Fun at the farm

During Spring Break the kids and I went with a group of friends to Crowe's Nest Farm in Manor, TX. The first graders from our school go every year for their field trip, so we'd already been before. In fact, Savannah is going back with her class next week! But it's a fun place. Savannah's best friend M came with us also. Landon was not too excited about being trapped in the stroller, but such is life when you are a loud little boy who loves to get into everything and run away from Mommy. I used the jogging stroller since we were walking over rough terrain.

Connor loved being in "the big red barn" the best because of all the snakes, reptiles, and insects they have for the kids to look at.

We watched a milking demonstration where they teach the kids how the milk goes from the cow to the store. But I didn't get any pictures of that since I was trying to keep Landon quiet.

Most of the kids liked the hayride the best. We saw longhorn bulls, buffalo, ponies, and ostriches.

We walked around and saw lots of creatures, some farm animals and many other kinds of birds and miscellaneous animals.

Our last stop was the "Fairie Wood," which Savannah had been waiting for all day. It's based on some books, and you go down this little fenced path where all kinds of fairies are in the trees and bushes.

Temple Sealing

This is the reason I came to Arizona.

On Saturday, March 10, my brother Justin was sealed to his wife and son in the Snowflake Temple for all eternity. For those who don't belong to our church, we believe that when we are married or sealed in the temple that it is for more than just death do us part. We believe that we can be with our families forever, after we die, as long as we are faithful to each other and to the covenants that we make in the temple. I am so happy for Justin, Ana Paula, and Joshua to be a forever family.

Landon and I drove up to Snowflake (about 3 hours away) with my older brother Steven and my parents. We dropped Landon off at my friend's house, Sarah Adams, who used to live near us here in Texas. I am so thankful to her for watching Landon, since I knew I didn't have to worry about him at all with him there. He doesn't know her, but I do and trust her, and he did great playing there with her kids. I had never been to the Snowflake Temple before. Its decorations are in a Native American style since it is near the reservation and is just beautiful. We arrived at the same time as my Aunt Karen, Uncle Jim, and cousin Melinda. (Just for me to remember, my Uncle Jim was actually on my flight home because he had business that day in Austin. But we didn't sit near each other because I was way in the back where it's noisier to drown out wiggly toddlers.)

I got to see quit a few family members at the sealing, and there were also a lot of people from Justin's ward (congregation) in Holbrook. After the sealing Steven and I quickly went and picked up Landon and brought him back for some pictures.

This the first time my parents had all of their kids together in the temple for about 8 years or so. My brother Justin is 5 years younger than me and Steven is 17 months older. It was nice to all be together for a few hours.

Landon LOVES his grandpa. He wants to go back to the water...

Justin's family with my Aunt Pat, friend Jana, and Uncle Kent. Jana was one of the missionaries that taught Ana Paula about our church in Brazil. She now lives in Colorado and flew out to be with Ana Paula for the sealing.

After the temple we drove to my Uncle Mike's house in Holbrook for a little party. I'm sad I didn't get really any good pictures of Mike's family, but they were running around helping and every one turned out kind of blurry. Landon attached himself to Mike for quite a while and Mike entertained him with chair rides and the dog. But Landon eventually made his way back to Grandpa and the "man" side of the room where they were talking politics, and he played with everything out of Grandpa's pocket. He wouldn't come near the women.

Grandma & Joshua

Joshua's 4th birthday was just a few days before, so we were also celebrating that.

Landon & Uncle Steven
Steven was very patient to put up with Landon's screaming, yelling, and loud talking during the entire 7 or so hours in the car.

We stopped at Justin's house before we left, since I had never been there before. Joshua was so proud to show me his new "Thomas the Train" bed. Joshua is so cute and was very concerned about everything and anything that Landon was getting into. But my favorite thing was when he heard that we were coming to his house, and he gave me directions. "Just go down the hill. All the way to the end. The blue house. Just listen to the "jeep S." (GPS) The "jeep S will tell you the way to go." And he was right.

I'm so thankful that I could be there to celebrate their special day and be with my family in the temple again.

I can't finish writing about my trip without telling what was happening at home. The kids were in school for 3 of the days I was gone, and many different friends helped out with watching Connor all day and letting Savannah come over after school. My friend Erin took us to the airport. Dallin played Superdad, and had them for many rainy days when they couldn't even go outside to play. He worked from home on Monday and Tuesday (which was the beginning of Spring Break) and came Tuesday to get us from the airport. I really appreciate and am grateful for his willingness and happiness at letting me go be with my family and taking over everything. I love you Dallin!

Strong Visits

Landon and I went to the Strongs three different times to hang out with the grandparents and cousins. It was fun to see the two new babies also.

Landon's favorite spot was the back yard with the dog, Laddie.

These boys are only 4 months apart, and they actually played together a little bit. We're excited to get them together with cousin Rusty in the summer. Hopefully they'll all grow up to be good buddies.

It was fun to visit with some of my sister-in-laws also. Thanks for the making the effort to come and see us!

Of course Landon loved being held by his uncles and grandpa, but wouldn't go anywhere near the moms.

Playing tag

We did the webcam with Dallin, Jacob & Zach on Sunday evening. Because of the time difference the little kids were already asleep. Landon was so happy to see his daddy. (Notice the red hair on the cousin in the picture? Almost all of Dallin's siblings have one child with some shade of red hair.)

I wanted a picture of Landon with Grandma, but he was not too happy about it. Hopefully he'll start liking women again before our reunions this summer. Luckily Grandma wasn't offended.

We also saw Dallin's oldest sister and her kids for a few minutes, but I forgot to take pictures. It was fun to see them too!

LeSueurs & Friends

On Thursday March 8th we met my friend Jody at the park with her daughter. Jody moved to Round Rock the week before we did and we and our kids have been good friends every since. Their family moved back to AZ a little over a year ago and it was fun to see her and her daughter.

After the park we went to visit another friend, Christa, who is the best mom ever and such a good example to me. We lucked out and got to see her mom there also, who I hadn't seen in many, many years.

After hours of the park, visiting, and running errands Landon conked out in the car after about 30 seconds.

That night I was able to go out and celebrate my best friend Alisha's birthday with her.

On Friday night my cousin Ryan brought his family to my parents' house for dinner. It was so nice to see them and meet his new baby. Thanks for driving all that way to see me!!!

Landon loved Ryan, just as he loves ALL men. In the last few weeks he has started to be very wary of most women, but will talk to and be held by any guy around. He was okay with Grandma LeSueur because she watched him for a whole evening while I went out, but he would not go to any other woman pretty much.

Landon learned how to climb on the couch and chairs while we were in AZ. He loved to give kisses to the puppy and "quack quack" and would pull them all onto the chair with him.

On Monday my mom and I took Landon to the carousel at the mall. I thought he would like it and he LOVED it beyond words. I took him first and then he went again with Grandma. He had a huge fit when I took him off and he only stopped when he saw that he was getting back on again.

The tantrum started up again when Grandma took him off again and he screamed for a good 5 minutes after we left. I'll have to find a carousel somewhere here in Austin.

After the carousel we went to my aunt Marilee's house. Landon chase around her poor little dog until it went and hid from him. He loves "doggies."

Thanks for letting us come Shae & Marilee, even though you were feeling lousy and home sick!

Landon missed his daddy so much, and used Grandpa as a fill-in. Whenever he heard my dad talking upstairs he would stand at the bottom of the stairs and yell up to him in his own little language. He would talk and yell at him until Grandpa came down to see him...every single time.

"Wow"

On Wednesday, March 7 Landon went on his first airplane trip. Landon and Lauree flew to Arizona to spend a week with family and attend the sealing of Lauree's brother Justin and his family in the Snowflake Temple. Landon LOVED being at the airport and watching the planes come in and take off. For an hour straight he just repeated "WOW!!!" and pointed at the planes. He really enjoyed watching the men on the ground work with the luggage also. He actually had a big fit when I pulled him away from the window to get on the plane.

Overall the plane ride went better than I thought it would. Landon has one volume these days...LOUD. He also loves to scream and doesn't like being restrained whatsoever. That's not a very good recipe for riding on an airplane. But we survived. He was really good for the first hour playing with all the new toys I brought. Then he got down and stood in front of me for the next hour, trying to open and shut the window cover. The last half an hour he made more noise, but nothing compared to the other two crying babies on the flight (for which I was actually grateful, as it made him seem pretty good).

The plane ride home he did okay, but was very, very wiggly and let off a few screams of protest. Luckily a nice grandma came and sat next to me (on purpose if you can believe it). She was on her way to Round Rock to visit her grandkids and empathized with me. I was so grateful for her patience. I think the most awesome thing you can do if you're ever riding on an airplane alone is sit next to the mom wrestling her toddler, and try to help her distract him. She'll be forever grateful.