Exciting Holidays!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM LANDON JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!

Pushing and pulling around his popcorn machine is one of his favorites at 16 months...

It has been super cold but we bundle up and get Mama some exercise when we can :)

After his big haircut on the way to church...we love being able to wear jeans :)

Proud of his big boy haircut by Dada

Before the big haircut...yikes!!!

Signing dog to the dogs and asking Mama to bring them in :) Thanks for the cool pj's Aunt C!!!

Thanks for the cool new first Saucony running shoes Nana and Popsie :) we LOVE them!!!

Athlete in training :)

Future tennis star...

LOVES lounging around with his lion pillow...thanks Grand Nana!!!

Bath time with Dada remains his ultimate favorite activity EVER!!!

Working on dinner plans with Mama in our new Deceptively Delicious cookbook...it has been wonderful because now both of my guys eat more veggies ;~)

His new guitar from Miss Karly is his favorite...plays it while watching country music videos and copies what Dada does on his guitar...cutest thing ever!!!

Landon's cool first tattoo from the Ride for Courage, a bike benefit to honor the courage of those facing cancer through Cancer Services...where Mama used to work in Winston-Salem!

This was so cute I had to post it twice :) in our Durham hotel after Sam's wedding as we were about to head to Winston for the big Ride for Courage!

Did not have a good shot of Sam and James as we only had our phone and no camera...but she was THE most GORGEOUS bride EVER!!!

Making the most of a gorgeous NC day before the big wedding!!!

Landon had a playdate with Mary Claire, the daughter of one of Sam's Durham friends, while Mama had a fun shower for Aunt Sam :)

On the Denver Airport train...LJ thought it was SO cool this year!

Fun slide in Denver with GiGi...thanks for the fun warm outfit, Grand Nana...he LOVES it!

Playtime with Aunt C at the park...yay!!!

First art lesson with GiGi, the famous architect and artist...lucky guy!!!

Reading his favorite book with Nana before bed!

Chillin' with his cool Uncles...Drew and Brian...so fun!!!

Checking out Nana's beautiful view!

Christmas festivities wear a little man out :)

Walking around downtown Denver...so gorgeous and fun!

Beautiful restaurant Uncle Brian took us to for brunch!Brothers at brunch!

Starbucks date with Uncle Drew...Landon felt SO grown up and important :)

Walking around the park with his Popsie in Parker, CO...cold but wonderful!!!

We love Landon's new marching band set...thanks Nana :)

Getting ready to board our first plane of many for the holidays :)

Excited about his cool new toy from Grand Nana :)

Landon's Christmas stocking that Aunt Sandy (Landon's Grand Nana) and I worked so hard on...it turned out perfect. I am so thankful for all she has dome to help me learn to sew...it's super fun and I am so glad I can make things Landon can keep for a lifetime! :)

Landon and his best friends Bella and Chase. The Three Musketeers...they have the BEST time together and we are so thankful for them!!!

Sweet happy guy showing his new teeth :)

Walking in GiiGi and Jetta's neighborhood on Christmas Day with the whole fam!

Georgetown train ride with the fam...Landon's favorite part of the whole trip :)

Swinging with Jetta!

As you can see, Sarah is one of his favorite people ever :)

Christmas morning chaos with 15 people inc three toddlers :) SO fun!!!

Our matching Toms! Thanks GiGi and Jetta we love them!

Christmas kisses

Thanks Mercers...LJ LOVES his singing story telling kitty...one of his favorites as you can see :)

Proud to be playing piano with Jetta

Loves his GiGi...

Cute matching Christmas PJ's we got the boys :)

Chilling with big John and John Alan in GiGi's hammock...ahhhhh...

The whole fam after Christmas Eve church and dinner...wonderful having everyone together!

LJ sportin' Uncle Drew's cool hat that belonged to his amazing great grandfather!

Cohn Christmas card photo

With Cowboy Kringle in Gruene :)

The above photos are from November 10 - January 11. This holiday season was super fun for all 3 of us! We traveled to Colorado for Christmas then to North Carolina for New Years. I was nervous about how Landon would do with such a long trip and so many flights but he was a perfect angel (thank the Lord)!

Before the trip, we did our family Christmas tradition and brought a family Christmas gifts who otherwise would not have any. Through the United Way (I just joined their Board and am loving being able to help people in the community) we found a family in need and were able to meet their needs this year. Karly Tanner and Bella were able to chip in and that was an amazing gift because we were able to get that sweet family everything on their wish list! When we delivered their gifts and food, the little boy's face lit up and we will never forget that moment...ever. That is what the season is all about. That is why Jesus came and that is why we are thankful to be able to have such a fun tradition to help another family every year. We can't wait until next year when Landon actually understands what we are doing and we can teach him about how awesome the Lord is!

In Colorado we had 13 of us Texans at GiGi and Jetta's house (my parents) and all of the Cohns at James' parents Nana and Popsie's house...Landon could not believe how much fun it was to be around all of his beloved family. He got to go on a train ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus through the beautiful snowy Colorado mountains (Thanks GiGi and Jetta!) and play with his second cousins Kaden and John Alan and his aunt uncles great aunt great grandpa etc etc. He especially connected with my cousin Tim's wonderful wife Sarah and they hung out quite a bit. :) This year he was especially excited about his new books and toys (and the fun wrapping paper and bows of course)! Landon and I got matching Toms shoes and were excited that for each of ours one was donated to someone who really needs shoes. It was wonderful to have one last Christmas in Colorado before we start having more children and do Christmas at our house in Texas every year from now on! We are excited to have our family Christmas at our home for the first time ever next year and hope some family will come and join us!

Our New Years celebration was unparallel to any we have ever had besides our New Year's kiss five years ago when James told me he loved me for the first time. :) Sam, my best friend from high school, and her new hubby James had the most incredible and fun wedding celebration. There was still a little snow on the ground when we arrived in Durham and the weather was delightful. Sam was glowing and so excited about her big day. I helped host a fun lingerie shower and it was awesome. I was so excited to help my best friend celebrate! As the Matron of Honor I was a little nervous about making sure Sam had everything she needed and I also was a little worried about my toast...but everything was completely perfect! Sam was a dream in her dress we picked out at the bridal boutique here in New Braunfels. Her dress had to be buttoned and unbottoned with a crochet hook that I got and I had to give it to James and explain to him how to use it later that night...so funny and fun! :) Sam came down the aisle to Heavenly Day by Patty Griffin on her Daddy's arm. We used to always have a slogan 'Be Like Mike' because we wanted our future hubbys to be a cool as her Dad...he is the best. It was surreal to see him walk his little girl down the aisle and to see my best friend who is like my sister walk down the aisle to the man God created for her. After watching her grow up, learning about the Lord from her amazing faith and compassion, seeing her many relationships good and bad, and walking with her through life, I was so thrilled to see her so happy and in love...and clearly the kind of love that is the Lord's and that will last she and James a lifetime. My James and I had an incredible time at the reception and danced the night away. There is a photo taken by the wedding photographer of everyone after the midnight toast...and James and I are in the background still kissing (like 5 minutes after midnight) hahaha!

After the wedding, we headed to Winston-Salem to see our first home and help with the Ride for Courage, the bike benefit for those facing cancer that I used to do for Cancer Services. It was wonderful to see everyone and Landon loved 'helping' at the benefit too. He even got a Polar Bear tattoo and kept it on for a whole week after the ride. I really miss Cancer Services and the people I worked with there so it was awesome to see everyone! We got to see our former neighbors who were like our grandparents there, Larry and Dreama...they are amazing and Landon remembered them...it was so fun! We also finally got to meet Julie and Jon's new baby girl who is just too cute. Her name is KyLee and she is a gorgrous little angel...and also a very good baby! :) When Julie got pregnant we were moving so I gave her all of my maternity clothes (LOTS of them:) so we swapped them back while we were at their house...and I got them ALL to fit in our carry-on bag so we didn't have to pay for them to come home with us. James was very pleased! :)

We are finally home and getting settled back in after our long holiday adventures. We are anxiously anticipating what 2011 has in store for us and hoping that maybe the Lord will bless us with another baby before too long. We are really wanting Landon to have a sibling that is close to two years apart so they can be best friends like James and Drew! James is completely slammed at work with over 40 cases and more coming in...a HUGE and much needed blessing for our family (Wake Law was expensive!) but also very hard on all 3 of us since he is working lots of hours and we miss him. We are thankful for all of the Lord's blessings and the promise of what's to come in this new year!