Speaking Larsen

Dance came to an abrupt end for us this year. As it turned out, I had signed up for a writer's conference before realizing that the girl's final dance recital was the same weekend. When we got to talking about it and I shed a few tears at the thought of missing them perform, we made a quick decision to have the girls finish up dance early. They were all performing at Bonneville High and we decided after that recital to call it quits. It meant saving money, having more time to focus on ourselves and not missing any dance recitals.  It felt good for several reasons, but on top of that, we've been rehearsing for our Stake's musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.   So it's not like the girls didn't have anything to do. They did amazing and Catelyn did outstanding on her solo. It was a bunch of fun, and we miss it, but we're grateful to move on and be performing on stage as a family!

This year for her family dinner party- we half way talked her into it- but she chose the Olive Garden. Landon had a coupon from school, from AR, and it made her curious about the restaurant. She loved it.  As did we adults.... Larsen's gave her AG clothing.  Packs got her duct tape. And between them both, I think she had a wonderful day. Catelyn's officially ten years old. She's into duct tape, the Babysitter's Club books, and American Girl dolls and it couldn't be more fun.  She's loving Idaho History and fake press on nails. She's got a great little group of friends and a sassy attitude to boot.  She loves fruited chicken salad and earning money.  She hates to get into the shower, but then she won't get out of the shower.  She's getting a better handle on her temper.  We have to push her to read, and then we have to force her to stop reading so she can get some sleep. She wan...

March 14, 2013 --4th Grade Homework Assignment-- Mrs. Knibbs Catelyn typed this up- one of her first typing assignments.  I laughed so hard because Janelle and I always make fun of "tea and crumpets" because we once played a game of Mad Gab or something that referred to "Queen" and Janelle made a sitting pose, while standing, which then looked like she needed to use the restroom. We laughed hard and have not forgotten that. So, when Cate brought this home, I laughed again, thought of Janelle, and thought "One day I want Cate to know why I was laughing at this."  Not because she did bad.  No, she did great!   I'll have to wait until she understands what 'an inside joke' means, though because she did not get that!

Really, they had to catch me scratching my nose?   I'm going to have a chat with them about NOT taking photos  of our bodies naked or while getting dressed, or of body parts that should be covered by a shirt or pants. And CLEARLY I have a wild one in Jo. Heaven help us teach them right. I debated on whether I should even post these. But I opted to do it because they're the silliest children,  and while they captured a few shots I'm not proud of, I'm proud of them. We gotta just steer their creative talents in the right direction. It's like aiming rockets.

Since joining Scouts- they've been working on a skit about Pirates. Anything can influence the inner artist, I've learned. I. Have. No. Idea. But I'm loving the light sabers, aren't you? Abotu a week after it was decided that we were not going to Texas, we decided to make other plans and tell the kids we were going to Phoenix instead of Texas.  We will be including the Grand Canyon, Montezuma, Las Vegas, and stuff like taht on our trip, so we talked about those things too. Landon was a bit upset, and by morning I had this note on my fridge:  Well, what's a mother to do? Sure I asked him WHY he didn't want to go.  Found out the truth.  He's nervous about the Grand Canyon, says we could fall in. I'm not surprised at his response.  He has every right to be nervous about that, but I promised him we'd keep him safe. Then I wrote him a note back and put it over top of his: His attitude is improving over the idea of go...

Dress us like a Dr. Seuss character day threw me for a loop, but not Catelyn. She came upstairs all ready for me to staple these circles on their shirts and remembered I had (miraculously) bought blue hair paint back during the Wizard of Oz, in case we needed it for that.  We never used it.  Again, MIRACULOUSLY! We found it and used up the whole can.  Viola.  I have 3 THINGS to send to school. It make me proud of Catelyn's creativity, that's for sure.

I asked Brooklyn if she'd like to take a bubble bath, and she said YES.  Of course, she did. I started the water and added bubbles.  I walked away while she got in.  (Yes, she's big enough for that.) A while later I went into check on her.  And this is exactly what I found.  She was just lying there, all quiet and still.  Truly, SOAKING in the tub.  I don't know what about this was so hilarious, but it was.  I had to capture this moment on camera.  Seldom is this girl mellow or quiet. I tell ya, she melts my heart sometimes when she is, though.