LOST DOG

LOST DOG

 


 
 

 Breed: Unknown
Name: Puppy Dog James Swain
Date Missing: At least a week
Location Last Seen: In Landon's grip
Color/Markings: White when freshly washed, or a well-loved on gray
Weight: 6 ounces
Height: 3 inches

A reward is being offered: The biggest smile you can possibly imagine from one heart-broken little guy.  And maybe a hug, too, if you're lucky.  

Fall Update 2010

 

I can't believe that it is almost Thanksgiving!  We have had a busy fall and are really looking forward to the holiday season and lots of family time together.  Here is a quick update on the kids...


Allie is in 5th grade and is having such a great year!  She loves her teacher, has lots and lots of her very best friends in her class, and is doing well academically.  She played soccer this fall and can't wait for soccer to start back up in the spring.  Allie loves her friends and spending time with them.  She is still a voracious reader and animal lover.  She has started taking horse riding lessons, something she and her Dad are thrilled about. 

Landon is 3 1/2 and reminds me every day that he is "almost 4" on "twelve March".  He is fascinated by his growing body...he likes to see if he is as tall as Allie almost daily.  Our most exciting news is that Landon has finally fully embraced being a big boy and is completely potty trained!  Landon is participating in a little neighborhood preschool which he usually loves.  He is starting to get excited about discovering what sounds letters make.  He loves to be read to, ride his bike, play with his friends William and Brigham, play with playdough, do puzzles, and play with/torture Allie.  His most favorite thing of all right now is playing on the computer.  It's amazing how well he can navigate around!   

Dear Eric,

Hurry home from Scout Camp before I spend all of our money.  We've been to Target three times this week.  Today I took the kids shopping at the toy store--it could have been worse, they wanted to go to a pet store.  Tomorrow we are headed to Costco.  I had to find something to occupy my time while you were gone...

LOL,

Stac 

Summer Is Here

And we are really excited!  I love the freedom from rigid schedules, warm weather, spending time outside, children who are exhausted at the end of the day from playing hard, and the slower pace of life.  We have planned some really fun things for our family this summer and are looking forward to many adventures.

Eric and I kicked summer off in fashion by heading to youth conference with the 14 to 18-year-old youth from our ward this week.  We stayed at Aspen Grove which was wonderful because all of the activities were planned and carried out for us, as were the meals.  We basically hung out with the kids and had a great time.  It doesn't get much easier than that!  The conference wrapped up on a really high note with a special evening presentation by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  He spoke on our conference theme "I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love" {2 Nephi 1:15}.  It was a really wonderful experience to spend the evening with an Apostle.

After a day to recover from all the fun at Youth Conference, I took my kids to one of their favorite summer destinations, the Tracy Aviary.  It was the perfect day to go there.  The weather was warm and it wasn't crowded.  I was really amazed to reflect back on our trip there last year and realize how much my little guy has changed.  He really enjoyed seeing the birds and different exhibits this year.  Last year all he wanted to do was run.

Allie reminds me of my Grandpa Hudson.  She loves to really study things thoroughly.  She wanted to read every last detail about every animal in each of the exhibits.  Landon would look around, check things out, run around a bit, and then he was ready to move on.  In the picture above he was showing the little birds in this exhibit how to fly. 

Landon and I had to exercise a lot of patience today as we waited for Allie to absorb everything she wanted to read. 

Landon doesn't go anywhere these days without his favorite thing in the whole world, his beloved "puppy dog".  He named it all by himself. 

When he needed both hands to explore he would bring puppy dog to me and tell me "watch puppy dog mom".  It's a miracle this little puppy dog has managed to not be lost {for too long} yet. 

Last night Allie and I spent the evening at a great fundraiser for the RAH organization.  They provide services and support for individuals with disabilities.  It was a fun evening and very inspiring to be a part of.  Being there made me really think about all of the amazing service opportunities around me...and what I can do to be a better member of my community.  This has actually been on mind more and more lately.  Earlier this year we took advantage Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Day" program.  We were excited to be given the opportunity to earn a free day at Disneyland--and to bless someone else in the process.  I (with a lot of help from my Mom) made a blanket for Project Linus.  Eric and Allie volunteered their time at Courage Reins, something that has since turned into regularly scheduled volunteering.  I truly believe that giving service not only blesses lives but brings tremendous happiness and enjoyment to the giver--something we can all use more of in our lives.    

Michael, David, Larkin, & Allie

Happy 3rd Birthday Landon!

This year Landon had a really fun Birthday!

He spent it in a "Magic Kindgom"...riding his favorite ride.

His Birthday party happened in a hotel room filled to capacity with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

At the end of the day he was one happy--but very exhausted--boy! 

Dear Kambree,

Thank you for motivating me to clean out my microwave.  It was very messy.  I hope that you will come and visit me soon so you can see how much better it looks.  I am posting a picture for you to look at just in case it takes you a while to get here and it is no longer in pristine condition.  (And to the rest of you who were treated to a peak at my {scary dirty}microwave thanks to Kam, I hope the nightmares have subsided.) 

LOL, (that's Lots Of Love in Toone Lingo)

Aunt Stacie