The Week before Christmas

Well, this week was full of stuff everyday. We start on Tues. at K's choir performance. Like always the choir did a great job. Mr. Seegmiller is awesome. All of the early morning Tuesdays and Wednesdays paid off. I just don't know if we can do it for the rest of the year. We'll think about it over the break. On Wednesday was K's last Nutcracker performance (she's way to busy). A lot of people came out that night to support her and she was darling. She saw us from the stage and so we got a lot of cheesy smiles from her throughout the performance. I wasn't supposed to take a picture of her in her dress but I couldn't resist so here you go Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Katie. Joe gave her a Christmas bouquet of flowers with a sparkly Nutcracker for her room. That day it decided to snow in St. George. When the Nutcracker was over it was still snowing and they had cancelled school the next day. Yep, it only takes 1 inch of snow around here to cancel school. Pathetic! I took a picture of our house covered in snow at about 7:15 am when I got home from teaching my class the next morning. It looks pretty covered in white. That whole day the kids were gone playing in the snow making snowmen, forts and sledding down the neighbors hill. They loved it and I loved doing all the laundry when they got back. It was worth it though. Thursday night Joe and I had the single sister dinner hosted by the Bishop and Family. It was great. The food Jordon made was so yummy and my kids entertainment was as good as it gets. The home we had it at was beautiful, thanks to Aunt Brenda, and now it's over until next year! Friday we took Netta out for her Christmas dinner from Exsell Realty. That is always fun. Red Lobster and good company, what else could go wrong. On Saturday we took the kids to Pirate Island Pizza and then headed to Tuacahn for Eli's Dance program. He was the cutest thing ever. He loves to dance and it shows. He had a smile on his face and totally took control of the stage. He will be a natural! Afterwards, we always see Santa at Tuacahn and then saw all the pretty lights. That ended this weeks of fun and so begins the next. We get to eat dinner with our dearest friends the Wilson's and then eat dinner at Grandma Mac's and make sugar cookies tomorrow. Lots of fun to be had this next week so I will post of course after the big day and show off all of Santa's surprises!! Love you all and Merry Christmas!

December Activities

Ok, here is last weeks activities. We did a couple more things then whats below but they were not documented by camera. We started out our week with our annual neighborhood party. I love our neighborhood tradition. We decided four years ago to not give each other gifts or treats and instead have a party and donate to two families. We have a potluck soup dinner with hot chocolate and treats. We always have a crackling fire to keep warm and then we end the night caroling on a hayride through the other neighborhoods. We always have such a good time and we love being together and by knowing that two families will not go without during Christmas makes it even better. After that, Joe of course spent Tuesday night doing tithing settlement and I attended the relief society Christmas dinner. It was great and I love sitting at the table with my dearest friends. On Wednesday I was lucky enough to spend the whole day (and I really mean the whole day / 13 hours straight) setting up the children's room for the Nativity Festival that our Stake puts on each year. It is a major thing but it is and was so worth it. It was amazing to see it all come together. The spirit was so strong and it really does open the Christmas season to Christ. On Thursday Joe and I went to my work party at the gym and rocked out to a live band. We had a good time but not a lot of people stayed due to the fact that 5 am comes early for some of us that work at the gym. On Friday night K and I had a night out. Joe was on his way to Salt Lake to SS's baptism that was on Saturday and K and I had to stay behind because of Saturday. K and I went out to dinner and ice cream and went to the Nativity Festival. On Saturday we cleaned up the house and then went and saw Bolt. That is a good show. That evening K performed in her first performance of The Nutcracker. She was awesome. She is a party girl through the whole first scene. She looked so cute up there on the stage. A lot of hard work and a lot of practicing went into it and she was great!! We stayed in on Sunday and decorated our gingerbread house and then on Monday we headed to the Temple to see the lights. When we got there, there was no lights. Yea, do you really want to know why they turned them off, because of the snow or should I say sleet. It has been snowing all day but none of it has stuck on the ground so people are going all crazy because of it. They don't know what to do when they see white stuff falling from the sky. So we went into the visitor center and saw the Christis, two movies and called it good. We finished off the night eating ice cream and drinking hot chocolate. Oh, I also got to eat lunch with my four bestest friends today and I loved that. I love the holidays. I love giving gifts. I love seeing the lights (when it is not snowing). I love seeing my friends and family. I love seeing my kids recitals. I love everything about Christmas especially my Savior. I love feeling his love for me and my family. He is the Reason for this special Season. I love you all!!

O Christmas Tree

We didn't have a chance to go cut down our own tree this year so we headed off to the tree lots to find the right tree. I must say I am kind of picky when it comes to the tree, so I found the Langston tree (with the help of the kids) and Joe did the negotiating on the price. He did good, because I like the 10ft tree that costs some but Joe was able to get it $20 bucks cheaper. It took a couple of days to decorate it, in between the busy schedule, but it finally adorns our living room and brings the spirit of Christmas (and smells good) into our home. Happy Holidays!!

Mike Langston / Tribute

September 27th 2006 - December 5th 2008

Our loved dog Mike had to go back to heaven today. After several months of not doing so well we let him go today. We are pretty sure that he had cancer and would not get better. Our whole family is sadden by this. Mike was the sweetest dog around. He loved everyone and would not hurt a flee. We always said he was not a true mastiff due to the fact that he loves to run and play all the time. He loved being inside with the family, although I have many slobber spots to clean up, he loved to sleep on Eli's bed. He always wanted to be loved by Joe every night. He would come up to my side of the bed and then turn right around and go over to Joe's side for a good rub down. He always kept my washing machine running. I had lots of slobber rags and sheets to clean. We will all miss him and he will be with us always in our heart. We love you Mike!!

December Begins

Thanksgiving is over and now starts December. My family had an awesome time over Thanksgiving. My whole family came down south so after 26 people and 4 days I finally caught a cold. I think it was due to the fact that I spent 2 weeks cleaning before. Then I didn't take my vitamins due to the lack of time to remember and lastly I ate like food was going to stop coming into my house after everyone left. We had a fabulous time though. The boys played football in the morning and then we all met at my house for a family prayer and then we went to Chuck A Rama for dinner. Yes, I did not cook for the whole family and yes I had no dishes to clean up either. We waited in line for about 1 hour and then we all sat together like we would if we were at my house and the food was actually really good. We did have dessert at my house later but again Costco provided the pies for that. So Thanksgiving itself was pretty relaxing for me and hopefully for my family as well. We broke into two groups and some of us went to Quatum of Solace late that night and the next night the others went to Twilight. On Friday I got to teach Zumba in the morning which is fun when you have two pieces of pie in your stomach still from the night before, not so much. Then all the couples went to the temple to finish up my moms family names that I researched a few years back. I was waiting for the right time when all of us were together so we could all go and do the sealings at the same time. It was a great experience. We spent the afternoon on the red rock cliffs playing around and let the kids roam free. We took family pictures that night which are always a joy, but actually it went pretty smoothly I must say. Saturday was our big 4 wheeling trip. Joe and I rounded up some extra 4 wheelers to go along with ours so all of our family could go on a big ride. We leave the trucks behind and don't come back for about 5-6 hours. We packed lunch on the wheelers and went for the mail drop which is down by the Pink Coral Sand Dunes but on the opposite side. I pretty sure fun was had by all on the trip. We ended the day by eating at Denny's (why you ask, well kids eat free of course) and the celebrating two of my nephew's birthday's. So that ended or adventures except for church the next day and relaxing. I had to send my sister home to Mississippi and that always makes me sad to see her leave. I love her to death and I am grateful that I got to see her for 6 days but sad also because I know I won't get to see her for sometime. So my family all leaves and I have a cold know and my kids want the house decorated yesterday for Christmas. I sucked it up and put it all up today minus the 2 trees. I will get to them on Thursday after the fresh one has been picked out. I do not have any pictures of Thanksgiving until my sister emails them to me so they will be added later. Keep checking back for pictures of our December adventures, maybe, I will try my best to keep updated but already the next three weeks are completely booked. Life in the Langston house is busy when you have four kids performing everywhere and the family of the Bishop. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas and I love you all!!