What's blogging?

Okay, so I know it has been a while since I posted.
But do you know what sounds good right now?
110.
That's right 110.
110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hot and dry 110.
Not the hot like when we were in Alabama and we wanted to die when it got over 85°. I'm talking about the kind of heat that bakes, not steams, you.
You know the kind of heat that feels like a blow dryer?
Or the kind of heat that makes you think you're in an oven?
Doesn't that sound good?

It sounds good to me.
Maybe I have been out of AZ too long and I can't remember what it is really like.
I can tell you that the other day when it was 43° I thought to myself, so this is what "crisp" feels like. They say it on the weather here all of the time.
It was cold, not "bitterly" cold they say that too, but cold enough to make you feel alive.
I kind of like crisp. I have come to the conclusion I can handle the cold, but only the kind of cold for sissies or newbies to the cold. I really don't like it when it gets near freezing. I am having a hard time grasping the concept of 30° (or colder) being the high for the day. I mean seriously? If I took my food out of the freezer and let it sit on my porch all day, it would still be frozen!
Don't even get me started on the wind here in Cheyenne. If you don't know, it's really windy here. I mean seriously windy. Like so windy we had to write our house number on our garbage can so when it blows down the street every week after being emptied we can figure out which one is ours. So windy that when the wind goes through our windows it sounds like our house it should be on an episode of Scooby-Doo. So windy that the boys start crying when I tell them it is going to be a windy day. It's mostly Ezra, because he has to play outside at recess and walk to and from the bus stop.
Oh by the way, I forgot to tell you that I was about to go on another weather rant.
Sorry.

So, what have we been up to?

Well.....it snowed.

Here is Joe doing his manly shoveling duty.
Isn't he cute?

The van covered in snow. It was pretty deep.

I didn't take this pic. I'm guessing it was Joe, he was pretty proud of the job he did on the walkway. It is pretty impressive.

He also likes to take a picture of the bed of his truck to see how much snow there really is.

That is pretty much what has been going on here.

Here are the events of the last few months.

We had a wonderful Christmas. Last year we started the tradition of leaving tacos for Santa, he probably gets tired of cookies. We did it again this year and I think it's a tradition we are going to keep. I love tacos on Christmas Eve!

Notice Ezra's note, it is adorable! Try not to be jealous of Santa's tacos.

The boys got enough bakugan to circle the earth a few times.

Cora got cute stuff.

Here is a list I found that Ezra wrote. It's your basic Christmas break itinerary.

• eat
• webkinz
• bakugan
• dart tag
• gator golf
• wii
• cora laughing
• news
• ds
• pet pals

Ezra has not started watching the news. It has to do with making up something you wish would happen and then reporting on it, I think.

For New Years, Amber and Alma came to visit. Yay! We had so much fun. What did we do? Mostly we ate. We cooked and ate. It was awesome. I love that they love food as much as Joe and I do. Amber and I got to have some girlie time and we even got to go on a double date(with our husbands of course)!
Here they are ringing in the New Year with some Martinelli's.

Did I mention that we cooked? Here is proof, check out the delicious home made doughnuts. I'm drooling looking at them they were so delish! Another tradition we will probably start. Home made doughnuts on New Years Day. Thanks, Amber. =)
Don't worry we ate our blackeyed peas, for good luck and our greens, for wealth in the new year. A tradition in Joe's family.

Okay, we got Rockband for Christmas. It's actually Guitar Hero World Tour, but I call it Rock Band. Anyways, River has turned into quite the Rock Star. I was not fully aware of this until he put this get up on, on his own and told me he was ready to play Guitar Hero.
-Dinosaur pajamas
-Ninja costume
-Super spiky hair, that he did himself.

He is pouting in this picture because I accidentally laughed when I figured out that the reason he was dressed like that was so he could rock out.
You should hear him do "Livin' on a Prayer" he totally rocks it. The surprise hit? LaBamba! That kid loves to rock out to LaBamba.

As I mentioned earlier it has been snowing. That keeps us inside. What do the Lasuras start doing when they get a little cooped up?
They start making animal shapes out of cheese crisps, of course. Here is a bat Ezra carefully made. He is very talented. He gets stuff like this from Joe. ;)

And I know you wanted to see a very cute picture of our Coco girl. She is such a good girl.

I have also included this picture of Ez and Cora, just because. I love how she is looking at him. She 100% loves her brothers!

What a lucky girl!
p.s. You know how Cora looks just like the boys did when they were babies? Not anymore. We pierced her ears. It was a big decision. I think it looks really cute.

Also I was tagged by Amber.
It was the 4th picture in the 4th folder.
The folder was called 2008-02. So I guess this was taken last year.
It is a picture that one of the boys took. It happens a lot. The camera is usually near the computer, because I leave it there after I upload pictures.
It's a picture of the desk, cutting mat, a bill, dvd cover and some pens. What is the orange thing? It's up for debate. Joe thinks it's a half eaten square of cheese and I think it a ripped orange post it note. We get lots of pictures like this. There will be about 7 pictures of the monitor 4 pictures of the floor and 5 pictures of the one who is not holding the camera. Good times.

"Nice" weather we're having......

"Merry Christmas and enjoy the nice weather!"
Today it was 25 degrees when I was coming out of Sam's Club. There was a man ringing the Salvation Army bell. Do you know what he said to me? That's right, "Merry Christmas and enjoy the nice weather."
It didn't really hit me until I got to my car. At first I was speechless. Then I was so upset that I started talking to myself. Cora was there, but we didn't have eye contact so I can't count it as a conversation.
Enjoy the nice weather......enjoy the nice weather? Was he serious? I was freezing my butt off. Seriously, I was in my real winter coat, not the cute one, the warm one. I had Cora bundled up in her car seat with that thing that covers the whole car seat to protect her from the elements. Just her little face shows, and there is a flap to cover her face for when its too cold for a baby's face to be outside. My hands were frozen from putting groceries away.
Enjoy the nice weather? What did he mean? Was he joking? It didn't seem like he was trying to be funny. I can't stop thinking about it.
It was seriously 25 degrees!!
I guess I really don't know what I am in for here in Cheyenne.
The lesson I learned was when there isn't wind gusts of 30-45 mph and it's not snowing that minute it means "nice weather."

So I know you got on my blog not to read my rant, but to see pictures of the kids that I should have posted over a month ago.
I know Halloween is long gone, but here are the pictures of the kids in their costumes.

We had a Bumblebee(Ezra) and an Optimus Prime(River).

Plus we had this adorable "little mermaid".

This year we got to go to Arizona for Thanksgiving. We had Thanksgiving at Joe's grandmas house. There was so much good food. Everyone was excited to meet Cora.
Here is a picture of Cora and her Great Grandma, we call her Nana.

Ezra kept asking me if he could have the turkey leg for dinner. I told him I wasn't sure because we were sharing the turkey with a lot of people this year.
Check out the picture....Ezra is eating the giant turkey leg.
It was Ezra's birthday while we were there he got to have a slumber party with his cousins. How could you not have fun when you have and endless supply of plastic cups?
Ezra and Jed were so proud of their tower. They would build it, knock it down and then build it even higher.

Whenever we go to Mesa we like to hit one or two of our favorite eating spots. This time it was YC's. Can you say delish? It was so good.
Ezra enjoying his noodles.
Here is Joe enjoying his noodles. He doesn't have time for chopsticks. The YC's must get into his belly as fast as possible.

One of the main reasons for our trip was so we could have Ezra's baptism and Cora's baby blessing with our families. It was a very special day.

Here is our family. Not the best picture, I know.
Joe and Ezra before the baptism.

Our trip was too short to see any of our friends. (Not that we don't love our families) We are planning a trip back to Mesa in August. We think it would be so fun to be able to see our friends while we are there. Usually all of our time is spent with family. So if you are going to be in AZ this summer, we want to hang with you. In fact, I'm calling it, party at Jim and Fern's this summer for our friends. Date and time to be determined closer to summer.

Okay, here is a video that maybe only I think is funny.
This is what the Lasuras do for entertainment.
Really, we think we are so hilarious.

THIS HAT IS NO LONGER A FUNNY JOKE!

Joe used to put this hat on and we would laugh. What a funny hat! It's ridiculous, I mean look at the fur. It looks like the kind of hat an Eskimo would wear.
This morning when Joe left for work he put this hat on and neither of us laughed.

We have been having unusually warm weather the past few weeks. I wouldn't really know, because I think 80 or 90 degrees in November is normal. I guess it is usually really cold and snowing by Halloween. We have had some really cold days and some flurries (that's what you call snow that is really lite and doesn't stick, it's like what sprinkles are for rain, but for snow), but last night it really snowed.

Joe and I were so excited! We were like two little kids. We went outside in our pajamas. I'm not sure why, but none of the neighbors came outside to see the snow at 11pm.
Last night the snow was very magical.

Here I am in my pajamas and my "real coat" it's wool. The lady at the grocery store told me that it would not be warm enough, because of how windy it is in Cheyenne. Then she pulled her coat out from under her register and made me try it on. It was very weird.

On the subject of coats, last week I was looking for snow jackets online. They were on sale and I told Joe to pick one out, so he would have a coat for winter. He told me that he didn't need one, because he would be fine with what he had, and he didn't want to pay $100 for a coat. Last night after we came in from being in the snow Joe told me that $100 probably wasn't too much to pay for a warm coat.

The bed of Joe's truck was full of snow.

Ezra has been talking about the snow since we got here in August. I knew he would be so excited to see the snow. I tried to wake him up, but he is my son and no matter how hard I tried he would not wake up to see the snow.
Last night before he went to bed he told me that his throat hurt and he would probably "have to be absent" from school tomorrow. I actually believed him and I was going to take him to the doctor's office this morning. Not a chance. He was so adorable this morning looking out the window at all of the snow.

He couldn't wait to go to school. He got to wear his snow boots. He was very excited. It was cold, but he was bundled up.

Here he is off to the bus stop. Don't worry I'm not the only mom who makes her kid take the bus.

Just as he was leaving some of his friends caught up with him.

River was so excited for the snow too. I knew he was excited because he got dressed without being told and it was before 8am. He played outside and then came in covered in snow. Now we will have to get some snow pants, I think.

Here are a couple of Cora pictures. We call her Coco and you can too. She is such a good baby, she smiles a lot.

Last night when I was holding her she was extra cute and snugly. I had to take a picture. I mean look at those baby thighs. Who could resist those? Nobody, because she is adorable.

We were trying out her new hair bows in this one. She is cute in this picture too.
She is a big hit at our house. The boys ADORE her. It is so sweet. They talk to her and River is so into showing her how to do things. Yesterday while she was in her bouncy seat he taught her; how to snap, put socks on, put shoes on, hop on one foot and how to whistle. He is a really good big brother.
When we are in a store and the boys see anything that is girlie they always ask if we can get it for Cora. At first I used to object and tell them it was the wrong size or she was too little for whatever they were talking about.
It would go something like this:
Riv or Ez- Mom, can we get this jacket for Cora?
Me- No we can't get that it's a size 7. It won't fit her.
Riv or Ez- I mean can we get it for her when she is 7?
Me- Um, sure.
It's the same way with toys too, but now I just play along.
Riv or Ez- We should get Cora this Barbie bike, she would really like it.
Me- Yeah, she would love to have a Barbie bike.

Adorable, if I do say so myself!

A Year of Blogging/Ramblings

I was thinking about the history of the Lasura blog. It's been a year since I started posting on this blog. Click here to see my first post. It's not pretty.

Technically Joe signed up for lasura.blogspot.com almost 3 years ago, he was a blogging pioneer, actually he wanted ME to be the blogger in 2005. He was too busy going to school and trying to support a family(nice excuse). Back then I didn't even know how to get the pictures off of the camera on to the computer. What was he thinking? I didn't really have a reason to blog, I don't think the word "blog" was mentioned. I think the conversation went something like this:
Joe: I got us our own website, it was free.
Joan: Why did you get us our own website? What are you going to do with it?
Joe: Not me. You. You could put pictures of the kids on it and write about what is going on with us.
Joan: Why would I want to do that?
Joe: So my dad could see pictures of the boys.
Joan: I wouldn't even know what to write. It would be boring.
Joe: You should do it.
Of course we were living with my parents and Joe's dad was practically the only family member who didn't live in AZ. I didn't even know anybody who had a blog. My how things have changed!
When I started posting to the blog we only had two kids and we had just moved to Alabama so Joe could start his third phase of pilot training- Learning to fly helicopters.
A lot has happened in that year.
The highlights were:
*Joe got his wings and graduated from pilot training!
*We moved from Alabama to Albuquerque.
*Found out the hard way about my gallbladder.
*Moved from Albuquerque to Cheyenne.
*Accidentally experienced natural childbirth.
*Cora was born.

There's always something going on with us.
Just last week when I was in the hospital after having my gallbladder out, Joe told me that Ezra came home from school with a black eye, because he fell. It's good times around here.
The good news it that Cora started sleeping through the night last Thursday(knock on wood). It's been really nice. I hope it lasts.

So in my last post I claimed "I'm Back"......totally not true. I'm probably halfway back. I forgot what it is like to have a new baby. Plus I got these other two kids who want me to feed them and help them do stuff.
Then we still have the unpacking/getting the house in order sitch. It's pretty slow going. I don't get much stuff done during they day due to Cora and the everyday things that have to happen like take River to Preschool, laundry, dishes, dinner, homework. We really only have the weekends to work on the house. Pretty much if it has to get done it has to be done on Saturday. You know, Sunday is not for doing work and stuff like that. Joe got sick when he came home from survival school, so we didn't get much done that first week. Then we had a welcoming party from Joe's work one Saturday. Then Ezra had a flag football game the next Saturday and Joe is one of the coaches. Then I got my gallbladder out and laid in bed all the next Saturday. This past Saturday Joe did yard work for one our friends on base who is pregnant and her husband is stationed somewhere else. I guess eventually everything will get in it's proper place. We are supposed to be here for at least three years, that gives me enough time.

Also this past Saturday I went shopping for winter clothes, due to the fact that I OWN NO COLD WEATHER GEAR AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A REAL WINTER AND IT HAS ALREADY STARTED TO SNOW!! I can now say that I have a real coat and actually own my own pair of gloves, they're leather and they cost $27.00. Joe told me he better not ever hear me say -Have you seen my gloves?
The boys already have winter clothes because when Ezra walks to the bus stop in the morning it's frickin' 20 degrees and he has to play outside at recess. Can you imagine? The school manual says they have outside recess unless it get colder than Zero degrees. My poor baby!


I hope you have enjoyed my ramblings. If your lucky I won't post again for another three weeks and that will be less torture for you.

This is a picture of Joe trying to sleep on the couch while "taking care" of Cora. Yes, she only has one sock on, you got a problem with that? That's how we do things in the Lasura family.
Notice the permanent binky hold Joe's got going on even in his sleep...he's a pro.


I feel bad that I don't have more pictures of Cora for you. Her hair is starting to grow in and now she has a very fuzzy head. She is starting to make a lot of eye contact and coo more. I got her to laugh the other day, but haven't been able to since. She really is a good baby.
What? I didn't say she doesn't have her moments.

She's so dramatic!

I'm back

It's been so long since I posted I don't know where to start. I know you want to see a picture of my cute, bald, baby girl. (If you've seen one Lasura baby, apparently you've seen them all.)

So, we are finally in our house and we have the internet. Joe is back from his survival training in Washington state. Below is the picture we took just before he left, still living in temporary lodging. Cora only three weeks old. Joe's training was originally scheduled during the time when I was due to have Cora. I was so happy it was able to be changed and he could go after she was born. Thank goodness.

Here are Ezra and River keeping Cora company. Ezra is reading her a Transformers book, what a nice brother.

Once we got into our house we had to wait a few days to get all of our stuff that had been in storage since we left Alabama in April. I was so happy to have my own furniture, and especially my own bed. I missed it so much it felt more comfortable than I remembered.
My nephew, Jared, came from AZ to help me with the kids and the move while Joe was gone. He was a really big help. The boys had so much fun with him and he was really sweet to Cora.

Joe's Mom and Dad came to help me too. I was lucky to have them come and do so much for me. Cora was acting like a baby and didn't let me get very much stuff done. After everyone left we had to wait another week until we could have TV or the internet.
Without TV or internet River was my new best friend, especially while Ezra was at school. He was following me around and even talking to me while I was doing my hair. He also put on shows for Cora while she sat in her bouncy seat. It was very cute. He even asked if he could help feed Cora. When there is no TV I guess you just have to make due with your little sister.

Below is a picture of our house, we live on the left side. There are a lot of historical houses on base. I think ours was built in the early 1900's. After everything is unpacked and the house is more presentable I will take more pictures and do a post about it.

On base there are wild antelope and geese that roam all over. You have to pay attention while you are driving because the antelope cross the street when ever they want. Here is a picture I took out of our back door. There were at least 20 of them grazing in the grass next to our garage.

We were all very happy when Joe got to come home on Saturday. We missed him. Isn't he lucky to come home to a house full of boxes?
We are bracing our selves for the cold weather that is about to come our way. Last night we were watching the weather forecast for Cheyenne and on the weather map the forecast was written "damp and dreary". I can't wait. Nothing sounds better than damp and dreary. Saturday the forecast calls for rain mixed with snow.
We like it here in Cheyenne. Everyone has been very friendly. Although it is the capitol city it is a very small town. Only about 53,000 people (compared to our hometown of Mesa, AZ which has almost 400,000). It's such a small town that when you go places you see people that you know, and I don't even know that many people yet. We do have a Target which is more than we had when we lived in Mississippi and Alabama.
So hopefully we can get unpacked and Cora can start sleeping through the night, so I will be able to blog more.
Thanks everyone for the love and support when Cora was born.

She's Here!!

Warning: Joe is posting this so it won't be pretty.

Cora Kay Lasura was born on August 20, and the Lasuras are very excited.  Especially her two big brothers.

River is already practicing the "sleeper hold" that we use to get her to go to bed.

Joan is such a good mom that Cora is already smiling, or it might be the gas.

Proud papa of a little baby girl.  Let the spoiling begin.

Here is the whole gang including "mini-baby" who we learned infant cpr on.  We left the creepy thing at the hospital. 

Our hotel door, welcoming the little bundle home.

This was Joan before the party started.  Oh, if she only new the joy that was to come.

Approx. 55 minutes later little Cora had arrived...naturally.  

The boys are happy.

The best big brother in the world.  

Mom and baby are healthy and doing great.  Thanks for all your emails and calls we love you all very much.