Langston Family Blog: December 2007

Friday, December 28, 2007

What's Christmas Without Gingerbread!

We ordered a shipment from an allergy-free bakery in Orlando and it arrived Christmas Eve. we ordered chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread men and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting :) He took this picture at the request of the bakery - they asked for a picture of him with his 1st gingerbread man! He loves them!

It's a pretty impressive cookie -it's free of wheat, milk, egg, soy, and nuts! Doesn't look any different does it? The cupcakes and cookies are also fabulous!

Their web site is www.libertybakeryonline.com

Pretty

The day after Christmas, we ran to Lakeside to exchange some things. We parked on the top of the parking garage. It POURED while we shopped but when we got to the car as we were leaving, we were greeted with this beautiful rainbow :)

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Day!!

We got up at 7:45 Christmas morning and opened al of our gifts. We had SUCH a nice morning. Gavin II got everything he asked for and more - between us, santa, granparents, family, and friends. Thanks to all for a wonderful holiday. It is so magical to celebrate with a child. They are so innocent and sweet and just LOVE Christmas. I so enjoyed watching him open his gifts and watch his eyes just light up.

After a nice morning together, we went to Hammond to visit with the WHOLE family. It is always nice to get together with everyone. We finally got to meet Bailee, Mike and Kristal's baby. She is so cute and so laid back.

It was a wonderful day. Merry Christmas to all!!

Monday, December 24, 2007

A Night Before Christmas

After the party at Nana and Papa's, we stopped at Juju and Pappy's for Pappy to read a Night Before Christmas. It's a tradition - even though we read it last week with Scott, Jenn, and Jack, it had to be read again on the real night before. We all enjoyed hearing Pappy read it with all of his extras thrown in :)

Nana and Papa's on Christmas Eve

Our friend, Sheryl, gave Gavin this large body pillow with Lightning McQueen on it. Can you tell he REALLY liked it??

This was the other gift Sheryl gave him - she got a home run with her gifts!

Nana and Papa always have a party on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, I missed it this year since I was working. I think this was the first year I was not there :( After Aunt Mary's we went over to their house to open presents with them. We all got LOADED down with presents - especially Gavin II. Thanks ya'll! I know Nana and Papa had to be exhausted after the party.

Annual Visit with Aunt Mary

We always visit Aunt Mary on Christmas Eve. I worked 7 am - 7 pm on Christmas Eve. Aunt Mary lives right down the street from Ochsner so it worked out well. Aunt Mary is now 91 years old and doing fantastic! She is my grandmother's twin sister - my grandmother passed away in the 80s so she has been our adopted grandmother :) She is on my dad's side of the family. I hope I look as great as she does at 91!

Merry Christmas To All!

Since I know after I leave work tonight (12/24), it will be crazy until 12/26, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish the blog world a Merry Christmas! I don't know about you all but I find that 2007 flew by! I wish you all nothing but the best for 2008. I have a feeling it's going to be a great year! 2008 sounds like a good year, doesn't it??

Anyway, enjoy each other and your families and have a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Holidays, Ya'll!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

First Hot Cocoa

Daddy and Gavin II made hot chocolate with mini marshmellows tonight. Gavin II was trying it for the first time. He was so excited to be making it - if you cannot tell from his expression :)

Celebration in the Oaks

Last night we decided to hit Celebration in the Oaks in City Park. It was crowded but not as bad as I expected. We saw the model train garden which Gavin II was MOST excited about and then about 15 minutes into it, it started POURING. We huddled under a covering for about 15 minutes until we decided to head out. We were soaked. The jeans that I was wearing were long so they came in contact with the ground and absorbed a lot of water. My jeans were wet almost to my knees. It rained SO bad on the way home that we could barely see. It was also a very wet and uncomfortable drive home for all involved. Gavin II was a trooper through it all - he did not complain once - and he was wearing crocs!

Lack of Nap

We went to WalMart last night and Gavin II was acting like a NUT! He was so funny. He would just burst into hysterical laughter for no reason. This video was as we were leaving. He was showing us how he flaps like a bird. Let me note that he did not take a nap that day and I think he was a bit delirious!

My First Adjustment

I have been having some major right sided neck, shoulder, and jaw pain lately. I attributed it to my TMJ. Well, it had been getting worse for a few days and then yesterday, I could barely turn my head to the right. I decided to call my chiropractor, Dave :) He got all his equipment from his office and brought it to his house and adjusted me. After the adustment, I had to lie still on a gel pillow thing under my neck for about 15 minutes. He also worked on my TMJ for me, too. After the adjustment of my spine, I felt 95% better. This morning, I am pain free. Great job, Dave. Thanks again for seeing me on a Saturday! You're the best!

He was massing my TMJ in the picture - it was not a staged picture.

Friday, December 21, 2007

We Have "The Last Tickets"

Gavin really likes Hannah Montana - he watches it on Disney all the time. The Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus tour was not coming to New Orleans until last week - they added on a tour date. Well, pandemonium broke out in an attempt for parents to get these tickets - literally. All 55 tour dates have been sold out around the U.S.

Morgan is a fan as well. So Chrishelle and I decide that it would be cool to score tickets for the kids so that they can go together. On Thursday, we had a plan - we would have the laptops and phones ready when the tix went on sale Saturday at 10 am. I was going to try for 4 and she would try for 4 - the extras would be sold. The tickets were hailed as "virtually impossible" to get - we were determined :)

On Saturday, all laptops and phones were in place. I failed in my attempt to secure tickets but Cici was able to get 4 tickets within the first minute! So, we are going to the show and we feel pretty good about getting tix since they were sold out within 2-3 minutes and the tickets are now being sold around $400-1000 each!

the funny part was that Gavin keeps telling everybody "We are going to see her - and Cici got the last tickets!"

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Guess Who Can't Wait Until Dec. 25?!

That's right- Gavin II is just coming out of his skin waiting for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! He is counting down along with our "___ number of days until Christmas" decoration. Christmas is great for adults but it's so neat to be a kid at this time of year :) He's SO into the Christmas spirit!

Langston Family Christmas Tree 2007

Here is our tree for this year! We love turning the big light out at night seeing the Christmas lights.

Merry Christmas!

DONE!!!

I am DONE Christmas shopping. It feels so good to say that! This picture only shows half of the damage that I have done this year with gift buying :) I love buying presents.

Happy 33rd Anniversary Mom and Papa!

Today is my parent's 33rd anniversary! Wow - that is a long time to be married. They are still as happy as the day they met!

Happy Anniversary!

Christmas Came Early This Year :)

Scott, Jenn, and Jack made it back to New Orleans on Tuesday. So, after work Tuesday, I met everybody at my parents' house and we did Christmas then. I was feeling bad so I did not take many pictures. Jack was also sick - he was running over 102 fever and feeling terrible. It was so nice even if it was early - it felt like Christmas Eve. My dad read his traditional "Night Before Christmas". It's really surreal how the tradition is the same as it has been for the last 29 years for me although the shift is now to the grandkids. My dad read it to them mostly and I watched in amazement - my dad reading the story to my son and my nephew - and he's their grandfather!! I love that!

The Walkers headed back to Orlando on Wednesday. We are so glad that we got to spend time with you all for the holidays. We miss you and hope that your first Christmas in Orlando is great! We love you!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Congratulations to Gavin!

I just wanted to say congratulations to my wonderful husband who was recently promoted at Whitney Bank to Assistant Vice President!!! I am so proud of you! No one deserves this more - you work so hard every day - as evidenced by never being home when you say you will :)

Congratulations!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Poor Dylan!!

So, Dylan is 5 months old - still a mere puppy! If you look at the picture close, you will see a red/pink area on his nose. My parents noticed it a while ago and, when it did not go away, they took him to the vet. They did a biopsy and everything and the vets were stumped. Well, come to find out - they think it is histiocytosis. They are not sure if it's just on the skin or if it's systemic (in his whole body). From what I know, if it's only the skin - it's ok. If it's systemic, it is considered cancerous. He is too young for the appropriate medication at this time so he has to wait to start taking it until he turns 6 months old. In the wake of Webster, we are all praying that it turns out well. Please keep little Dylan in your prayers :)

Funny Video of Jack and Gavin II

The Walkers Are In Town!

The greuling schedule of a news personality calls for Scott to be ack in Orlando by Dec. 23 so the Walker family is in now to have their Christmas. After a trip to Mobile, they arrived at my parent's house yesterday afternoon. After the movie, we went over and spent some time (4 hours) with them. Gavin II and Jack were SO funny and so cute together!!! They were cracking us up. See the videos to understand how funny!!!

Alvin, Simon, Theodore

Yesterday, Gavin stayed home from school to have a special day. He called it his grown-up day because he was "taking the day off like a grown-up". Daddy came home at 2:00 and we all went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks". It was really cute. I recommend it if you have the right age child. I laughed more at Little Gavin because he kept laughing out loud. It was cute. This was the first movie that he did not say "When is it going to be over?" one time!!!

The Langston Family Christmas Tree 2007

These pictures are from last weekend. the tradition in the Waker household was that we usually got our tree the weekend around my birthday because it was Dec. 10. We have carried that tradition over into our family. The lot we went to had these horrible pink, purple, and green trees. I apologize if you have a tree in one of these colors but I just cannot imagine not having a naturally green Christmas tree! We found a nice one, though - a nice green one!! Gavin II had a great time running around the lot.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

We got Elf'd!

Check it out!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1342475

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Fatal Fifties!

Yesterday was my 29th birthday. It is crazy to think that next year will be 3-0. I told Gavin this morning that in the next 30 years, we'll probably have grand children. What a thought!! Anyway, I had a great day. Gavin II went to school and I got to sleep late and lounge around until around 11 am. Gavin (daddy) took half a day off of work and we went to Serrano's for lunch. By the way, I do not recommend drinking two beers in the middle of the afternoon if you plan on shopping afterwards. I was SO tired and then, last night, I had a headache! I guess that confirms that I am no longer a spring chicken! It was a great day!

I thought this was comical. Gavin II came to my room and said "Mommy, after 29 comes 30". I tell him that he is correct. He then says, "Mommy, when you get to fifties, you die". Too funny!

Friday, December 07, 2007

Babies, Babies Everywhere!!

Ochsner was featured on ABC World News and local TV stations yesterday. Our hospital is all the buzz around town. My unit at Ochsner delivered two sets of triplets and a set of quads in a 24 hour period. One of the sets of triplets was natural - the MD says that natural triplets are one in 8,000 births! Everyone has been talking about it today :)

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1207/478210.html

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Disney Channel's Happy U Year

I am sure you all realize by now that we love the Disney Channel at our house. Gavin II watches it all the time. In fact, it's about the only channel he watches. They have this promotion for their Happy U Year show that will be airing on New Year's. You can submit a video and do different things - you can announce a show with a script that they provide, do a shout-out, etc. Gavin II did a New Year's Countdown. It was the easiest for him because he cannot read a script! I taped him the other day and submitted it. He had shirt from High School Musical on by chance - I am sure they will think he wore that to have a better chance of getting picked to be on TV. Every little bit helps!!

Just Do It!

The other day I opened my cabinet and saw the sippy cups that we had put away. A while back, we put them in the cabinet because Gavin II had gotten away from using them. I had tried to throw them all away a few months ago and Gavin II was so upset! So, when we found them the other day, I decided it was time for them to go. Gavin II watched me and I made a pouty face. He said "mommy, why are you sad?" I told him that it was kind-of sad to be throwing away the sippy cups. He said "mommy, you have to just do it. Don't look at them - just do it".

Leave it to a child to be the voice of reason :)

But It's Hanukkah!

We were driving home yesterday afternoon and Gavin told me that he HAD to go to Build-A-Bear this weekend to make the "playful polar bear". I told him that we had a busy weekend coming up and I was not sure if we would be able to go. He responds with "but, Mommy, Hanukkah starts tomorrow!!" I asked him what that meant. He says "Well, it's Hanukkah!" I had to explain that we are Catholic and do not celebrate Hanukkah. They have been reading books about the holiday at school and I guess it was not mentioned that only Jewish people celebrate it! I am sure Gavin heard that it was like 8 days of Christmas and he heard 8 days of presents!! Isn't that cute?!

Saturday, December 01, 2007

The Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers looking out the window - the window above the word "Hurt".

This was the best glimpse we got from the stairwell at HOB but we could not stay on the stairs

This was our view for 80% of the show

Daddy loves this picture - he says that this s Gavin II's first drink from a bar

Looks like he needs to give up caffeine :)

Last night was the Jonas Brothers concert at House of Blues. I picked Gavin II up at 2:45 pm - he was sitting by the door with his bag on his shoulder already waiting for me. So cute! Daddy picked us up and we headed downtown. The line was around the block! It was PACKED. While daddy held our place in line, we took pictures of the Jonas Brothers by the window on the 2nd floor of HOB. The girls were going CRAZY every time they walked by and waved :)

The concert was SO CROWDED. The HOB was not the best venue for children just because it was standing room only. No one could see anything. Daddy did not go in so I had to try to hold him above the crowd so that he could see a little. I was sweating! It was worth it - he was so excited when he heard all of the songs that he loves. He did get a few good glimpses of the band. As crazy as it was, I would do it again for him :)

We ran into Cici, Morgan, and Kirk on their way to the 6:30 pm show (we went to the 4:30 pm show). Morgan was so excited - I was proud of Cici for putting on a smile even though she did not know who the Jonas Brothers were!