Tyler's Wedding Reception

My Brother Tyler got married in Hawaii at the end of October.  We were unable to make the trip to Hawaii but we made it to WA for the open house for Tyler & Kyla at my mom's and the reception at Red Lion.  We stayed for Thanksgiving and didn't leave until the 1st of Dec.  It was great spending time with family & seeing friends.  I have so many pictures to post.  I'll dedicate this post to the reception with more posts to follow.  All of these pictures are from my sister's camera.  I didn't feel like lugging mine around, thanks Shelb!

All dressed up

Michael, Myself, Ely (Trace's wife) & Shelby

McKenzie (the baby whisperer)

Joe & Me

Trace, Ely, my mom & dad

Shelby & Austin

Michael & his Aunt Shelby

Somehow there are no pictures of the bride & groom.  Hopefully I can get my hands on some of the professional ones soon & post a few.

Mommy & me breakfast

While this little man was sleeping:

Michael and I created these:

(Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin Pancakes)

Time to eat them!

And they were delicious!

Halloween 2010

Our costumes:  Joe & I were from India.  Michael obviously is a pumpkin/jack 'o lantern.  We took this picture Friday evening before our ward Halloween party & trunk or treat.  I didn't end up going since Landon was not too happy about getting shots earlier that day.

 After trunk or treating Michael ran in the door to show me all his candy.  He was really excited about it.  He has already eaten all his candy.  I figured I'd just let him eat it & get rid of it.  Of course I helped after Michael went to bed.  :)

Saturday I took Michael to the store to pick out a pumpkin & carve it.  I told him he was incharge of the seeds.  He enjoyed playing with them.

 The finished product:

Brothers

 Halloween night we put our pumpkin out & lit it.  After every trick or treater that came Michael had to check on his pumpkin before we shut the door.



Day out with Thomas!

 Riding in a passenger car being pulled by Thomas!  It was super stinky due to the exhaust but once we finally got going there was a nice breeze.   Michael was really into blowing his train whistle during the ride.

 Landon was just enjoying his late morning nap.

 Daddy & Michael on the train after the 20 min ride.

 Enjoying the train tables.  Glad he had chosen to bring his backpack with a train in it so he could play a bit.  Just about every boy or girl there had on a Thomas shirt.  Several had on the same one as Michael.  Only theirs was long sleeve, I think I was the only one to think to shorten them so my kid wasn't sweating as much in the heat.

 A very temporary tattoo of Rosie.  It was already wearing off, just after getting it.

 Waiting in line to take a picture with Thomas.  We only had about a 20 min gap of time until he took off again & we barely made it.  We were the last ones to take a pic in that time slot.  Glad we didn't have to wait until he got back, although I felt bad for the little boy behind us.

 You can see the steam coming out of Thomas getting ready to take off.

 This guy was a clown/magician.  All Michael kept saying was "What's he talking about?"  Joe and I were cracking up laughing because we didn't know half the time either. 

 You have to enlarge this pic of Michael it's hilarious.  :)

 I had to get myself in a picture to prove I was there.

We really enjoyed taking Michael to see Thomas & ride on the train.  It was worth the two hour drive there.  At one point we thought we weren't going to make it on time due to traffic but thanks to Joe's driving skills we got there safely & quickly.  Really we did get there just in time for a quick bathroom break before boarding the train.  At one point we went to the gift shop, which we knew was a mistake before going. Michael set his eyes & hands on a train named Murdoch, Christmas can't come soon enough for him.  For several days after he kept talking about getting Murdoch for Christmas.  Michael loved his "Day out with Thomas" and didn't want to leave but a promise from Joe about a special lunch changed his mind.  It's not often he gets a Happy Meal.

Michael turns 3

 My attempt at a train cake.  It turned out better then I thought it would.  Landon even slept the entire time so I could get it done.  He's already so giving, allowing his brother to have a decorated cake.

We celebrated Michael's 3rd Birthday Friday night with a few good friends.

 Michael's favorite thing to do with the tools Grandma Shoemake gave him.

 Birthday breakfast, morning after his party.  He decided he wanted to have candles & be sung to again.  I couldn't say no, after all it was his actual birthday.

Michael is such a sweet boy.  He LOVES his brother Landon & is so sweet to him.  If Landon is crying Michael is right there trying to console him.  Michael loves to dance & must dance to any commercial with music.  He has gotten really good at shaking his booty & expects us to laugh every time, we are happy to oblige.  We love our little helper & so happy he is ours!

Landon's birth story

I have to start off by noting what I said to Joe the night before I went into labor... on Wednesday night I was telling Joe that I was worried for some reason that I wouldn't be able to tell I was in labor.  I also mentioned that I really liked going into labor with Michael in the middle of the night because the contractions woke me up. 

Early Thursday morning I couldn't sleep.  I had gone to bed after 11pm.  I'm not sure what time it was but I was having contractions - yet I was thinking they were braxton hicks.  I couldn't get comfortable, I kept turning from one side to the other.  I sat up at 1:30am and felt my water break.  I was sure that was what it was but I was in denial.  I never expected that to happen.  I first called my mom to make sure she could get on the first flight that morning since she had a two hour drive to the airport.  I waited a bit to wake Joe up because I wanted to be all ready to go before I did.  We arranged for a friend to come pick up Michael and we were off to the hospital around 3:30am.  It was 4am by the time we got to the hospital and I was check in right away.  Everything went so fast once we were at the hospital.  By the time I had a room I was having the worst contractions (insert screaming- which is totally not my personality) and was waiting for my epidural.  The Anesthesiologist did a great job but while I was getting it I was ready to start pushing. So as soon as my epidural was done I was ready to have the baby.  The epidural kicked in just in time and a few pushes later Landon came into this world at 5:33am.  He came out screaming & was cleaned up, Joe held him first then he handed him to me.  It definitely felt more natural to hold him since he was my second born.  I remember with Michael I felt like I didn't know what to do with this baby they just handed me. 

After delivery I was brought breakfast.  I have to say it was the best thing.  It was nice giving birth & then being able to eat right away.  Plus with my Gestational Diabetes no longer an issue I was free to eat what I wanted.  Yay!

We were able to discharge early, staying only one night instead of two nights.  It is impossible to sleep in the hospital.  I was grateful to be home sooner than later.

Here are the results of my attempt of a photo shoot:

Introducing Landon Josiah

Born September 16th, 2010 at 5:33am weighing 6lbs 14oz and 20.5 inches long.  He is healthy and doing great.  I'm recoving quickly & enjoying a new baby in the house.  Enjoy the pictures & video of Michael holding Landon.  Birth story to come.

Landon Josiah