Our little lady was given some make up from Santa this year. After playing all Christmas morning with her dolls and other fun toys she decided it was time to try out her new lip gloss. She took me by the hand and led me into the bathroom where we had some mommy daughter time getting all dolled up. It seems as though she has grown up so much this year. Our little girl is sure growing up into a beautiful little lady.
Christmas Morning we had so much fun watching the kids unwrap their gifts. Hearing their squeals of delight as they opened their gifts was sheer joy for us. We spent the day lounging around playing with our new toys and then we headed over to our friends for a wonderful Christmas dinner. I cooked the turkey for the dinner and this year as I thought about how it was no big deal for me to cook a turkey I felt a little too grown up. :O) All in all it was wonderful.
No one was more excited then Bridger!
Eating his candy treats from his stocking
Loving the jacket Stewy got me!
Playing with Bridger's Leap Pad
Everyone, Thank you for your gifts! We LOVED them all! Seriously. :O)This year we were all by ourselves on Christmas Eve. We did a party buffet, decorated cookies for Santa, acted out the nativity, ate ice cream sundaes with my homemade hot fudge and butterscotch sauce, read stories, opened gifts from Grandma and Pa Ras, and excitedly went to bed awaiting Santa to arrive and deliver our presents. We had a really lovely time.
The Boys
The Girls
Santa cookies for Santa. :)
Very last minute we decided to take some pictures for a Christmas card for those that aren't ridiculously up to date on our lives via our blog. We were finally recovered from pink eye enough to not look like someone had punched us in the face, the hubby was finally with us to take part in such a picture, and though we had terrible colds we figured they wouldn't come across to apparently in the pictures. So we plowed a pathway into our backyard and set up the tripod. Our efforts for a spectacular picture were in vain but we did get at least one suitable family picture. And the kids, I don't think we'll ever get a picture with each of them looking at the camera and smiling. We'll just pretend we are going for the candid look! ;O)
Before I set out on my monster trek to see the "doc to be" over the thanksgiving holiday I talked to my sister about her delivery plans. She said she didn't need any help. BUT, it just didn't sit right with me. Sure she is wonder women and all but I know she would have a lot more fun if I were around! ;) So I twisted her arm until she finally asked me to come. Happily a visit to Phoenix was added to our itinerary. After we regained some strength from our Disneyland fun and my car got out of the shop the kids and I headed to AZ. It was so fun to be with my sister again. Sisters are the best thing in the world! This being her fifth baby I was given the responsibility of watching all seven kids (including my own) and the two cats and a horse - oops, I mean dog - while she did the real work of having a baby. The best part was that at the last moment we asked her super cute neighbor to watch the kids while I dashed over to the hospital for the birth. My sister made birth look like the easiest thing ever and baby Seth was absolutely perfect. You know how most newborns are at their ugliest right after birth because they are all puffy and covered in yuck and their heads are all shaped funny? Well, not this kid. He was perfect.
The seven rascals, as they really all are, had lots of fun partying. When I heard that the hospital was giving Bethany and her hubby a romantic dinner the night after Seth was born I knew the kids and I had to have some fun of our own. We had a kid party. :O) The next day we made a little birthday party for baby Seth for his homecoming. The kids made the cutest banner you have ever seen and we had a birthday cake, balloons,...I sort of cant turn down an opportunity to throw a party. It was really fun.
Then the worst case of pink eye struck and thus it was time to hit the road for Vegas. After one sleep we head to Reno. And found ourselves missing the absolutely perfect weather of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. I do not like being cold. But more then that I miss being able to hang out with Bethany in person instead of talking on the phone for two hours daily. Miss you!
I am home. It feels nice. Today was stressful. I drove by myself with three kids two having terrible pink eye, one having diarrhea, I having a fun case of PMS, through pockets of fog for seven and a half hours, being so sleep deprived, and having no movies or anything for the kids. I arrived home to find massive amounts of snow, that our house has no water, and discovered broken pipes. So what do I do? I over pay a plumber, realize we do have water under our house, shovel a mountain of snow so I can park my car, realize I am getting pink eye too, listen to a million messages I will reply to tomorrow, stare blankly at the pile of business stuff I have to catch up on and the unpacking to do, and realize we haven't even thought about Christmas yet,.....BUT I still feel all calm and happy inside. :) Why? Because my Stewart is coming home in four days and he is actually staying home for an entire semester! After that we'll have an even higher degree of madness to deal with but in the mean time we can just be. Oh, what simple exquisite joy. That is all I want for Christmas. To gather around our tree all together with no noise from the outside world and teach our children all about Christ. Lovely. Then to be able to say goodbye to an extremely busy, fun, challenging, and eventful year while stepping into a new year well rested just tops it off as a dream come true.
Just four days and I am there. :)
We had our family trip to Disneyland and it was soooo much fun! It really is a magical place espeacially at Christmas time and with little ones. Being there with our Kids and watching them have the time of their lives was about the best thing in the world for Stewart and I. Half way through our day Stewart told me that he thought that it was one of the happiest days of his life. :) It really was so great. The big kids were the perfect age...seriosly thought everything was so magical. They really love Mickey and Minnie and adore the princesses so meeting them was a dream come true for them. We happened to be there on one the bussiest days of the year: the candel light processional, Walt Disney's birthday, Saturday, Christmas season...But it didn't make things crazy for us. We were there when they opened the gates and we played until 9pm. i realized that Disneyland is a great place for babies too! You can take them on so many rides and they have a great baby center and everything. I am so glad we went. If I could I would recommend everyone with little kids to go. When it started to snow I got all chocked up and even cried a little. The advertising is true. It really is magical and one of the happiest places. Here is a picture slide show and a list of some of our favorite things were able to do:
- Haunted Mansion - Gadget's Go Coaster (twice) - Autopia (twice) - Mad Tea Party (twice) - Tarzan's Tree House - Disney Princess Fantasy Faire - Mickey's House - Meet Mickey - Minnie's House - Meet Minnie - Nemo Submarine - Jungle Cruise - Pirates of the Caribbean - Alice in Wonderland - Casey Jr. Circus Train - Dumbo flying Elephant - "Its a small world" - King Arthur Carousel - Peter Pan's Flight - Storybook Land Canal Boats - Watch light show at Small World - Watch Tatiana's Jubilee - Watch part of the candle light processional - Watch the main street parade - Space Rockets
We were in Las Vegas for Benjamin's birthday and so we were happy to be able to have a party with Stewart's family. I stole my sister's teddy bear cake pan and made a cute 3D cake for Benja Boo and the kids thought it was wonderful. I did a rich chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting it was like eating a really fancy peanut butter cup. Yum. I will post the recipe on my food blog soon because I think it is a new family favorite. We had homemade Mac and Cheese and hot dogs - his favorites. He was spoiled with some great gifts including a little blanket I made for him that I was pleased he loved. We had a wonderful party. I am still in shock at how fast his first year has gone. I think with each child it just goes faster and faster. Here are a million pictures! Enjoy feeling like you lived it too. ;)
One year ago I gave birth to this beautiful baby boy. I remember all through my pregnancy I felt so close to him like we were all ready really great friends. It has remained that way. I feel like he and I are good old friends. I love being with him and he has been nothing but joy. I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant baby. I am so grateful to have him and his older siblings. They, with their father make my life absolutely wonderful. Everyday is tiring but ultimately filled with smiles. I am so glad Benjamin is ours. He has made this past year extra special. We all adore him!
The kids and I loaded up on Wednesday morning and headed toward Provo. It was a long drive but the kids did well. We took our time and didn't rush it too much. We made lots of stops and stretched our legs often so we weren't too miserable when we finally arrived at Grandma Larsen's house. We stayed up until daddy got there late at night and we were so thrilled to be together again.
We had a wonderful time with our family members in Utah. It was so nice to be with those people we love so much and make some new fun memories: racing obstacle courses, football playing, EATING, nose hairs! LOL, watching BYU's victory, doing my hair (thanks Becca), playing games, and talking and teasing each other. We had fun being with aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, nephews, nieces, and siblings. I hope next year will bring just as happy of memories!
Here are some picture memories from our Thanksgiving. Someday I will get some pictures at my brothers house! I promise we love you just as much!!! ;)
