High Heels!

Uh, oh...Daddy is not going to like this!!

This is a common sight in our home recently (much to Jason's dismay!) It looks like Landon even has the model pose down in the last picture!!

Taking a Bite out of the Big Apple...

We had the great opportunity to spend last weekend in New York City (and thanks to my sister Tasha, we were even able to make it a kid-free weekend!! We totally owe you for that!!)

We left Friday morning and saw the New York skyline for the first time while waiting for the ferry in New Jersey. This picture was taken where a 9/11 memorial will be built. (The two lines lead out to where the two towers were across the river.)

I can't even imagine what that must have looked like that fateful day...

We had great weather for our trip, an overcast sky and temperatures in the 70s. PERFECT!!

Our first stop was to Liberty Island to get up close and personal with Lady Liberty herself.

Next time we'll try to get crown tickets (they were sold out until September!!) but we still had a nice view...

Our lame attempt at a self portrait...

Me in New York City!! (Okay not exactly in NYC, but getting closer!!)

Another self portrait shot (Can you see New York behind us? Of course you can't, there are two huge heads in the way!!)

The rest of the afternoon we forgot our camera so you'll just have to imagine us visiting...

1. Empire State Building

2. Times Square

3. Broadway

4. Rockefeller Center

5. World Trade Center Site

6. Wall Street

7. Trinity Church

8. Carnegie Hall

8. The Subway (that was an adventure in itself!!)

Our hotel was right in Times Square, a perfect location that allowed us to see a lot in a short amount of time!!

The next morning we got up early and ran in Central Park (I've always wanted to run in Central Park and finally got my wish.) It was truly everything I imagined it would be and so much more. I think Jason and I both agreed it was our favorite place in NYC and we could spend days just seeing all there is to do there. We also got to witness the finish line of the New York Mini 10K where we saw Linet Masai from Kenya take first place, crossing the finish line in 30:48 (a measly 4:58 per mile!!) I think it was my first time seeing an elite world-class athlete cross the finish line and it was pretty inspiring. Her feet barely touched the ground as she ran.

Okay, so enough about running...

I did manage to get one picture on Saturday morning of the craziness that is Times Square. Thousands of people, thousands of things to see and do...I just love that place!!

Our final New York adventure was the real reason for our trip... tickets to see the Yankee v. Astros game at Yankee Stadium (Jason's birthday present this year.) Jason is a huge Astros fan so he was a bit disappointed by them getting slaughtered by the Yanks, but we LOVED being in Yankee Stadium and the whole experience that it was for us.

If you love baseball, Yankee Stadium is a must-see, just for all that it represents to the game...

After the game, we headed back home to discover that our kids did great with my sister and her family for the weekend.

So did we enjoy New York City? Let's just say we're already making plans to go back. It has definitely topped my list of favorite places to visit!!

Fun in the Sun

After two summers of gross-bug-filled swimming pools, we decided that perhaps a sprinkler would be the best way to beat the heat this year (and it waters our grass too, a nice bonus!)

We pulled it out for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Both kids were pretty cautious at the beginning...

Abby warmed up to it pretty quickly...

And got a huge kick out of the flying balls that came out of it...

Landon was not such a huge fan of it although he liked watching Abby have fun with it from afar. We'll have to see if he like it more as the summer wears on.

Landon is Two!!

On June 4th, 2008, our lives were forever changed when this little guy entered the world...

I can hardly believe that little baby is now this little boy...

He is so full of mischief...

But can be oh so sweet too!!

He can make me wince in pain from his way-too-accurate throwing arm,

Howl in frusteration from his stubborn ways,

Lay down in exhaustion from chasing him all day,

But that sweet little boy smile melts my heart every time!!

I cannot count the ways that I love being the mom of this little man!!

We had a fun "family-birthday" for him on June 4th where he enjoyed lots of attention...

Lots of laughs...

And even a present or two!!

We love you little Landon. Thank you for blessing our lives in so many ways!!

Home Sweet Home!!

We've now been in our new home for a month and we are loving it! We are all unpacked and now making lists of everything we would like to do as homeowners (a never-ending list I suppose!!) Our neighborhood is fantastic and we have very friendly neighbors which makes living here all the better.

And now, without further ado....

OUR HOME...

It's a colonial style, two-story home with an unfinished basement. It was built in 2007.

Formal Living Room (Before)

Our new "library" (After)

(Jason was super excited to get all of his books out of boxes. They have sat there for the last three years!!)

Dining Room (Before)

Dining Room (After)

Family Room (Before) We would really like to paint this room too, but those 20 foot walls really scare me!!!

Family Room (After)

View from front foyer

View from kitchen

Kitchen

The part of the kitchen that I totally fell in love with....the walk-in pantry!!

View from the foyer into the "playroom area"

One of our favorite rooms in the house...the playroom!!

View from upstairs

View from the catwalk above (we love, love, love the open floorplan!)

Abby's room...what luck, it was already painted her favorite color!

A walk-in closet at only 4-years-old? Lucky girl!!

Betcha can't guess whose room this is?

We'd like to paint Landon's room too, but I'm not quite sure which color yet.

The master bedroom (definitely needs more furniture in here, or just furniture in general. I won't be too sad to get rid of those NICE TV Dinner nightstands!!)

Last but not least, the guest bedroom (and yes, it is pink and yes we definitely plan on painting it soon. I think we can only handle one pink bedroom in the house!)

So that's it. We feel very lucky to have been able to buy this home at such a great price and we look forward to creating many fun memories here. We've been busy getting the backyard fixed up so I'll post on that one too. And yeah, we did have a certain little boy in our family turn the BIG 2 last week so definitely more to come on that one too!!