Afternoon Adventures

The kids are off track and we have enjoyed being lazy.  Yesterday we went to visit my grandma.  She insisted on buying the kids a Valentine treat, so we went to the bookstore.  The boys were so excited to get the Fablehaven books.  Tyler even got one and asks me to read to him all the time.  I am glad the boys all enjoy books.  I love the quiet sound of everyone reading:)  My grandma is a sweet lady and I enjoy spending time with her.  She likes to talk and some of the things she says make me laugh.  Cheerioats=Cheerios, I guess it sounds healthier if they are oats.  It makes me laugh inside every time she says this.  Yesterday she was talking about a haircut that one of my cousins got and she referred to the hairdresser as a beauty operator.  That one made me laugh inside too.  Although hairdresser is a funny word as well.  Anyway, she is a neat person and I am glad my kids and I get to see her and spend time with her.  And now we have lots of reading to keep us occupied while we are off track!

On my way home from my grandma's house, my husband called.  He had to go to Dallas on Monday and was on his way home.  He was excited because he ran into my mission president and his wife, they were on his same flight.  He got to visit with them briefly and then I got to hear all about it.  It was a fun little surprise:)  I had a super mission president and his wife is truly the most loving and humble person I know.  I am so glad I got to serve a mission!

Wintery Weekend

We spent the weekend at my brother's cabin.  It snowed a LOT.  It was the perfect backdrop for being in the mountains, at a cabin, with a fire, food, and family.  We had a great time together and we can't wait to do it again!

Although it would be ok if we didn't get stuck again, thank goodness for all the manpower!

  

About Last Night

We are still loving our snuggies.  Especially on lazy Sunday evenings in the basement.  We got a new camera last month and I am so excited to figure it out and learn to take good pictures.  However, I am learning that good pictures=good lens and good lens=lots of money.  The camera already cost lots of money so good lens is not an option.  I am going to have to get down to the nitty gritty and do the best with what I've got.  I am excited to take more classes.  Lucky for us, we can take as many as we want for free, and I will be needing all the classes and help I can get.  

Among other things, last night I learned to do this to pictures in my camera.  Pretty scary huh?

This is what the original looked like

And while I was in class, Kirk was in Chicago eating this:

That would would have tasted really good last night.  

Sometimes You Are Just Born With It

My kids wake up early every morning, like 6:30 am.  Every single morning.  You would think that with this schedule they would get a lot accomplished before school.  That is not true however because they are all such buddies and goof-offs.  I am constantly reminding them, get some breakfast, get dressed, brush your teeth, get your shoes on, etc.  And I have to do this every single day.  This morning I sent Jacob out to the fridge in the garage to get some more milk.  About a minute later he came out of the bathroom.  "Where's the milk?" I ask.  He had already forgotten.  It is like this all of the time and it drives me nuts!  

Today I was a little late getting out of the shower.  Which meant I hadn't made their lunches yet.  Without me even saying a word, Ethan got everything he needed and made his own lunch.  I just about died of happiness.  He had made a peanut butter and honey sandwich, got a water bottle, chips, and an orange.  He had even peeled the orange.  What a kid.  I love that he can be responsible and do things independently.  I have always liked doing things for myself and have always been independent.  I remember being about 6 years old and insisting on doing my own hair, and I always did.  I thought everyone was that way until I had kids.  The twins are not this way.  Too bad for them they inherited some of my less desirable characteristics.  Lucky for them they were blessed with such goodness from their dad.  I think we would all have more kids if we could pick their habits and characteristics.  

Sunday in church Jacob fell asleep (David and Jacob definitely got their fall asleep anywhere gene from their dad).  It is very common for he and David to fall asleep in church.  Last Sunday was particularly embarrassing because when I looked down the row, he had both of his hands down his pants.  Maybe that just comes with boys...I was wishing I had my camera.

Army Guys

We see a lot of these little green men around our house.  We have definitely gotten our money's worth out of them.

And while I am on the subject of men, I must say a few things.  First of all I watched a few snippets of the Bachelor the other night.  Disturbing is one word that comes to mind.  These girls are so fake.  The hair is fake, the boobs are fake, their personalities are fake, and their clothing leaves NOTHING to the imagination.  And they give girls around the world a bad name.  I don't know where they find these people, but they are not real.  About the same time I read this blog and this blog.  Both of them were very real to me and made me grateful for my unglamorous, simple, and imperfect life with my own man.  

Some Favorite Things Since Christmas 2009

Don't laugh, the snuggie is awesome.  I use mine everyday.  If you pass me going to the gym on cold mornings, I will be wearing mine.  I love it.  My only complaint is that my special bonus reading lamp didn't work, oh well.  My mom and sister got this for me as a joke, but I was really excited.  My boys all got them as well and I am surprised at how much they use theirs.  They really are handy little things this time of year.

If you went to the mall over the holidays, you probably got attacked by a salesperson who wanted to work some "magic" on your fingernails.  I didn't buy one.  But I couldn't stop thinking about it and I decided I wanted one.  I was secretly planning to go to the mall after Christmas and see if I could get one for less.  My mom got one for Christmas, I was happy for her and jealous.  Then my brother surprised me with one too.  That little buffer is the bomb.  I love it!  If you don't know about this, it is worth a trip to the mall.

Besides a surprise, this food chopper was another Christmas wish.  Kirk got it for me and I LOVE it.  I can't even remember how many times I have used it already.  I have sliced carrots, celery, chopped onions, and sliced apples.  It took some figuring out, but now that I got the hang of it, it works great.  Love it! 

After all the junk I consumed during the holidays, I knew it was time to start watching what I eat.  One day while at Costco, they were sampling these sandwich thins.  They are soooo good.  I couldn't believe how good they were.  So I bought them and have made myself a sandwich everyday since.  For as good as they taste, you would never know they are only 100 calories.  They also have 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein.  I bet they are great with burgers...

Saturday Mornings

We are right in the midst of basketball season.  Kirk is coaching this year and it is very serious.  He bought a clipboard/whiteboard and a whistle.  The team has learned and runs plays.  I think it is funny to see these little boys so complex.  This Saturday our game is at 8:00 in the morning.  Bummer.

Family Time

Kirk took time off work between Christmas and New Years.  It was great having him home.  He took the kids sledding a couple of times. 

That is Tyler headed right for that girl.  Luckily she got out of the way in time:)

We also spent a lot of time playing Band Hero.  What a great game!  My little David is quite the singer and Ethan loves those drums.  

And you should hear Kirk sing, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," it's classic.

Too bad he had to go back to work and the kids to school.  It was fun while it lasted.

Christmas 2009

We enjoyed a really special Christmas Eve with our family tradition, according to my kids, of watching Nacho Libre.  At least he knows about the gospel:)

Christmas morning, waiting to go down the stairs, in their new pajamas, which they have also informed me is a Christmas tradition.  My kids taught me a lot this year:)

Santa was very good to us, we had a wonderful Christmas.  We even managed to pull it off (barely, I forgot our stockings and a few presents) out of town.  My Christmas wish was for a surprise.  And I was surprised with diamond earrings.  Christmas was really good. 

Christmas Dinner With My Grandmas...

This year we ventured out with both of my grandmas.  Neither one of them can drive, so we thought it might be fun to take them out.  My brother and his family picked up one grandma and we brought the other.  We met downtown and went to dinner.  It was a fun little outing.  I always like being downtown (or at least seeing it) during Christmas.  

My Grandma B was all dressed up, I think she looks so pretty.

My Grandma D ordered a salad.  It was almost as big as she is.  

Fiery Darts and Cub Scouts

Our sweet neighbors invited us over for Family Home Evening.  They prepared a great lesson on the Armor of God.  But first they had the kids talk about some of the "fiery darts" that might threaten them.  For some reason our son David had gambling on the mind and immediately brought it up.  We all laughed.  The lesson went well and we discussed things they encounter like cheating at school and so on.  They we talked about the Armor of God.  It was great. 

Yesterday I was driving the kids home from school.  It was snowing and lots of people were out shoveling.  As we passed a neighbors house, David unrolled his window and yelled out to him, "Hey!  You owe me $5!"  I was a little embarrassed, but luckily, I don't think he heard David.  I asked what that was about and apparently David had bet him $5.  David had to pay him if Utah won and he owed David if BYU won.  BYU won and David wanted his $5.  As he told me this story, Jacob, his twin brother says, "Uh-oh David, you just did a fiery dart."  Those boys keep me laughing!  

Last week we had pack meeting.  It was awesome.  One of the leaders invited his friend who teaches ceramics at a near by high school.  He brought a spinning table and made pots right before our eyes, I was thoroughly entertained.  Along with being very talented, he was great with the kids.  He talked to them about how when they make something with their hands, it is unique and there is not another one in the world just like it, and that is why hand made is so special.  He gave each of the kids some clay and let them play with it/make something with it.  It was such a nice night.  At the end, they handed out the kits for the pinewood derby.  The boys were all so excited.  When we got home, Jacob said, "Even if my car doesn't win the pinewood derby, it will still be really special because I made it."  I was so pleased he was able to make that connection, what a great kid!

Merry Chrismtas 2009

Merry Christmas!

This is what has been going on at our home...

David and Jacob got baptized earlier this year.  They also played tackle football for the first time and LOVED it!  They are now avid football fans and know more about the NFL than their mom.

Ethan is loosing all of his teeth.  He looks forward to being baptized next year as long as it doesn't interfere with the 4th of July race in Richfield.  (His birthday is July 1st)

Tyler learned to ride his bike without training wheels.  He just turned 5 years old and can't wait to go to kindergarten next year.  

Kirk has traveled to Japan and England this year for work.  He enjoyed visiting some of his mission and reuniting with old companions and members in Japan.  Lara was lucky enough to go with him and hopes she gets to go to London again!

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

*I ended up making Christmas cards this year, so much for the Costco ones.  It is a lot of work, but I really enjoy it.  They might get to you before Christmas, but they might not.  If I don't have your address and you want one, send me an email laradlangston@gmail.com

Things to Love This Time of Year

Writing letters has become a lost art and I think it is so sad.  There is something so wonderful about getting a letter in the mail, addressed to you, that is hand written.  Nothing can quite replace that.  Emails and texts are so quick and convenient, but letters got lost along the way.  Even though most Christmas cards don't really count as letters, I LOVE getting them in the mail this time of year.  It is so fun to see pictures of friends and family, even if they are from those of you I see often.  I love Christmas cards and I really hope they don't get replaced with emails, blogs, etc.  By the way, my Costco Christmas cards didn't turn out so good.  Maybe I will pull it together and do something else...my Christmas cards might turn into New Years cards this year, oh well.  

Getting Ready For Christmas

I usually enjoy making my own Christmas cards.  This year however, I sort of ran out of time.  I guess I will go ahead and blame it on Thanksgiving being so late.  So I went online, used an old picture, and ordered Christmas cards from Costco.  It almost killed me (I think they are so unoriginal).  Until I realized how easy it was to cross Christmas cards off of my list!  Now I am on to the next thing.  I don't know how my parents ever did Christmas with 7 kids!

Eggs

I don't really like eggs.  I know that they are good for me and once in awhile I will eat some if they are accompanied by something else.  Tyler likes eggs.  He likes to eat them, especially "flat eggs".  Flat eggs are simply fried eggs, not really fried, just not over easy, cooked all the way through, those are his favorite.  Somewhere he got the idea that babies come from eggs.  Although that is somewhat true, he thinks they come from chicken eggs.  Saturday we went out as a family and he asked how come girls eat eggs and have babies, but boys don't.  I can't remember his other comments, but Kirk and I were both laughing, he had some funny questions.  This morning he was watching a little Christmas cartoon.  Pluto ran away and it upset Tyler.  He had red watery eyes and a shaky voice.  I reassured him that Pluto was coming back.  I also picked him up and cuddled him, he is a big boy.  I told him that.  Then he said, "Why don't you lay another egg?"  

Needless to say, I will not be laying another egg or adding to my family at this point.   

I Must Have Been Hungry....

My husband has been in Japan for over a week.  I have missed him lots and am soooo glad that he is home!  While he was away, he ate a lot of interesting Japanese food, and by interesting, I mean disgusting.  He is a good sport and will say that some of it was good, but I went with him once and other than rice, I am not sure which part he is talking about.  So in honor of his return, we went to In N Out tonight for burgers.  I thought it was kind of hilarious that the California chain was covered in snow, but anyway, we got cheeseburgers, fries, and shakes, pretty much everything on their whole menu.  I have been to In N Out a couple of different times.  It is always good, but the way people talked about it, I honestly expected more.  However, tonight it was amazing!  Maybe the ones in Utah are better, or maybe I was just really happy to have my husband home, I am not sure, but boy was that a great burger.  Ice cream is not my favorite treat, so I didn't order a shake because I don't really like them, but when I sampled Kirk's, I had to do it again and again because it was so darn good.  I don't know what made everything so good tonight, but I will have to restrain myself from going there often.  

Look Who's Sporting a Hoodie

Reggie is ready for the snow!

My Favorite Christmas Smell

I love this stuff!  The counter top cleaner and dish soap make my kitchen smell heavenly!  And they actually clean really good too.  Now the house smells ready for Christmas as well:)

Early Gift

This is just about the cutest Christmas toy I have seen.  Tyler has been playing "Santa's Workshop" all afternoon.  The sleigh is loaded with presents that you can open and inside are toys!  I am not sure if it is available to buy anymore and that is too bad.  Tyler has had fun delivering presents to his toys, but only the good ones.  And then he is quick to add that "Jesus loves everyone, even the bad guys."  Thanks to our friends for giving us such a fun toy!

Love Notes

This morning I was packing lunches for my boys and I finished by writing them a little "love note."  And that is just a little note telling them that I love them and to have a great day.  As I wrote this morning and then signed it "Mom" I was overwhelmed that I was actually their mom.  All growing up, I looked forward to being a mom and now that I am, I love it.  It seems so easy to become side-tracked with friends, self-improvement, work, social things, etc. that sometimes I actually forget that I am a Mom to four boys.  It is the most important thing I do, so I guess I had better work on it!