Speaking Larsen

Dearest Friends! Just a fair warning.... I am editing my list of "allowed readers" for this blog.  For the same reasons as taking my blog private, this one is getting a bit of a readers allowed face lift.  If you're still interested in reading, please let me know in the comments.  I won't be deleting until around Christmas time, as I know people are BUSY at this time of year, and may not check a private blog as regularly as a public one due to the lack of knowing when it's been updated. So with that, you should also know: Since taking my blog private, I wanted to let you know something. I hope this doesn't sound harsh at all though. Mind you- my own mother is in this group, so don't nobody go gettin' all worked up. *Gasp in Horror* I know!  My own mom! (just givin' you a hard time, mom!) Take a deep breath, it's not that big a deal.... Here it is: If you never comment, and more than a few weeks/months pass without a ...

All the Lynn and Cindy Pack grand kids!  Such cute kids! We left on Thursday, Oct 27th, right at 3 o'clock to drive down to see Chad and Courtney, Janelle and Ryan, and the cousins!  They didn't have school on Friday, and Chad had work off, so it made for a great combination to get away.  Kyle did have stay home, but he didn't mind that we left.  (He had big plans for pulling the garden down while we were away!)  Due to the construction that Utah ALWYAS has, I swear!, we made it finally around 7 or 7:30 that night.  They were so excited to see each other and play! I'd love to take the time to talk about each photo here, but I just dont' have the time.   We went. We played. We ate. We laughed. It was awesome. When we got back home to Idaho Falls, I think Brooklyn was more than worn out from our weekend trip.  She insisted she wasn't tired, but I have proof that she was lying.  Sunday we prepped the house and I made about 4 dozen ...

When left alone, and when all grows quiet.... A Mother's mind begins to conjure up images of disaster, But this time, thankfully, all was well. Also in the mist of silence, I found her on my bed, reading to her 'friends'. Jocelyn loves to look at books, and can be found 'reading' to Brooklyn sometimes! The newness of potty training empowers her (so she thinks) to run around ne-ked! Seriously there are rare moments of quiet in my home, and this one morning last week, was one of them.  I was working in the kitchen, and I could hear nothing.  No TV, no bickering, no "pretend you're....", and it was immediately frightening. Until, I found them, and quickly grabbed my camera.  Usually best friend or completely fighting, these two girls had found that playing alone, even when they had each other, wasn't all that bad. It lasted 12 minutes.

On Wednesday, Brooklyn decided she didn't want to wear her diapers anymore.  So.  OCTOBER 12th. Two and a half years, plus four days old! Here we are, with nearly a week under our belts, and only a few accidents.  She's doing great!  Went to town and to church in her new undies, and I was the super nervous one, but I gotta say, she's a little champ.  She is loving it.  As are we! (Still hangin' on to that paci though...) ( And still can't let go of Bear Blankie) But seriously, one thing at a time, and if diapers are the first to go, Halle-stink'-lu-iah! Thank You, Dora!  THANK. YOU.

She's got talent, that's for sure! Unfortunately, she doesn't have a large clientele. . . or fortunately, depending on how you look at it!  But then again, I think I might be the source her inspiration.

 Last day of braces OCT 12!!! (for now anyway!)  She's come a long way! We can't say enough good things about Dr. Jeff Johnson and his staff!  We loved going to see the Orthodontist!  It is gonna be a sad thing not to go on a monthly basis to visit them....however we are okay with that.  She has a retainer she has to wear at night, and we will go back in two months for a check up, and then in a few years she'll need some spacing for her adult teeth to come in. THANKS DR. JOHNSON!!! BEFORE: November 2010 AFTER: October 2011 AFTER: October 2011 SO EXCITED!

So they loved it more than I thought they would.  There's something about playing against your parents as a kid that is so fun.  They were hilarious. IT was such a perfect night for a game.  The weather is quickly turning cold, and I am so glad we had this night to be together with our family and good friends for a healthy game of kickball.  It's amazing how quickly the kids picked up to it, and ran their little hearts out. Then when the cousins arrived, we had lots to do...like share suckers and pat each other's cheeks a lot. Landon and Kayson are such good buddies and this past summer I did something I've never done before. I let Landon go to Utah, with my brother Blake, and spend four days down there.  They were (according to Chad) scheming and planning lots to do, and had a great time doing it all. Jocelyn and Ella are really taking to each other too these days, which is also fun.  They played babies and seemed to really have fun together. ...