Christmas 2010

This year was a great Christmas! We are so thankful for all of our family and friends who helped make this Christmas so special for Landon and our family! Two days before Christmas, we moved to a new house, so it was quite a busy time for us! But, it's great because I have officially reached the 'nesting' phase of the pregnancy (an insanely strong desire to organize and clean), so the new house is getting set up pretty quickly! Only 6-7 more weeks to go until Elle arrives!

On Christmas Eve, Gma and Gpa took us to the Ritz Carlton for dinner. It's our Florida tradition and it's always a great time! Santa and Mrs. Claus are there and there is a gigantic boat made out of gingerbread and sugar candy. It's about the size of a big pick-up truck. The food was AMAZING! Landon did well and eventually started nodding off towards the end of dinner, so we snuggled up until it was time to leave. On Christmas morning, Paul and I woke up around 7:30am and Landon is usually waking up by then, but he was still fast asleep. So, we snuck in to his room and climbed in bed with him (yes, he is now in a big boy bed!) and gently woke him up. He probably could have slept for another 30 minutes, but Paul and I were so excited because Santa came! Once we got downstairs, the pups got their Christmas treat and we got started on opening gifts! Landon still doesn't understand the concept of opening gifts, but once they were open he had the best reactions! The most common reaction was "ooohhhhaaaaaa" or "ohhhh woooowww". Sometimes he would shake his head slightly and take a super long and loud deep breath of air and have his arms reaching out for the gift. It was definitely a great Christmas! We missed all of our family that we couldn't spend the day with, but we were thinking of you all and we love you!

Nice family photo with Santa and the Mrs's.

On Christmas Eve, Landon got to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus! He wasn't very excited though haha, back to Mommy and Daddy.
Chunky cheeks! He was such a trooper at dinner...definitely did not act like a 20 month old! He was very well behaved.
Gma and Gpa at the Ritz on Christmas Eve. Gma got to open her gift from Santa early!
Towards the end of our evening, Landon got sleepy and fell asleep. He was such a good boy and did so well!

The big boy enjoying a lovely book that he got for Christmas!

Landon thought it was funny to wear this snowman box on his head. His word for snowman is "mo-man'.

Landon finally fits into his fun shirt that Nana got him last year! It says, "Who needs Santa when there's Nana". :)

Santa brought Landon an automated aquarium and he LOVES it!
Oh boy, check out all of his trucks and cars...toy heaven
Poppy and Landon reading his new 'fishy' book on Christmas morning. Landon looking very studious.
Christmas morning...we actually had to wake Landon up! He was one tired little man! I had my Terps Santa hat and Paul was wearing his Ravens Santa hat...we support our teams well!
The pups getting their Christmas morning treat!

Still marveling over his aquarium
Gpa had fun playing with Landon on Christmas!
Paul has officially taken on the role as the "toy put-togetherer" if there was ever a name for it! haha He gladly does it for his little man though!



We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and an awesome New Years!!!

Christmas at The Journey

Tonight our Church put on an AWESOME Christmas production! It was really well put together and so much fun! We LOVE our Church!


Every year a street down the road goes all out in decorating for Christmas! We drove down tonight after Church and Landon must have said "oooo WOW" a hundred times!



Landon enjoying a candy cane that he received on the street with all of the lights!

Holiday Festivities

We had a great time this past weekend! We got to spend time with friends while watching Navy crush Army for the 9th year in a row! It's always fun to see Paul get together with other Naval Academy graduates and watch their football team play, especially against Army! Then following the game we went downtown to watch the Fernandina Beach Christmas Parade. Landon really enjoyed all of the lights and seeing all of the fun attractions. Then on Sunday after Church, we spent the rest of the day hanging out by the fire watching Christmas movies!

Getting ready to go watch the Army Navy Game at The Surf with some friends!

30 week profile pic
Landon's favorite thing to do when he is holding both of our hands...1-2-3 weeeeee
Bohdi wearing his colors proudly...he'll wear UMD colors proudly too though ;)

Our friends Rebecca and Migs & Paul, Landon and I enjoying the Fernandina Beach Christmas Parade!

Rebecca and I are 2 days apart (due dates)! They are expecting a beautiful baby girl too!

Santa on his 'modern' sleigh! Mrs. Claus is driving!
A giant pirate ship with fish puppets drove by and it was Landon's favorite!
Mom and I waiting to see Santa!
Gma and Gpa snuggling to stay warm
Daddy and Landon having a good time at the parade

Landon's First Day of 'School'

Today was a big day! Landon went to his first day of school! Well, it's not really school, but it is a preparation school for pre-school. We have enrolled him in this program one day a week and it's both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. The teachers at his school are very nice and I can tell Landon will learn to really like them. Dropping him off was very difficult (I was a wreck all day long and even went back to look in the window to check on him half way through the day), but I kept telling myself that this was a GOOD thing and that he needs the interaction with other children and authorities. He will learn so many things at this school such as social etiquette, how to share, how to wait his turn, how to stand in line, manners, eating at a table with friends, eating new and exciting foods, and maybe even the beginnings of potty training. These are all things we are working on at home and we are excited that he will get to experience these important things with other children in a different environment. He will also get to enjoy circle time, arts and crafts, the playground and so much more! All in all, it will be a great experience for him and, Paul and I are excited to see how Landon develops and grows.

Landon got a great report for his first day. The teachers said he was sad after I had dropped him off, but after a few minutes started to explore the classroom and toys. He liked their trucks and dinosaurs. And he enjoyed getting to know his new friends and teachers. His overall mood was labeled 'Happy' and 'Inquisitive'. Today they did arts and crafts and circle reading time. Paul and I are so proud of Landon. He is such a big boy and this is a very exciting time!

Before we know it he will be going off to College!!! Aaaahhhhhh!!! All the more reason to cherish every single moment we have with him!

Here's my big boy after his first day of school!

I gave him a cookie because I missed him so badly!! It was a tough day for me...I ate a few cookies too. HaHa!!

Where Our Family Began

While we were up in Maryland, Paul and I got to visit the place where Paul proposed. It is one of our favorite spots in Annapolis and it was really nice to be back there. Paul proposed to me at the World War II Memorial that overlooks the Severn River and the Naval Academy. It is truly one of the most beautiful spots to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings Maryland has to offer. It was especially nice to have Landon there with us as we got to reflect on how and where our family began.

See what I'm talking about!! The views of the Academy and Severn River are beautiful!
The Naval Academy Chapel where Paul and I got married about four and a half years ago.
It was really fun bringing Landon to this spot. We are so blessed to have this little guy in our lives and soon to be Elle!
This is the actual spot where Paul told me he had to 'tie his shoe' and proposed. It wasn't until later that we recognized he proposed next to this plaque. Navy (Go Navy!) for Paul, Maryland (Go Terps!) for Brooke.
What a beautiful memorial!
So pretty!

Part II: Thanksgiving in Maryland

We have had a wonderful visit here in Maryland! The quality time we have spent with all of our family has been priceless. The weather has been beautiful here and it didn't really get cold until the end of our visit. We spent our last day acting like tourists downtown Annapolis and we had a blast! Go figure...we spent 22 years here in Annapolis, come home for a visit after moving away a few years ago and we acted and looked the part of a tourist! Nana and Grandaddy got Landon a giant red lollipop and he loved it! We are very thankful for our family and friends.

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner!

At the dinner table on Thanksgiving night

Nana and Grandaddy got Landon a giant lollipop while we were downtown!

The group downtown Annapolis...chilly day!

Nice family pic

Bundled up for the cold Maryland fall weather

Tricia and her sweet puppy Payton in front of a Christmas tree downtown

Hanging out on the couch with Uncle Hayes and Aunt Katie watching Finding Nemo

Watching his cousin Blaise play the piano...Landon liked hitting the keys.

Madeline and Landon playing together in her amazing play room

Uncle Ryan and Landon

Madeline invited Landon to sit at her table for a tea party

At the Navy game with Grandad!

Navy won!

Landon loved seeing this blue angel!

Landon and Aunt Stephanie had fun playing together

Landon and Uncle Gabe!