Landon's 1st Birthday

I'm still working on catching up on my blogging since Kayleigh's been born. Our nephew, Landon, celebrated his first birthday back in July. I can't believe he's already a year old! He's growing so fast! But it's so fun to see his personality start to develop as it has been for the past couple of months now. Around 10-11 months he started to hit his ornery streak. I have to admit it's a funny ornery streak. He's a smart little kiddo and is fun to be around. Of course, he still has Kyle wrapped around his finger like you wouldn't believe. He definitely loves his Uncle Kyle and Uncle Kyle definitely loves him!

The party was at Brandon and Tonia's house. They had a great turnout of family and friends. It was nice to see everyone there, especially our friends that live out of town, and catch up. Landon LOVED his cupcakes that he got to eat for his birthday. He definitely had no problem reservations about eating something new. He just dove right in and had his first one gone in about 3 minutes! He got lots of great presents and clothes that will keep him busy. Although now that's he's walking more and more the toys have taken a backseat.

Here are some pictures from his special day:

Happy boy with everybody singing to him-notice the face before the cupcakes (nice and clean!)

A vanilla and a chocolate cupcake later....ALL DONE!

He's such a cutie with that smile of his

Playing on his gift from us

Two peas in a pod

The Best Thing I've Heard in Awhile...

The bachelorette all geared up and ready to go out!

My best friend....EVER! LOVE YOU!

An upside down bus for Transformers 3.

Car hanging off the Michigan Ave bridge..

Cars for T3. We're thinking the ones that were covered are the ones that transform?

Uncle Kyle with his new buddy!

Sweet Landon Wesley

Well I have finally been blessed with some good news!! As of about an hour ago, I will be doing a 2nd grade maternity leave until mid October at where else?? Hershey! It's actually for one of my good friends, Sally, so I'm super excited and will be right across the hall from another good friend-Abby. I'm SO excited and relieved to know that I at least have something for awhile, no matter how short it may be. I met with Hershey's new principal this morning and she is extremely nice! I am definitely in such a better mood already!

We actually had some great news a few weeks ago as Kyle and I became and aunt and uncle not only once, but 3 more times. His brother Brandon and wife Tonia, had their first child Landon Wesley on Friday, July 9. Everything went really well and mom and baby are home doing well. He is SO adorable and we are glad to have a new nephew to spoil. A couple days later, my half-sister Hilary, had her twin girls, Ashlyn and Mia. Everything went really well with the girls, although Hilary had a brief scare. They are all home and doing well now. They are two amazing little girls that are so very tiny, even in comparison to Landon. Babies everywhere!

Two weeks ago I ventured up to Chicago with Roxanne and Kelsi for Jackie's bachelorette party. We had a blast! We just hung out and walked around downtown Chicago during the day and did some minor shopping. We even got to see the set and some of the filming for Transformers 3 on Michigan Avenue. Pretty crazy! You definitely forget how big of a city Chicago is until you see something like that. Very different from the simplistic life in L-town. In the evening, we got our baseball attire on and headed out to FlatTop for dinner and then the bars. The last bar we hit was a lot of fun with 80s themed music in the basement and more modern music upstairs. Definitely can't wait to go back sometime with Kyle and the soon to be Dimitts. The bachelorette party was a success! I don't think I've ever been around Jackie when she's been that drunk. She was a riot and I think overall had a great time. I love that girl!

And finally here we are-4 days away from her wedding! I can't believe it is already here, but I am so excited for her and can't wait to celebrate her big day with her. She's going to make a beautiful bride! She's back in Lafayette so I told her I would help out with any last minute details that need tended to. We'll see what I signed up for. Haha!

Finally, as their wedding week is finally here that also means the BAR exam is finally here for Alex. His testing started today and will wrap up tomorrow. I know he has done nothing but study since he graduated from law school earlier this year, so I want to give a special shout out to him and wish him the best of luck! We all know he'll pass, but I admire his ability to study as much as he has been! I would've checked out a long time ago! GOOD LUCK ALEX! Now get ready to party this weekend!

I LOVE wedding season!

My New Baby....

It's been awhile since I've wrote. A lot has happened since my last post. Kyle's great grandma Bol was released from the nursing home after being in there since December. Not much than a week later she was admitted to the hospital. We were called up by Kyle's dad, John, a few days later to say our goodbyes. She was ready to go and didn't want to live her life being taken care of and not being able to do anything. She lasted in the hospital a week and died on Valentine's Day. As hard as it is to say goodbye, we were given the luxury of being able to tell her what we wanted to and have as much time as possible to prepare for what seemed like the unevitable. She was very much at peace with what was happening and went peacefully. We had her showing last night and her funeral this morning. It was very emotional. I hate funerals. Regardless of how well I know the person I am always in tears....I was reminded how hard it is when you truly know and love the person dearly. Her birthday was this past Tuesday-she would have been 93.

Turning this into a positive note, Grandma Bol shares a birthday with one of boys, Zeke. He turned a year old on Tuesday. I can't believe how fast time goes and how big he is getting. He changes more and more everyday. He is becoming quite the cuttlebug with Kyle and I. He will now come lay his head on our lap and is giving more than just one kiss. He's such a sweetheart and brings such joy to my life. I don't know what I'd do without him.

Kyle and I took the boys to Armstrong Park for a walk today. We left them off their leashes and just let them run around. They loved it! Zeke just loves going and sniffing around and Tucker loves playing in the snow. We never thought we'd be able to leave Zeke off a leash and walk with us like we can with Tucker, but he is proving us wrong everyday.

I finally convinced Kyle to let me get an SUV in preparation for starting a family. Saturday we traded in his Honda for a 2009 Buick Enclave. I did not know much about these cars before test driving it on Saturday, but they are amazing! I am in love with it and could not be happier. I was finally able to purchase my own first car. It has plenty of room to put the boys in the back and room for two car seats in the future.....if we need them. We won't be needing them anytime soon though-I'm not pregnant...yet! =)

Brandon and Tonia found out last week that they are having a boy! I am so happy for them. The pressure is definitely on now when the time comes for Kyle and I to have a child to have a boy. Brandon & Tonia, Jessica & Phil are having boys. Kyle wants a boy so bad that he's completely convinced we'll have nothing but girls. I'm sure he'll be happy with whatever as long as it's healthy, but he definitely is hoping for a boy to hang out with his brother's son. Tonia is finally starting to show...finally after 5 months! Jessica on the other hand is due in a week. She's definitely 9 months pregnant and is ready for baby Phillip to be here. At least for now.

Jackie came back a few weeks ago and I was able to hang out with her and her mom. My mom and I went with them to see the movie Dear John. SOOOO good! It was nice to see them. I went over to her parents house afterwards and helped her with her Save the Dates. Her wedding is coming up so quickly. It's so nice to sit in the back seat on this one and provide help and guidance whenever she needs it and not have to stress about everything. I've even started buying a few things for the bachelorette party! I can't wait to start planning and helping out more as the wedding gets closer.

And finally, to try and get my mind off all the stress at work, I went out with some of the girls last Friday for dinner at Red Seven (very good restaurant by the way) and to see Valentine's Day (the movie). I had a blast and it was exactly what I needed as each week at work brings about a new concern and stress about whether or not I'll have a job. I'm just trying to not let it consume my life and worry about it too much. We'll just have to wait and see what the future brings. Hopefully I'll have a job for many reasons, but also because we're all thinking about taking a trip to NYC this summer for a few days. I've never been there and would love to go. Kyle said there's no way he's going there. He hates big cities. We'll see if I can make it to the NYC....