North Carolina

We went to North Carolina in early January. It was for VBS events that I was teaching at. I love when Abbey and the boys get to go along with me. The boys loved the mountains. Reed, Nash, and Will are great travelers. Nash and Reed play so well together. Unfortunately, while we were there, Reed came down with strep throat. It scared us to death. He complained of headaches and was nauseated. He was so listless and we were terrified. Thankfully, our friend Lauren, who lives in North Carolina told us where to go. We went to the clinic and they diagnosed Reed quickly. It was a great experience. Nash and Will were real troupers while we took care of the big boy. Thankfully we had Uncle Bill and Miss Candace there to help.

Meeting Jack Everett

I got a comment one time on the blog from a girl in Mississippi who REALLY wanted to adopt from Taiwan. She told me that she and her husband would love a baby from Taiwan, but all of the agencies were closing their programs or they were on hold. Back in May, Abbey and I started working with a friend in Taiwan to help facilitate adoptions. The first baby was a girl, who is named Amber Joy. The second baby was Jack Everett! I remembered my friends on facebook Sherra (the girl from the blog) and her husband David. I asked them if they wanted a baby boy from Taiwan and of course, they said "yes." We got to meet him over Christmas break. What adorable little boys! Sweet Nash!

First Football Game

We took the boys to their first football game on December 30. It was the Music City bowl between Mississippi State and Wake Forest.


Uncle Bobby is a huge MSU fan, so he and Aunt Aly came up for the game.




The boys had a great time.





And the bulldogs won!
The food was yummy. Well, let's just say, it was food. Not yummy. Uncle Bill came and shared in the excitement. He's not a MSU fan, but he is a little Land boy fan. Several of my aunts and uncles were at the game. This is my Uncle Robert. And my Aunt Liz and cousins. We had a good time.

Chinese New Year

Today we had our Chinese New Year local celebration with families who have adopted from Taiwan. We had Reed, Nash, Will, Amber Joy, Jack Everett, Asher, Samuel, Sammy, Morgan, LeAnna, Cheng Yo, Ehren, Harrison, and Yu Hsuan. At the last minute, two of our friends couldn't make it, but this was a great gathering of kiddos! Amber Joy will always be a special part of our family. We have a great tie to her. Will and Ehren were born about two weeks from each other and lived together at Morning Light Home. Poor Will has been sick this week. He has an ear infection. Nash loves a kitchen! Amber Joy's dad, Justin, is holding Asher. Asher is another little one we have a great bond with. We got together at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro. It is awesome! I so wish we had a place like that closer to us. I helped the boys change a muffler. Asher's brother and sister have proven to be Reed and Nash's good friends! Our group! What a handsome crowd.

Christmas at Enna and Poppy's House

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Yesterday, we drove from Memphis to Jackson, MS to my parent's house. The boys were constantly asking if we were there yet. Well, to be completely honest that would be Reed asked about every 2 minutes or so. We made it almost to Jackson before we had to stop! We stopped in Canton for Reed and Nash to have a potty break. When we got here, Joshi, Uncle Bobby, and Aunt Aly were already at Enna and Poppy's house.

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So, the boys were so excited about getting to open presents. Every year, Reed has progressively gotten more excited about Christmas. Nash was still timid about Christmas this year and was perfectly content opening 1 gift. He got into it though eventually. Enna and Poppy got the presents we suggested. We were so excited about the "piano" from the movie "BIG". Well, it was a bust! It was not the quality or size that the photo in the catalog made it look like. Plus, I HATE TOYS R US! Anyway, we talked about it and we took it back and got the boys a couple of Wii games and some Mobigo carrying cases. And yes, in case any of you see our boys, they are calling their Mobigos "DSs", so please don't burst their bubbles just yet!

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My sister-in-law made these cute hangers for the boys coats, and things. I think we will put them in their rooms and let them hang their towels and stuff on them. We just love them. Today, we took it easy and attempted to go eat Chinese, but it was closed. Then we came home and watched the Dolphin Tale and "napped". Tonight, Abbey and I had dinner with Trae and Shawna and then we went to Target. We weren't really impressed with their Christmas leftovers so we left without buying anything. That's the difference between prechildren Jeff and Abbey and post children. Prechildren would have had a cart full of stuff that we would never use!

Christmas at Pop and Lola's House

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We left our house early yesterday morning to head to Pop and Lola's house in Memphis. The boys were really excited to get to Pop and Lola's house. They love the dogs and the cat and the baseball bats!

Nearly as soon as we got to Memphis, the boys were ready to go outside. Last time we were here, Lola had purchased a marshmallow shooter, so that is what Nash wanted to play. Reed wanted to play baseball.

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After Aunt Ava, Uncle Brookie, and baby Brooks arrived it was time for us to open presents. The boys were really really excited to see what all they got. They got Mobigos (which Reed is currently calling a DS), big wheels (which the boys are currently calling tricycles), and hot wheels and race tracks. They are going to have a blast with all of that.

We are hoping that the Mobigos will be a source of entertainment in the car and perhaps give our iPhones a little downtime from playing constantly.

Too cool for Christmas in his spy glasses.


I used to have a big wheel. I loved that thing. I even busted the back of my head open one time riding on the back of it and had to get stitchs.



Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Morning 2011

"Christmas Morning 2011"

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The boys woke up ready to check out their Christmas haul this morning. It was so much fun to see them so excited about their toys. They got a pitching machine, a cash register, some legos, some boxing gloves, and bikes, and their big gift of a trampoline. They loved everything.

Tomorrow we will go to Pop and Lola's for Christmas with the Drake side. Then we go to Enna and Poppy's for Christmas with my family on Monday. We have a busy week ahead.






For those of you who are interested, here is a video of the morning.
Untitled from Jeff Land on Vimeo.
And the revealing of the trampoline.

Untitled from Jeff Land on Vimeo.