I've been tagged...my crazy 8's

RULES: 1. Post rules on your Blog. 2. Answer the six "8" items. 3. Tag 8 other people.

8 FAVORITE SHOWS: Pushing Daisies * So you think you can dance * Dancing with the stars * American Idol * One Tree Hill * Smallville * Boy meets world * Gilmore Girls

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY: Ate chicken noodle soup * found a sub for bunco * made lunch for the boys * photoshop * email * facebook * blog * showered (real productive for being sick)

8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO: Family Birthday's * Family Reunions * 4th of July * trick-or-treating at Papa Vance's work * Thanksgiving * Christmas * letters from missionaries * having another baby

8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS: Los Hermanos * Olive Garden * Prestwich Farms * The Mayan * Rib City * Goodwood * Wallaby's * Teryaki

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST: Lose weight * Healthy family * clean house * a baby girl * our own house * a SUV * be a better cook (like cooking) * an eternal family

8 PEOPLE TO TAG: I tag the first 8 people to read this post...THAT MEANS YOU!

Austin's Christmas Wishes!

I have kept up a long time family tradition that I grew up with for my boys. Every year in December we would light an advent candle and sing Christmas songs. One year my great grandparents put together a book for us with a scripture, song, and story each night before Christmas in December! Shortly after Robert and I were married, my sister made a copy of that book from my grand parents and gave it to me. It is a tradition I hope my kids will continue with their children!
A few nights ago we lit the advent candle, read a scripture and sang a Christmas song! Before I got to the story I asked Austin what he wanted for Christmas. He replied with no pause, "A Chocolate Oreo". I asked again and he replied with a string of words that didn't make any sense and ended with "A Chocolate Oreo".
I giggled a bit and then started reading the Christmas Story for the night. It was "Twas the Night Before Christmas", one of my favorites! I was just into it and read the line "in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."
Austin stopped me. "A Necklace? I want that!" (he heard necklace instead of st. nicholas)
Then I was almost through to the end of the story when I read "that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly".
Again, Austin stopped me. "MMM, Jelly! I like Jelly!"

I think shopping for Austin's Christmas Stocking Stuffers will be easy this year! :o)

MISSIONARIES EVERYWHERE!

We have had a blast the last couple of weeks welcoming home Robert's brother Mark from his mission in Detroit Michigan and getting ready to send off another of Robert's little brothers, Lane, to Omaha Nebraska! It really is an exciting time for these boys and I am so grateful for the examples they set for their littlest brother, Sterling, and my two boys!
Mark came home on November 19th. He and Lane gave talks together on Sunday November 23rd. It was fun to get together with the whole family to celebrate these two boys together! And to top off the excitement, the youngest brother, Sterling, got his Eagle that night! What an excellent day it was!

"Mark-on-a-Mission"!

My boys would pray for their uncle Mark and his permanent name around our house became "Mark-on-a-Mission"! Mark had a very good mission and has told us wonderful stories of conversions he witnessed! He has grown to be a fine young man and will make some girl very lucky someday! As I knew it would be, Mark and Jackson have bonded very well! Mark left just a month before Jack was born, so they just met for the first time! Jackson is so easy to get to know and love, thanks to his calm, friendly personality! And also as I knew it would be, Austin has not yet attached to Mark! Austin is very weary of strangers, and Mark is strange! LOL! J/K! They were actually best buds before the mish, but Austin was only 17 months. I showed him tons of pics, and he prayed for Mark all the time...but it will take a while to rekindle that bond! He is making slow progress though...he gave Mark a very sheepish hug last weekend! Welcome home Mark! We love you!

Uncle Elder Lane!

This is our "Best Man" all grown up! Lane is the best kid I know! He has a very special place in my heart as well as Robert's! I don't think he'll ever know how much he means to us both, and our kids! Lane and my boys have a very special bond! Austin and Jackson will miss him very much, (so will Robert and I!) but we are so excited for this experience for him! Lane is going to make a superb missionary! I am excited to send him letters and pictures of the boys growing up! And I hope he forgives us in advance for not being the best letter/package senders...but we'll try harder! :o) Lane is the 5th child of the LeBaron family to serve a mission! What a great legacy to be a part of! We love you Lane! You'll do great!

Last weekend we went down to Hurricane to hear Robert's cousin, Christopher LeBaron give his farewell address! He is the 8th of 8 boys to serve a mission in his family, and all of them are eagle scouts as well! What another great legacy to be part of! Christopher is going to Seoul Korea! He will also be entering the MTC the same day as Lane (Dec 3rd). How fun for them both! We are so grateful for the blessings we reap from supporting these missionaries and lucky to have them in our family! :o)