Could Not Have Been Better

This Memorial Day could not have been better. The fact that Landon is not waking up til almost 7:00 am is a plus in itself. We decided to skip nap time today and get to Greenfield Village as soon as they opened so we could beat the crowds. We did just that and spent about 90 min there. We had a great time seeing all of the Civil War reenactors. One of the women said they actually spent the whole weekend there in their tents that you will see below. Landon LOVED the drummers and seeing all of the horse drawn carriages around the streets. A lady was passing out flags and Hallie made a rosette to wear for the rest of the day. The weather was a little chilly this morning but other than that it was ideal. While Landon slept after we got home Mike and Hallie made faux BYU Mint Brownies. They turned out to be pretty darn yummy. Yeah! We took our brownies to a Memorial Day cookout. We enjoyed a FHE lesson and some dang good steaks. Of course the talk was great. Laughing is amazing and we surely did that. Thanks to our Veterans and those currently serving for making sure we had a great day today and that we will have more to come.

Civil War Confederate Soldiers.

The Union Soldiers were on their way.

We were in a perfect spot to see the two troops change and play their drums. Landon was fascinated.

We did our part after getting our zoo membership on Hallie's birthday and bought Landon a cute hat. He loves wearing a hat like his Papi.

Landon found his spot and he is ready.

A woman preparing the garden. At Greenfield Village they really have gardens they harvest and animals they raise.

Landon with Union Soldiers. We are not sure what he was thinking about this whole idea. But he is always a good sport. We even enlisted him in the Army.

Mike and Landon are in front of the Wright Brothers home. We loved the way the house was decorated. Our little abode will have bunting up soon.

Landon believed he was such a big kid. Yet, he thought he could steal food off of other kids plates. They were not so fond of that idea. He was so well behaved the whole day. Okay, except for him thinking that Ann's garden was a sandbox. That, not so good.

A Few of my Favorite Things, Today

I thought about getting all crafty and posting pictures with each of my favorite things but in the end you just get a list. Really the list boiled to the simplicity of life to me so if I were to add pictures that would not be simple. 

• Landon's attempt at blowing kisses
• Hearing the church bells down the street
• Driving by Lake St. Clair
• A beautiful day in Michigan
• Lily and Carly singing Happy Birthday 
• Unconditional love of strangers toward Landon
• My soon to be installed new dishwasher
• Flowers, flowers, flowers
• Blueberries
• Free breakfast at Mack Ave Diner
• Chasing Landon around while he squeals with laughter
• Awesome folks who invite us over for dinner on Memorial Day
• Flags, Veterans, and a brother serving in the Army
• Greenfield Village, I think the pass is really for us not Landon but I tell everyone the other way around
• Watching Landon learn ASL it sure makes life easier to know what he wants (p.s. anyone want to buy him the whole set of signing time?)
• Landon loving going to Nursery and his great Primary Leaders
• Good talks in church and good lessons during the other two hours
• Detroit Red Wings

The biggest difference

I was reading some old posts on a blog we follow, the r house, and I ran across an entry that reminded me of how important it is that women who find themselves pregnant out of wedlock get a complete understanding of the options available to them. In her entry (here), Mrs. R. reflected on then-candidate Barack Obama's views on sex education. There's plenty in that entry that I could rant about, but I won't. Instead I wanted to share a beautifully simple statement that Mrs. R's birthmom made: 

"The biggest difference between adoption and abortion is that the baby gets to live."
Would that all women who face an unplanned pregnancy saw things so clearly. Would that more people took adoption as an option meriting real consideration. Would that they understood how adoption heals a childless couple, a selfless birthmom, and a precious baby all in one miraculous act of life affirming love.

Fun At The Park

This last Saturday we went to a farewell/adoption picnic. Every year there is a Families Supporting Adoption Picnic. This year we moved it up to give Kathie our former Adoptive Director a fond farewell. LOTS of people came, and Michelle and I are so glad it was a success. We had yummy pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs, and everyone contributed a side dish. Being that I was helping Michelle with the extravaganza, we got there about an hour early. I found it really hard to keep Landon away from anything that looks like water. You will see at the bottom of the page that Landon proceed to get into the "Lake Michigan" at the park. One minute he was fully clothed, and the next minute he was in up to his waist. It was quite funny to be honest, but at that point I realized we had no more diapers and we weren't going to be home for another 4 hours or so. He dried out and all was well, thank goodness. The best thing was that Landon did not stop the whole time and had an absolute blast playing at the park. Landon is the consumate go getter, and we love that about him. He continues to amaze us.

Oh we just love this face!

A Great Birthday

The pictures below are a bit out of order and I guess for now they will stay that way as my eyes are getting heavier by the minute. I had a great birthday this year. We had box lunches that we took to the zoo with us from the Lunchbox Deli. We then went home and had pizza from Pizza Papali's which is always good. Mike, Landon, and Diamond sang Happy Birthday to me while we ate chocolate cake and had vanilla ice cream, thank heavens for Costco. I will put a few captions under the photos below so you have a bit of an idea about me, the zoo, and my new love the Detroit RedWings. 

One of my favorite sights in Detroit lately is the Blue Cross/Blue Shield billboard. If you are driving on Jefferson from Detroit to Grosse Pointe you pass this amazing billboard. The Detroit RedWings are in the playoffs again and the spirit for the red is out in full force. Today when I got my nails done the guy asked if I wanted some airbrushing of the Wings. Next time I said. I hope they last that long, the Wings that is.

The four of us in front of the Polar Bear exhibit. 

Can we say daredevil? Landon was climbing on anything he could. He even found higher bars to climb but we thought not to worry the grandmas and did not post those photos.

Here is me and my stylish new shades.

Diamond almost died with the thought of a butterfly landing on her in the exhibit so this was a picture just after we got out of the exhibit.

My first pair of prescription sunglasses. I am so excited to have them. We are outside a lot more than we have ever been and my eyes were beginning to bug me. Happy Mother's Day and Birthday to me. Thanks to Scott at Costco who was an awesome help. Diamond did not do too badly either.

Lest We Forget

Today is a tender day for us. One that we almost let pass by. We looked at a blog we love and were gently reminded of why today is so important.

Nealry two years ago when we met our dear Natalie we told her we had a blog. We don't know if she has, if she is, or will she ever look at it but one day if she does I hope she will see what we have posted below. Most importantly the love we have for Landon would never have happened if it wasn't for her. 

1 Nephi 21: 15-16

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Someone Gets It

Over the last several years I have watched Scrubs and have laughed. I read on the Internet yesterday that the series will end at the end of this season. All good things must come to an end, I guess. As I watched this last week's episode it touched on an interesting thought that I have had before. J.D. (Zach Braff) decided to move to be closer to his son, which meant he was now 37 minutes away from his best friend. They thought it would be no big deal. But when it actually came down to it, his friend Turk realized it was more like over an hour round trip. I remember thinking when we moved to Salt Lake from Provo or from Mission Viejo to Thousand Oaks that I would still be able to keep my friends. It wasn't like I was moving out of state, right? Wrong. In every case those who I thought were my good friends ceased to be friends at all. Why does it have to be? I really feel that Scrubs (minus the sexual innuendos in the episode) was able to get what I have felt in the past. Someone does get it.

Just Want To Eat Him

Landon was a real ham today. He let me put his hat on so I could take some pictures. He looked adorable for church yesterday. I even had the camera with me but forgot to take the pictures. Dang It!

An empty Jelly Belly container. He loves Jelly Beans.

Mike's dad sent a package with Hooked on Phonics stuff. Here is Mike and Landon are watching a CD-Rom.

This was Landon all dressed up the Sunday he had a fever. He was a good sport to let me take pictures even though he felt lousy. We love his bow tie. Thanks beau ties ltd. We will try for his first official day in Belle Isle Nursery this week. 

Everyday Something New

Recently Landon turned 18 months old. At his appointment with the doctor she said he is progressing well and his activity on the table even made her a bit nervous. Landon has grown quite a bit. In the last 3 months he grew 3" which is the most he has ever grown. He is now 30". He kept us his usual 1 pound every 3 months. So he is now a whopping 23 pounds. 

In the last couple of days Landon has been making car noises when he is playing with the cars that he at one time never cared for.

Landon does say a few words now: Car, Ball, More, Shoes, Cheese, and Grandpa. Now mind you they don't all sound exactly as they are written but we know what he is saying.

Landon does a few signs as well. It sure has helped us communicate with him better.

This week Hallie felt it was time that Landon started wearing his Crocs. They look so cute on him and most of the time he can almost get them on by himself. 

Landon has a chore of throwing his own diaper away after being changed and sometimes he is very good at it. Other times he would rather throw it or kick it before throwing it away. 

We spent some time at the park on Sunday afternoon it was a beautiful day. Landon has loved the swings in the past but yesterday he was not so fond. Hmmm! We will have to work on that. The greatest thing Landon has started to do is hum/sing a long with any music. You can really get him to do it if you sing a song or nursery rhyme we have sang a lot. What he says makes no sense and it is totally out of tune and I can't help laughing, it is so dang cute! But hey what am I saying everything about him is so dang cute. 

If you ever come and visit make sure you have your running shoes on and our ready to play chase and are willing to hide and play peek a boo. He laughs and screams and will fall down laughing. Hallie's laughs and smiles so much her face hurts but nothing could be better.

I can't wait to see what will happen when he wakes up from his nap today.

Something Old and Something New

Today we celebrate something old. Well, kind of. Today is the 1 year anniversary of our finalization and sealing to Landon. It is a fun anniversary to celebrate. We haven't decided how to do it, and maybe as he grows older it will evolve into something else.

Today we celebrate something new. Well, kind of. Today was our first official interview with our caseworker Jill for our 2nd adoption. Jill is wonderful and kind and does this as a calling. We appreciate her willingness to meet with us and to be away from her family. 

We look forward to what Heavenly Father has in store for our family. We pray always for Natalie and our future birth mom.

Once we are finalized I am sure we will be hitting you all up for your help with "finding" our next child.