Reunion in St. Louis :)

I finally made a trip to St. Louis, Missouri where I spent 3 years in Junior High! It had been over 10 years since I've seen some of the friends and family I have over there. It was so good to go back and spend some time in my old places. :) But one thing I didn't remember the clearest was the humidity and how it intensifies the heat! lol I'll touch on that later.

I started out my visit touring St. Louis. There were two places I wanted to go: Union Station and the St. Louis Arch. I remember visiting those with my mom when we lived there once and never forgot either. So I wanted to revisit those places and take pictures and video to enjoy and show Leah and Mom when I got back to Washington.

First we stopped at Union Station and right when we got there they were finishing up making the fudge and cutting it, so we walked around for a while and looked at the different shops and art in the Station. Then we came back and things were just getting started on the next batch and the next "show" was starting. The gentleman who made the fudge was very interactive and loved to feed off the crowd that was ALWAYS around him when he makes fudge. He sang, chanted, yelled, and did some tricks. I am going to try to upload a video that I have of him entertaining us and doing some tricks that I remember as a girl. But to me this was awesome. I would have to say that now it's not as mesmerizing as when I was a little girl, but still memorable and entertaining.

This is the guy who was making the fudge and making us laugh.


Then we went a couple miles down to the arch! It was awesome. I wanted to go up it again because I remember when Mom, Leah and I did.


These are the TINY capsules that take you up. They fit 5 people, but if you're claustrophobic I don't think you could handle this. We had 4 people going up and it still felt too small.


In the Museum under the arch they had a history of the Cardinals and baseball in general. It was so cool to walk through and see the different styles of baseballs and how they have evolved into what they play with today. Plus to get the history of baseball and how it all came to be was very interesting and I have to say that I still have a soft spot for the Cardinals. ^_^

This was the arch at a distance. :) It was beautiful to walk up to. Definitely a masterpiece of work that will be here for decades and centuries to come.


This was the view of the Cardinal Stadium from the top of the arch! It was awesome to look down and see all these things!


I took a picture of the legs of the arch from the top. This was one of my favorite pictures actually. lol I really don't know why besides the fact that you couldn't SEE this with your own eyes because I had to tilt my camera over the observation window just right to get it. ;)


Then the wedding day was upon us and we headed out in a VERY hot day to attend Julie and Bruce's wedding! I went up and saw Julie but there was so much going on that I left and took Tenley (my cousin Angie's daughter) and she found 2 decoys (plastic ducks used for hunting purposes) and some frogs that she was getting very close to the water trying to catch.

Uncle Johnny and Julie coming down the isle. She was beautiful. Loved her hair and you could tell she was just beaming!
Finally Married! :)
I totally have to put a comment in there about how hot it was that day! lol
During the wedding as the Bishop was speaking, he had to stop and put down his book to grab his handkerchief out of his pocket and wipe his face! He was sweating so much that he couldn't read! I seriously thought that I was soaked but not from water... from sweat. It was miserably hot! But it was all worth it too! The wedding was beautiful, the bride and groom were awesomely dressed, and it was a great day! At least it wasn't raining which it was forcasted for!

Brother and sister, Angie and Bobbie with Tenley all enjoying some water because if you didn't know having it be 92 degrees with 89 percent humidity was miserable I don't think I've ever been so grateful for air conditioning! One thing that I didn't miss about Missouri was the humidity.
John and Barbie :)

Beautiful family! Uncle Danny and Aunt Gloria with Melody.



My Aunt Linda and Uncle Johnny (bride's parents) who looked awesome and were so good to see after 10 years since I've seen my Uncle and 6 years since I've seen Aunt Linda!


Then the family photos took place and it was so wonderful to see my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Linda still loving each other and young at heart still! They couldn't take their hands off each other! lol

Sisters (Angie, Julie, Jenny)


Angie's family: Tenley, Angie (with little one in oven), Ethan and Chris. Beautiful family.


On our way to the reception Angie and Chris stopped ahead of us and when I got out to see what was going on the kids were holding this turtle! Awesome! They moved it to the side of the road so it didn't get ran over, but I couldn't believe how cool it was to find that in the middle of the road... THAT doesn't happen every day in Washington! lol


We finally arrive at the reception and this is a picture of all the McCullen family that was there in attendance. In order from Left to Right: Aunt Marge, Uncle Tom, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Linda, Aunt Rosie, Aunt Joni, Aunt Gloria, Uncle Mike and Uncle Danny. The only ones missing were my mom and Uncle Phil! Hopefully we can all get together again next year!


Julie and Bruce cutting the wedding cake. I so wish I would have gotten this on video because the entire time they were cutting the cake, everyone was yelling at them to get the other first. So when they finally did feed each other the cake, at the last second they both stuffed it into the others face. It was hysterical. Julie and Bruce both got it up their nose and made for some very nice photos!
Making up is the best! :)

David's purple kicks that so fit his personality. He told me if he had to wear a tux for a wedding he at least had to have some comfortable converse to get him through it! lol

Ethan and I. He is no longer the little kid I knew! He is turning into a good young man with a heart of gold. I can still remember Angie pregnant at Aunt Linda's house on a visit there. Wow... time really does fly!

Julie's little Harley getting tired as the evening wore on. Cutie pie.

Then the dancing and fun began!

Gloria and Barbie doing the arm twist lol

Thriller!


Daddy & Daughter Dance


Couple's Pictures :)

Gloria and Danny
Joni and Mike

Marge and Tom
Chris and Angie
The day after Julie's wedding was Aunt Linda and Uncle Johnny's 40th year wedding anniversary. So after Julie toasted them, they danced to their wedding song. It is so good to see those that last through the times to make it and still be so much in love. It warms my heart. :)


This is my cousin David (with the purple converse) and his littlest one! I can't believe it!


Jenny caught the wedding bouquet!



Then we broke out our funny faces and laughed till we were running to the restroom... ok maybe that was just me running to the restroom! *sigh*


I had asked Jessi to take a picture with her husband, my cousin David, and she couldn't get him to turn around so she took a picture as he was! lol She was cracking me up! I loved her high spirited attitude. She was so much fun.


Yes this is Jessi and Angie. Angie=5 months and Jessi=0 lol But they are both HOT mamas!

The evening was a hoot and yes... this is how my family really is when we get together. Good thing we didn't play spoons because we would have had to replace the table I'm sure. ;)


I am so glad I went. I told Julie that I was coming because she came to my wedding in 2004 when we was like 7 and 1/2 months pregnant! So of course I could make it to hers! lol I had forgotten how much fun my family is and though it was intimidating a bit to meet the extended family that I haven't seen (and some I didn't remember) it was amazing how good my cousins meshed that night.

Melody, Angie, Barbie, and Aunt Gloria... You girls are the light of my trip. I had so much fun with you girls on the dance floor and I hope that we can do that again before long! No more 10 years between visits!

3 Year Olds are So Much Fun

"Mary had a little lamb" turned into the never ending song. lol So many of the songs that Landon and I love the way that he has his own take on them. Sometimes songs get mixed together. :) Here is Landon singing Mary had a Little Lamb before I took him into daycare. He had been singing it or asking me to sing it to him all the way to daycare. So I asked him to sing it to him one more time before we went into the house.

Landon has also shot up like a bean pole! He's getting so big and I really find myself staring at him looking over the counter into the kitchen sink while putting his plate away, brushing his own teeth, and putting on his own seat belt, etc. I find that my baby is turning into my little boy. He can now do most things by himself. And at times I feel useless and at the same time so proud of him for learning so much and wanting to become independent.

Some things that Landon has done is he has learned to do his own seat belt and can sing his entire ABCs and even corrects other kids when they don't sing it right. Some funny and weird things that I find Landon doing is completely undressing to do business in the bathroom, sticking out his tongue when I'm supposed to be getting a kiss, and running on his tip toes at the duck pond because he's worried about stepping on poop. lol He loves his flip flops and tries to wear them everyday. He LOVES to pick up rolly pollies and (don't tell him) but I found a couple rolly pollies in the washer when I was switching laundry last summer. I guess he was trying to keep them, but we talked about keeping the bugs outside so they can go to sleep with their families. :) What a cutie though. He gets very upset if someone steps on these little critters. I love that he has a gentle heart.

Something exciting is that Landon was able to talk to his dad on Easter over Skype! Then again this Saturday. It's so cool to have him see his dad while talking to him and showing him things, singing him things, and being caught picking his nose! hahaha He had fun, but the attention span of a 3 year old is not the best so it was good for about the first 5 minutes then it was a little bit of a fight to keep him in the range of the camera and actually talking to his father instead of talking to the kids running around and the different things going on. Technology is such an awesome blessing in this case! I loved to see it and I know it was good for James to see his son. Landon sang him the ABCs and Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Landon is doing very well and though he's been fighting allergies as we all seem to be, he is growing and still a night owl and NOT a morning person! I guess it was meant to be when both this mom and dad are! lol I love trying to make him wake up with a smile though. Tickle him awake or kiss him until he laughs. Singing annoying morning songs will be waiting for his teenage years! Which is what I was plagued with. :)

I have come to realize lately that he is one child that needs some quality one on one time. Landon gets so funny when I've been gone or busy cleaning or whatever the case is and he sees me. He comes running up and hugs me and then gives me huge bear hugs. I don't think there's anything else as pleasant as that. *sigh and grin* My life is full with him in it.

Visit from a Friend

My good friend from Missouri came to see me again. I picked Sean up at the airport at night and on the way home I stopped the car on the side of the highway and told him to get out... he thought I was crazy until I joined him outside the car looking up at the sky. He said, "This looks like a planetarium! I feel like I can reach out and touch the starts!" It was a BEAUTIFULLY clear and starry night. The stars were out by the millions and were absolutely gorgeous!

I was trying to think of activities we could do together while we were here and one was most definitely feeding the ducks at the Columbia Park along the Columbia River. When we went to WinCo to pick up bread, Sean's eyes popped when I grabbed two full loafs. Then they popped even more when we arrived at the park and saw all the birds that were there. There were just a few people there feeding the ducks when we arrived, but it was crowded when we finally ran out of bread (10 minutes). Sean found that he loved to throw an entire slice into the water without ripping it up into small pieces and watch the frenzy that happened as a result. It was fun to see him laugh as he watched the birds which included swans, ducks, geese, and lots of seagulls!


We had a fun time catching up and hanging out. Sean and I are good friends and it's been so nice to get to spend some time with him. We enjoyed going places together and going on double dates with my roommate and her boyfriend. On my birthday we went out to Olive Garden and then went and saw the movie, Avatar! Wow... if you haven't seen this movie I suggest you get up off your tush and go buy a ticket! It's SOOO worth it! I laughed and cried and kicked the seat in front of me. You walk out of that movie with so much more than you walked in with. For me it just emphasized the way we need to care for our world and know that's its the only world we have. Plus to treat others with respect and watch my greed and teach Landon to respect the things he has and those around him.

We stopped at the Multnomah Falls on our way to the concert in Portland. While walking up to the falls, Sean saw this tree that was COVERED in green moss. He hadn't seen moss like that so of course after he felt it I had to get a picture. Things like this don't happen in Missouri I guess. I am so glad to be living in Washington though.


Then there were the falls as always. It always leaves me in a sense of awe of how beautiful the Lord's creations are and how blessed we are to be able to witness and experience some of them.

I loved this picture I took of the lower falls draining into a stream from the large and famous falls. Just loved the look of it. Thought of blowing it up and putting it on canvas so that I can have something relaxing right above my bed or in my room to look at when I can't leave. Peaceful and beautiful.

We went to an Epica concert which is Symphonic Metal. Never in my life did would I have chosen to listen to this if I came by it, but it was something that Sean introduced me to. He has really loved this group and their complex and very deep lyrics and words. They are a metal band which I have never really been privy to, but they are good. I have enjoyed listening to Simone's vocals and have come to appreciate Mark's grunt. The music is amazing and very different than any other. I can honestly say that if Simone wasn't included in this group to help "Soften" the metal I don't think I would like it one bit. But because of her I am able to appreciate the other parts.

This was us meeting Simone from Epica. Sean has had a crush on Simone for a LONG time. hehehe and was sooo nervous to finally get to meet her in person. It was such a fun night and they played my favorite song "Sancta Terra" which I loved. I couldn't get over how beautiful Simone was with her blazing red hair and beautiful vocals. I'm just glad she shares her talent with all us car-rocking and head bopping dorks.

Sean's visit was wonderful and I enjoy the friendship we have and the common interests we have. I miss having Sean here to talk to and enjoy watching movies together. He will be missed!

These are some VERY cute pictures of Landon that I took on our way to Portland to drop Sean off at the airport. I looked back and I saw Landon reading his My First Book of Mormon board book and smiled.



I love my son. He is amazing and I can't imagine my life without him. I love his smiles, his heart, his laugh, and his hugs and kisses. He has such a tender heart and loves to make good choices. He plays well with everyone and does what he's told most of the time. He is very good at hugging people goodbye and helping mom carry things in from the car. He LOVES playing games and wrestling around with me. I love him so much and am so grateful for him. These pictures endear me to him even more.

2009 Christmas

Again I know I have been late in my postings, but at least I'm doing them. :0)

The weekend before Christmas I went to Vancouver to see Kate and Mike and their kids. We went and had a blast. Korben and Landon played together so well and Logan was always on their heels or in the thick of the action. We went to Kate and Mike's ward Christmas party and first stopped in to see Santa!

Korben wouldn't go to sit on Santa's lap, but when we went back into the room to have the boys run around while Mike helped clean up, he had no qualms jumping in the chair and posing for the camera without the bearded Santa present. It had me laughing pretty hard.


This would be Mike wrangling up Logan after the 15th or so escape attempt. lol Logan has so much energy and I love how Kate stated it in her blog... Logan wants to escape where ever he is to get to.... who knows, but the other side is always greener for him. I didn't realize that she wasn't just elaborating this up, it is dead true. Logan loves to escape and who knows where he thinks he's going, but he aims to make it there. lol All I gotta say is Good Luck Mike and Kate!


This is Kate and Korben sitting together at the table waiting for them to say a prayer over the food. I love this picture because I was fiddling with my camera and finally found how to do black and white photos! So I took a testing shot and it was of Kate and Korben. Korben was enthralled with his WallE box game thing and Kate saw what I was up to and wanted! Kate's amazing. I love being around her!


I saw my college roommate there! She used to be Heidi Kidd, but now is Heidi Daniel! I was so glad to see her! She hasn't changed a bit in her demeanor. She is still as sweet, caring, kind, and lovable as ever! She has a family now too! Two little girls and a little boy. Heidi's husband is tall! But they make such a BEAUTIFUL family together! It was so good to sit and chat with her and catch up. I can't wait till I get to go down there again to see them! (and I didn't know till after I left that Landon had indeed placed stickers on my shirt... lol)



The day that we were leaving Kate and Mike's, I pushed my bed up against the wall so the kids could play on the floor of the guest bedroom/toy room. Well little did I know that the bed would actually be turned into a jungle gym toy for them. They climbed, jumped off, and rolled around on that thing for hours it seemed. It was so good to see those three little ones together playing and having fun. Landon is around so many women and girls that I love it when he is able to interact with boys close to his age to counteract all the girlishness he might get at our home.

This would be the boys playing all sorts of games and characters on the "put up bed" in the playroom. I never thought it was possible for a mattress to become the most popular toy in the toy room, but indeed it was. The boys didn't tire from it and I had to pry Landon away when it was time to leave and head home. Landon loved playing with Korben and Logan. "They's my best buds mom!" - Landon


Christmas was fun. It was relaxful for the most part and full of family and friends. I stayed home for Christmas and my family came up from Quincy to be at Leah's house on Christmas Eve to exchange Secret Santa gifts and to have Christmas dinner as a family. This is the first time that our family hasn't celebrated Christmas in Quincy! New traditions are happening. But it's not where you celebrate the holidays it's with whom your spend your holidays with. It was so much fun to see everyone together... even Jonathan came down from Job Corps. to be with us. Drake was only a couple weeks old and was fought over the entire time. lol



That night on Christmas Eve, Tiffany and I with our families got out sheets and towels and blankets to reenact the Nativity scene. My family had done this when I was about 5 or so.

I have pictures and video of that Christmas where my Grandpa Waggoner read from the scriptures as Leah and I were shepherds and Misty was Joseph, April was Mary, and Jenny was the Donkey that Mary rode on. We used Robes for outfits and hand towels for head coverings tied with string to keep them on. Mary wore a sheet tactfully wrapped around her and Jesus (the doll) was wrapped in a baby blanket. My dad and mom and Grandma sat off to the side and watched as Grandpa read from the scriptures. And when he told about Mary and Joseph traveling back to their place of birth, April, Misty, and Jenny entered from the hallway. April riding on Jenny's back with Misty helping to support her through the stifled giggles that inevitably happened. One thing that did happen that time that didn't this time was that Mary's sheet started coming undone during the reading. By the end of the reading, Mary was red-faced and calling for her mom to help her after part of it had fallen off. lol You see it was one of the best years of my Christmas memories.

So I decided to do it as a tradition. No matter if it was just Landon and I or others. Thankfully this year there were others. Tiffany was there and Nicole was supposed to be, but ended up staying with her dad that night... so we did a different scene the following day with her as Mary. But the night before it was Tiffany as Mary, Landon as Joseph, Landon's giraffe as Baby Jesus, and me as the Donkey. James read from the scriptures and Ashley conveniently was up in her room reading. Landon didn't like the fact that he had to stand by the donkey instead of riding on it with Mary, so he ended up jumping on too for the remainder of the reading as well as holding His Baby Jesus as he said. :0)

Then Christmas morning came and I had to wake Landon up! lol He was up late into the night and so was not a happy camper. But when I mentioned opening presents he was more than willing to come downstairs to join us. This year was the best for me. His dad gave him a Bumblebee Transformer which was automatically his favorite toy. He still hangs onto it and I find it in his clothes as I am doing laundry. Plus Landon's dad got to call and talk to him on Christmas, and so did Aunt Cami! It was fun to be able to talk to them both and I hadn't talk to Cami for so long that it was good to catch up. Back to presents...

Landon got a book from Grandma Fullmer. Last year he got The Fairy Godcow book which is like Cinderella with a Texas spin on it. This year he opened There's A Nightmare in My Closet! It's been a HIT! Landon asks me to read it every night before bed. He's now heard me read it so many times that he takes over on some pages to say what he knows is going to be read. It's so cute. Thank you Grandma Fullmer!


This is Tiffany and her two daughters Nicole (5) and Ashley Rae (17) on Christmas morning. She is my roommate and someone I look up to and a very good, dear friend of mine.

Landon got a face coloring set from Ashley Rae and so I volunteered to be his first model. He did a very good job as you can see. :0)

It was so much fun to watch Landon open his gifts and to have him sitting on my lap as he did so. This Christmas was so enjoyable. I realized that as I was getting stressed out with not being able to get Landon the amount of presents I had wanted, that it wasn't about presents. A girlfriend of mine said that she only gets her kids 3 gifts each because Jesus was given 3 gifts. I liked that thought and think that next year I will also make that a tradition.

This Christmas I was blessed with so many things. Some of the things that stand out in my mind is my ex-husband, James, and the friendship we are able to share now. My amazing in-laws families who still keep in touch with me. My family who still supports me and loves me though at times it's not easy. The amazing roommate I have who is more like a sister to me than a roommate. I am blessed with Landon and his amazing caring soul. He knows when I need a hug or kiss, he tries to scratch my back because he knows I like it. And he even says the dinner prayers when he is feeling confident and comfortable. I love him so much.

(Landon's new style of playing the piano that he thought of on Christmas Day. =) )