changing things up

I've been messing around with this blog to change the layout so I could post larger images, and all I was able to accomplish was that now the archives menu is at the bottom of the page (I didn't mean to do that and have given up trying to fix it).

Instead I decided to switch over to a different blog template that's a little more user friendly so update your bookmarks to the new one below. I was able to import all the posts from this one so everything is still in one place. Many thanks to brother Tim who helped me get this set up on his server.

http://bigllittlel.erfle.net/

Baking on a cold day

We unfortunately spent much of the lovely 60 degrees in January weather indoors due to being sick, and now the cold is back. So Liam and I decided a cold day is a perfect time to make brownies. He cracked the eggs, measured the liquids, and mixed it all up. Liam really likes helping out in the kitchen, and often makes a surprise lunch for all of us. One day last week we had peanut butter, banana, and raisin sandwiches!
And a little later, Landon was found in the same place he's been much of the week. I'm wondering if he's taking advantage of being sick...I noticed his voice gets a little more hoarse and his eyes a little more droopy when he's asking to watch cartoons.

Jammin' to the Inauguration in my Paul Franks

Some of us in the Seidel house are a little more excited than others about President Barack Obama, but we all agree the music at his inaugural party was a lot more exciting than in past years. It's even more fun to dance when you have new underwear with monkeys on them!

for when his kids ask if he remembers today

I've lost control

Caution: Landon overload

a little disclaimer for when Liam is older and wonders why so many pictures of Landon...seriously, you really complained when I tried to take your picture. I promised I tried and even offered bribes.

And honestly, I think Landon figured me out a long time ago and is using it to his advantage. A few days ago while Liam was at school I was trying to run errands with Landon but quickly realized he was feeling worse that day as he laid his head on the cart and looked so miserable. So we came home but he didn't want to go to bed so I wrapped him up in a blanket on the couch. He was muttering something as he wrapped the blanket around his face, which I finally realized was "camera?". I said, "you want me to take your picture?" and he said "yeah" in a weak little voice. I might have given him whatever he wanted at that moment.

and a few more...


On Saturday Liam and Tim had a fabulous day at the Reef waterpark to reward Liam for filling up his marble jar for being good. We all were planning to go but didn't because of Landon being sick and he was so upset when they left with all their swim gear, so we took a little trip to the park instead.

Bathtime therapy

Bath time seems to make everyone feel better and forget about coughing for a while.


Landon is usually good for a post-bath snuggle while he warms up in the towel.

and then he's off

A few random pre-quarantine snapshots

The boys love to push their chairs and the stool over to the counter or stove when I'm making dinner. I *try* to be patient and enjoy the moment and their interest in "helping", but sometimes Turbodogs suddenly is playing in the living room and I can get dinner whipped out a little faster. On this day Landon wanted to help so much that he even pulled out the apron. How could I say no?


I'm not sure what this was all about, but Liam was doing it, so Landon was too.

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma

My Grandma Thelma turned 90 today and doesn't she look amazing? Tomorrow we'll take her out for lunch after church for a small celebration in advance of her big birthday bash at the end of the month (the picture and verse are on the inside of the invitation). Happy Birthday Grandma!!

The cold and flu season has lasted all week at the house with Landon so we've not been out a whole lot. We spent some time in the backyard to get some fresh air. Fresh air for me is getting out to take a few pictures and killing an hour of time later on photoshop while the boys rest.

I've been watching this lone leaf on our Linden tree just outside the kitchen window all fall and winter and it's still hanging on.

Getting out of the House

It's been a long weekend at the Seidel house with the croup and stomach flu. Liam came down with croup early Saturday morning and just when he was getting better Landon threw up Monday morning. But you know how children can be sick and bounce back and be running around the house within an hour? By afternoon all of us were climbing the walls and had a serious need for fresh air. So we joined Kathleen and Jillian for some sledding and exercise hiking up and down this super fast hill!

The sunshine was good for morale, and everyone was well until the middle of the night last night we heard the familiar barking cough this time coming from Landon's room. I'm hoping we'll get all our sickness done this winter in one fell swoop.

no story, just pictures

p.s. in case anyone is wondering why no pictures of Liam have shown up lately, he's on an anti-photo kick.

p.s.s. Edited to add: Liam saw me typing the above comment and saw his name and asked what it said...I explained that I wanted to tell people why I didn't have very many pictures of him lately. As I scrolled down and showed him several pictures of Landon, he very kindly offered to let me take his picture. So after Landon went to bed, we snuggled on the couch to watch Animalia and I took a few shots while he wasn't even paying attention.

Not Napping

On a recent Sunday afternoon Landon was resisting going to sleep, and I thought I could ever so quietly crack the door open to check on him.
As long as I was busted and he was not sleeping and my camera just so happened to be hanging on my arm, I got a few shots of him in his crib. I love this one.

A Fabulous Evening to end 2008

We were invited by some wonderful friends to join them for New Years Eve at the Yellowstone Country Club and what an awesome evening to end the year with. We laughed and danced and enjoyed some great food and Cosmopolitans bigger than my head. We are so thankful to have found such wonderful friends here in Billings who are also so much fun!!!


I just noticed Tim was drinking through his noise maker. I wonder how that was working for him?


The star of the evening was Micah, for whom staying up past midnight is no big deal since he does it every night. Way to go Amy for coming out to have fun despite the weeks of sleep deprivation.


Here's to another blessed year in Billings with dear friends and family.