Our Little Destroyer

When Landon was a youngster they called him "annihilate". It was part of the threesome with his brother Ryan and sister Whitney, whom their parents deemed "Search", "Destroy", and "Annihilate", because Ryan would always find something new, Whitney would break it, and then they would run off while Landon destroyed it to smithereens...and he got in trouble.  Typical.  

Later in life Landon was called "Slayer", because apparently he knew how to foul someone properly in basketball. 

Now we just call our little guy "Destroyer". Apparently it runs in the genes. Any time he sees any kind of tower he gets really worked up and HAS to knock it over. He really is pretty upset until it's down. Even after making this video, we showed it to him, and he would get all excited watching himself destroy the towers. We used it as incentive to help him learn to crawl. Cracks me up.

Ferdinand the Bull

This is from a month ago or more, but I finally have access to a computer that can convert the file. We read "Ferdinand the Bull" to the little guy. Then he and Landon decided they could be bulls too!

Cherry Pickers

Here's our sibling volleyball team for intramurals. We made it to the semi finals this year, but we lost to an awesome team. It was a really fun season though. Mak's awesome roomies watched our little guy fr us most games so that we could both play.

We wore our cherry season shirts for some of the games so that we would all match. Poor Landon never had time this summer to finish his, so it only has stuff on the back.  Landon was even in a volleyball class at BYU this semester, so he has gotten really good!

Mykal was our official line judge. She was at almost all of our games, and cheered us on to keep us positive.  Good times!

Car Accident!

So, if you haven't heard, we were in a pretty major car accident on our way home for Christmas this year. I guess after driving a couple of times a year for 8 years over the mountains, the odds weren't in my favor. Ironically, this was our last drive to Washington in the winter.  

We were driving on some icy roads on our way into La Grande, OR. Semis were parked on the side putting on chains, and one of them came back onto the road going really slow, right in front of us. Landon tried to tap on the breaks, but it put us into a slide and the car spun 180 degrees right into another semi that was chaining up. As you can see, the car was totaled. What you may not know, is that our baby was sitting on the side with the crunched door. I was in the back trying to lean and cover him. At least that's what Landon tells me. I don't remember anything. God was definitely protecting us that night. Because somehow, aside from screaming with terror, little Ty wasn't hurt. The carseat was deep enough that despite the chair crunching over the end, his feet were still fine. And since we put pillows in the window to shade the sun earlier, it caught all the glass from falling on him. Landon was hit in the head by something, but other than a cut, he is doing fine. I hit my head somehow, and got a pretty bad concussion. They tell me that I couldn't think straight, or remember from one minute to the next. So I repeatedly asked what was going on, and if everyone was ok. I got some staples in my head for the cut, and the headaches and focus problems are subsiding. But other than that, we are miraculously all okay.  Landon's parents came in their big truck to pick us up from the hospital, and the truckers let us sit in their trucks and helped pick up our stuff from off the highway.

I'm amazed by the blessings involved with the whole thing. We were so lucky to have all come out ok. And the guy chaining up wasn't on that side of the truck, so he wasn't hit. Nor did his semi have much damage. Our stuff was all pretty good, aside from some dented luggage and one broken Christmas present. I almost think the loss of memory is even a blessing, because it all sounds pretty terrifying.  I'm not sure if God spared us for a specific purpose, or just to show that His hand is in our lives, but I'm pretty grateful.  Now we are on the lookout for a new car, so let us know if you have any recommendations!

Turkey Day

We have had a crazy month or so. Our laptop died. And since the computer we are using doesn't have an SD card reader, I haven't done much blogging. But I will try to catch up.  We got to go home for about 10 days at Thanksgiving, which was really fun. It gave Grandmas and Grandpas some bonding time with the little guy.

 At the Draney house everyone was home except Chris and Lisa (We missed you!).We had a swing dancing night. Landon says Tami has an awesome seductive look in that second picture, ha.

Grandma got some good dancing in--he didn't step on her toes once!

We also had our annual Turkey bowl, of course.  My favorite play was when our 7-year-old nephew caught a twenty yard touchdown pass! Our little guy watched from the sidelines, but he will be playing soon, I'm sure. Here are some pics of us "playing" on the playground. I have to say, I am disappointed with playground toys these days. All the safety precautions have ruined the fun.  

I just love his hat!

I always forget how much fun I have with my siblings until we can all get together again. It's a blast.  And we love Turkey day!  Dinner was awesome, and we all got to share what we are greatful for. This year I was thinking a lot about how nice it is to have great examples in my family and in Landon's. We are surrounded by good people, who really want to be a part of our lives and help when they can. It has especially been nice while figuring out parenting. Thanks everyone!

We also got to visit the cabin with the Rowley family. There wasn't really snow for snowmobiling, but we rode some 4-wheelers to cut down our Christmas tree!  I'm sad to say though, that for some reason our tree died in like two weeks this year. Good thing we came home after that--it definitely wouldn't have made it to Christmas.  We also had some fun volleyball with the family at the lodge. It was a great time, and really good to see so much family!

Playing Dress Up

So, for the last couple of months we have been dealing with a ridiculous computer because I stepped on it this summer. Oops. There is a stripe across the bottom that you can't see--which was completely frustrating since you can't see the toolbar. Landon finally investigated and TA-DA, the toolbar is on the top of the screen now. He makes me smile.

Our little teddy bear

 Anyway, I thought you might like to see pictures of our Halloween costumes. I was a girl viking, so Landon decided to be my dragon, like Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon. He made an awesome tail, wings, and horn/ear things, and I thought it was pretty legit. He was pretty distraught that he didn't have time to paint the stuff black though. We did all our dressing up and then realized that the ward party we did it for had started earlier than we thought. We got there just as people were all leaving. Sad. But we still got to play the donut game. You know, the obnoxious one where they blindfold you and say you can't use your hands, but you are supposed to somehow eat a donut on a string. It's madness, I tell you. The thing just rolls off your face and it's ridiculously impossible to bite. And have I ever mentioned how I HATE BEING STICKY?! Ew. But it was fun, all the same. And Landon's donut fell when I had eaten more than him, so I think I won. He doesn't agree.

And Ryan, who has been set on wearing a chipmunk
costume for months. 

I'm convinced those "One size fits all" hats really just never fit anyone"

Cupcakes from Ty

Ty took these around with Landon to various people, with notes from him. One was to our neighbors, saying

"Dear Whoever has a bedroom is next to mine. Thanks for being patient with me while I learn to sleep through the night. Sorry if I wake you up sometimes when I have to cry. Have a Happy Halloween!

-Baby Tyson"

How could anyone be mad at that, right?!

or to Makenna's roomies,

"Hey gals. Thanks for playing with me so Mommy and Daddy could play volleyball. Sorry I was a little sad, it was close to bedtime. Hope you have a Happy Halloween!

--Baby Tyson"

I love Fall

We were watching General Conference. Landon told me this was so that he could keep Tyson from crying.  Sure. I guess it kept him awake, so it worked out.  

We had some friends over to carve pumpkins for family night. The men were into all the crazy carving with shades and things. It was out of my league--with my squares and triangles. So Ashley and I helped the kids color their pumpkins instead. It was a lot of fun.

I made pumpkin pie for my first time. I was happy with how it turned out, except I am convinced that it tastes better the next day cold. My brother Joe was very proud that I have converted to his thinking. 

I must say that I did participate, though. I did the steam lines. Pretty awesome eh. 

I LOVE HALLOWEEN :)  Landon says he hates it--the whole being scared, evil stuff. So I am trying to convince him there are cool parts about it by bringing out the good festive food and activities. He's a good sport and lets me do my thing.

And we also thought we would show you some pics of the babe, since that's why most people check our blog. This pic just makes me laugh. He opens his mouth as far as he possibly can. He is a good eater, I must say. We just get a lot of grunts when we don't spoon it fast enough.

I wanted to get some fall pics. We were outside already when he wanted to play with the leaves. So I took a couple pictures, and then decided to change him into a matching outfit and see if I could get any good ones. It's kinda tough helping him sit up, trying to make him smile, AND taking a good picture. So this is what I got. At least he's so stinkin cute, they look good no matter what, right?

Most of the time, he was trying to eat the leaves.

TIMBER! This was after he tipped over. But it looks so GQ that I added it in :)

Progress

I decided it's about time I update.  If anyone read my post about Landon's cooking ideas, then you might appreciate this pic. I had company coming, so I was avoiding the eyes watering. 

We saw the movie Julie and Julia, and the part where she is practicing cutting onions and the husband came in cracked me up. It totally reminded me of this, ha. 

Ty is now 5 months old!! Yay. He's still alive, so we must be doing something right, eh. He's now at the stage where everything goes in his mouth. Thumbs, feet, toys, flowers...you name it. I'm told this is normal :)

He has also found his voice. All day long he is squealing or trying it out, it just makes me laugh a lot. This will be our first normal church meetings since the discovery, which will be a whole new kind of interesting during sacrament, I'm sure.

He's getting some cute cheeks, and little more hair. So I like to experiment sometimes. I'm told I should just leave him to do his own hair when he's old enough. 

He has also learned to turn over from his back to his tummy. So putting him to bed has some added difficulty. But he's a pro--4 times the first day.

I'm not really sure what was going on here. Landon claims that he was showing him how to use the toys. I think he just wanted to try it out.

As far as our family news, we got to go bowling with some of the Rowley fam. It was really not my night. I kept getting 9's, which as everyone knows, is so close to being amazing, but leaves your score pretty unimpressive. Here's my reaction to one of the bowls--Landon was so kind as to document it. Can I just say, I want bowling shoes for every day use. 

Ry was daring enough to show up at the Wilk in complete Boise attire right after we lost to them. 

And Ty was pretty amazed by the whole thing, especially the lighting. Becky and David would hold him before their turn for good luck, ha. Landon did pretty good the first game. We did some crazy bowls on the second round, which changed his score a bit. I, on the other hand, did just as well lefty and crazy as I did when I really tried. Figures. Becky was going for the Obama bowl--a 37 in 7 frames.  Sadly, she and Landon were close, but missed it.

 And we went to another football game. Ty was all dressed and ready. 

Anniversary and fun

We finished the crib and the baby's room! Yay. Here are some pics from our last couple of weeks.

He's become a thumb-sucker. It used to be the whole fist, but he has now
found individual fingers. He spits the pacifier out to get them, ha.

Landon putting in the last screw on the crib.

He's learning how to work while he's young ;)

Ty's also getting into the jumper lately. It scared him at first, but he's liking it more and more.

Our second anniversary was last week! Landon brought me these :)

We were lucky that Whitney babysat for us so we got to use our free passes and go to Seven Peaks. It was great to just have some fun together, and it was a beautiful day for it. I was so excited, I just love water parks.

Later that night we decided we wanted to do a barbecue in the canyon.  We invited others, but it was last minute, so Ryan was the only one who could come with us, but we had a fun time. As you can see, Landon was pretty proud of our big burgers.

Tyson seemed a bit unimpressed by the dinner...

but he loved dessert. We made s'mores and he helped us roast them just right.

We used those Gihugic ones that are especially for camping. That's a lot of marshmallow. Unnecessarily large in my opinion, but it's more exciting that way.

Tyson watching some Saturday college football with Daddy. We had just put the chair together so it was still in the living room and Landon was taking advantage.

Tyson and I made Landon this fruit pizza on an especially rough day for him. He had planned to get his bike pumped at the place on the way to school, but it turned out all of the places he used to do it weren't there anymore. So he spent all day walking his bike around...in the rain. We hurried to get this made for him by the time he got home.

We also finished the baby room. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out.  Thanks to Grandpa Rowley for helping us with the crib, and to Mama Rowley for the vinyl lettering.

Tyson also went to his first football game. Lest you assume he was always just a raggamuffin with no pants on, I must explain that he started with really cute pants, but it was so HOT outside that we were trying to keep him from heat exhaustion. Lots of sunscreen and kept him in the shade. He seemed ok except the constant noise got to him by the end...and he has woken up screaming with nightmares since, so I think the cheering might have really scared him...Poor kid. He's a trooper.

But the noise could not have been too bad, since he slept through the second quarter and halftime.

Other than that, Landon's in school, and I'm just trying to keep up with the little guy. If you have any fun ideas for things to do with a 5 month old, I'm taking suggestions.