Jacksonville

So here's a recap of our wonderful weekend in Jacksonville. Landon and I had a great time visiting everyone. Our weekend was full, the weather was beautiful, the only thing missing was Andrew! I think he enjoyed the time alone.


Landon and I got in late on Friday night, but once we got to my parents house, Landon had to kick the balls around. I told my parents I wasn't bringing any toys, but as long as he had a ball to kick, he would be ok, and he was!


Saturday was a bit of mess because my cell phone got some water damage on the flight over (Landon's juice), so that's where Landon and I spent the early afternoon. Later, I dropped Landon off with Sean, KC, and the twins while I had a nice lunch with friends. This is one of the only pictures I had of the kids from Saturday, hopefully KC will send me some of hers. The kids played in the sprinkler, danced (video below), and played with the trains. Landon had a great time. The three of them get along so well!

Sunday, we headed to church and then the carnival that Sacred Heart was hosting. Mom, Dad, Uncle Danny, Landon, & I strolled around the carnival while waiting for Sean, KC, and the twins. Landon decided to get in a nap before all the fun began.
Then his buddies arrived and the day got pretty interesting!

There were plenty of carnival rides, just not many for the little ones. We all rode on a caterpillar. Kinley wasn't a big fan and Chance & Landon tolerated it. After the caterpillar, Landon spotted the ATV ride. Landon and I got in line, but only Landon was allowed on. I was a bit nervous, but he did amazing!
Once Landon got off, Chance wanted to ride. We thought it would be cute if the boys rode together, but Landon wanted nothing to do with the ride. I guess once was enough. Chance also did amazing! They were such big boys riding alone!
After the carnival, Mom & Dad had everyone over for dinner, even Aunt Mindy came (Andrew's sister). The munchkins enjoyed a popsicle after dinner!

I had taken Monday off so that I could spend the day with my Mom. We ate lunch did a little shopping, stopped by Dad's office to say goodbye, and then Landon and I were off! It was sad to leave, the trip wasn't long enough, but we will see them in June & July! I can't wait!


Here are some videos from the weekend...Enjoy!

Off to Jacksonville

Landon and I are headed to Jacksonville tomorrow to visit these two amazing people...

                                                                          MY PARENTS!

I can't wait!  We last saw them over Christmas break and if we didn't visit now, we wouldn't see them until the end of June.  I wish we lived closer so that we could visit more often, but this will have to do for now.  We'll be there for 3 full days to soak in the Florida sun and spend some quality family time together.  Unfortunately, Andrew won't be making this trip, but I'm sure he'll enjoy the time alone in a quiet house!

A Pleasant Surprise

My wonderful husband surprised me by sending these beautiful flowers to me at work!  What girl doesn't love to receive a bouquet of flowers at work. 

Since we aren't really celebrating today (we are eating pizza as I write), this gift was a special treat.  Maybe after my trip this weekend, we'll go out for a nice celebration.

                              Thank you Andrew

I LOVE YOU

Three

Three:

1. the THREE persons of the Holy Trinity

2. the 3 Amigos

3. THREE's a crowd 

4. 3 of a kind

5. the 3 Wisemen

6. the number of years Andrew and I have been married!

Today is our 3rd ANNIVERSARY.  

I LOVE this man and the life we are living.

It has been an AMAZING ride and can't wait for the future!

Now for a stroll down memory lane...

the HANDSOME groom & his BEAUTIFUL bride!

 

Giving the BRIDE away
The FIRST kiss as husband & wife
    MR. & MRS. 
            the RINGS!
  FIRST dance...
The Wedding PARTY
An AMAZING day

"LOVE is patient, love is KIND.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in EVIL but REJOICES with the TRUTH.  It ALWAYS protects, always TRUSTS, always hopes, always PRESERVES.

Love NEVER FAILS...and now these THREE remain: Faith, HOPE, and LOVE. The greatest of theses is LOVE."

  - 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a, 13

Stroller Dilemma

I am finding myself in a bit of a dilemma. It's nothing major, I just can't decide on a new stroller for when the new baby arrives. Landon will only be two and I know that getting around will be easier if I have a stroller that is compatible for two.

I currently have 3 strollers!! Why? I have no good reason except that I received two and bought one. Early in the pregnancy, Andrew and I went to a garage sale that had lots of used baby items. We bought a few things including a small stroller, all for $15. The stroller is a bit larger than an umbrella stroller but much smaller than most others. It has come in handy for when Andrew takes Landon is soccer practice and fits nicely in the Saturn. I do not like to use it due to the fact that you have to bend a bit to push and it isn't very comfortable.

The second is my Graco Travel System pictured below. I received this from family members as a gift. I absolutely love it! It goes everywhere with us. The only problem is that it is a single stroller.
The third stroller is actually a jogger by Baby Trend, pictured below. I also received this as a hand me down from a friend of Andrew's mom. She used it with her first and didn't plan on having any more, and gave it to us, along with tons of clothes. Super generous! This has come in handy, obviously for jogging, but I also use it out and about every once in awhile. What I dislike is that the front wheel does not swivel and pushing it while jogging is quite tough. Now I know, no matter what jogger I have, I will have to push, but there are definitely others that are much easier. Of course, other downfalls, it seats only one child and there isn't a place that is compatible for a carrier.

My thought is that I would like to sell both the travel system and the jogger and get one stroller for both kids that can be used as a jogger, too. I know I would probably be able to sell the travel system for more if I included the carrier, but that would mean I would need a new car seat for the baby in the beginning. I'm not opposed to an new car seat, it's just that means more money and the ease of transport in the carrier would be greatly missed. I know especially for Andrew.

Now my dilemma...which to get??? I have been eyeing two strollers for quite some time and have been going back and forth on which I would prefer. The two are: the Phil & Ted and The B.O.B. Both are quite expensive, but I figure if I sell my other strollers (plus I have a few other items in the house to sell on Craigs list), then the output from me would not be as great.

Here is the B.O.B. I have used this jogger and think it is great. It was easy to push, especially while jogging, it seats two comfortably, and when the baby is little and in the carrier there is an attachment so that one seat can be Landon's and the carrier can go in the other. Plus, the front wheel has the ability to swivel. My major issue with this stroller is the size. To use this stroller as an everyday stroller is possible, it just is very large. I know a few people with this stroller and they absolutely love it!

My other choice is the Phil & Ted dual stroller. The reason I like this stroller so much is that it is an in-line stroller. I can stroll both children and it's like I'm using a single stroller. Instead of sitting side by side, the children sit like below. With the stroller, you also have the option of placing the rear, lower seat in the front. I didn't load a picture of this, but click here to see the other arrangements. Not only that, this stroller can function as a single stroller, if I happen to be with only one child. I'm not sure how often that may happen, but you never know! One of the problems with this one is that I'm not sure how well it would work as a jogger. I have seen it used as one but haven't found as much information on it. The other is that, while the baby is in a carrier, it would be in the front and Landon would have to be in the back. I'm not sure how much Landon would like sitting there.

I know that there are less expensive double strollers out there. Graco has an inline double stroller, but it's really big! Also, many people love their sit and stands. My problem with these is that I still need a jogger. There are also less expensive joggers, but the strolling ease of the two above, out weigh the other joggers.

If you have any suggestions, please send them. I am constantly going back and forth on which to purchase.

More Visitors

We have been so blessed with visitors these past few months.  It has been great to see familiar faces around here.  The move here wasn't the easiest, and continues to be a bit of struggle for me, especially in the winter.  I know we don't have as bad of winters as some of you reading, but I am so used to the "normal" spring months of March and April in Florida.  Once those months arrive,  there should be sun shining and cool weather, with the hopes of warmth ahead.  These past few months have been dreary and cold...depressing.  So, having friendly and familiar faces visiting has been great and uplifting.

This weekend my friend Patricia was close to Va, so she gave us a call to check and see if we would be around.  With a forecast of warm and sunny weather, there was no where else we would be.  I have been waiting for the weekend where the three of us could enjoy the outside.  Having 2 more to share it with is all the better.

Patricia is up in the Northeast spending time with her husband, who is an athletic trainer for the Phillie's minor league team.  Since the team was playing about an hour away, she decided to come visit with her son, Sebastian.

I know Landon is around babies all the time, but never when we are around.  I was really anxious to see how Landon would interact with a baby. Landon loved Sebastian and at times got a little jealous when I would tickle and play with Sebastian.  Landon even tried to play in his exersaucer that I brought up for Sebastian.  This September might be a bit of an adjustment for him.  
All in all, Landon was great with Sebastian.  He was really interested in Sebastian and loved to peek at him when he was in the carrier.  Landon would point to Sebastian and say "ba-by."  He even gave Sebastian a few kisses.

Even though the visit was short, we had a wonderful time.  We took the two of them to Occoquan which is an historic town close to us, with great shops and restaurants.  Patricia and I were able to catch up and let the boys play with each other!

Our door is always open, if anyone ever wants to come and visit!

New Toys...

for Andrew and I!

Andrew and I have been without a home computer for quite sometime now (at least a year). Luckily I have been issued a computer from work that enable us to stay in tune with all of you and the world via the internet. We have been going back and forth, debating about when to get a new one, because we truly need one at the house, so my work one can go back to just that, and we've been debating between a PC and a mac.

Andrew really didn't care either way, but I have been looking around at all of the features in a mac. I was really into the editing features (photo & video) that the mac has, so we went with the mac! We purchased the new 13 in mac book and with it we got a $100 towards a new printer (with rebate). Not only that, because I'm a teacher, the purchase was also at a discount! Not much, but I'll take a discount any day to save some money, especially now.
We were super excited to finally have a computer that we could use totally as our own, but soon realized that we have alot to learn. We have become so accustomed to our PC, that our normal strokes, movements, file locations don't necessarily coincide with the mac. Believe me, we knew this going in, but old habits die hard. Luckily we purchased the mac one-to-one sessions. With this you get an hour session with a mac expert for 52 weeks. Bonus...I got a discount on these too! I need to make my first session for tomorrow. I think I stick with an intro session, but I think most of the sessions will be spent in the photo and video editing (mostly photo, though).

I'm hoping that once I get really acquainted with the editing I can purchase some more editing tools. I already have this, which is fine for now (I mostly use it for blog designs) but I would like to buy one of these...

With the camera, and the editing tools, and some photography classes, I might be able to be like him...

I don't really have a desire to become a photographer, but I would like to be better able to photograph not only Landon and baby Peck, but scenery and sights when we are traveling. I have been reading some other blogs like this one and this one and have become really interested in the way the pictures are taken and how they look. There is even advice on the cameras to purchase. I plan on doing some more research before actually buying, plus I need to save quite a bit more money before I make this purchase. Anyone want to donate?

Easter Sunday

I've been a little behind in updating the blog.  I'm finally getting to Easter Sunday.  We had a great day (before heading back to work) celebrating one of my favorite holidays.  It's a little different celebrating Easter here in Virginia (and last year in Ohio, with some snow).  In my memories, Easter is always on a sunny and warm spring day.  I'm sure there were some that didn't fit that description, but for the most part, that's what I think of when I think of Easter. This year we had the sunny, but not the warm.  It was pretty cool outside.

We started our day getting ready for Easter mass.  We love the 11 o'clock service at our church because of the Youth Choir.  They always play amazing music and the service is enjoyable with church full of members.  On any Sunday, there ends up being standing room only if you come a quarter to 11.  Imagine what it's like on Easter and Christmas!  You have to get to church between 10 and 10:15 in order to guarantee and seat.  While we were waiting for the mass to begin, the choir sings a few songs.  Landon loved listening to the songs and decided to get out of the pew and start dancing. It was adorable!  He walked out into the center aisle and entertained everyone around us.  I wish I had recorded it...

Before we headed to mass, Landon checked out the goodies that the Easter Bunny left him.

He loved the cars and once he saw them he had no interest in the rest of the basket.
Afterwards, we headed outside for his Easter egg hunt.  It took him awhile for him to understand what to do, but he eventually got it!
After mass we had an early Easter dinner at Andrew's parents house.  The Easter Bunny visited here too and left Landon another basket of goodies.

Getting Ready for Easter

Yesterday, while getting the house back in order,we spent the day getting ready for Easter.  We started by visiting the Easter Bunny.

Later in the day, we dyed Easter eggs for the first time.  This is what happened before we even got started.  I had all the dye up on the counter top and of course it caught Landon's attention.  He got hold of the blue dye bowl...what a mess!
Landon and Daddy had a great time coloring the Easter eggs.  Landon kept calling them balls and throwing them in the dye!  Needless to say, a few of the eggs have cracks in them.

Here's the finished product...
Once Landon was in bed, the Easter Bunny left his basket for the morning and hid eggs in the yard.  The Easter Bunny got Landon one of my most favorite Disney movie, the Fox and the Hound.  I can't wait to watch it with him.

Last Day in Va Beach

Landon and I spent our last day on vacation in Portsmouth, Va. We went to meet a high school friend, Lisa, and her two sons at the Children's Museum. It was a great museum, filled with tons for the kids to play.

There was a real fire truck that the boys drove...
They went grocery shopping...

Landon rode on the motorcycle...

We took a short break to have lunch at the water...

Then it was back to playing. We headed to the train room. There was a bubble inside the train set-up so you could get up close the passing trains. I wasn't fast enough to get a good picture of Landon, but there's his head!

He loved watching the trains pass by and waved hello/goodbye everytime they passed.

We also made time to go on the slide. You are supposed to take off your shoes in this room, but Landon has a thing with shoes and once they're on, they stay on. I don't think many people minded.

During all of this, Lisa and I took time catching up. It was a great time! I wish we had something like this close to us to occupy Landon during the summer when we're home together.

Yesterday Landon and I hung out at the hotel. It was a much nicer day, the sky was clear and sunny but it was still pretty chilly. After lunch, Landon and I decided to walk the boardwalk. We were only about a half mile from one end, so we went in the other direction. There and back was probably about 4 1/2 mi.

Instead of walking, we could have opted for one of these, but since I would have been the only one pedaling, we walked.
On our walk we passed the original Coast Guard Station....

posed for a picture with King Neptune...

and the Va Beach beachballs...

Yesterday was pretty uneventful, but today we have plans to drive into Portsmouth and visit with a friend from high school and her two boys. We are headed to the Children's Museum. It should be alot of fun and plenty of opportunities to take pictures!