Lovely Lisa's Lofty Look on Largely Laughable Life

The first day of school

2009-08-29T13:06:00.019-06:00

This year we have a 4rd grader, a 2nd grader, and a Kindergartener. It feels bittersweet to see my kids getting older. Of course it makes me sad to look back on all that time and know they won't be my little babies anymore, but it is so exciting to see them growing, learning, and experiencing life.

Hazel has been very good this year about getting up and ready to go without much hassling from me. She is doing her own hair, picking out her own clothes (and matching), and making efforts to beautify herself for school. It's nice to see her getting to that stage of life. She used to not even care if she went to school with her hair not brushed or totally mismatched clothes (I would fight her to look nice still). She has become very responsible.

Hazel's teacher this year is Mrs. Balser. When we went to the "meet your teacher" night, we were pleased to see that Hazel's and Claire's classrooms are right next to each other. Nathan's is on the other side of the school, which is fine too, because he got the teacher we wanted him to get.

I was surprised when we walked into her classroom to see such big, fat books sitting on the desks. The workload just gets heavier each year. I know she'll do great, though.

Nathan has also been excited for school. We bought the kids their school's logo t-shirt, and he chose to wear that the first day of school. He thought it was pretty neat to wear an Art City Elementary shirt. Nathan normally likes to sleep in and doesn't like to be bothered in the mornings. He has surprised me this past week by getting up without much complaint. I'm very glad about that and hope it continues throughout the school year.

Funny kid...he rarely smiles for a picture. This was the best I could get.

Nathan got Mrs. Roylance for his teacher this year. Hazel also had her for 2nd grade, and we just loved her. She is very loving, helpful and positive toward the children. He will do great in there.

Such a handsome young schoolboy.

Claire is the newest school member in our family. She is in afternoon Kindergarten this year, and has been looking forward to it for a very long time. Hazel and Nathan used to come home from school and do "school" for Claire. She actually learned a lot from them. It was very cute. Now she has the real thing. She asks me every morning after Hazel and Nathan leave when she gets to go to school. The answers go from "in a few hours" to "in two and a half hours" to "in 2 hours", and so on...you get the picture. She loves it! I can tell she feels so grown up. Just yesterday, on her 3rd day of school, I dropped her off at the front and she went inside to her class all by herself. She is a cutie!!!

Claire and Lahela on our walk to school. It was the first day for Kindergarteners. Claire requested for her hairstyle that I make two buns, and of course, Lahela then wanted buns too.

Claire's teacher is Mrs. Morgan. I have heard many wonderful things about her, and after meeting her, I'm glad to have Claire in there. She does a lot of fun things with the kids and I will even be able to go in and help in the classroom once a week. I'm looking forward to it very much.

This was the result of Claire's first day of school. She also did this on the second day. It wore her out. She was very happy when she came home from school, though. Hazel and Nathan think it's very exciting to pick up Claire from her class. Hazel even admitted to getting teary-eyed when she picked up Claire the first day.

All in all, I am excited about this school year. It will definitely be a busy year, with full-day kids, a half-day child, plus I'm doing a preschool co-op for Lahela, which I will help teach, then a baby coming in January. This really is what I've always wanted to do with my life, though: raise a family. I am thankful for what my Heavenly Father has given me. Children truly are gifts from him.

One more thing: I recently received a new calling in church. I am the new Ward Choir Director. This is in addition to pianist and chorister in Primary. I'm open to suggestions about how to get people to come and participate on a regular basis. Thanks!!!

School is coming!

2009-08-13T20:45:00.002-06:00

I can't believe the summer is almost over. It feels bittersweet. The kids will be starting school next week, my garden has gotten huge, we've endured many blistering heat waves, and I've spent all these summer months feeling like a deadhead. I do feel bad that my morning sickness hindered us from doing more fun things as a family, but now the time has gone. I hope this school year will be great, and I do look forward to the smells, colors, and holidays of the coming fall and winter. In the meantime, I'll be trying to enjoy my last few unscheduled days with the kids (especially now that I'm feeling a lot better).

Family Gathering Marathon Week

2009-07-05T18:49:00.022-06:00

My sister Cynthia and her family came to Utah to visit this past week, and we all had a blast with the numerous family gatherings that are a result of her visit. On Saturday, June 27th, we had a family reunion, which Teresa planned. We hiked up to Cascade Springs, then went to her house for delicious food and fun activities, such as Spin the Bat, Three-Legged Race, Sack Race, and a Pop-the-Balloon game, with balloons tied to your ankles, and you try to pop everyone else's balloons. It was a great family reunion, and I'm very thankful to Teresa for planning such a fun day.

The next day, Sunday, we all went to Mama's church to sing in her Sacrament Meeting. Then we went to Cathy's house to hang out. Kimball, the kids and I had to leave early to go to his Grandma's 87th birthday party, so we spent an equal amount of time with both sides of the family that day.

Wednesday was the Guys' Night Out. All the guys went out and did what guys like to do most...watch a movie (Transformers 2) and eat at a fancy burger joint. While the guys were out having their fun, we girls went to Salem Pond with the children to feed the ducks and play on the playground. Unfortunately, the ducks didn't seem very hungry that day. There was a huge "bread pudding" in the water when we were done, and the ducks were swimming away. Afterwards we went to Renee's house and played a game.

Thursday was the Girls' Night Out. We went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse (yummy), then went to Shauna's house to do what the girls like to do most...play games and chit-chat the night away. It was a lot of fun. Thanks, Shauna, for planning a very enjoyable night.

Friday morning several of us went to the Oquirrh Temple Open House. It was also my 30th birthday. That temple is so beautiful. It was very nice to be there with my family, whom I hope to spend eternity with. After the temple, we went to eat at Kneader's. I hadn't ever been there before, but it was very good. Later on that night, Kimball surprised me with a cake and a nice wooden recipe box (I have a very large recipe collection that has long since outgrown its previous box). Actually, he really had to do those things to make up for forgetting it was my birthday that morning. Then he, Hazel and Nathan left to go to Torrey, Utah. He still has a little making-up to do, so we're going on a "birthday" date this coming Tuesday when he gets back. I guess I'll forgive him, as long as he gives me a nice long foot and back rub.
Smiley Face

Saturday, of course, was Independence Day. I took Claire and Lahela to an early-morning breakfast with my ward, then went home. In the afternoon we went to hear Nicholas perform with his choir One Voice in Orem. He is an excellent singer. I'm very proud of my nephew. Later on that night, we went to Jaime and Teresa's house where we ate pizza from Pizza Hut (very easy meal), the kids played in the sprinklers and on a Slip & Slide, and we talked and laughed. Later we watched as Jaime and the kids lit fireworks. It's always fun to watch a pyro show on the 4th. After most people left, Teresa and I showed Cynthia how to make flower hair clips, then we cleaned up and talked until 1:00 in the morning (it was very difficult to get up for 9:00 church, but Claire, Lahela and I managed okay). Sometimes it's fun staying up late with people I love.

Overall, this past week has been great! I love spending time with my family. Cynthia and Brett are going back to California today, and I'll miss them and their kids very much. It's always nice when they come for a visit, because there are always a lot of family gatherings. With our family getting so big, we just don't get together as much as we used to. I also wish I would've taken more pictures, but sometimes the camera is forgotten in all the fun of the moment. Enjoy the shots I did take.

Cynthia and Matthew Kimball and Lahela Daddy the photographer The hiking family Cutie-pie Claire Hazel looking at the river made by springs A random beautiful woman My lovely family and Daddy's elbow Mama and Daddy Michelle and Benjamin Kids are always fascinated by water Fish (obviously) Shauna holding Ella Claire on our way to Jaime and Teresa's house Seth, Nathan and Jacob were privileged to ride together. They are all the same age. Lahela conked out very quickly in the car. She obviously enjoyed her chocolate pudding very much. Daddy (Grandpa) comforting Hazel after she twisted her ankle in the three-legged race. Younger children awaiting their turn for one of the races. So patient! It was cute watching the really young kids do this race. They just couldn't get the hang of it. It looks like Callie and Katelyn will win, but they ended up falling, allowing Hazel and Amanda to take first. That was tense, man! Nathan and Seth were trying to get the hang of being "one" before their race. Kid sack race. Adult sack race. This one was awesome! Watch the video.

What the...?! At least Lahela was keeping herself happy and occupied.
(More pictures to come)

Women's Retreat

2009-06-22T17:08:00.004-06:00

This past Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity of attending my stake's annual Women's Retreat at Jolley's Ranch in Hobble Creek canyon. We had many great speakers, attended many enlightening classes, played games, and had a great time becoming better friends. This year I was privileged to be on the planning committee. I was quite busy preparing for it, but in the end, it was all worth it.

I am also extremely grateful to Kimball for doing everything he could so I could attend. He took very good care of the kids while I was gone, and willingly took on an extra child so my friend could go too. He is a very loving, giving person, and I love him very much.

I want to share my testimony about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and that I am literally his daughter. He has given me so much to be thankful for. I have a loving husband, good-hearted, sweet children, and countless people in my life who help me be a better person. I am amazed at the beauty and diversity of the Earth, and it is even more amazing to know that Heavenly Father created it simply for our happiness. He has given each of us a deep beauty, gifts, talents, and the light of Christ to shine forth to the world. I am thankful for the love He pours out to me continually, even when I make mistakes. He is there every time I need Him. I hope I can be who He wants me to be, so I can live with Him again someday. He loves each of His children dearly and anxiously awaits our safe return into His loving arms, and of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Memorial Day Remembrances

2009-05-27T12:15:00.021-06:00

This Memorial Day Kimball and I took the kids up to our extended family's annual tradition of decorating graves. When I was growing up, we always decorated my Uncle Joe's grave. He died when he was 18 in a car accident, long before I was born, and it was always my Grandma and Grandpa Cunningham who headed the gathering, with a picnic afterward. Now they are both gone from the Earth, their bodies buried next to Joe's, and the grave-decorating tradition lives on. I did feel emotional there, just remembering my beloved grandparents and how much I miss them. I know they are doing what they've always done, though: continuing our Heavenly Father's work.

Grandma and Grandpa are such a source of inspiration to me. They were so faithful and good, never wavering from what they knew to be correct and true. They loved each other dearly and were always together. Wherever one was, the other was there too. They did everything in their power to support their family by attending every baby blessing, baptism, play, game, concert, and anything else they were invited to...all 38 grandchildren, and numberless great-grandchildren (too many to count anymore). Grandpa, being the sweet gentleman that he was, always opened the car door for Grandma, both getting in and out. In Grandma's last years, as her health gradually worsened, Grandpa was always by her side. He was so devoted to her, pushing her wheelchair, making sure she was comfortable, putting her needs before his own.

When I was younger, I used to think that dying would be scary because I wouldn't know anyone once I got to Heaven. That was the thinking I had in my young mind, and since Grandma's and Grandpa's deaths, I know for sure there will be somebody there waiting for me. I'm not saying I want it to happen anytime soon, though, don't get me wrong. I just look forward to the day when I will see them again.

As for this Memorial Day, I really enjoyed remembering my loved ones gone, and spending time with loved ones still here. After we decorated the graves and had a family prayer, we went to Uncle Rich's and Aunt Cathy's house for a barbecue/picnic. Of course, Uncle Rich made his famous root beer. It literally is the best root beer ever! The other food there was also very tasty. We stayed a few hours, eating, talking and laughing. The kids had fun getting very dirty in the sandbox. It kept them occupied almost the whole time. We also got to walk through Grandma's and Grandpa's house. It has really been fixed up nice and has a 'For Sale' sign out front. It's not the first time I've been there since they died, but it still feels so empty to be there without Grandma and Grandpa.

Before we left for the cemetery, Nathan asked me if it was the Grandpa who always gave him cookies whose grave we were decorating. I told him it was. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a remembrance of Grandma because she died while we still lived in Alaska. He only saw her twice in his life. I know he would have really liked her as much as he liked Grandpa.

Here are some pictures we captured of the day:

These are almost all the family who were in attendance at the graves, minus only the three guys (Josh, Jeremy and Doug P.) who were taking the pictures.

Jeremy was really mad about not being in the group picture, as you can tell. Lighten up, man! (That's Josh being Mr. Photographer on the bottom).

Beautiful flowers for beautiful people.

Grandpa was a veteran of World War II.

Uncle Joe gets his grave decorated the same every year, with a "J" made out of snowball flowers.

I captured some chit-chat moments of the day. Jeremy was obviously very captivating.

The background almost looks like a studio backdrop. The entire day was sunny and gorgeous, unlike last year, when we got rained out. Aren't these two adorable?

Hello to you too, Uncle Rich, and thank you for providing a comfortable place where we could gather and enjoy each other.

After the cemetery, we went to Macey's with Robert and Denise to get some hot dogs. Of course, having small children, you can't get just a regular cart. You have to get a car cart. When we got back out to our cars, we noticed the sign posted on top of the car cart. If you can't read the sign, just click on the picture to make it bigger. We got a kick out of it. Robert is simply doing what the cart states.

My word, Cathy (my sister, not aunt)! I really don't want to know what that is. Have some decency!

Lahela is training to become a gymnast, thanks to this bar in Rich and Cathy's back yard. I also love Samantha's adorable toothless smile. What cute girls we have in our family!

Lahela finally found something to do

2009-05-20T14:56:00.004-06:00

Lately Lahela has been going through a very difficult two-year old phase of crying and whining a LOT. I love her dearly, and she does have her good moments too, but some days she just WILL NOT stop. Usually 3 seconds of it is enough for me to handle, but a whole day? I go CRAZY! Today has been no different. She has been very moody today and over-sensitive to just about EVERYTHING. Well, she finally was quiet for a while, then I walked in to see her looking like this:

In case you can't tell what the stickers look like, they are smiley faces. How ironic. She actually has been sitting on my lap the whole time I've been typing this, and she is being happy. I guess I have to just accept that she won't be a perfect child all the time, but when she is happy and sweet, I will bask in it.

Hazel, the performing artist

2009-05-20T12:29:00.010-06:00

Hazel performed in her school's talent show. She sang the song, "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. She has always loved singing from the time she could barely talk. I am very proud of her bravery in getting up to sing in front of so many people. She did a great job! I love you, Hazel!

(On a side note, unfortunately the first part of the song didn't get recorded, which I was bummed about, but oh well. What can we do about it now anyway? She still did great!)

SCHOOL IS ALMOST OUT! WOOHOO!!!!

2009-05-18T00:46:00.002-06:00

I just want to say that I'm VERY happy school is almost out. I am ready to delve into a summer full of warmth, fun times with extended family and friends, and just hanging out. I'm ready for children, sticky with melted popsicles or runny watermelon juice, running through the sprinklers. I'm ready to smell like a campfire, laughing and roasting marshmallows and stuffing myself silly with one-too-many smore's. I'm ready for fat, juicy barbecued hamburgers, potato salad, and jello. I'm ready for the sweltering parades, the fireworks, and the crowded streets while looking at all the vendors' overpriced wares. I am ready for all of this and more. This is one of my most favorite times of the year. Yes, I know that when the kids are all together for such long periods of time, there will be occasional fights to break up and bloody knees to bandage, but we will be together, making memories and building friendships that will last a lifetime and beyond. Welcome back, summer. I've missed you so. I hope it will be everything I'm expecting and more.

Our trip to Las Vegas

2009-04-27T23:09:00.033-06:00

We took a trip to Las Vegas this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. Kimball's dad kindly let us use his scheduled time share at a resort called Tahiti, since he wasn't going to use it. We went down there with Kimball's brother Mike and his two kids, Mikey and Isabelle. The room was nicer than a hotel room, in that it had a full kitchen with dishes and everything. I was glad we could make our own food instead of eating out, which would get very expensive for every meal. Most of our time was spent swimming at the resort. It had two large pools, one wading pool, and a hot tub. The bigger pools each had a section with sand in the bottom. Every morning, the sand was miraculously swept back into place, so we could play in it and mess it up again. There was also a little golf putting green. We had some fun with that while we waited for the shuttle to pick us up on Friday.

On Friday morning we left home at about 2:45 a.m. We put everything in the car, buckled in sleeping kids, and took off. It took us about 5 1/2 hours to get there. That same day we took a shuttle (which was a big hit for the kids) to the Vegas strip. We went to the M&M Factory and saw the 3-D M&M movie. It was a cute movie, and Hazel and Nathan did reach out to try and grab things (it was funny). Sad for me, the movie gave me motion sickness. I came out feeling very woozy. How nerdy is that? Afterwards we walked down the strip. There are a lot of neat things to see.

On Saturday we swam for a few hours, then relaxed in our room for a while. It was nice to not have a time schedule for anything. We just took it easy. That night we dragged ourselves to the strip one more time for the other thing we really wanted to see: the fountain/light show at the Bellagio hotel. It was awesome! It would have been nice to stay for more than one show, but it was late, so we just saw one. The show was very impressive.

Unfortunately, we found that Las Vegas is called Sin City for a reason. There is pornography everywhere. You can't look down because the ground is littered with raunchy pictures. I had to coach the kids to keep their eyes up, but even that doesn't help much because of all the half-naked advertisements everywhere. That was the one big turn-off for this trip. It's too bad that it even had to be an issue at all. I will say it was good for one reason and one alone. Let me explain:

On Sunday, as we were leaving Las Vegas, we remembered that we had wanted to go see the temple. It didn't take too long to find, once we got directions from some nice ladies in a gas station. When we arrived at the temple, I could already feel the peace emanating from it, even before we got out of the van. We found an open gate where the public can enter to walk around the temple grounds. There were so many flowers in full bloom, it was quiet, and the temple itself is so beautiful. We were able to have a poignant discussion with the kids about the differences we felt between the Las Vegas strip and the temple. I know they understood and felt the difference for themselves. The spirit is not present in downtown Las Vegas. It is so flashy and loud there. The temple was completely opposite. We could feel the spirit there very strongly.

All in all, it was a very fun trip. I was very happy to have been able to spend some much-needed down time with my family, whom I love more than life itself. Thanks, Kim, for giving us the opportunity to have a nice family vacation.

Go Nathan! Get that ball in the hole!

Claire is so tricky. She can golf one-handed.

Mikey is getting down to business. Let's get this game on.

Hazel did hit some balls with a stick, but then decided it was more fun to watch the other kids do it.

Once Isabelle decided the stick was bigger than her, and thus, hard to hit a ball with, she took to gathering up as many balls as she could hold, even taking other kids' golf balls. It was entertaining watching her try to hold them all.

Whacking a ball with a stick must be way below these two hoodlums' standards (actually, Mike did get up after a while to do some whacking). Come on, Kimball, get in the game! He had a good excuse not to: driving all night. I guess he deserved a nap/break that day.

Lahela had to make sure I was aiming right.

Apparently I had it all wrong. Thanks, coach Lahela, for setting me straight.

"This is how it's done. Get it right, Mom."

Hazel and I almost got lost in the jungle. Whew! That was a close one.

Lahela loved the shuttle bus, as you can tell.

There was a live lion in a great glass cage at the MGM Grand hotel. It was interesting to see that lady petting it while it slept.

Claire and Lahela slept through half of our trip down the strip on Friday. This picture was taken inside the M&M Factory. A nice man offered to take it for us so we could all be in the picture. Thank you, nice man.

Strike a pose, girls! You look good enough to eat!

Nathan made a new friend on our trip. It's too bad he ate him before he could take him home.

HELP! ALIENS ARE ATTACKING! Oh, wait, it's just Nathan and Kimball. It's only the attack of the nerds...I mean cool dudes. Everyone can rest easy.

Lahela loves the water. She was so cute in the pool.

Swimming is not swimming if you don't throw at least one person into the water...or something like that.

Just the girls, relaxing in the hot tub.

The pool court of the beautiful Tahiti resort. The sand portion of the pool is at the far end.

The Langton family waiting for the Bellagio fountain show to begin. It was worth the wait.

Four kids in the bed, and the little one said...

The Las Vegas, Nevada Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I thought we were the only ones there, then we came upon a couple who was willing to capture us all in the moment. The temple was so peaceful and happy. We loved it there. I am so thankful to have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and that I can be with my family forever through sacred temple ordinances.

Fountain/Light show at the Bellagio

2009-04-26T20:05:00.005-06:00

We took the kids to see the cool water light show at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. It was very neat to watch.

Welcome to the world, little Ella!

2009-04-20T23:09:00.014-06:00

Today I had the opportunity of taking my family to visit my sister Teresa and her new baby, Ella Naomi, in the hospital. Ella was born on Sunday, April 19, at 9:57 p.m. She is 8 lbs. 9 oz. and 20 inches long. As you'll see in the pictures, she has tons of long, dark hair. She is adorable! While we were at the hospital, Jaime, Katelyn, Amanda, Seth, and Hayley showed up. They are all very proud of the newest addition to their family. Ella is very lucky to be in such a great family.

After Jaime showed up with the kids, Renee' and Jeremy came in with their kids. Mama and Daddy were there when we got there, but they left shortly after. Daddy wasn't feeling that great today.

Happy new mama. I think she's especially happy that she's not pregnant anymore.

Proud big sister Amanda and proud cousin Hazel. Now Hazel thinks we need a baby too. We shall see, Hazel. You'd better pray hard.

I think Katelyn is going to be a great sister for Ella. She is so loving and kind.

Athena was so excited to hold Ella that she brought her own hand sanitizer (maybe to speed up the process and hold her sooner...?). She shared the sanitizer with her family and practically used up her whole bottle on Jeremy. On another note, how can you hold a brand new baby and not smile?

Ella's cute little teeny tiny feet.

Renee', Alexandra and Samantha having their turn with Ella.

Wow, this baby actually moves all by itself. Amazing!

Hayley loves her baby sister. She'll be able to teach her a lot of things...like how to climb on the table, get into the cookies, and so forth. It will be fun to see them turn into little playmates.

So cute!

Ella opened her eyes and looked toward her new mommy. Teresa is an excellent mother. Ella will have all the care and nurturing she'll need.

Lahela really wanted a turn to hold Ella. Right before we left, she finally got her chance. Aren't these three so cute? I hope they'll have lots of fun growing up together.

Proof I was there. I'm always the one behind the camera, but Kimball was obliging and took a picture at my request.

I love my new little niece. I also love my sister Teresa and her family very much. I am so blessed to have them in my life. I think I have pretty much the best family ever!

Kids these days

2009-04-10T16:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday when I pulled out the cereal for breakfast, Nathan groaned and asked why we have to eat cereal every day. I ended up giving him a slice of leftover pizza from the night before and he was happy. Secretly I vowed to myself that I would make breakfast the next morning (today), and I ended up making waffles. They were a hit.

It's funny to me that when we were growing up, cereal was the special breakfast. Now the tables are turned, and it's the home-cooked ones our kids crave.

Happy Birthday, Claire!!

2009-04-07T00:06:00.018-06:00

Claire has been looking forward to turning five for several months now, and the day finally came. I think it was everything she expected it to be. She has been so excited all day, and she tells me things that have changed since she reached this magical age. For example, I was brushing her hair after her bath, and I was in a hurry, so I wasn't being super soft (but I wasn't yanking either). She said, "Mom, since I'm five now, it doesn't hurt when you brush my hair." I thought it was cute. She reached a higher level of maturity overnight.

I do have to say that my life is so much more full having Claire in it. She is a great peacemaker in our home, and is always trying to help her family to be happy. She is learning to give to others, even if the things she gives are things she really wants for herself. She has a beautiful smile and a beautiful soul. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father that he saw fit to send me such a sweet little spirit.

To celebrate her birthday, we invited some family from Kimball's side for a little party. We had Brian and Tasha and their four children, Daniella, Broderick, Emeline, and Anthon, and Mike and Silvia and their two children, Mikey and Isabelle. Kimball barbecued hamburgers (Claire's birthday dinner request) and I made a cake. I was quite proud of my first fondant cake. Thanks, Cynthia, for the great recipe. It was a lot of fun to create with.

Doesn't Claire's smile make you want to smile too? Come on, try it.

Claire got a My Little Pony and a Tinker Bell shirt from Isabelle and Mikey. Emeline is behind Claire.

Kimball went to the store and let Claire pick something to get for her birthday. She wanted hair clips, and these are the prized ones she picked. She is happy with the clips, as you can imagine.

The kids enjoyed building a fun marble race together. Later the older boys, Nathan and Broderick, had fun with a lizard and a dragon costume, chasing the younger kids and making them scream.....really loud. That game didn't last too long.

This is the fondant I made to decorate the cake. It was my first time ever making it, but thanks to Cynthia's pointers, it turned out great!

I got the rolled-out fondant on the cake with no problems. The cake was a Betty Crocker butter pecan mix. Claire wanted it square, and I wanted it to be better than just regular cake. I cut each square in half lengthwise and turned it into a four-layer cake. I used cream cheese filling and sprinkled each layer with toffee bits and chopped walnuts. It was very tasty!

Here's the finished creation. For my first time working with fondant, I thought I did a fair job. Claire wanted pink, blue, and purple. She was very happy with her cake.

Claire was captivated by the lighting of the candles.

Little children are so sweet and innocent!

2009-03-09T12:21:00.003-06:00

Today I called Claire and Lahela into the kitchen to finish their lunches. Lahela came walking in, wearing a little purple dress, pink snow boots, and her underwear around her ankles. I told her to pull them up. She looked down, laughed, and said, "Oh, I forgot!" It's funny that it didn't even dawn on her that anything was amiss. I have to admit, there are many things I will miss when my kids aren't little anymore. They are so sweet and innocent.

Valentine's Cards Creations

2009-03-04T10:07:00.008-07:00

I know Valentine's day was a while ago, but I wanted to post this anyway. Better late than never.

'Twas the night before Valentine's, when all through the house,
All the children were stirring, working hard like a mouse.
Mom squeezed the hot glue gun and cut out the hearts.
The children used glue sticks to create Valentine art.

We stamped and stuck hearts to the cards we did fix,
Then we glued and tied ribbons to the sucker sticks.
When late in the night, Mom heard little ones chatter
'Bout the kids in their classes they wanted to flatter.

Then out came the camera to record all the fun,
And off to their beds the children did run.
Mom cleaned up the mess, then collapsed on the couch,
And was glad it was over before she turned into the grouch.

Next day kids came home, carrying bags full of love,
But the candy was best; 'twas all they spoke of.
So another Valentine's day has come and gone,
But I'm sure the memories will always live on.

These were Hazel's most favorite Valentines that she made. She worked very hard and didn't quit until she was done.

Nathan got progressively more creative as the night wore on. He was very proud of his creations.

Great time-saver

2009-03-04T10:03:00.002-07:00

Claire and Lahela helped me discover a really quick way to dry kids. You just put them in the dryer for a few minutes and they're good to go.

HOORAY FOR A WARM DAY!

2009-03-03T14:22:00.004-07:00

We finally had our first warm day after the long, cold winter. The kids and I totally took advantage and went to the park. They rode their bikes, ran around the playground, went down slides, played on swings, walked the puppy, Rosie, found their neighbor friend Emily and her dog Chipper, and basked in the sun. It was GREAT to finally get out of the house and actually enjoy being outside!

Our great friends from AK!

2009-03-03T14:15:00.003-07:00

In December our friends, Joe and Rachael Sanger, moved to Utah from Anchorage. They have two adorable little girls and are getting ready to have a baby boy. I was so excited to hear that they are living in North Orem, and we recently had them over for a fun late night and dinner. They were like family to us in Alaska when we didn't have any nearby. I hope we can get together again soon!

Just my luck!

2009-02-27T11:20:00.002-07:00

Yesterday as I was preparing to take a shower, I decided to spray the bathroom walls first with a Glade (like Febreeze) spray. The walls still have a faint cigarette smell that I'm trying to get rid of. I didn't close the cupboard door because I was trying to hurry, and I kicked the corner of it on the top of my right foot really hard by accident. It was one of those kinds of pains that leave you breathless and you think you're going to throw up. Well, my foot hurt pretty bad for the rest of the day.

This is not the end of my sob story, though. Lately Lahela has been coming into my bedroom in the middle of the night and climbing into bed with me. She tosses and turns sideways and kicks until I get so sick of it that I take her back to her bed. Last night was no different. I got up at around 3:30 a.m., carried her upstairs, and put her in bed without turning on any lights. On my way back downstairs, in the dark, as I neared the bottom, I thought I had one more step down when I actually had two. I fell forward, twisting my ankle. It was on the same side as the foot I kicked on the cupboard. I can't even describe that pain. It was horrific. I crawled back to my bed, shamelessly crying like a baby, where I felt myself going into shock from the extreme pain. I was shaking and shivering uncontrollably.

Today my ankle is a tiny bit swollen and it hurts to walk on it. Actually, it hurts when I'm not walking on it too. Pretty pathetic, huh?

I am such a good mother!

2009-02-09T17:25:00.003-07:00

Here are some pictures of what Lahela did while I was playing Scramble on Facebook. She was being super wiggly in my lap, so I put her down. After I had done a few rounds, I looked down by my feet to see her fast asleep. She probably just wanted me to hold her all cuddly, but I was too busy. Boy don't I feel like Mother of the Year.

The new puppy

2009-02-07T10:59:00.007-07:00

Kimball came home yesterday with a big surprise for us....a new puppy. I wasn't too thrilled. I'm not sure if we'll keep her, but here are some pictures. Hazel and Claire named her Rosie. She is a Blue Heeler. These pictures are her first bath. Hazel helped too. As you might guess, Hazel is in love. She's had a dream for a while now of having a dog and being a veterinarian when she grows up.

The Dickens family Christmas party

2009-01-30T14:42:00.013-07:00

I was really bummed to be extremely late to the Dickens family Christmas party. We had spent the whole day driving back from Torrey, UT, then we had to hurry and finish putting together our dessert in time to leave for the party. When we finally arrived in Riverton, we realized that we didn't know where the church was. We stopped at a pizza place to use the phone and call somebody, anybody, but to no avail. Then we decided to go knock on some of Shauna and Doug's neighbors' doors to ask where the church was. Finally we found someone who was just getting into their car. They drove to the church while we tagged behind. We were very grateful to them for showing us the way. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, everyone had already been having fun for almost an hour. We did end up having lots of fun with our family for what remained of the evening. I didn't get any pictures of the delicious chili and baked potatoes, or the cute Christmas tree crafts, but I did manage to get some pictures of the talent show and present-opening.

Samantha, Hazel, Athena and Amanda sang a beautiful rendition of Silent Night.

My sisters and I sang a song, and I can't even remember what it was now, but it was probably a very beautiful rendition also.

Hayley sang I am a Child of God. It was adorable.

Nicholas sang a very nice song from his choir One Voice.

Nathan and Lahela are patiently waiting for the present-opening for the kids.

Katelyn got one of the coveted chocolate bars.

What adorable little girls.

Kimball was really hoping that Claire's present contained a roll of toilet paper. Okay, for the record, he is standing here telling me that he was just SCRATCHING his nose. (Yeah right!)

Nathan was quite thrilled to get five monkeys in a bed.

Kids just hanging out while the adults clean up.

The Christmas Pageant

2009-01-30T13:31:00.008-07:00

Okay, I know that Christmas was over a month ago, but I don't want these memories to be forgotten. A few days before Christmas we had a Langton family Christmas party with the whole extended family. Kimball's cousin Tasha decided to put together a Christmas pageant. We had talked about it in years past, and now finally this was the year. It was so cute. The kids all did their parts very well. Nathan got to be one of the wise men, Hazel was the angel, and Claire helped hold up the star with her cousin Emmeline. Top picture, left to right, are: Aubrey Wright, Broderick Ridenour, Nathan Langton, Nathan Cooper, Rachel Cooper (behind N.C.), Daniella Ridenour, Hazel Langton, and Steven Wright. In front are Emmeline Ridenour and Lahela Langton (Claire did not want to be in this picture). It was a lot of fun to have the kids help tell the story of the baby Jesus. They all enjoyed it too.

Proof that Claire really was there.

"We Three Kings"
Just as the wise men were going to sing their song, Claire and Lahela had a rather loud scuffle over a doll stroller. Since I was playing the piano, there wasn't much I could do. The boys suddenly had a hard time singing because of the commotion, so everyone saved the performance by joining in song. I had to tell myself that someday, I may look back on that and laugh.

Moving

2009-01-11T16:16:00.004-07:00

Sorry, I don't have any pictures for this post, but I really wanted to take a minute to say a huge thank you to all of you who helped me move all my belongings (even the junk) across the street to our new (actually old, but new to us) home. Also a huge thank you to all those who have come to help clean the old place. I would not have been able to do it all myself. I love you all so much, and I hope you know that I truly mean it. I am so thankful to be living close to my family again, and I'm also happy to be in a great ward that's like a second family. These past two weeks have helped me realize even more how great the people in my life really are.

For those of you who just haven't had the chance to come over to help, please know that I completely understand. This is not meant to be a guilt trip. If the circumstances had allowed, I know you would have been there too.

I feel like a dork writing this next part, but I have tears in my eyes just thinking of how much I love my family (I think I just saw a pink warm fuzzy come into my room). You are each very dear to me, and I loved every minute of the Christmas season that we all spent together. If I could have slowed down time, I surely would have!

Cousins are great!

2008-11-28T19:22:00.002-07:00

It's not very often that all the cousins can be together at the same time. They've been having a lot of fun together singing, dancing, wrestling, reading, watching movies, and whatever else kids like to do together.

Kids sure do grow up fast!

2008-11-22T16:43:00.003-07:00

We have these tiny water balloons that we've just been blowing up with air. Claire thought it would be funny to turn herself into a woman. Then, of course, Lahela had to get in on the action too. My little girls are practically teenagers now. Ah, where have all the flowers gone?

Lost teeth

2008-11-22T16:27:00.004-07:00

Nathan lost his two front teeth. The first one he lost in time to look like a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, and the other one in time to sing the "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" song. Great timing, Nay Nay!

Nathan's photos

2008-10-10T11:52:00.002-06:00

Nathan tried his hand at photography. Here are the pictures he took.

Last, but not least, he even took a picture of himself.

Lahela's haircut.

2008-10-10T11:40:00.003-06:00

I decided it was high time to give Lahela her first haircut. Her hair had grown to the point where it was all different lengths and wispy on the bottom. I took before and after pictures, and here they are:

Before:

After:

I got an unexpected phone call!

2008-09-17T23:27:00.002-06:00

Today I was on the phone with Daddy, asking about what I should do to ripen my tomatoes. When I hung up, the phone rang within about 10 seconds. I thought maybe it was him with another idea, but when I saw the caller ID, it threw me through a loop. It was my own cell phone number. Immediately I knew who the culprit was. I'll give you a hint: She really loves removing the contents of my purse, especially my phone, plus she's the shortest one in the family...did anyone guess Lahela? I answered the phone, then went in search of the little hoodlum. I found her sitting on her bed, phone in hand. The look on her face told me she was guilty, and I didn't want to make her feel bad (though what I really wanted to do was burst out laughing), so I put my receiver to my ear and told her to talk on the phone. She slowly put the cell phone to her ear, but didn't say a word. I asked her if she found my phone. She replied, "Uh-huh." I asked her if she was having fun with it. She replied, "Uh-huh." Then I kindly asked her if she could put it back in my purse. She replied, "Uh-huh," then climbed down from her bed. We said our good-byes into our respective phones, then we walked into my bedroom where I helped her return it to its proper place.

Lahela is so funny! Even though she's been reprimanded numerous times for playing with my cell phone (and at times losing it at the bottom of the doll clothes bin), she still cannot resist the urge to play with it just "one last time." Maybe she needs her own phone. I doubt, though, that it would produce the same enjoyment as Mom's phone.

On another note, she did just turn two on 9/11 (not that the date is what makes her mischievous). She is just simply doing what a two year old does: Learning by experience. Again and again and again and again. I don't think this will be the last time my purse gets emptied, or my phone taken, but I can truly say I would much rather have this be a part of my life than to not have her in it. She is a gem.

Hazel's and Nathan's first day of school

2008-09-07T23:39:00.005-06:00

Nathan was nervous for school to start, which wasn't surprising. He is a little worrywart! When his first day of first grade was all over, he came home very happy and excited to be in school. One of the big reasons was because his teacher, Mrs. Chatterley, gives out rainbow stones (those little glass rocks in different colors). He earns a rainbow stone every day for his good behavior, and that makes him so proud!

Hazel was very excited for school to start again. She has always been very social, so she had no anxieties. Her teacher is Mrs. Orme. Hazel has been doing well thus far and is a really good reader. I can't believe she is already in 3rd grade!

As for me, it is so nice to not have a Kindergartener anymore. Hazel and Nathan can now ride their bikes to and from school together. It was so hectic last year to have one kid on half day and one on full day.

Also, I've signed them up to be in their school choir, which they will stay after school one day a week to sing in. It will be a fun experience for them. I'm excited to hear them coming home singing the songs they will learn.

Pretty Lahela

2008-07-23T17:37:00.001-06:00

Lahela just finished beautifying herself with Claire's play make-up. Isn't she lovely?

Our camping trip to Capitol Reef

2008-07-23T14:37:00.013-06:00

We hiked a place called the Grand Wash. It was dry when we went through, but is a place that all the water washes down in a flash flood when it rains. The bottom had lots of cracks all through it as the clay dried. The kids thought it was pretty neat to carry the cracked clay pieces around and sometimes smash them on the side of the cliff. Hazel and Nathan collected a bunch of mud, which they turned into two mud balls. They brought it home to try and make something. The clay looks like the type of clay used for making pottery.

We found a few fun caves to go inside.

Next, a fun series of pictures of the kids figuring out how to climb this rock wall. Nathan went up first, then Hazel tried to figure out how he got up there. Finally, Claire had to have her turn. They were all eventually triumphant!

These are some of the ancient petroglyphs on the side of a cliff. An informational sign said these were ancient Indian religious symbols.

I thought this shot was pretty neat with the odd-shaped dead tree. Kimball and Nathan are standing on a different ledge way off in the distance.

Claire wanted so much for me to take a picture of her "ugly face" while she sat in the big "bum chair".

This was a time when it would have been nice to have a remote controlled camera, or a take-along photographer. At least with two shots, we were able to get everyone's picture taken.

The kids had their turns jumping into the water, where Kimball caught them. The look on Nathan's face is hilarious. Claire and Lahela, of course, were too afraid to jump, so I helped them slide into the water.

The water wasn't as cold as we expected it to be. Even Lahela enjoyed playing in it.

Nathan caught a small lizard at the swimming hole. A guy showed us how to hypnotize it so it would lie completely still. The trick is to turn it over so it is laying on its back, and stroke it from the chin down the belly. It was pretty neat to hold a perfectly still lizard.

There were a lot of deer in Capitol Reef, especially in the campground. They weren't even afraid of people. The kids really enjoyed seeing the baby ones too. Plus, on our way home, we just about hit a deer. That was pretty scary.

Lisa jumping down the waterfall

2008-07-23T14:06:00.003-06:00

Book tag

2008-05-08T16:01:00.002-06:00

I've been book-tagged by Cathy. The closest book to me is Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd edition, by Phyllis Balch and James F. Balch.

Here is the sentence:

"Make sure food is mixed well with saliva to form a liquid consistency before swallowing."

So here are the rules...

This is what you do:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

I don't know who all has been tagged yet, so I will tag the only people I think are left who have a blog: Renee', Cynthia, and Kimball.

The Dickens family Christmas party

2008-01-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Michelle's hard work, our family Christmas party was a huge success. We ate chili, breadsticks and veggies, then played a fun game of fear factor. Here are some of the happenings:

These lucky contestants had the opportunity of sifting through brains to remove all the eyeballs placed within. Later Renee' said that before they started, she heard Athena sobbing inside her hat. She asked her what was wrong, and Athena replied that she didn't want to put her hands in brains. Renee' then had to reveal it was only spaghetti and marshmallows. That was enough to ease Athena's mind, and she happily played along.

Tally time! I actually don't even remember who got the most, but it was sure fun to watch.

Nathan Slater's favorite part of this game was the end, when he got to gobble up his collection of eyeballs.

Denise, Shalee, and Callie were probably the most grossed-out with their fear factor game. They threw darts at a dart board to determine how many bites they had to take out of a delicious Twinkie. The only glitch was that inside the Twinkie, carefully placed, was a pickle. Denise doesn't even like pickles, but she came out on top. She ate that conglomerate like a pro. Shalee, on the other hand, practically threw up, while Callie's face turned green.

I got cold feet (well, foot) from this game. We had to remove a bunch of hot dog chunks out of a big bowl of ice water...with our feet. Brrrrrrr!!!

Samantha and I were the winners. Kimball wasn't surprised, though. He's always amazed with the things I can do with my prehensile toes.

Hazel and Athena just found out they will be eating baby boogers. They'd better eat them all, since Michelle worked painstakingly hard at collecting enough for everyone.

Seth and Benjamin are going to need each other's enduring support through this one.

Green, slimy, and satisfying. Yum, yum! Eat 'em up!

This next game was a tasty one. We had to fish a piece of bubble gum out of a tray of whipped cream, without using our hands, then be the first to blow a bubble. Trust me, it's harder than it looks. It's serious business, especially when the pressure is on! You just can't rush a bubble.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus (Nicholas and Amanda).

Chew, Teresa, chew!

The guys got to test their home economics skills by separating eggs without breaking the yolks. Isn't it funny how they each have their own style? Dainty Kimball used the transferring between the shells method, clever Doug broke the egg into his hand and let the white fall through, and time-saver Brett took it to the next level by breaking all the eggs into the bowl, then scooping out the yolks. And the winner is...

Triumphant Brett! He just earned himself the "Homemaker of the Year" award.

Katelyn and Mama sure looked pleased about the next game: Who can eat baby puke the fastest?

"I guess baby puke isn't that bad after all."

Go, Doug and Robert, go! Come on, Matt, slurp that puke!

Painful wall sits. Cathy was the winner, but everyone involved experienced "jello legs" for the rest of the party.

Rigorous jumping exercises.

Sour lemon faces.

Now for some non-fear factor photos.

Every time I see this picture, I can't stop laughing. Hayley and Katie are so cute, then there's this random arm coming out of nowhere, with no body attached to it.

Three cute little girls...Lahela, Hayley, and Katie.

Lahela sure loves her doll!

Wow, Benjamin! Forget fingers, the tongue is way more effective.

Are we having fun yet?

The princes. Top photo: Christopher, Ethan, Connor, and Nicholas. Bottom photo: Nathan, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Jacob.

The princesses. Top photo: the beautiful Callie and Katelyn. Bottom photo: Samantha, Hazel, Amanda, Athena, Ashley, Claire, and on the side, Hayley (with Mama in the background).

Cynthia and Renee', holding Alexandra.

All the kids entertained themselves by playing "train" under the stacked chairs.

My celebrity look-alikes

2007-12-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

Claire "saw" Great-Grandpa Cunningham!!!

2007-12-06T15:59:00.001-07:00

I was watching the History channel with Claire, when suddenly she declared, "Mom, I saw Gampa-Gate Cuttingham!" I looked up to see a commercial with Ed McMahon. I guess, to a three-year old, with the white hair and all, he did look similar to Grandpa. I thought it was cute that she was so excited to see him. (For those of you not familiar with my family, my Grandpa Cunningham died August 1st.)

My sisters, Mama, and me.

2007-11-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

I was going through some older pictures in my camera, when I came upon the pictures from my birthday celebration with my mom and sisters. We went to the Olive Garden, then to Denise's house to play Apples to Apples. It was tons of fun!

I just thought it would be nice to post a picture of some of my very best friends.

I've been tagged!

2007-11-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

So, I have to think of six whole things about myself, huh? Well, here it goes...

1. I love to play the piano. A lot. It's funny to me when people ask me to play at church, and they act like it is going to be such a bother to me. Secretly, I really enjoy having the opportunity to play. It is a very relaxing hobby.

2. I love to cook. When I'm not cooking, I'm usually thinking of all the things I would like to make. I even read recipe books as if they are novels. Unfortunately, there are so many things I want to try that I just can't make them all. If I did, I would really be bulging at the seams. I also enjoy making ordinary recipes tastier and healthier. I recently bought my first wheat grinder, and I LOVE it!

Sheesh, I'm boring. I can't think of anything else to write. I guess I'll post these now, then ponder on who I am so I can finish later.

3. Okay, I've thought for a few days, and now I'm ready to continue. I love to spend time with my family, laughing, talking, and eating. Getting together with a big bunch of them on Thanksgiving was tons of fun! I really missed that when I lived in Alaska, but I made do with my "ward family (and others not in the ward)" while we were there. Now I've found that I really miss them too.

4. I have clutter, and it drives me bonkers. I get so overwhelmed when it really gets stacked up, until I snap and go on a cleaning spree, throwing all kinds of stuff away. I need to work on going through the stuff on a day-to-day basis before it becomes unmanageable. I'm sure it would bring me more peace to be that way. I am trying, though.

5. I enjoy exercising, once I get going. Starting is the hardest part, but once that's conquered, it is a lot of fun. I have been meeting Teresa at her church, with other ladies from her ward, twice a week, at 6:00 in the morning. It feels so good once it's done, and I have so much more energy throughout the day. I also really enjoy the great outdoors. Hiking, camping, and all that fun stuff. Anchorage had many very accessible paved trails that went through forested areas, and I took the kids out a lot during the summer. I really miss that.

6. I'm sure many of you already know this, but I am still the Banana Queen. I love bananas! Just to get the record straight on my banana-eating habits, though, I do not eat the banana peels anymore. That stopped many years ago when Grandma Cunningham saw me eating a peel, and she asked me what I was doing. I was embarrassed and haven't eaten one since.

Nathan Monkey Langton

2007-11-15T11:07:00.001-07:00

Kimball and Nathan thought it would be funny to "surprise" me. I walked outside to find this scenario.

Hey, Kimball, aren't you the one who fell off a shed onto a barbed wire fence and had to get stitches all over when you were younger? I guess we have the startings of a family tradition on our hands.

By the way, Nathan came down without incident; no need for stitches. Way to break tradition, buddy!

Lahela, have you been eating chocolate?

2007-11-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Lahela really enjoyed the blue peanut M&M Hazel gave her out of the Halloween candy.

Scary Kimball!!!

2007-11-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is what Kimball looked like at work on Halloween. As a "prize" for dressing up, he got to pick any 1/2 gallon of ice cream that he wanted. We chose to get some Ben & Jerry's--enough to equal 1/2 gallon. Score!

Maybe he should dress up again when our supply runs out.

Pretty Hazel

2007-11-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hazel was an Ice Princess for Halloween. What a beauty!

Halloween...Trick or Treating with cousins

2007-11-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

We went trick or treating with the Brimhall kids this year. It was a lot of fun! My kids got so much candy, I think we'll have some left over for next year's Halloween.

My turn!

2007-11-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

I might as well join the throngs of family members joining this elite group of bloggers. I feel so official now. I'll soon post pictures, but as of right now, I can barely keep Lahela at bay from the computer in the short amount of time it took to set this up, so ttfn.