Picnik: My New Favorite Website

So, I've recently discovered picnik editing software online. It's awesome. I really love it.



You can do all kinds of fun things with it. I'm thinking about buying the "premium" package instead of just working on the free things.



The other day, Abbey found a recipe for making "acorns". You use a hershey kiss, a vanilla wafer, and a little bit of a pretzel. After a while, they gave up on the pretzel since it kept falling off.



Reed enjoyed the chocolate part of the cooking.



Abbey is much better about letting the boys cook. I am not really that patient when it is my turn to cook.



This kid looks so familiar, but I just can't quite put my finger on it!

The Pumpkin Place

Yesterday at church Abbey found out about a new place to buy pumpkins not far from her house. She loves fall and the decorations that come with it, so I knew that we would be making a trip to the farmer's market for some pumpkins soon.



As soon as I got home today, she told me about this new place not far from our house. We decided to load up and drive over. It's at this older couple's home. A big pumpkin patch and about 7 trailers loaded with all different kinds of pumpkins.



The boys had an absolute blast picking out pumpkins. Of course, they wanted every single one of them, but I am a little more picky. I just loved the variety and all of the ones that they had.



And their prices were incredible. The biggest pumpkin that we bought was $4.00 and most of them were either $2 or $1. That's way less than the farmer's market.



The boys each picked out their own little pumpkins. It's funny, but the pumpkins are the same size in relation to the boys. Reed's is biggest, Nash is medium, and Will is the little one.



This got us very excited about Miss Candace's annual pumpkin carving party. Well, I don't get excited about carving a pumpkin. I get excited about being with my friends. I don't touch pumpkin guts.



Abbey noticed a huge white pumpkin with Nana and Putty Sprinkles' name on it. She decided to call and ask them if they wanted her to bring it. When she called, she found out that they were on their way to pick it up. Yesterday, they discovered the pumpkin place, but they were in their Miata, so the pumpkin wouldn't fit.



The boys were excited to see them. We don't see them nearly enough anymore. Life is soo busy, and they have three grandchildren of their own these days.



Reed and Nash enjoyed running around the pumpkins and Will enjoyed climbing. That's what Will enjoys ... climbing ... everything.



I'm so excited that Reed and Nash have each other as best little friends. Of course, they are not lacking in the best friend department, but it's so good that they can hang out together. I hope that Will and Tuck will be the same. There is 13 months difference between Reed and Nash. There will be 17 months difference between Will and Tuck. (Mental note: breathe! Doing that kind of math can be scary!)



Nash wanted to take them all home. If Manya's wedding had been a couple of weeks later, I think I would have used the pumpkins as containers for the topiaries.



The cover of either Southern Living or Martha Stewart this month has a beautiful fall door with pumpkins and flowering cabbages. I would love to do that with ours, but finding flowering cabbage around here isn't easy. I think we will end up with mums.

Becoming 六 or Six or Seis

As most of you have figured out by now, we are expecting! I know it is hard to believe that with Abbey's awesome weight loss that we could possibly be expecting.



The truth is, life was getting a little boring around LandLife back in April, so we were thinking "What could we do to spice things up a bit?"



So we did what every other couple in the world does when they decide to have a baby. That's right, we ...



checked our email. Come on now, get your head out of the gutter. You really think I would blog about that?



It was April 29. For those of you more astute blog followers you will recognize that April 29 is Abbey and Will's birthday.



Abbey woke me up and told me that we had received an email from our contact in Taiwan and there was a birthmother who wanted us to adopt her baby.



We were like, "Woah!!! I'm not sure about this." But, we promised to pray.



And we did pray. And then we found out that the birthmother was expecting a little girl. And we said, "Wowee!!! Yes!" And then a week later, we found out the birthmother was not expecting a little girl but a boy! And we said "Wowee!! Wowee!!! Wowee!!! Yes!!!!"



So, that's how we became maybe the first or second couple you will ever meet with a surprise adoption!



However, the real truth is, God's plan is bigger than ours. If He wanted us to have a fourth son, then goodness knows, we want to be in His will. We are so excited.



And that is how the Land family of five is now becoming the Land family of six.



Little Tuck is due sometime in late October. We would love for you to pray for Tuck and his birthmother. Pray that they will remain healthy.



Abbey and I also ask that you pray for our family. Another big transition in our lives and another hit to our vast amount of savings. Well, maybe when I say vast, I should remind you that this is our fourth child to be adopted. So, I guess what I mean to say is that you will pray that we will fully trust that God is going to provide the funds we need.



When Abbey and I said "I do" to one another over ten years ago, we could have never imagined the amazing journey that God was going to allow us to travel. We could have never prayed for a more amazing family. We love Reed, Nash, and Will so much and now He has even given us the chance to walk with a birthmother thousands of miles away through her pregnancy.



We've got a couple of fundraisers in the works, but we promise they will be fun and you will want to know about them. Even if you can't personally help us financially, we know our faithful blog readers will pray for us. That is assuming we have faithful blog readers. I know that Beckie H keeps up wit the blog.




Can you imagine how much fun it is going to be to have a four year old, a three year old, a one year old, and a newborn!?!?!

Well, we aren't sure when we will get Tuck, but our homestudy is ready and we have applied for immigration, so please pray our process moves quickly.

The Boys' New Shirts

Back in August when we were in Mississippi, we had our friend Maggie Ingram do some photographs of our family at our alma mater, Mississippi College. We were so impressed with the beautiful photos that Maggie took. Abbey found the great shirts online at etsy. The are so cute.

Reed's shirt has "Biggest Brother" and has his name all around it. Nash's shirt says "Bigger Brother" and has his name all around it. Of course, you can probably guess that Will's shirt says "Big Brother" and has his name all around it.

Happy Family Day, Will!

Dear Will Will,

You are growing up so quickly! I can barely believe that you have been home with us a year. It seems like only yesterday we heard that you were born and then we were on a plane to pick you up.

You are so sweet and cuddly. Even this afternoon, you and I took a nap together and I savored the closeness I had to you and the smell of your hair. You amaze me with your tenacity and ability to try new things. You have no idea that you are only one and you are pretty sure you can do anything your brothers do.

I love how happy you are. I love that you light up when you see me. I love that you say "dada". I love that you are fast and I love that you give me wet, slobbery kisses. I love you so much!

You are so loved and you are such a blessing to us! We love that you love us! Will, you are a precious gift of God and you are a miracle. We love you.

Love, Daddy

Happy Family Day, Nash!

My Dear Son Nash,

It's been a year since the photo above was taken. I'll never forget that first meeting. It scared me to death! I didn't know what you would think of us. I prayed you would love us. You were so shy and timid. You weren't sure if you wanted to be near us. Little by little, you opened up and you played cars with me.

Nash, this past year has had so many changes for you. The language you heard for two and a half years of life you rarely hear. English has now become your own. You have such a sweet voice and I love to hear your words.

You have come to love your brother Reed as your best friend and comrade. You take amazing care of your little brother Will. And your squeal of delight when you see Mommy or Daddy and the sweet kiss you give us is amazing. However, I must say that my favorite thing has been your random, unsolicited, and often statements of "Daddy, I love you." Rarely are sweeter words ever spoken.

It took us 2.5 years to find you. I often try to remember those times because it seems unreal that you haven't been with us from the beginning. Nash, no matter what, no matter when, you must always know, we LOVE you, we LOVE you, we LOVE you. You are our son. God's precious gift. We are so thankful God entrusted you to us.

Love, Daddy

Happy Family Day, Reed!

Dear Reed,

Four years ago today, you came into our lives and we have never been the same. You taught us the amazing joy it is to be parents. You gave us the confidence to adopt your brothers. You are constantly teaching me how to be a better Daddy.

Reed, in the past year, we've watched your spiritual awareness blossom and we love watching how God is working in your life. We've seen you learn how to be a big brother and how you can take care of your siblings. We've loved to watch you and Nash become best friends and we've loved being able to see you take care of Will.

My dear son, I can't describe how much I love you. You must never forget that we love you incredibly and our life is better because you are in it.

You are so loved. We are so blessed.

Love, Daddy

Labor Day Weekend Review

Thursday afternoon, we went to gymnastics with the boys.



This week, the boys worked on their flips.



I am not sure who has more fun, Reed or Nash.



The boys did flips all the way down the mat.



Reed certainly loved the flips.



Nash enjoyed them so much he forgot to stop.



Friday the boys decided that they would make Cheese Quesadillas for lunch.



It was fun to watch the cheese melt.



Our boys LOVE cheese. All three of them!



Will sat back and supervised the cooking.



The boys had shredded cheese for an appetizer.




Then they enjoyed their quesadillas and mandarin oranges.



Saturday was the first Saturday of the month, so I headed to Goodwill for half-off day. Abbey and the boys went to the park.



It was HOT!!!!



Will made funny faces because he was trying to be cool since the weather was so insane.



Reed joined in the funny face-making.





Nash cooled off with lemonade.



Sunday after church we went to Uncle Bill's house. We spent the night with him and then went to the mall on Labor Day.



It was pouring down rain and the hot weather finally gave way for cool weather.



The boys got some new shoes at the mall. The mall was INSANE!



We came home and it was time for a nap, so Will, Nash, and I went to naptime. Jane came and Manya, Candace, Abbey, and Uncle Bill worked on the programs for Jane's wedding this Saturday.





Uncle Bill BBQ'd chicken and it was really yummy. We decided to just spend the night again at Uncle Bill's. We've found that staying overnight at someone else's house will help keep our own house clean longer!