creating a Christmas card

LA enjoyed posing for his dedicated half of the Christmas card design the other day. And, there's a more than slight chance that Crystal enjoyed taking 40+ pictures to find just the right one. We're pretty sure the top photo here took home the winning prize.

Flippin' the Christmas switch!

Our family tradition of going to the Circle of Lights (lighting of the monument in the circle downtown) was continued this year with some added special guests. Amos, Crystal and LA were joined by Ostrich, "Grandma", cousins Brady and Jen & cousins Mike and Kim. We had a lovely start of the holiday season!

LA's first Thanksgiving

We had such a great time with family and friends over a nice long Thanksgiving weekend. That boy of ours got plenty of attention too!

LA's baby dedication -- coming soon

Why dedicate our son?:

"God brought our little guy into this world through Crystal and me to make a difference in our surrounding communities. To reach into places that aren't necessarily safe with the heart of eternal Love. To reach our 'troubled land.'" (thehaffnerhome blog 8/21/06)

We feel that publicly dedicating LA to a life after Christ is just as much about us as it is him. Crystal and I will stand amongst our church community and pledge to raise our son with Love written in his heart. It's a public parental promise to a community that will hold us accountable before God, ourselves and LA. It is also a forum whereby Crystal and I can acknowledge that we are stewards of LA's life, not controllers...that we are putting ourselves aside to allow God to use LA how He needs.

"Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates." -Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (MSG)

NYC Business Trip

Our first family "vaca" (well, not really). We had a great time making the best of a IndyCar business trip to the Big Apple. We saw all the fun tourist stuff.....Time Square, Statue of Liberty,
Radio City Music Hall, took the subway, Central Park and had fabulous sushi. Amos did work
at Grand Central Station each day. Landon was incredible....he didn't even cry on the plane...praise God! We are excited to be home, it was a couple days too long.
It was fun to be with Daddy while he was working. We would of missed him for 6 days!!

Colts game last Sunday (vs Denver)

Check out those baby blues!

My name is Landon and I have my Mommy's big beautiful eyes with my Daddy's eye color and long lashes. Pretty cute, eyh?

Second round of baby shots!

I think Landon received an extra dose of cute today. Ha! Yes, our sweet baby got his second round of shots and they were not fun! But...for some reason he is even more snuggley than normal, so I haven't put him down! :)

Our sweet little pumpkin!

Landon attended his first Turner Bonfire/Hayride in his pumpkin costume (from Nana). It was a beautiful fall day at the farm. The first pic of the snowman, Amos and Landon....well, Amos used to sleep with that snowman and his grandparents still have it in their barn. How cute? Thanks for hosting Grandma and Grandpa Turner! Amos has great memories growing up at the farm.

Brown County trip w/Papa and Nana

We headed south to see the leaves. We had a beautiful day to walk around and enjoy the crafts of Nashville. Ha! We did make some big purchases in Nashville......taffy apple, peanut butter fudge, carmel corn, and water! Then we headed to Brown County park to check out the trees. We did stop to take some pics. And the last stop of the day was "Farm fest." Papa bought Landon his first pumpkin! And Landon loved sitting on his first tractor with Dad! We had such a great time!! Thanks for a wonderful, relaxing day Papa and Nana!

first All-Family walk

We got out for our first all-family walk/run on a beautiful October day earlier this week! It was much fun. Chloe was quite beat after a brisk run by Amos. She hadn't done that in a while. But, evidentally she was alert enough to still watch birds during family portrait time. Landon absolutely loved his walk. Yeah, we took more than just his legs and right arm along, but you wouldn't know from the picture. He looked around and coo'ed and looked around and fell asleep and slept some more and woke up and looked around and coo'ed. Great times! Crystal has gotten out twice more this week as well (LA in tow). Having slipped out of the pocket you currently see it in, she managed to lose her cell phone on Wednesday afternoon. Awesome.

A Caps Tournament for the Ages

The best games of the weekend did not take place on any 100 yard fields, but rather 3 seven foot courses. To the Ostrich go the spoils. Thrice-time Champion. Also, looks like someone else won't ever be playing caps again. Ever.

Full writeup available here.

Landon's 6wk photo shoot!

We are having so much fun at home! Landon is laughing and smiling all the time. And the best part is he is only getting up for a 3:30 feeding.....so we are sleeping 5 hours and then another 3.5. YEAH!

Bloggin' it old school!

If there was a way to blog old school, this would be it.

the arrival of Twin Babes

Lauren and Jillian entered the world! Click on the JP Family link on the right for more info on the latest handmade miracles! We are so happy for you Andy and Jenni! And, you too, girls...your parents are rockin' cool!

Have you been wondering?

He yawns -- not once...but TWICE!

click here for first yawn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAcay-uo2iA

click here for second yawn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ePP9VQCzs

Amazing stuff isn't it!

first bath

Landon got his first bath earlier this week. We're pretty sure he didn't enjoy it too much. Toward the end of the bathing, he had a little spray on Mommy's right arm. We all laughed about that. Well, Amos and Crystal did. Landon was still unhappy about his cleansing experience.