Will's First Basketball Game

Will started playing on a Basketball Team this past Saturday. He's playing for an organization called Upward, which is a Christian League used all over the world. It is actually held at a church we have been visiting, which also makes it a perk. His games are every Saturday morning for the next 7 weeks. The first 30 minutes they practice followed by a short 30 minute game.

We thought this would be a great way to help Will be a little more aggressive (not mean, but Will is very shy) and also for mommy and daddy to get out there and meet some people. All the coaches and parents were so nice and even after the game came up to us and introduced themselves. That so did not happen during soccer season. Landon had a Carolina sweatshirt on, which attracted even more people to come and talk to us.

This is Will's first time ever playing on a basketball team, so he was super excited. His team is called the Eagles (daddy was really excited about that, mommy not so much - ha,ha!!).

Will and Landon Skiing

While we were visiting North Carolina we got to go skiing up at Cataloochee, which is where Papaw (Chad's dad) is the Ski Patrol Director. Our boys are definitely learning from the best.

We were planning to take Will skiing and let Landon hang out at the bottom and play in the snow with Terri (Papaw's wife), but as you can see from the pictures that didn't exactly happen. Landon pitched a fit to put Will's ski's on, so Papaw got Landon some Ski's of his own and actually he did really well. Whoever says a 2 year old can't ski is wrong. Papaw skipped the bunny slope and took Landon straight to the chair lift, which he had no fear of, and up the mountain they went.

Here is Landon trying to push Will out of his ski's so he can get in them.

Will skiing with Papaw. He is the best teacher.

Aren't his skis and boots sooooooo..... cute?
Landon and daddy.

Landon and Papaw getting ready to get on the chair lift.

Whenever Landon would fall down he would make snow angels in the snow.

Videos of Will and Landon Skiing

Here are a couple videos we got of the boys skiing.

The blogger sight is having trouble with the video feature so we had to post the videos through You Tube. After the video plays, the pictures under the video are not ours, it is just part of You Tube. Hope you enjoy the videos!

Landon and Daddy

Will and Papaw

Landon and Papaw coming down the hill first followed by Will and Daddy.

Visit to North Carolina

After lunch on Christmas day, we loaded up the car and off to Hendersonville, North Carolina we went. After 9 hours and only 2 stops we finally made it to Nana and Pop's house (Dottie's Parents). We spent the first part of the week with Dottie's family and then we moved over to visit with Chad's family for the rest of the week. We were even able to catch up with a few friends, which was fun. For those of you who we didn't get to see, SORRY. Hopefully the next visit won't be quite as busy so we will have a little more time.

The boys had so much fun playing with their cousins.

Landon, Brian, Will and Sarah (Brian and Sarah are Julie's two kids)

Katie, Landon, Will and Abram (Katie and Abram are Mandi's two kids)

After a great week we loaded up the car, which required us to purchase a top carrier so we could get it all home. The ride back to Florida was dreadful. The boys, especially Landon, did not want to be in the car. After 12 hours and about 10 stops we finally made it home.

The cool mountain weather in North Carolina was nice for a few days, but it was really nice to get back to the 80 degree weather in Florida - flip flops and no jackets.

We've slowly started getting back into our routine this week. Chad went back to work on Monday. Will went back to school. Landon went to Gymboree today, which mommy was so looking forward to. Dottie replenished the cabinets and refrigerator with food and is still trying to unpack. Our house seriously looks like Toy's "R" Us now.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Sorry we are a little behind on updating the blog, but we have been in North Carolina visiting our family. Check back in a couple days for updates on our trip.

Christmas morning was so much fun this year. The boys are at such cute ages. Will is really into Santa Claus and will believe anything you tell him. Landon just took it all in.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Christmas morning is such a magical time for both kids and parents. We (Chad and Dottie) had so much fun watching the boys as they opened up their gifts. Our boys are such a blessing to us and watching them open up each present with such excitement and joy was a gift in itself.

Will got this race track from Santa and of course Landon likes it too. This kept them entertained for a good hour so mommy and daddy could pack for North Carolina.

Will made a "beautiful" candle for mommy and daddy at school. He was so proud of it and had a hard time keeping it a secret until Christmas morning.

We hope everyone had a memorable Holiday Season. Best wishes for 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Making Cookies For Santa

Today the boys made cookies to leave for Santa Clause tomorrow night. They had a blast!! Yes, they made a big mess, but they had fun and that is all that matters.

Will had fun decorating the cookies.
Landon was our little taste tester.

Shake it Landon!!

Landon loves to dance!! Mommy happen to get a short video of him dancing to Thomas the Train this morning while he was playing outside on the porch. He could see his reflection in the door, so he would shake his little bottom from side to side as hard as he could. At one point he was shaking so hard his pants fell down to his knees. Sorry we didn't get that on video.

Don't we all wish we have a little piece of his energy.

Family Day at Epcot

Saturday we spent the day at Epcot. This was the boys first visit and they had a great time. The first thing Will wanted to do was ride The Seas with Nemo and Friends. It was really a cute ride. After you get off the ride they have this HUGE aquarium that is so big scuba divers were inside it cleaning the tank. The boys had a lot of fun leaning right up against the tank and watching the fish, sharks and scuba divers. We didn't get to go up into the ball this visit because it was not working, but we did make it around the world showcase. The boys liked the entertainment they had at most of the countries. Landon of course liked the entertainment with the bongo drums the best. We even got to see a French Santa Clause in France.

The boys have now been to all four parks at Disney World and we have decided that Landon's favorite thing is riding the tram that takes you from your car to the park entrance. He gets sooooooooo..... excited every time we ride it. He thinks he is riding a train. Don't get us wrong, he does REALLY enjoy the characters and everything else inside the parks, but he just REALLY, REALLY likes that tram.

Visit with Tom and Ginny

Dottie has a great aunt and uncle (Tom and Ginny) that live in Lakeland, Florida. Today we went to there house to visit.

They have orange trees in there back yard, so the boys got to pick some. Mommy also got to go with Uncle Tom to a Farmer's Market to get some fresh fruits and vegetables really cheap. It is weird getting fresh fruits and vegetables this time of year, but everything right now is different from what we were use to in North Carolina, especially the weather.

The boys had a blast picking oranges, but the best part of all was spending some time with family. We miss that!!!

Landon enjoyed helping Uncle Tom put the oranges in the bucket.

Landon liked to pull an orange as hard as he could to get it off the tree. Eventually he would let go, fall on his bottom and laugh and laugh.
Here is Will holding a bucket of grapefruit. He was such a big helper.

Daddy and the boys had a great assembly line, which made the picking go really fast.

Getting Ready For Christmas

Over the weekend we decorated our house for Christmas. This year we put a big tree up in the family room and and then we had a little tree from the first year we were married, so we put it in the boys play room and they got to decorate it with ornaments they have made over the past few years and will continue to make this year. They had so much fun with it and it was really fun to watch. They did get to help mommy and daddy put ornaments on the big tree and then mommy added her special touch to make it pretty.

The boys are so excited this year about Christmas, which really makes it fun. Will is really into the whole Santa Claus and asks us questions everyday, like "How will Santa get into our house because we don't have a fireplace?" and Landon is trying to take it all in. They are both at such a cute age!!

We can't wait to come up to the mountains in a few weeks where the weather is cooler. It's really strange to be getting ready for Christmas in shorts, short sleeves and flip flops. Not to complain because the warmer weather is nice, but we have been so use to Christmas being cold.

Will did a great job decorating his tree.

Landon concentrating really hard to put an ornament on.

Landon is so excited.

Santa's Little helpers!!
Will is teaching Landon Jingle Bells. What a perfect song for Landon to learn with his guitar.