Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Our favorite pictures from Christmas Day 2009! LOVE.

Elf

On Monday night, we went to sing Christmas carols with our bible study group at an Alzheimer's home in Covington. I cannot pass up describing this in print. It was funny, but also well worth it! There were a couple of residents who slept through the entire set, some who were SO into our tunes, and some who I'm sure were just passing the time until dinner was served. There was also one strange incident where I was concerned an elderly lady might be coming after Pearson, but nothing came of it so it turned out OK.

I made Pea wear her Elf costume from Halloween and though she was none too pleased with it, after seeing the looks on their faces when she greeted them, I am convinced it was the correct choice of attire! All of the older folks LOVED her. The event has really put me into the Holiday spirit and we'd love to do it again next year. Bonus: I'm also fairly certain the Elf costume will still fit...

P.S. I wanted to remember this date: Pea went PEE in the potty for the first time today!!! SUCCESS!!!

Coley!!!

Nichole, you're getting LOVE today, and why? Because you DESERVE it!
Happy Birthday, dear friend. I could not ask for a better prayer partner, stronger woman, conversationalist, or more loving friend...thank you for always allowing me to be myself with you. That's a greater gift than I could ever give you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, I love you!

Grin & BEAR it!

Last night at Tahoma Middle School, the Curtis Lang Custom Homes Championship basketball team defended their reigning title as best in the city. Some of you might not know that in addition to rec league football, Ty also plays rec league basketball on Friday nights. Obviously, less hangs in the balance when it comes to basketball; lives and egos are not ruined by a loss.
But still: It's nice to win...7 years in a row! Just another day at the office and one more trophy for CLCH to display...
Pearson was SUPER into the game screaming, "Go Daddy, get the ball!" Too cute. Here are some pictures from the winning game:

We thought since the girls will probably go to Tahoma it would be cute to have this picture for graduation!

Home Team! H is for HEIDI!

Modern Christmas Card

I have really procrastinated this season on getting my Christmas cards done, sending them out, etc. so this year we're POSTING our Christmas card for all to share:

We have the best friends & family in the world and are blessed to know and LOVE each one of you...
Merry Christmas & JOY to you this season!

Tweeze Me

Warning: the following may make you feel better about yourself...

Headline
This Week in the Life of a Pregnant Woman
Byline
And the Subsequent Fallout of These Events

On Sunday, at 8:30 AM Pacific Standard Time, Chelsea Bell was standing in her closet attempting to dress herself and, more specifically, clip an undergarment when all of a sudden said clip broke and bent upward rendering the item useless. Parts were everywhere, looks of self-disgust in the mirror, and further proof that pregnancy knows no shame.
This event on the wake of last Friday's PR disaster: washing her cell phone in with her clothes also rendering  that item useless as well. Though some speculate Friday's blunder sprang from her utter lack of respect for said cell phone; a source reveals it was an honest pregnancy slash hormone-induced, mistake of epic proportions.
Not to be outdone by an unmentionable and after having spent hours dealing with the WATERgate scandal, she cleverly utilized a pair of tweezers to whip that clip back into shape; maybe not saving her dignity, but at least saving one remaining undergarment from total destruction.
When reached for comment between doctor's appointments and Christmas shopping she had this to say, "No comment. Oh, and I think I've lost my brain."

It's A...Family TRADITION!

This Sunday was our annual Lang Family Christmas Celebration with all of Ty's extended family; a roaring good time if you've never participated! Of course, by roaring I mean fun, but I'm also paying tribute to the volume level in my mother-in-law's house as it was unprecedented this year. Joey nearly had a heart attack trying to explain the new tradition of Lang Family Yankee Swap. Today's festivites included, but were NOT limited to the following:

• Hilarious skits in which Corinne (Ty's aunt) actually played a Christmas carol on an accordian (no joke and it was good) and Cheri (Ty's other aunt) morphed into her sister Corinne...also many other fabulous portrayals of family members were done (shout out Dunckleys i.e. Chelsea, Melissa, and Zack!) BIG shout out on Bitty's troop offering us honest insight and hilarity and which also included:
• A SURPRISE marriage proposal by Drewbie to his one and only: Morgan! He is my hero of the week...Congrats you two!
• GOOD eats!
• A stellar slideshow of Christmas' past which revealed that no matter how out there the outfit; NO Lang dresses to blend in...
• Said Yankee Swap where, as predicted by yours truly, Ty's present bombed out and was passed from person to person where it finally ended up with Grandpa Lang; it's rightful owner.
• Pea toppled a chair and fell while standing on it, but was unhurt!
• Amazing prayer for Tony Lombardo (Ty's cousin) who is undergoing chemo at this time. If you think of him, please let that prayer come from your mouth to God's ear; we believe in his COMPLETE healing!
• Retelling of the wonderful Christmas story...

A REALLY great day and evening filled with laughter and love...can't wait until next year where Tyler will redeem himself at Yankee Swap, I can drink wine, and Harper will be joining us! Merry Christmas Langs!

Snowflake Lane 2009!

We went Christmas shopping tonight and to see Snowflake Lane in Bellevue. Turned out to be a big hit! Pea loved it, loved it. She was smiling so big; sort of mesmerized in a way. Her eyes lit up when the drummers played Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which is quickly becoming her favorite Christmas tune! It snowed huge snowflakes that she tried to eat (see her tongue sticking out below). It was perfect for her and VERY cold! Pea was bedtime chic wearing her PJ's, boots, and a winter coat. Such family fun!

Sleepy, Dopey, & Grumpy

Title change since this morning marks the second morning in a ROW that Pearson has slept past 8:30 AM in over a year's time. I honestly thought something was wrong with her yesterday so I ventured into her room to check on her and she didn't wake up! This is literally unheard of in the Bell household. I actually was able to sleep in...make coffee, eat my breakfast, watch my DVR'd BONES (sidenote: if you are not watching Bones, you need to hop on that train; it's my FAVORITE show in years, years...) and chat on the phone ALL before she woke up.
It's a Christmas miracle!
Update: What's actually not a Christmas miracle and more like a Christmas nightmare is that I literally washed my cell phone in with my clothes today and lost ALL of my numbers so if you want to get a hold of me or we talk from time to time: text me your number? Thank you!

Babes in Toyland (Santa Success Story)

Today we went to Bellesquare to visit Santa at his workshop with Andrea, Kyla, and Heidi. All three girls did amazingly well although we should have brought a stroller because they were crazy running everywhere and Pea had a few moments where she did NOT want to be near Santa, his sleigh, or his peppermint suckers. The picture we ended up getting was hilarious! Kyla is smiling JUST like Casey; Pea and Heidi look like they've just had their mug shots taken, BUT no one is crying! So to us, that's a great success!

posing with Roofoff in the background...

"reading" Kyla's letter to Santa...Pea looks quite confused

seeing how Santa makes toys...

THE picture...

Babes in Toyland...

Rock Around the Christmas Tree(s)

It was our first annual Christmas Progressive Dinner was on Saturday night. As a family, we've decided to do it each year from now on and next year there will be a theme! It was wonderful to see the various houses all decked out for Christmas and enjoy time with those we LOVE! First up, Shannon & Tim's for cocktails and an AMAZING array of yummy munchies, then on to Blake & Tiff's for the best soup course I've had in forever, then on to our Joe & Taryn's for the main course...mmm mm...and lastly Andrea & Casey's for dessert. Oh. wow. good. (Shout out to Andi's friend Sara who makes these cakes that she replicated-they were DELISH!) Chocolate, a kiss under the mistletoe, and laughs-a wonderful way to start the season!

Progressive Ladies minus Shan and Tiff!

We wanted to pose under B & T's tree instead of our sad one :(

Christmas kiss, mmm-wa!

Mama's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Mom! One year older and you look younger than ever:) You're the best mom and grandma in the world, we LOVE you!!

The Armpit of New York

This is what is going on at Joey's two doors down from me as I type. That's right: a Jersey Shore party...everyone in attendance is dressed up like a tool from the Garden State. A thug, another too tan (i.e. Tyler, who is most definitely wearing my liquid bronzer and necklace), colored shades, skin-tight T-shirts, and fist pumps. I LOVE how Tim just isn't even wearing a shirt in December (so Jersey chic). Upon interrupting to take said picture below I was asked in a practiced Jersey Boy accent if I had brought any Jager Bombs. Enough said, hope you're having fun honey...sure looks like it:)

LOVE.

This is my 100th post! And to celebrate my journey of blogging over the past 6 months, I've decided to write down a few of the things I love in my life:

• Jesus
• Prayer
• Pea's kisses at bedtime
• Hearing my hub sing the Little Mermaid in perfect pitch to Pea
• Feeling Harper (and Pea when she was in there) kick
• Seeing old friends
• My parents' willingness and love
• Living close to family
• Coffee
• Baths
• Painting
• Reading a good book
• Christmas time this year because Pea is so excited
• How Pea calls Rudolph, "Roof-off"
• The smell of Ty's shirts and his ink
• Tyler's patience and kindness

And lastly, since we're reflecting on the past 6 months: the power of the Holy Spirit. It has been a comfort and guide this past year and I'm grateful for the gift of it and for all the gifts Christ has given me: see the above...
What do you love?

Our Roots

The rumors are true: Ty and I have a reputation for acquiring the worst Christmas trees known to mankind every year. Why? I don't know. That's just how we roll. This year, Casey and Andrea and their girls went out into the great Washington wilderness and snagged us a tree along with theirs. Thanks to their Griswold efforts we have the best tree we've ever had. Frankly, that's not saying too much. Here's Andi's blog post about their adventure so you'll know the true origins of our tree.
I LOVE how she says that this tree is the WORST they've ever had, sadly we cannot say the same. I do also LOVE how you can see our monogram THROUGH the tree...