Ahh...Summer has come and gone and now Fall is here

So we Florida Hills had a very busy summer! We visited Ohio (twice) and had a wonderful time, although the second time was for a bit more somber reasons that I will not go into out of respect and privacy for those involved, none the less we still enjoyed our visit! The rest of the summer was spent in Florida and I would say about 2/3rds of the time we just hung our in our swim suits! It was wonderful! Florida is hot in the summer and many predicted that we would be miserable...I am happy to report that not only did we survive but we didn't find it to be that bad. However I am very grateful for the invention of the Air Conditioner! As Ryan says...we are not sure how people lived in Florida before its invention!




The kids and I became very active in our playgroups. We have two...a neighborhood playgroup and a church playgroup. This summer provided Landon with his first summer love/crush...which I am confidant will continue for well until further notice. Landon met Hannah at our church playgroup swim days! Hannah is wonderful and will soon be Landon's babysitter as she is turning 12 (babysitting age)...yes I said 12...Our 2 year old likes the older girls!!! Seriously though Landon adores Hannah you should see him around her...he gets giggly, and just gets the biggest grin...oh and mom and dad totally disappear from the room...its like no one else exists but Hannah! So Hannah if you are reading this...the world (or just our family who is the main readers of this blog) now knows that Landon just adores you! We have made many friends! Landon often talks about his friends :) (which as a mom I just think is adorable)




Theo enjoyed the summer too...but so far still only has eyes for me...as I am still the number one girl in his life...I would of course expect this being that I am still a main part of his food source. However, he likes swimming just as much as his brother! He has grown a lot this summer and is crawling, standing and cruising...umm walking may be around the corner or may not...we shall see. However once he knows how to do something he just takes off! He learned to crawl, pull himself up, and cruise around the couch in one weekend...yes he keeps me on my toes...his favorite activity is sticking things in his mouth (food and all other things that don't belong there) and climbing the stairs! We do have a gate at the bottom of the stairs...however sometimes his amazing older brother will move it and help Theo in his mission! They are like peas in a pod...You can tell that Theo adores Landon and that Landon thinks the world of Theo!





The summer was busy for Ryan as well...he started final project (which he is almost finished with) woohoo! And thus has been spending a lot of time with the other loves of his life his team...ok maybe love is too strong! He does like them though and they have all worked very hard!



So now fall is here...today it is cold in Florida (although not as cold as in Ohio) but it is about 68..so we have jeans and long sleeves and socks on! For Halloween we continued with our family theme of tradition...this year we were all characters from Toy Story! Landon was Buzz Lightyear, Theo was an Alien, Ryan was Woody and I was Jessie. We had a very big Halloween weekend...I hosted a Halloween party here at the house for both play groups...which was around 25 preschoolers at our house...it was loud but it was so much fun! Then on Saturday we had our church trunk-or-treat which was fun I made some yummy chili, and then on Sunday we went to a friends trick or treat party and went trick or treating with them and then trick or treating in our neighborhood...needless to say we were trick or treated out! But it really was a wonderful weekend!





Soon Ryan will be graduating (yay)...along with his brother Alex. They both are graduating from Full Sail on Nov. 23. We are looking forward to a visit from Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Greg! Landon I know cannot wait as he will often tell me he is going to Ohio (most of the time this comes when he is getting in trouble...hmm lol) but we are all looking forward to seeing everyone...and having Thanksgiving together (on our new table that arrived last month please see previous post about said table).



Well we are all caught up on the Florida Hill life...so until next time :)

Swimming and Mickey

So life is crazy busy and I never update this thing but I am having a change of heart (at least for a few mins. anyways) we will see if this new found blogging steam continues! I hope it does as I really would like to keep everyone updated...plus I see many of my friends with many more children than I (what can I say they are Mormon too) keep up their amazing blogs and thus I am striving to do the same (again for the time being that is)....So is blogging tough stuff? For me yes...for others maybe (but they make it look so easy). Hopefully with time blogging will not be tough stuff and just another part of my already crazy busy yet amazing day!

So what have my small mountains been up to recently??? Theo is growing like crazy and starting to crawl...he has a 6 month check up next week and we will see how much he has grown...which is from my point of view a lot! He is trying to crawl and learning to play with Landon's toys...much to Landon's disliking! He is a worldly baby (Disney World that is) he has been to Disney more times in 6 months than most people have in their life...or it could be that his mom is a bit of a Disney fan (nut)!

Landon is getting so big and learning new things daily! Recently his favorite activity has been swimming as we go about 3-4 times weekly...he is progressing with swimming and doing great! He loves Disney and Mickey Mouse. We recently visited a fire house for a school assignment of mine....however if you ask him the visit was for him to see the "very big" firetruck!

Ryan is good...very busy with final project...Full Sail is trying to convince him that the University is Home and that home is well a distant memory...however he is resisting and I am happy to say that My amazing hubby is managing to keep up with class and family! We greatly enjoy swimming in the evenings and frequent trips to Disney (notice a theme here???)

I am good...I am keeping busy of course with two little boys (who would have guessed that they can keep you busy) I am also busy with school, playgroups, and church activities. Ryan and I are now nursery leaders and so far so good!

Recently we took a trip to Ohio to visit friends and family...oh and the Amish! We had a wonderful time both in Dayton and northern Ohio where we spent a few days (and a couple of thousand dollars) in Amish Country. We bought a dining room table that is being made by a local Amish gentleman Named Mr. Yoder! The table should be here in about a month! Really it wasn't that much but shipping to Florida can be costly! Who knew it would take us moving from Ohio to finally visit Amish Country??? Anyway we had a wonderful visit and greatly enjoyed seeing family! However, it seems that week in Ohio we brought the heat with us as it was warm...well HOT really but thats ok we still had a great time!

Orlando is fun! We like it here...yes it is hot and humid...but Mickey Mouse and swimming make up for that! Really we do like it here it is very family friendly and quite enjoyable!

So until tomorrow...or four months from now...

Its Raining its pouring the little men...

weren't snoring. They were playing!!! When it rains here in Florida it pours a little over six inches in two days....and we have been told that this is the dry season!

Well for the last two days it has been raining and raining and raining! So what is a mom with an anxious almost two year old to do? Play in the rain of course! So that is exactly what we did... played in the rain.

Theo didn't want to be left out of the water fun...

Long overdue!

This post is long overdue!

We have been super busy, Ryan with school and me adjusting to two amazing boys and taking care of my mom who was in the hospital for twice for a total of 11 days. February as you can guess just flew by!

The last time I updated Theodore was just over a week old! Well our growing baby boy is now 7 weeks old and much heavier! He weights just a little over 12 pounds...he is gaining about a half pound to a pound a week! I can attest that he likes to eat!!! He is also showing more signs of advancement in the movement category...he can roll from tummy to back! I don't just mean he does it by accident...he knows how to kick his leg over and roll! We are quite impressed with his advancements! He is also giving us big smiles now that just light up our day. His big brother likes to hold him and make faces at him!

Landon is also growing and is ever so busy! (I love it by the way) Recently we have started going to Gymboree Play and Learn classes. They are awesome...they offer a free trial class to see if your child likes it and then you can sign up! We tried art class for the free trial...I quickly learned that Landon needed to be signed up for gym class that they offered. At art class he promptly saw balls and wanted to play with them and not paint with his fingers! He then saw slides and wanted to slide down them not glue paper together! While his art work was beautiful and I love it, he is just not an artsy child. He is my running, jumping, sliding kind of boy! I cannot wait to see what sports he will be into. Whatever they are we will cheer him all the way! So I did not sign up for art class...I signed up for gym class! I have to say this is the best move I have made in a long time. Landon loves gym class. I love gym class. Its a great release for him and its just Landon and mommy time something that he likes and needs too! So he has been having fun with this! Also, as you maybe well aware Landon is going to turn 2 soon! We are fast preparing for the terrific twos. We have had a few previews of what it may detail...overall though I think it will be great!

Ryan has been doing well in school...so far he is earning all A+'s! This class is a bit more stressful in a sense..but he is doing very well in the class! He regularly plays D&D with his friends and brothers and enjoys this! I enjoy having a house full to cook for and visit with...well kind of visit anyways!

I am doing well! I am also earning all A's (my school doesn't ad the +)! I am enjoying my major and have just started a new class! I have a mommy and me class that meets every Wednesday. I go to this with Theodore and some of the ladies get together and meet other times during the week, so I have been getting together with other moms! Also, I am still unpacking which is keeping me busy...I have a feeling I will unpack the last box about the time we have to move lol!

I will post pictures soon!

Chuck E. Cheese and more

We took Landon to Chuck E. Cheese Saturday night! He had so much fun! It was a great way to wear him out...he slept quite well that evening! I must say its a cheap form of entertainment at the moment. He had more fun running up and down the aisles between the tables (which of course is only allowed at Chuck E. Cheese) than he did using tokens to play games! We are thinking its a possibility for a birthday party as he has so much fun when he is there...so we will see what happens!

Since we all went it means that I got to get out of the house! This was much relief to me! The hardest thing about having a new born may be that you are often home bound! However, I have this wonderful baby wrap called a Moby Wrap that has proven to be very useful. Its a long piece of fabric that you wrap around you and baby to carry baby! Think baby carrier made out of fabric! Anyway, it covered Theo completely thus limiting germ exposure all while allowing me to get out of the house! We also used the wrap when we went to church on Sunday! It also keeps people from coming up and touching the newborn...which if you don't know if they are vaccinated (a problem down here) or if they have washed their hands then you don't really want them making all over your newborn...the wrap stops this its amazing!

This is Ryan's last week of class its been going fast! It seems like it is a very busy week as the last week seems to always be as everything is coming full circle! Also, this weekend is something called Global Game Jam...Ryan will be working with people at Full Sail and around the world to make a game in 48 hours! I think he will have a blast, but be very tried... although as a new dad twice over he knows sleep is overrated!

Last week Landon got a very special package in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa! Its a mini-playground of sorts! It has a slide, a climbing area, a basketball hoop and soccer net! Landon is in love! Every morning starts with a trip down the slide and a few hoops. He is really enjoying this present! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa as it is an awesome gift we all are having fun with it! Best of all are the smiles that come from Landon when playing.

Theo continues to be right on track! He is getting face chubs...he has his dads signature round face and well everything else...Once again we have a child that Ryan will not ever be able to deni (hehe) not that he ever would! Landon is a huge help...although I am having to find new things for him to help with as he thinks diaper changes are overrated and no longer wants to help with those lol! But he has been helpful other ways such as bringing me blankets and passies whether I need them or not! Thats ok though :)

Speaking of Theo it seems he wants to eat (something that he does often :)) so until next time....

Welcome to Our World!

About two months ago Ryan, Landon, my mom, and I packed up and moved to Florida (all while I was about 7 months preggo). However we left behind family and friends in Ohio, all whom we miss dearly! To help keep in touch I thought it would be a great idea to start a blog! I chose the name The Adventures of Small Mountains because I want to share our adventures with you and our last name means small mountain. In this blog I hope to update regularly, post pictures and tell you all about our recent adventures. So here we go!

This week has been very busy! Ryan, Landon and I welcomed Theodore to the world on Saturday! He was born at 8:51 pm, weighed in at 7lbs. 4oz. and was 21.75 inches long! Today, by the way, is his orginal due date! We are all very excited to have him here and Landon is an amazing big brother. I had been nervous about how Landon would react (as for the last 22 months it has been all about Landon :)) However, he enjoys helping and so far seems to like his little brother!

I had been told on many occasions that labor for the second child would be much quicker than with the first...they lied! With Landon I had a 23 hour labor...Theodore felt the need to top that with 24 hours. If we keep the trend up the next will be a 25 hour labor! This labor was great though as I was able to accomplish my goal of having a natural childbirth...Ryan now says that he will forever feel guilty for taking a Tylenol if he has a headache, that alone makes it all worth it lol! I told him not to feel guilty, but I will at least have something to tease him about for oh the next 20 years :)

We moved to Florida for Ryan's education he is attending Full Sail University, to get his masters degree in Game Design. No shock there for those who know my amazing hubby know that he really likes video games...although this degree is more about project management rather than actually designing the game...but he keeps all the designers on track! He loves his program and is going into the last week of his second class. He is doing amazing and has already received excellent comments and grades from professors. While the move was hard, and at times I was an opposition to it, I am truly glad we made it, as I can see how much this degree means to him and how well he is doing with it!

Landon is growing leaps and bounds (especially this week). Landon seemed small before we had Theodore, then all of the sudden Landon seemed huge lol! Everything about Landon seems to have grown, his feet, hands, ears, body etc...he just seem like a big boy now. No longer is he our little pie guy...now he is our big pie guy! Its like where did our baby go...he grew into a toddler! He amazes us daily and that includes making us laugh!

Theodore's first week of life has been productive! He is doing well, and he is tiny. Landon was 8lb 8 oz. when he was born and rather chubby cheeked...Theo is our tiny baby. He is long and thin...but oh he loves to eat! He is doing excellent in the eating department and of course what goes in must come out and that area is very productive as well! He for sure is a master of sleep which is helpful to new parents! So far he is hitting all milestones: sleeping, eating, diaper filling and repeating. We are very pleased and predict that like his brother he will be a genius.

As for me my recovery from having Theo has been very quick and I am feeling well rested and getting back to pace. I am adjusting easily to having two amazing boys to chase and it is proving to be a lot of fun! I am keeping up with my studies (for those who don't know I am getting my masters in public health via American Military University, which is an online program) and I to am enjoying my classes! Ryan and I have a competition on who is getting the highest grades...so far I am winning by a point! We both have A+ averages!

Well the adventure of nap time is almost over for my boys and thus is my blogging adventure for now...but I shall return with more adventures to share for sure! Until next time...

PS Happy Brithday Dad/Grandpa!