Winter Wonderland or The Neighbor Saved Me

Landon likes his big boy bed. He just doesn't want to stay in it until he falls asleep. Which is most days lately around nap time. Today around 4:00 pm our great neighbor Miles knocked on the door wanting Landon to come build a snowman with him. It took us almost longer to get him ready to go out then he was out playing. But he was so cute playing with Miles. Landon figured out how to throw snow at other people including two neighbors. They were great sports.

Landon also went to the dentist for the first time today and he did amazingly well. He came home with a Winnie the Pooh toothbrush, a sticker, and a toy. Everyday I love watching him and the things he does. Especially every time he says, "thanks mom!"

Foster Care Update

Our Foster Care Orientation was to be on February 10. We had a pretty good snow storm over night and into the morning. So schools were closed and I guess that was enough for them to cancel our Foster Care Orientation. We fasted that week and are not sure if that was a sign or not. Most of the dates are quite hard for the both of us to make. I called and left a message with the woman who called to cancel but now two weeks later she has yet to call me back. We just may have to put it off to the summer when Mike's schedule slightly changes. We will have to see what the Spring holds for us.

A Few Firsts

We are so blessed!

• This week Hallie got contacts
• Landon wore his first set of big boy underwear. (Lasted 3 hours until I found a trail of pee that had him at the end of it. Thank goodness for hardwood floors!)
• We have been spotlighted on a blog! Check out http://thearizonaexperiment.blogspot.com/ We are so excited to be spotlighted this month on a wonderful family's blog.
• We bought our first set of couches and couldn't be happier. They are white. (Landon has already messed on them :) Thank you Grandma Landon.

All Grown Up, Almost

During our trip to California Landon showed us how he could climb out of his pack and play. He has threatened us before our trip but thankfully it never happened. So, when we got back to Michigan we decided it was time to move toward a "big boy bed". We didn't really feel we had the money to go from toddler bed to twin bed and Landon's crib was a hand me down that did not convert into something out of this world, like some newer cribs do. In other words we decided to go straight to a twin. We were so excited with our find of a bed frame and box spring at an estate sale. We then used Christmas money for Landon to buy him sheets that he had a say in. The sheets were on sale too! While in CA there was a cute store called Vintage going out of business and that is where we bought his quilt. Grandpa and Grandma O sent him a Valentine's monkey to add to what we have been calling his zoo. (What to Expect in the Toddler Years said to get them a new toy for the transition. Thanks Merle and Sue, I did not have to buy it for him!) Landon as you will see in the pictures had a ton of fun helping Mike get the bed together while I went to Costco to buy the mattress thanks to the help of a nice family in the branch with a truck. When I came back we finished putting it all together and my heart melted to see my little boy laying in such a big bed. It took him a while to go to sleep but he slept the whole night in it and has taken a great 3 hour nap. No he is not really all grown up but it is just another step in that direction.

It Finally Showed Up!

Up until yesterday morning we could see our grass and everything else for that matter. We had not really had snow since the beginning of January. That is until yesterday at about 10:00 am when it started coming down and didn't stop a ton. Mike shoveled once but by the time the missionaries left last night you couldn't tell. So here is Landon and Mike at it for today. Love Miles next door he has already shoveled our sidewalks and it wasn't even 9:00 am. Good luck everyone who has to shovel out the more than 6 - 10" that we and other states received!

Spike

Landon's hair was a bit crazy when he woke up Sunday morning. So we decided to pay a bit of homage to Uncle Riley by sticking up the middle. He loved it and received several fun comments at church. What a sport he is.