WARNING: This is going to be a long one!

Don't cry because it's over...smile because it happened!

Okay a bit dramatic but, dang, these last 2 weeks have been AMAZING!! We were able to finally do all those family things that we all waited a long 8 months to do. Thank goodness for post-deployment leave!

But before we get to that, let's recap from the last post.

Many of you supported me during Stroller Warriors' Memory Miles Relay for Active Heroes. Just a few photos from that motivating run! 13.1 miles ran (out of 31.5). There is nothing like running beside, and holding, Old Glory! Pretty sure I had goosebumps all the way, and had to be told several times to "reel it in."

One of my little warriors at the finish, holding a sign saying "I run because I love dessert." Yes, Ethan. Yes, I do!!

What an amazing day with an amazing bunch of BAMRs!!

Deployment "husbands" 

The kiddos and I LOVE the gorgeous SoCal weather!

A year ago I would've missed this because I was sitting at a desk. Thankful every day for moments like this!

Just another lazy day in the pool - aka ball pit - with our buddy, Drew!

WE LOVE THE WATER!

Boys will be boys....on someone else's toys!

Getting to watch the other half of the power couple was so much fun!!

Street Sweepers, Ethan & Emma!

An unexpected and quick on-set illness took us to Minnesota to visit with the "Greats." The trip was long overdue. We are so thankful Ethan and Eleanor were able to meet Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa White. I'm even more thankful as Grandma passed away a short 12 days later. We know she is up in heaven watching over us, along with Grandma & Grandpa Leyhe.

Ethan telling Ms. Sarah all about going on an airplane.



One excited little dude! Momma is happy we invested in the kid harness (aka - restraint)

A little girl who could have cared less about flying in an airplane. Drastic times call for drastic measures...pacifier use outside of the crib!



Photo-op with Great-Grandpa while Great-Grandma was sleeping!

Waiting for our ice cream sundae!

A sweet moment captured on "film" for all time! So blessed!

Giving Uncle Dennis the hairy-eye ball!

Apparently it was "solid color, collared shirt" day!

Okay...so when did my baby grow up enough to ride rides at the Mall of America???? Felt badly for him...no one sat next to him! I swear, we bathed him the night before!

Ethan entertaining the crowd at the birthday social event!

Priceless!

Oh man....that Uncle Dennis!

Sweet moment with Grandpa

A mini White Family reunion

TRACTOR!!!!! Thanks, Uncle Chris!

Tuckered out and sleeping on the plane!

Apparently this little boy had a lot of fun in Minnesota!

We were able to enjoy the 4th of July together as a family! We unfortunately had to say "see you later" to some friends on that day, but they're headed to Quantico. Pretty sure we'll be seeing them again (note sarcasm...as in, we will see them again)! We enjoyed some DELICIOUS brisket with Emma & Joe (and their parents), and then capped the night off with fireworks at the beach. Have I ever mentioned how awesome it is to live within walking distance of a beach?? If I haven't....it's pretty freakin' awesome! We have it so good!!

All dressed and ready for America's birthday!

Family photo - because we always seem to fail to take one on the 4th until the last minute

Emma & Ethan enjoying the sand while the parents enjoy the fireworks!

Okay, now onto the main event. Those magical two weeks where we were off the grid; where we had Daddy all to ourselves! Other than seeing neighbors, and a birthday party, we were just us. No work; no Stroller Warriors; no facebook (posts); no blogging; even no "deployment husbands." Nothing. Just 100% Landers family time! Looking back it was probably a little selfish....but it was needed!

Leave started off just like I was expecting....Jon going into work. Because we all know that unless you leave the vicinity of the base, you really aren't on leave.

A special egg breakfast, sitting like a big boy at the counter and wearing his helmet!

Okay, that was dramatic too! We knew Jon had to go into work on Monday morning but after that, it really was just us Landers. It's certainly hard to leave work behind, but Jon did an amazing job of it. Much better than I envision how I would've done if I was still working! Sure, there was the occasional phone call but nothing big at all.

Tuesday the 9th was Safari Park day! I'd say this was the hottest of all our event days....85 degrees. Both kids were great. Eleanor rode in the stroller. She enjoyed her lazy day. Ethan, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with the stroller. He was "running fast" or riding on Daddy's shoulders the whole time.

"Duck! Cack, cack!"

Just trying to stay cool!

Enjoying some gorillas!

Safari Park Tram ride. Definitely awesome!!
Saddest  part - learning that there are only 8 Northern White Rhinos remaining in the world. None of them live in the wild. We will see this animal become extinct in our lifetime. We were fortunate enough to see both a male and female, both of which are past their breeding age (and the female wanted nothing to do with the male).

I think someone had a good time checking out all the animals!

Pretty sure little girl was just happy to be in the air conditioning.

On Wednesday we hit up the Hermosa Pirate Ship park. A great way to spend time between Eleanor's morning nap and lunch! Burgers for dinner and some new tricks by Eleanor!

Walking around the ship, trying to stay warm because Momma forgot my sweatshirt!

Momma - you left this here for a reason, right?

Her latest trick while Momma is cooking in the kitchen and Daddy and Ethan are grilling!
Guys! Guys! I wanna play too!

Grill master, Jon, and his protege, Ethan!

Legoland....Thursday's adventure. A few things we learned: 1. Eleanor enjoys strollering around. 2. Ethan enjoys fast rides. 3. Ethan understands waiting his turn, just not waiting in line or in the same spot for his turn.

"Ethan, I'm not too sure about this place..."

Driving trucks with Daddy

Family Storybook boat time!

Thankful for the Lego play section while Daddy waited in line for almost an hour...

Eleanor getting a little antsy...

All for this one ride. Super slow and not too exciting!

Going up and down in a helicopter with Mommy!

Co-pilots!

Sure...the kid will pose with a gigantor Lego person but not Santa??

Friday was spent in and around San Clemente. No photos and no stories...or at least ones I remember. On Saturday, we took the 10:25 am train from the San Clemente pier to Oceanside. We enjoyed lunch. Eleanor decided she wanted a wardrobe change...the BIGGEST poopy diaper I have ever seen! Worst part - no changing station at the restaurant. So the ick-factor increased tenfold as I had to lay the changing mat on the bathroom floor! We then hopped back on the 1:20pm train for home. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday!

A sweet moment between father and son!

"My choo-choo"

Two boys enjoying the view!

One happy, and clean, little girl

Momma was tired! So was Ethan because he took a 4 hour nap that afternoon!

Sunday was matchy-matchy church outfits...the Landers know how to roll in style!

Monday and Tuesday were hampered by Ethan getting a random fever. We were able to hit up the pool on Monday at noon however after that, we were down and out for two days!

Hi. My name is Eleanor the Destructor! I leave a trail whenever I can, especially when we play at the house all day!

Hi. My name is Ethan and this is what a fever looks like. Poor little dude!

Fly - 0. Eleanor - 0. Mommy - 1.
She was fascinated with the fly...until it started to move. Then it was full-fledged tears until Momma came to the rescue!

What?? I got this, Momma! Ethan will pick this up....no worries!



With one more dose of Ibuprofen, on Wednesday the 17th we found ourselves on our way to the most magical place on earth! It was certainly magical!! The kids were PHENOMENAL!! Ethan had no issues with waiting in lines. He was a wonderful listener and didn't mind riding in the stroller. He enjoyed being able to go on fast rides! It was great! Eleanor was even able to ride most of the rides! Have to love the no-height restriction rides! She was a dancing fool during Captain EO....the girl loves her some Michael Jackson! We left the park around 4pm-ish, only because Mom was a bonehead and failed to pack dinner for Eleanor. Seriously, I had NO idea that either kid would have made it! Thank goodness for the 3 day park hopper...now we can go back in the evening and see the parade and fireworks!

On the bus on our way to the park!

Ethan's first roller coaster!

Ethan's first roller coaster, again. This time with mommy!

Mee'e Moooow!

Waiting for Casey Jr. (Dumbo's choo-choo)

Getting our nap on!

Us parents had some fun too!

BIG fan of the parade! She was groovin' to the beat and waving to every character!

Ethan had a BLAST dancing around with the characters. Cutest thing! All the characters and staff LOVED him....he was a dancing fool!

BUMPER CARS!

Fast spinning Mater ride...so much fun!

The happiest place on earth!

Thursday was the San Diego Zoo day. Enjoyable! Lots of walking....up and down hills! Thankful for the BOB, that is for sure! Missed out on the pandas because the line was too long! Hopefully next time! Lesson learned....see the pandas first before the crowds get there! Funny thing...it wasn't even that crowded!

Just hangin' with Ethan and a gorilla!

Hippos are GINORMOUS!

Whooooaaaa, nelly!

Evidence of a successful leave period....two children napping in a stroller, before nap time!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were spent relaxing! Good thing too because the weather was yucky....gray, chilly and just down right ho-hum!

• Eleanor decided she was going to climb all the way  up our stairs (thankfully without incident) because Mommy left the gate open! DOH!
• Ethan decided that he was going to figure out how to open the gates. Double DOH!
• Ethan figured out how to ride  his tricycle!
• Both Ethan and Eleanor LOVE the pool. Ethan loves floating around with his puddle-jumper arm-thingy. We bought Eleanor a floaty and she tries to climb out of it every time. Let's just say we won't be lugging her floaty to the pool! Both kiddos enjoy being dunked!
• Ethan grasped the concept of birthdays while celebrating our buddy Annabelle's 2nd birthday. Well, at least the singing and blowing out candles part. He's going around the house making his own candles and singing, in his own way, "happy birthday."

I think these two like their Daddy!!

"Momma! Cheeee!"

AWESOME post-nap hair!

Okay, seriously? When did he grow up??

Swinging buddies!

Nope....we aren't nosy at all! They take after their Daddy! (wink, wink)

"Running. Golf."
Ethan giving his best imprersonation of Daddy. Golf hat and running water bottle.

Meee'e Mooooow cupcake! DELICIOUS!

Trying to find ways to occupy little girl so we (Jon) didn't have to get in the water.

Loving his freedom in the water!

I KNEW Daddy would cave...even if Mommy told him to take me in!

A scrumptious feast at Beachfire! Not a bad way to end our week!

Ethan thought this was a real dog. I definitely laughed at my child!

Checking out the old woodies on the SC Pier during the Ocean Festival.

While I didn't want Monday to come around, it wasn't a total let down. While the run left much to be desired, getting together with Mia & Sarah and the boys made for an amazing start to the week! I truly am the luckiest woman in the world!