The Latta Family

I debated on whether I would share this story because it doesn't exactly paint one of us in the best light. It gives a little more insight than perhaps I should, but I feel pretty sure many of you have had a similar conversation at some point- just maybe not as rudely as I ended it. I have been dreaming of my gardens that I am going to plant this spring. We're in the throws of February. The worst month of the year. I need something to get me through this stupid month! I have 3 gardens planned: a hydrangea garden along the side of my house, a cut flower garden, and a shady rain garden near the fence. I just spent 1.5 hours researching the plants I was going to use for my cut flower garden and shady rain garden. I've crossed out foxglove because it's poisonous, and added in allium because it is apparently awesome. I created a table on a Google doc with photos, information, and then created a layout. It's so stinking awesome! For my rain garden I've s...

I stumbled on something brilliant. I'd love to take credit for it.  But I can't. My kids have spent the last few weeks arguing over who gets to set the dinner table.  HAHAHAHA.  It's true.  They legit argue over it.  I had to institute the "Alexa Sets One Day and Andrew the Next Rule."  Doesn't this story make me sound like I am a master parent?  Like I have reached expert levels? Don't let the story fool you.  (There were a series of mishaps today- one of which includes me completely forgetting Alexa had a dentist appointment- also my car keys have been lost . . . again) anyway- I'm not a genius, but I am good at taking advantage of a situation when it presents itself. Here's the magic trick: Alexa likes to set the mood, as well as the table.  She likes the lighting to be dim.  Andrew HATES the lights dim.  To stop the fight over the lights- I said, whoever sets the table- determines the mood lighting.  Now they fight ov...

I decided it was high time to clean out the freezer after I bought something, and had to cram it in and close the door real fast, and hope the door sealed so everything didn't defrost.  We used to have a deep freezer, but I got rid of that because that's where food went to either: get freezer burnt, due to length of time in there, or rot because when I was shoving more stuff in there- I didn't close the door well enough and everything melted.  Or I used it to store secret stashes of treats that I didn't want anyone to know about.  Either way- it was a waste of food and electricity.  It needed to go. We’ve been making some good progress getting the freezer cleaned out.  We've been eating chicken, london broil, bbq, ravioli with meatballs, and I discovered some frozen peaches, which reminded me of a green smoothie recipe I wanted to try. The last 5 mornings I have been enjoying my green tea peach smoothie. You know the best part of a green smoothie?  I ...

I bought Andrew a fart machine for Christmas.  It's remote control.  It seemed like the kind of thing a 7th grader would really dig.  I was right.   So, I put it in a gift bag, but I kept the remote out. I decided that while we were unwrapping our Christmas gifts, I would sporadically set the fart machine off.  Oh man did I laugh at how funny that would be.  I mean . . . farts on Christmas morning?! Oh my gosh.  How funny.  (yes.  I know.  I have a very childish sense of humor.).  It was a bit of a disappointment when no one really reacted to it- but it has since made up for it.  Because the remote can work from a pretty good distance.   One night, over break Andrew had a couple of friends spend the night.  They snuck downstairs and apparently hid it in my room.  I was folding laundry when I heard it go off.  I spent 15 minutes crawling around on the floor by Doug's dresser waiting for...

Lately, I have really enjoyed watching Alexa's personality mature.  She's still so sweet.  Sometimes her little face kills me.  It's still full of innocence and sweetness- most of the time.  She gets a mischievous, devious gleam in her eye when it comes to her brother, though.  Alexa learned a long time ago that Andrew is: faster, bigger, and worldlier (I mean, he can anticipate her revenge, and do preemptive strikes against her.)  What Andrew cannot match up with is subtlety.  He doesn't see it happening.  He is incapable of dealing with it.  Alexa has subtlety, and it's only going to improve as she gets older.  I LOVE watching it in action.   Back over Christmas, Andrew, Alexa, and I were playing a game with my parents.  The game went like this: Alexa read a joke off of a card.  She "awarded" points to "whoever" answered the joke correctly- first. It was a game she made up, and she was the judge of how ma...

I have a friend coming to visit this weekend.  I'm super excited because she's one of my oldest friends, and we haven't seen each other in almost a year, so we've got some catching up to do.  This will be her first time coming to my current house.  I found myself doing some pretty weird things because she's coming.  I bet y'all do normal stuff like: dust, vacuum, clean the bathrooms when people come to your houses  You know- typical house cleaning stuff.  Well- I've known her long enough that I'm not particularly stressed about that.  (Don't worry- I'll clean your bathroom . . . I'll clean your toilet . . . I'll make Andrew wipe down the toilet with a Clorox wipe).  We lived together.  We've vacationed together. I don't need my house super clean to impress her.  However, I did need to: 1. repot a plant. 2. Take a sticker off of the galvanized bucket the repotted plant sits in (the sticker has been on that bucket for MONTHS. ...

Have I told you about "The After Dark Rule?"  Basically, if Doug or I are out after dark . . . you bring home chocolate.  It was easier when the kids were little because: 1- they had no knowledge of it (therefore, they couldn't think it applied to them.  It doesn't.  It's only for the grown folks, but then the young folks get fussy if they're not included, which defeats the whole premise: illicit chocolate.  Duh.  Illicit chocolate tastes better and has less calories.)  2- the lines get a little blurry with kids  It used to be if you were out- you brought it home.  Now . . . Doug's at Andrew's practice.  Practice isn't exactly conducive to stopping by the store and getting chocolate.  I mean he could- but it's a whole other stop- and you have to include Andrew.  (now it's not illicit)  Sometimes he drops Andrew at practice and goes to stores- then he could sneak chocolate home, but . . . that happens so much then it's ...