Verbatim

I stole the title from a friend who also blogs, thanks Alisha. 

I've been writing down random Landon quotes since he started talking and here are a few recent ones.

I asked him what ducks eat. He replied "Ducks eat hamburger buns."

"Mommy, thank you for cooking a yummy dinner. I threw it away."

"Can I have candy because I woke up?"

Santa

We visited Santa tonight and Landon was full of questions on the way about Santa. 

"Where does Santa live?" 

"Can I go to Santa's house tomorrow" 

"Where are his reindeer?"

We arrived and Landon was giddy with anticipation of sitting on the jolly guy's lap. 

Oliver had no idea what was about to come. 

We were handed a ticket with a number to secure our time with Santa, there were only 3 families ahead of us. 

Landon was excited and stared at Santa and watched as the other kids got to talk to him and have their picture taken. Oliver watched too and even smiled and flirted with Santa...from a distance.

It was our turn and Landon hopped right up on Santa's lap. No surprise to me.

Then I put Ollie on his lap.

Santa's ok from a distance but not up close.

I thought maybe we should sit around and let Oliver warm up to the idea of sitting on his lap.

So we waited and Oliver watched and smiled at Santa and the other kids.

 Smiling at Santa...from a distance

We waited for about 30 minutes and I decided to give it another go. I thought maybe if Santa gave Oliver a snack it would help. The kid LOVES food

Oliver still loves food, just not Santa...up close.

Good try Santa. He even tried a candy cane bribe. Ollie didn't fall for that either.

Maybe next year.
As we were leaving, Landon checked out the roof of the building for any reindeer, but no sign of them anywhere. Hmmm...where could they be?

Trains, trains and more trains

Landon has been obsessed with his trains lately. He usually plays with them on the counter or table to avoid a little brother from sabotaging the train yard but when Ollie's asleep, let the trains roam.

I wasn't kidding when I said he was an organized little boy

Not only are they lined up but the cars are matched by color to the engine.

A parade and a letter

The Starkville Christmas parade was this past Saturday. It could've been about an hour shorter than it needed to be but Landon had fun marching with the 5 bands that marched, waving to the people on the floats, and saying "Merry Christmas". 

He started to get bored but we stuck it out for the finale float with Santa and his reindeer.

 

Landon is definitely getting excited for Christmas. We wrote Santa a letter to let him know that Landon will be at his Grandma's house for Christmas so he should leave any presents there this year.

What did Landon request...

• maracas
• a race car to race in the dirt
• harmonica
• chocolate
• play dough
• books
• purple crayons

An easy year for Santa really, 4 of the 7 are ready to go in his stocking.

Water Bowl

I decided the other day that 'fighting' with Oliver about playing in the dog's water dish was a battle I didn't want to take on. So I let him play. He had a lot of fun and made a BIG mess.

What? Who me?

How could I say no to this face

Decorating for Christmas

Landon was so very excited to decorate the Christmas tree this year. 

He was helpful to Craig assembling our fake tree. 

Oliver came to join in and was amazed at what was going on.

 Both boys were being helpful

 Trying expedite things by getting in the box

 Maybe head first is the way to go

 Still trying to figure out how to get in that box

 Here's how you do it Ollie

 

Landon loved placing the ornaments on the tree, ones with hooks had to go high...

and ones without hooks could go low...

He even got a little too organized and placed similar ornaments on the same branch.
(I haven't decided if Craig or I am to blame for that)
One branch had a total of 4!

Another branch had 3 wreaths on it.

We loved being able to fill the tree with ornaments especially ones that were sentimental to Craig and I. Not just ornaments that my parents have so faithfully given to me every year since birth but also ones that Craig and I have picked up on our trips.

There's just something about a Christmas tree all decorated and lit up. 

We're excited for Christmas and to spend time with our families!

Mirror, Mirror

Ollie loves to give that other baby in the mirror kisses

Sweet sweet Oliver

Whack!

Landon invented a game called Whack.

Equipment needed: 4 metal rods from the Pack-n-play and a willing component

Object of the game: To whack your opponents pack-n-play rod. 

Points and winner determined by Landon.

 Oliver's not quite sure this game is a good idea

 Clearly someone is enjoying the game

 Disclaimer: Game only to be played by professional whack players or under the supervision of at least one adult

Just about there

Oliver decided to brave a walk with no support in the hallway from wall to wall last night. All in all it was only 3 steps but it's a start! Craig and I have tried getting him to walk from one of us to the other (usually I'm the bait though) with no success a couple days ago, so we decided to give it a go last night after his moment of bravery. Here's what we saw...

The Nina and Pinta

The day after Thanksgiving we drove to see the most historically accurate replicas of the ships the Nina and Pinta. The ships were docked in the Columbus, MS Marina. It was very cold, maybe in the low 40's, so Ollie and I stayed in the car while Landon and Craig toured the ships. Ollie had a good time "driving" the car in the parking lot, honking the horn a few times, running the windshield wipers, and using half of the wiper fluid.

 A crew lives on the ships so they weren't allowed below

 Landon moving the rudder

Thanksgiving

     We went to our friends, the Henry's, for Thanksgiving and had a lovely, low key day. Brien, Amanda and their son, William, were gracious enough to invite us over for lunch with them and Brien's parents. Brien's parents cooked turkey, ham, dressing, asparagus casserole, and pecan pie. They drove to Jackson, MS to get the turkey and ham at a Honeybaked Ham store; two days later a car crashed into the store causing a frenzy for all those antsy turkey buyers! Amanda prepared her famous rolls, creamed corn, and parmesan mustard greens. It wouldn't be a Thanksgiving in the South without some fresh greens from the garden. I made sweet potato casserole, apple pie, and pumpkin pie. Craig made his mulled cider.
     After dessert, Brien made a fire in his outside fire pit (never mind it was 75 degrees out) and we all enjoyed a cool(yes I said cool and 75 degrees in the same sentence) evening fireside. Landon and William had a ton of fun playing all afternoon and evening, they even played a game of football on the front lawn. Landon now has a bruise on his cheek, Ouch!
     I of course forgot to take a picture of the group at lunch but snapped some after.

Landon and William playing a pretend drum

Hula hooping it up!

 Monkey see monkey do!

Things I'm thankful for this year 3 handsome boys, health, love, family, and friends. Most of all a clean kitchen to come home to. There was a definite sigh of relief walking into the kitchen that night.

A side note: Thanksgiving Eve, I made the pumpkin pie, I had it all ready to pop in the oven as soon as it preheated. Well, apparently I set it to close to the edge and Landon pulled it off the counter to show to Grandma Ellen whom he was skyping with on the computer. There he was holding the pie above his head like he was weightlifting. Somehow it didn't make a huge mess, most of it was dripping down Landon who had just gotten out of the bath of course. So Landon got his second bath of the night and luckily there was enough left to bake. 

Stairs

Oliver learned he can master the stairs at the park! Now I'm in for it!

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

We decided to do a Thanksgiving craft today! We made turkeys. 

First we had to distract Oliver for the first part.

Then we started out making turkey tail feathers with the salad spinner and some watered down paint.

Next up, we made more turkey tails by making handprints on a plate. No pictures of this, well, because it was me against the two boys. Not good odds. After the paint dried we cut out the body for the turkey and glued it to the feathers and Landon colored a face!

Landon's Handprint Turkey

Oliver's

The finished products together.

Then Landon wanted to paint something other than a turkey.

He painted pictures of Shrek, a macaw, a shark, and a whale.

Last Football Game

     This weekend, as most fall weekends in our house, was filled with football. Saturday was the last home football game for Mississippi State. They played Arkansas and it was such a good football game, double overtime! We packed up the family and went to enjoy our last SEC tailgating of the year. The College of Arts & Sciences puts up a tent and caters a main dish and the rest of the faculty brings a side dish to share. It's always a fun event! We always try to make it to the tailgating in time to watch Bully, the mascot, and the band walk to the stadium. Landon loves Bully and always waves so enthusiastically to him. Brutus is and always will be our favorite though. O-H!
     Landon and Craig were lucky enough to score some tickets to the game. This time we remembered Landon's cowbell so he could join in with the crowd to cheer on the Bulldogs. They went with Landon's girlfriend, Amelia, and her Dad, John. Meanwhile, Oliver and I went back to Amelia's house with her Mom, Carmen, and baby sister, Charlotte.
     We have enjoyed our second season of SEC football tailgating and spending time with good friends. Sadly I always manage to forget the camera. Sorry no pictures.

Landon's Pretend Trip to Ohio

     Landon had a pretend airplane trip to Ohio the other day. He packed his suitcase and also a backpack. What were the contents of those?

Baby Koalie
Baby Rhino
Baby Lion
Green Tractor
Red Tractor
Pajamas
Slippers
Two 'Credit Cards' (old gift cards)
A blue truck
A yellow submarine
Camera
Lunch (see picture below)