Speaking Larsen

We made an impromptu trip to SLC and Provo right after Thanksgiving. We spent time with Chad and Courtney and kids, and they played while I helped Courtney decorate her Christmas tree! Then we met up with Janelle and walked around a cute area of town. We found this funny Santa costume piece and laughed and had a really great time kicking off our holiday season!

Brooklyn pulled out a tooth. Compared to losing her first one back in May , this is an Olympic jump in how she feels about it now. See this VIDEO!

Today, this young man did something I've never been able to do! He solved his Rubik's cube! He's quite proud of himself, and rightly so. He spent hours and hours working it.

As proof as to what kind of friendships come from a Musical, here is Tori and Megan, who attend Skyline High. If it hadn't been for a musical, we would've never met, and we wouldn't have become such wonderful friends. Catelyn has fallen in love with musicals and she was able to be in Rocky Mountain Middle School's performance of Pied Piper. It was absolutely darling and the kids did a fabulous job. We still laugh at it when ever Brooklyn imitates Catelyn doing the silent hand clapping game. Here is Brooklyn's Interpretation  The bonds created from doing a musical are so fabulous and it makes you a better person when you fully commit to doing a show. It might also make you crazy, but it's a wonderful kind of crazy.

This beautiful girl turned seven, and she is such a blessing in our home. She's a fierce and special girl, with the way she takes on each day with no fear. She's strong and independent, a bit on the messy side, and very creative. Which tends to be a part of the reason she's messy. We sure love her and her adorable smile. We went to dinner at Applebees and opened a few gifts. It was a low key year. Next year, things will be different as she'll turn 8 on April 8th. Wow.

A little temple trip to do baptisms for the dead. When Brooklyn asked Landon to do her dress up, it was the cutest thing. When they decide to play on my bed by reading. When they steal my phone and take selfies Moments like these make this Momma's heart pound a little harder. You kids are good kids and so precious to us and as the days fly by, I hope you know how much we love you.

Well, Catelyn's officially 13! Cute at a button, this girl keeps us on our toes and up at night. As a big surprise, we threw her a surprise birthday party! We locked the garage door, on our way out to "Family Dinner" and then claimed we forgot our wallets when we were halfway to Olive Garden--her choice.  Even the grandparents were in on it! We drove back to the house and when she couldn't get in, we told her to try the front door, just in case. And then BOOM! Surprise! She was shocked. Meanwhile, I went inside and Kyle took the kids out for a quick bite while Cate and her friends had a party! As a family, we opened presents at the church because we had a ward party to attend as well, and that's when Cate got her real sterling silver, opal and purple sapphire ring, a purse, and Facebook!

It's always a treat to have Grandma Betty in town. And today was no exception. We went out for Chinese and laughed and laughed. You cute grandkids sure make her happy.

Landon! Happy 11th birthday, bud! You're the best! Tonight we went to Applebees and ate our hearts out. The best part was they were doing free kid's face painting, and she sure painted you a fierce basketball. It was a nice day and we are so grateful you're a part of our family. A few days later, we got together again as a family and celebrated another accomplishment. You receieved your Arrow of Light! We are proud of you for working hard to fulfill all the required tasks to complete this difficult award but you did it! You and Dad worked very hard on it, and it warms my heart to think about how you two were neck deep into it. GOOD JOB! Also, you have the prettiest eyes. I know that boys aren't terribly fond of this, but we girls sure get jealous when you're blessed with such long lashes. You hate them, and I had to keep getting after you to STOP PICKING AT THEM. You were literally pulling your eyelashes out because you didn't like tha...

Today, this sweet girl is 9!!!  She woke up early{6:30}, unable to contain her excitement. She got dressed, and then did her favorite thing: READ. That's right. She's my bookworm! When she came upstairs, she got to open a birthday present, and then she had to go change clothes because she got a new sweater dress. Love her.

Yesterday, Jocelyn ended up with three staples in her head. After stake conference choir (which I've been asked to direct) we were in the EMPTY primary room, putting away the last three chairs. Jocelyn, as a happy 8 yo girl, is spinning in circles, getting dizzy and giggling like a she should. Our good friend, Kerri Hansen, and I are visiting, and we witness her loosing control, free falling, and colliding with the corner of the oak podium.  She rolled onto her side, and (sadly) we laughed at her. But COME ON! you would've, too. It WAS funny. Until, BLOOD. She didn't hit the front face, with her forehead, which would have resulted in a lovely goose bump. That's not our kind of luck. So, with Kerri's trained eye, we examined it, best we could with the gushing, flowing, sticky blood, and then we took off to the Urgent Care. Thankfully, it only took 30 minutes, but that was a rough 30 minutes. They didn't numb her, either. Instead, they scrubbed...