Speaking Larsen

 Loving: American Girl dolls, Barbies, My LIttle Ponies, Strawberries, Tomatoes, playing with friends, computer time, cousins, jumping on the trampoline, and snuggling. Not Loving: Going to bed, cleaning your room, being teased, being left behind, and being told what to do.

Loving: Disney figurines, My Little Ponies, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, cleaning her room, making her bed, lining up her stuffed animals, playing with Paige, singing, dancing, and American Girl dolls. Not Loving: doing her hair, cutting her nails, coming home from school, getting up in the morning, being bossed around, and boys.

Loving: Legos, basketball, the drums, playing with friends, reading, math, his cousins, and riding his bike. Not Loving: Spaghetti, girls, putting his laundry away, making his bed, and cleaning his room.

Loving: American Girl, clothes, long/hot showers, hanging out with friends, her iPod, reading, musicals, and singing. Not loving: the idea of having to pull out permanent teeth for braces, boys, cleaning, being bossed around, that she can't go to mutual, and cleaning. Seriously, cleaning isn't cool unless it's her idea or it's 10 pm at night.

Well it's that time of year again! And this is kind of a special year for us because Catelyn, Landon, Jocelyn, and Brooklyn are all attending the same school! This is the only year magic on this level will happen. The first day has come and gone, and while other moms are flooding Facebook with 'back to school' and 'first day' photos, I'm trying to balance getting my kids to the fair! Everyone's gotta have a turn helping grandpa at 5 am! Also worth noting, we didn't buy a single article of new clothing for anyone and not one of my kids complained this morning about not having anything to wear. Granted, they all need some new stuff, but I decided it really could wait. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Catelyn has Mrs. Haynes. She said she had the best day, and the most eventful thing to happen was when one of her classmates threw up on another classmate. Poor kids! I know that nerves were running high in our home, but thankfully no one puked--we had a near vomit, though...

The kids have a chance to get to know Kevin's stepdaughters and Kiara more this year than any other year before. It's been super fun for them and they are loving the time they get to spend with each other. Miles away, it does make it tough, but they take full advantage of every minute they get when the girls come to visit Grandma and Grandpa Larsen.

We really try to get together every year. Amber and I have been friends for years now, and our cute kids seem to like each other well enough. This time when we went for a visit everyone seemed to pair up and go play like they were long lost besties. It was rather adorable. When it was time to go, they were asking when we were going to see each other again. In fact, they ask me every once in a while when we'll see them, and while we didn't get to see each other this 2015 summer, we really do plan to make it happen next year.