Thanksgiving 2011

We traveled out to Florida for Thanksgiving.  We usually leave on Tuesday night, arriving sometime Wednesday.  This year we were able to leave a day early, getting to spend an extra day with family.

We got in to Tallahassee early the next morning, as the kids were waking up.  Thankfully Grandma and Grandpa took over and Bryan and I took a long needed nap.  The kids were right at home, playing and having fun.  Landon LOVES to ride the tractor when he gets there, and his second favorite thing is to catch squirrels!  Kenzie wanted to be outside the whole trip and begged Grandpa or Grandma to take her out every chance she had.

This trip was great because Landon got to spend a lot of time with his cousins.  He even stayed the night!!  I couldn't believe it. Kid's came over to Grandma's house and we played outside for hours.

Football stars

Sharing the "chair"

"Cheese!"

Who knows what's going on here.

On Thanksgiving, we had a late brunch.  Bryan and I were signed up to run in the Turkey trot, but Bryan hurt his back somehow on the trip out and decided there was no way he could run...fine by me, as I snoozed the alarm and went back to bed.
Brunch was delicious.  Monkey bread, pastries, juevos rancheros, breakfast casserole, all so good.  We spent the afternoon scouring the black Friday ads, coming up with a game plan.  Bryan, myself, my sister-in-law and my niece hit the stores.  We stopped at Wal-Mart on our way to Target - it was a mad house - literally insane. I've never seen such a sight.  We didn't need anything there, so we left quickly and headed to Target, the line was already around the building.  We got in line and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Got inside easily and got everything we needed.  Bryan's sister, however got distracted by a TV - LOL - and missed her opportunity at air mattresses.  We went back by Walmart after that and it was a ghost town.  Creepy how different it was.  Then we dropped off my sister-in-law and niece and Bryan and I went to get a few hours of sleep.  Woke up and hit the stores again.  Snagged a few more good buys.
On Saturday we had lunch with the rest of the family at my sister-in-laws.  It was delicious.  Bryan bought an infrared turkey fryer and the turkey turned out wonderful.  We visited with Bryan's aunts, uncles and grandparents.  Another fun day.  Time for the Gator game!

Bryan and his Grandpa Purvis.

It's always over so quickly.  Landon was sad to say good bye to Grandma, Grandpa and his cousins.  I really wish we lived closer to family, Landon loves being around everyone.

Bryan's aunt Diane, his cousin, his mother and Grandmother

San Antonio Marathon - Part 1

Leaving hotel to walk to Expo

Bryan trying to figure out map on his phone to get us going in the right direction.

Kids drinking hot chocolate on the riverwalk.

Kenzie clearly upset about the fight at the Alamo - or just mad because she wanted to drag her blanket on the dirty ground.

Family picture in front of the Alamo.

Bryan resting on "history"

Jill and I - Kenzie was too shy for the picture.

Landon and Kallie - cheesing it up.

Landon took over the camera here. Waiting outside expo...

Elvis' Rocking It

Kenzie drinking some juice after she ate 12 cups full of tomatoes

Bryan and Landon on the river by The Guenther House

Cinnamon roll from The Guenther House

Kenzie copying Kallie eating a sticky bun from The Guenther House

San Antonio Marathon Trip - Part 2 (Seaworld)

Halloween

A few pictures from Halloween.  The kids both had parties at their schools on Friday, so instead of wearing the Angry Birds costumes all day - they went with their Tech stuff.  Pretty cute (although Kenzie did NOT want her picture taken.)

A friend hosted a pumpkin carving party - thankfully she didn't force us to carve (LOL - j/k S) which meant Bryan and Landon carved the pumpkin together.  Landon was pretty grossed out by the inside part.

Kenzie and Landon were great at Trick or Treating.  Kenzie was so happy to get candy from people, she'd just stand and stare, I guess hoping they'd give her more.  Landon wanted to go to every house in the neighborhood - too many house.  Our friends met up with us and trick or treated, although her kids were tired, and were done way before Landon even considered stopping.

Bryan had on the green pig shirt.  I'm sad we never got a family picture of all us.  The costumes turned out great, Landon was so proud of his black bird.  After trick or treating, we turned our lights on for kids to stop by - Landon wanted Bryan to go out to the street and tell everyone that there's "Halloween going on in here"  - he was disappointed that he'd missed handing out all night.

Best Friends

They love each other...and they love to aggrivate each other.  I'm guessing that's the way most siblings are.

Open House

Too Cold

As you all know, Landon has zero body fat.  ZERO.  Now that the temps are back in the 60s in the mornings, he's freezing.  Here's his outfit this morning as he left for school.

I know the gray and black socks make a great statement with the yellow shorts and green jacket.  How about his nicely combed hair?  Mother of the year award, I'm telling you.

Go Gators

A few pictures from this weekend.  Kenzie let me put a headband on her for a few seconds...she ripped the bow out, but left the band on. 

Then the boys were playing PS3, and she HAD to have a controller too.
(Notice Landon's favorite attire - no shirt.)

Kenzie and Bryan watching football.

Kenzie saying "cheese" for the camera.

First Week of Kindergarden

Landon was very nervous the first morning.  Bryan and I both went to class with him.  He was okay when we got there...he knew a few of the kids in his class from daycare.  There was another boy there crying that he knew, Landon went over and gave the kid a hug.  By the time we got everything situated, Landon started tearing up.  He didn't want us to leave - that breaks my heart.  He has a great teacher, she told him to walk around with her and help her.  (He told us later that he stopped crying because he got to walk with her.)

He rode the bus to daycare and Bryan got off early and picked up both kids and took them to McDonald's.  Landon was so excited to tell us all about school and riding the bus. 
The next day, Bryan and I took him again.  We waited in the hall by his classroom since it wasn't open yet - the teacher came in from the gym with all the other kids, and Landon, once again cried when it was time for us to leave.  Ugh.
But then after school - he's so happy - telling us everything that was new, so happy about music class.

On the third day, just Landon and I went - it was early, so we went to the gym, where all the kids sit in lines according to grade level.  Landon didn't see anyone he knew, and started crying again, asking if I could stay with him.  Finally, a girl in his class came and sat with him. 
After school - he went on and on about how AWESOME PE was!  He loved.  He told me every detail of the gym.  And he said lunch was awesome too (he's been taking a packed lunch since day 2.)

The fourth day - all night before he kept saying he was nervous and he didn't like going to the gym in the morning.  We talked it through and decided he should take a book to read. So, day four, get to the gym (oh! he wanted to do the kissing hand in the car, so no one would see...) and he sees his new friend - he slowly walks over and asks me if I'm sure he can read the book he brought - I say yes (and hope that its true.) He's fine - no crying!!

The fifth day, we got there before his new friend, and the teacher in  the gym starts calling out (over the PA) "who's a friend of Landon?" - Really , not helping here.  I take him to the end of the line and tell him to save a spot for his friend, but he's already bawling.  I left him crying.
Of course he comes home again, telling us how great school is and how much he loves it!  Just want to get over this morning stuff.  Of course this week, everything is different and they get to do activities in the morning - computer class, library, science, art...so hopefully Monday morning goes much smoother.

Pictures

Landon and Kenzie before school, enjoying the cooler temps.

Kenzie eating powdered donuts - this is her new way to say "cheese" when she sees a camera.

She moved on to kolaches.

Landon hiding from us.  He loves to take his shirt off as soon as he gets home.  I think he makes it feel like an "older" kid.

Kenzie playing in yard while Landon jumps.