about learning the Wilton Rose...and unfortunately, I was stupid enough to say that to the Cake Nazi (but in a VERY nice, charming, sweet girl way). She was very upset and told me "Oh, you WILL learn the Wilton Rose." And I tried--I did. However, where there is a will there is a way. So, if there is no will then there is no way, right? She told me that she would work extra with me on this but again, I reiterate...I JUST DIDN'T CARE! I will NEVER make a cake with roses on it. Not happenin'. So, I didn't go in for an extra tutorial. I'm rebellious like that. Now I'm in another course with her and I'll be honest, I get nervous just to go to class. But, I'll report back on my progress by Landon's 1st b-day party. I'm not nervous about the Cake Nazi reading this blog and getting upset because I'm sure that she doesn't spend her time doing anything but practicing "The Wilton Rose."

NEVER underestimate the power of Cheerios...

First of all, I would like to thank all of the people at General Mills, the Cheerios line, for making this day possible. Why you ask? Well, GUESS WHAT? This was a LONG awaited post! He's moving, people! I know, other moms are saying "why are you celebrating? This just makes your life harder!" I get that--I do. BUT, come on now--the precious boy is 10 1/2 months old. It's time. I had visions of carrying him into Kindergarten and down the aisle at his high school graduation. Although, I did like the idea of going with him on his first date. He he. ANYWAY, here you go, see for yourself(sorry the video is a little dark...OH WELL!). I ain't lyin'...

TAH DAH!!!!

Good thing he is cute...

"Um, mommy...I gotta tell you somethin'..."

Cute, right? Yeah, well what you might be interested to know is that right before these pictures were taken tonight, Landon pooped in the tub. I C K! Yeah, he was tooting a bit and making his own “Jacuzzi” which I thought was funny because he was trying to figure out where the bubbles were coming from. I assumed that was all it was until I heard the noise that made my hair stand on end…and I knew we were in trouble. Normally I would just yell for daddy. Not tonight. DADDY was out golfing. So it was a good night to be him…bad night to be mommy. So, I had to drain the tub, get rid of the floater, and clean it the best I could all while holding a slippery baby who REALLY needed a bath then.

Mommy needs a margarita.

In defense of Michigan...

Okay, this post isn't about Landon either. Crazy, I know....but something has to be cleared up. This is for all of my Southern friends who think that Michigan is only militia, nascar fans, and rednecks (wait…oops, my bad...nascar fans AND rednecks--that is a bit redundant--sorry 'bout that). Anyway, I know that Michigan gets a bad reputation and all but seriously, let me teach you a little somethin’. I mean, sure, these guys are from Michigan:

BUT let's put aside the stereotypes, people. You know, we have really famous people that are from there too.


Hmmm--maybe they aren’t the best examples either.

BUT--below is lake Michigan. It is fabulous--it is the beach without gross, suffocating salty water. AND, it doesn’t have the creepy things that can kill you like the ocean does. It’s a win-win, really. AND, it's just ONE of the Great Lakes (5 points to anyone who can name them all without looking them up)

And look at how pretty Michigan is in the fall.

OOOOHHHH AAAAAHHHHHH, right?

I mean, for real. It's beautiful.

Check out the winter (OH—and that fabulous couple! What an adorable hubby and wife…RIGHT?!)

So yes, my Southern friends, the next time you hear a snarky comment about Michigan, maybe you can tell them that you know someone from the great state who is pretty darn cool. And maybe, JUST maybe you'll tell them something you've learned here today. So, come on--without looking it up, what are the 5 great lakes? Remember, I'm a teacher--I'll know if you cheat...

Why I love my hubby

Okay, this post isn't about Landon. Gasp, shock--I know.


My husband was away on business for a few days & got back last night. It got me thinkin’ of what I love about him—here are just a few things:

1. Laughs at his own jokes (and sometimes he is the ONLY one laughing!)
2. Sweet
3. Great daddy (well, not to ME, people …to our son)
4. Full head of hair (although, sadly, some are turning a “grayish” color. WHAT? When did we get this old? Is it me turning his hair gray?)
5. Laid back (complements my type A personality quite nicely)
6. Knows to sleep upstairs when he has bad gas
7. Puts the toilet seat back down (He’s only slipped up twice in 2 ½ years of marriage. Not bad!)
8. Hard-working
9. Can do a fabulous “white boy” dance
10. Thoughtful--for example, last week I went to a late movie with friends & it was after midnight by the time I got home. (That was a CRAZY night for me—I haven’t been out after midnight in well over a year! What a nerd) When I got home, he had turned down the covers for me & set up all of my pillows (I use 4, people!) just the way I like ‘em. AW!!!!

Here we are, the happy family:

(Photo--Julie Riggins Photography)

Snacks trump ALL

So, Landon’s VERY favorite thing is food—specifically, Bananas, Cheerios, Animal Crackers, and Gerber Puffs. Yesterday we went to the zoo and Landon pretty much didn’t care about the animals at all. Elephants? Whatever….he’s unimpressed. I was holding him trying to get him to look at the elephants but Landon just kept looking back at the stroller to see if the snacks were there. The giraffe with an adorable baby giraffe? Who cares? Where are the snacks? Monkeys, shmunkeys. As IF the monkeys could honestly be as interesting as the Cheerios….puh-lease.

Yesterday morning I had JUST finished feeding him and decided to make myself some eggs. So, I positioned myself in the kitchen to kind of hide from him but still make sure he is okay too….but BINGO….he spotted me with a mouthful and just threw a fit. So, I put him in his highchair and he got his prize—Cheerios.

So, this is to the family that we are coming to visit in August in Michigan—you want to be Landon's favorite relative? Have some snacks in your pocket. We’ll see who REALLY reads this by the contents of your pockets.


Baby Torture:




Okay, here is the proof that the baby torture that you witnessed in the video was short-lived...no need to call Child Protective Services. Landon is happily reunited with his snacks:

Oh, the therapy...

...that it is going to take when he realizes the kind of stuff I posted on here! Oh well, it's too funny not to put this one on here....

Just playing...

UGH...this wasn't the video I meant to post but as long as I uploaded it, we'll leave it on here. It isn't too exciting a video--just Landon playing!

Ah, sweet comfort...

3 ways to comfort Landon:
1. Food, of course! (Sidenote: yesterday I was putting ½ of a pear on his highchair tray & was going to cut it but before I could he snatched it & put the WHOLE thing in his mouth! And he loved it...)
2. Singing to him. What is even MORE curious is that MY singing is comforting to him. (Note to self: get Landon’s ears checked.)
3. Sucking on a pacifier or a bottle—BUT he has to put his finger in his eye when he does this.

When he was first born, he would just put his hand over his eye but now he usually just puts his finger IN his eye. It really comforts him. I don’t understand it one bit. To me, it would feel just like, well--like I had a finger in my eye. But, whatever. ANYWAY, Landon recently found one of his pacifiers & apparently has a newly found love of the paci. In goes the paci, into his eye goes his finger. What a sweet, precious little weirdo.

Playin' catch with daddy...