Thanksgiving Weekend

Well, Thanksgiving weekend has came and went in a flash-which means.... Christmas is almost here!!! I can't believe how fast this year has went. It feels like I just started my new job a week ago and it has been four months. At the end of December we will be half way through the NEW school year. Time sure does fly when you have a two year old to keep you busy!

Anyway- this weekend was a lot of fun. Thursday we started off at MeMaw and PePaw's house for Thanksgiving Dinner at noon. Dinner was fabulous and the kids had a lot of fun together. I love seeing how they interact with one another and how their little personalities change and grow each time. Landon had his own little place setting at a picnic table in the middle of the dining room and he was very impressed. Unfortunately he had to eat dinner early and slept through the actual meal! :) Below are a few pictures of Thanksgiving for Nick's family:

After having Landon help serve pie to everyone we decided it was time to move on to our next meal of the day. Nick and I had both saved a little room despite how hard it was to resist anything at our first meal. At my parents' house we had a non-traditional meal for the day-ribeyes, baked potatoes with cheese sauce (Powell family favorite) and our last two packages of frozen corn that we did last year (it's going to be a long winter waiting for the sweet corn). Landon, Kayleigh and Hunter kept their Great Uncle Tom and Aunt Claudia busy serving them several different five course meals from the Fisher Price Kithen. We finished the night with some sugar cookies and sink baths- that we are pretty sure the kids will never get too old for!

Friday was Mom and I's annual shopping day.. I know we are crazy-but we do it for the fun of it. Neither of us ever has our heart set on anything spectacular-we just go to have fun! This year my good friend, Janet, joined us and I think we have turned her into one of us! We also went to a light parade in Pontiac with MeMaw and PePaw. Landon loved seeing "HoHo" at the end of the parade.

We finished the weekend off with some tree trimming. Landon had a lot of fun helping dad put the tree up and decorating while mom prepared all the ornaments. Lexie had a lot of fun grabbing the garland and trying to run for her life. We all got a few good laughs!

It's a Boy!!!!

Two days ago Nick and I went in to find out what our little baby is. This pregnancy has been 100% different than what i went through with Landon. I haven't been sick once, I have actually been able to RIDE in a car instead of drive it all the time, no foods have sounded awful to me and I have been sleeping as well as any pregnant woman can sleep. So naturally I was CONVINCED that we had a little girl on the way. By this point in the pregnancy I also think I had Nick convinced as well. :)

We went into the sonogram room and our tech asked us if we wanted to know and we told her we did so she immediately starting searching. The one thing about having boys is that when you see the goods on the screen-there's no mistaking it! Our tech was scanning my growing belly and all of a sudden (before she even stops the machine) I see our little boy.... I look at Nick and the look on his face also told me he had seen him too! Nick's face was absolutely priceless!

For those of you that are frequently around Landon you would agree with me in saying that he is a very "spirited" little boy. He definitely keeps us moving and on our toes. For those of you who might know Nick and his older brother Nathan (2 1/2 years older- same as our boys) I would also guess thier mother would say they were "spirited" as well!

So at this point I wish I could have jumped inside my husband's head. I'm almost sure I could see his childhood years flashing through his mind.... and I don't think they were the memories of Christmas morning, Easter egg hunts and watching movies together with a big bowl of popcorn! :)

Needless to say- we might have our hands full for the next few years, but we are definitely EXCITED! Two boys will be the best... the energy and excitement will never stop. They will keep us young at heart and laughing until we drop. I'm also very excited about how close in age they are. It will we an amazing experience to see them grow up together and (hopefully) become best friends like I see when I look at Nick and his brother Nathan. I think the bond between two siblings that close in age is something very special.

We now get to start preparing for this little guy. We have to rearrange some rooms, turn our office into a cozy little nursery and I get to look through all of Landon's baby clothes again. I'm so glad I don't have to part with them yet-I don't think I could have done it anyways. We have bought the baby one new shirt since we found out that it was going to be a He and we can't wait until he's here to wear it!

Boy or Girl?

Well the day has come.... tomorrow we find out if this little bean I've been growing is going to be a little brother or a little sister to big brother Landon. Nick and I went back and forth on deciding if we wanted to know. I was for waiting and having a suprise and Nick's comment was "We have technology, why not embrace it?" :)

I guess I just figured since we have all of the baby stuff---why do we need to know.

However, after noticing how Landon first responded to the idea of a baby- NOOOO BABY!- we decided it might be a good idea to find out so that we can prep him a little bit. Our appointment is at 3:20pm tomorrow and then we are having both of our parents down for dinner to share the big news (hopefully the baby cooperates and we have big news)!

Either way I will be happy. Boy or girl- this baby will make our little family feel complete!

Love to you you,

Ashleigh

Senior Pictures/Lauren

I was asked to take some senior pictures of Lauren early in the fall and these are just a few of my favorite ones. She was SOOOO wonderful to photograph! Beautiful eyes!

Me Maw's Birthday

Last Monday night we all went over to Alicia and Kyle's house to celebrate Brenda's birthday with a dinner and some delicious dessert made by Alicia! I only snapped a couple of pictures while the kids were getting ready to help Grandma/MeMaw blow out her candles. I absolutely love this one and had to share it! We really missed little Sofie girl who wasn't feeling well, but the others look like they were having a great time.

Landon's 2nd Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Man!

About a month ago we celebrated Landon's 2nd birthday. I can't believe the little guy is two! Time has flown by. I know that phrase is used a lot, but I honestly can't believe he is so big.

For Landon's birthday we had a train theme. He is in absolute love with Choo Choos! Nick's family and my family were both present. All the of the kids had fun playing in the leaves and on the swing set while the adults enjoyed some appetizers!

For Landon's 1st birthday I made the cake, so I figured I would carry on the tradition this year. I'm not quite as proud of this one as last year's catepillar, but it worked out okay. I am going to try to make his cakes every year.... until he requests some like a surfer on a wave- then I'm out!

Here is a look at his cake... It isn't quite at the finished stage here, but this gives you an idea of what it looked like.

Now awful, for someone who NEVER bakes!

Before we ate the cake Landon opened presents and got his favorite present of all time! A CHOO CHOO! (I know-you were shocked, right?!?)

Present Opening Pictures

And Finally.......

The new Choo Choo!

Landon didn't leave this train alone for the rest of the day until we pulled him away from it for bedtime.

He is in love!

It was a little bittersweet for me to see my baby turn two, but I think he had a wonderful day! We love you Landon!