Cousin Maddie and the MTC

This last weekend was both fun and special for our family. Carla, Kevin and Maddie came up to visit. But not just for any visit ... they were coming up so Maddie could enter the MTC today! She will be serving in the Knoxville, Tennessee mission for the next 18 months. We are really excited for her and proud of her decision to go.

Sunday night we had a family dinner for her, then we just hung out as a family (and celebrated James turning 13!) the rest of the time. This was their first time meeting Landon and they were so excited! It took him a little bit to warm up (he definitely in a stranger-danger phase) but then he was more than happy to play with them and let them snuggle with him.

They played with Landon on Monday morning when I was at work and I came home to find him happily playing ... and about 100 new pictures on my camera :)! So most of these are ones they took ... after some debacle with his bottle Landon ended up naked (well, in his diaper) for most of them. But doesn't he just look SO squeezable?!

Our new family missionary ... opening her presents after dinner. We got her that monster (that heats up to be a rice bag for sore muscles) courtesy of Stepper!
They brought Landon his birthday present early (can it really only be a few short weeks away?!)... and he immediately said I LOVE it! Now ... let me taste it!
Hanging with Aunt Carla
Apparently he had an important call to take ...
Love this face:
Uncle Kevin was fun to snuggle with ...
Just a boy and his dog ... off to find adventure in the kitchen.
Good luck Maddie! We love you!