My first impression of Landon was that he was the coolest person I'd ever met (and that he had a cute smile. Ha! You can read all about it here). He just has an adventurous soul and there really isn't anything he can't do.
Ever since he was a little boy he dreamed of being a commercial pilot for his career, but his back up plan of being an engineer became his reality when we realized how hard it would be to support a family on the salary of a pilot. We talked about it a lot and decided that if Landon couldn't be a pilot for his job, he would still need to have flying as part of his life. He is just born to fly and is so passionate about it.
Flying small planes as a hobby is pretty darn expensive, but we managed to make it work while we were living in Oregon without a baby and with both of us working.
Here's the video of my first flight with Landon when he purposely stalled the plane without telling me TO SCARE ME! Little stinker. You can hear the stall horn throughout the whole video, and I was just too distracted by the scenery to notice... I thought we were going down!!!
Once we moved to Utah, had a baby, and went down to one income, flying small airplanes just wasn't a possibility. So Landon decided to get into paragliding which then led to paramotoring (which is like paragliding but with a motor on your back).
It really is so much fun to watch him fly and to see how happy it makes him. We've actually had a rough 6 months over here (which I can't really get into now...) but thankfully this paramotor has lifted Landon's spirits, which of course lifts mine.
I get comments from people all the time (including complete strangers who pull over on the side of the road to watch him) how I'm a good sport or a good wife. But the thing is, I just love him so much and I love seeing him happy. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to make him happy! Isn't that what marriage is all about?
Charlie LOVES to watch Landon fly. Is is the cutest thing watching his face light up when he sees his Daddy flying. I just hope he doesn't get any ideas.. ;)
By the way, Landon is still the coolest person I know, just in case you were wondering. :)
I am fully aware that our life is anything but "normal." I love it and will never take it for granted.
Exhibit A: Friday night in pictures-
It was seriously the most perfect night. The air was smooth, the sunset was beautiful, and I just can't get over how beautiful Oregon looks from the air. I love being married to a pilot!
Exhibit B: Saturday in pictures-
this trimaran is just like the one we're building... ours is just going to be 10 feet longer :)
This was our best day of sailing we've had BY FAR. We've gone sailing on a few sunny days and they are normally SO boring because there's not much wind. And then the days where we've actually had good wind, we get poured on the whole time and then the wind gets too strong and it's all sorts of scary.
But today we had beautiful, warm weather AND good wind. It was amazing. I never knew I would love sailing so much.
Funny that it's been almost one year to the day since our first "no big deal" post :) We are thrilled and crossing our fingers that everything works out. Our adventure keeps getting more and more exciting if you ask me!
I don't think most people get excited when their mother-in-law comes into town to visit, but it was like Christmas for me when I found out Landon's mom was coming :)
A little bit of a back story about Suzette and I... after one month of dating, Landon drove me all the way to Texas (20 hours!) to meet his family. I knew that Landon and his mom were close but I had no idea HOW close. I was SO intimidated watching Landon with his mom thinking that I could never be that close to Landon. They have a very special relationship and I didn't know how I would fit in. My first night in Texas I cried myself to sleep.
on the road :)
Fast forward a few months. Landon and I are now engaged and he went to Texas to visit his family. My sweet future mother-in-law called me to tell me she was flying me out to surprise Landon. I was thrilled and surprising Landon was the best ever.
surprising Landon at Costco :)
It was during this trip that I really got to know Suzette. I learned how much she loved her boys and how her whole life was dedicated to them. No wonder they were all so close! One day while we were out running errands just the two of us, Suzette told me how happy she was to share Landon with me. I remember her crying telling me how much she loved Landon but how happy she was that we had each other and that I could take care of him now. It was a moment I will never forget. All of my worry and intimidation of their relationship was gone. I realized that Landon didn't have to choose between me or his mom. I would always be his wife, and Suzette would always be his momma. There was plenty of room for both of us in his heart.
Before the wedding, during the wedding, and after the wedding Suzette was always there helping me. She flew to Utah A LOT and I loved getting to know her more and more. We started talking on the phone and became friends, not just in-laws.
my bridal shower
wedding open house in Texas
In March 2010, six months after our wedding we found out that Landon's mom and dad were getting a divorce. For obvious reasons, I will not go into detail about this event... but during this time I became even closer to Suzette. I listened to her and loved her through it all, at a time when she felt like no one else did.
Now, Suzette is happily remarried to the love of her life. I have never seen her so happy and full of life. We talk on the phone a few times every week and text probably every day. Suzette is the only person I can complain to about Landon because I know she won't judge him and I know she loves him just as much as me ;) She is always there for me. I feel bad because almost every time I call her I'm in crisis mode, either crying or angry or worried... but she doesn't care. I'm just so grateful to have her in my life. I'm so grateful that when I married Landon I gained such a good friend as well. I don't think I've ever told her how much she means to me, and I'm much better at writing than talking so thank you for always being there for me Suzette! Thank you for loving me and treating me like your own daughter. Thank you for raising such a sweet boy (even though we both know he can be a stinker too), he really has such a big heart. Thank you for being my friend. I love you so much and am so grateful to have you in my life!
Here are a few pictures from her visit. We seriously had SO much fun with her here and wish she lived closer!
she brought Christmas with her. YAY!
bundled up like dorks for one of our walks
flying up to visit family in Washington
fall in Oregon beats Utah for me. the green mixed with yellow is amazing.
