Welcome Baby Larson

I took a much needed break from my all-consuming home improvement projects, loaded the kids in the car, and drove down to Fairview to say hello to a very tiny, precious, new addition to humanity…Lincoln Devron Larson. Lincoln entered the world on October 12th after a bit of a traumatic birth, but a week later (when we arrived) he looked no worse for the wear, in fact, he was adorable. He looks just like a little Larson should.

And as for his mother…

…my beautiful friend Cherish…she is looking awesome as well. Lincoln is one lucky baby to have Cherish as his mother. She’s one of the best moms I’ve ever known. Little Lincoln is Cherish’s sixth baby. Whitney, her daughter who comes just before Lincoln, is 9 years old. You could say that this little one was a bit of an unexpected surprise for Cherish and family, but what a blessed surprise. With only one other boy and four girls, you can imagine that this new little caboose will be very loved.

This is Whitney with Mary Kate. I’m sure Whitney will be a very conscientious big sister. At first she wasn’t so sure about the idea of losing her status and identity as the baby of the family, a position she has held in esteem for quiet sometime, but she’s come around and seems quite taken with baby Lincoln, as are all the rest of the siblings.

Welcome to the world little Lincoln. I can tell you with certainty that living life in the Larson household won’t ever be dull. The only thing I’m sad about is that you don’t live across the street anymore and I can’t come over and cuddle you whenever I feel like it. Try and talk your mom and dad into moving back. I know you can do it!

Change Is A Comin’

I haven’t been blogging as frequently as usual and there is good reason for that. I’ve been a little preoccupied of late with a few home improvement projects. I’ve discovered that I’m very much like my mother; if I’m on a project I can’t think about anything else until the project is complete. So maybe ‘preoccupied’ might be too mild a word to describe my state of being these past few weeks, maybe ‘obsessed’ would be more appropriately descriptive. Especially when chaos (like in the above photo) is inherent in the project I feel extra pressure to reach the finish line. I think my family might be ready to kill me and my obsessions.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel though, and I’m feeling very satisfied with the results. Pictures will follow upon project completion.

The White Board

The boys got a white board and some dry erase markers for Christmas. Mary Kate has always had her own on the flip side of her chalk board easel, but she’s pretty protective about it; she doesn’t trust the boys in her room with markers (can’t say that I blame her), so when the boys got their own board and supplies they thought it was pretty awesome.

Let’s just say this white board has been put to good use at our house. Almost daily I see something new written or scribbled on the blank white canvas. Sometimes I have to run and grab my camera. Here are just a few things the kids do to make good use of the white board…

They each got a new stuffed animal and here they were brainstorming together about names for said animals. (Hey Calvin, you should be proud that your name was represented here)

 

Mary Kate had a long day of babysitting the boys. Here she is keeping points for good and bad behavior. As you can see the reward is a rare trip to the public pool. I was just happy to come home and see that there were no points on the bad side. Nothing like some good old-fashioned bribery!

 

My children are very democratic.  We told them they could decide together were we went for dinner one evening. I looks like it was a toss up between Taco Time and Chick-Fu-La (ha, ha). As I recall Chick-Fu-La won. Have you guys ever tried Chick-Fu-La? Have you ever heard of it? It’s pretty good, huh Aunt Emily?

 

Here Mary Kate gave the boys a quick lesson about family trees. I love that Winnie was included. Unfortunately Winnie has been fixed so her family tree ends there, although I love that her parents names are Katie and Spencer.

 

Here is some more democracy in action…which books to read and in what order.

 

This one is my favorite. I sent Jeffrey to his room for doing something wrong. He was NOT happy with me. Looks like he engaged in a little art therapy while locked up. Can’t you just feel the anger depicted here? Black, purple, and red…good choices to represent and strong emotion like anger. (I got a good laugh from this one)

 

We’d been watching a lot of “How to Train Your Dragon.”

 

…and this one just melted my heart.

Parents out there…a white board and markers is a great Christmas gift idea. Relatively cheap and lots of fun.

Happy Birthday Papa!

Today (in the U.S.A that is), it’s my dad’s birthday. (I’m thinking he must have celebrated in New Zealand yesterday). I’m not exactly sure how old Dad is…my guess is 62…maybe 63? What ever his age, the world became a better place once he entered it. My dad has only ever been a force for good in the world all his years, and I’m so blessed that he is my father because he has been an equal force for good in my life. I’m wishing he was here today so I could cook him a hearty meal and a delicious dessert that would of course include cherries and chocolate in some fashion.

I love you dad. I hope you have a befitting birthday. I just wish I was there in New Zealand to celebrate with you!

Happy Birthday!

As a side note… (that’s also applicable on my dad’s birthday)…I thought of my dad all the way through this talk by Sister Dalton at General Conference. I’m one lucky, lucky daughter! Thank you Dad.

My First Phone Dump = Slices of Life

I just semi-recently learned how to use the camera on my smart phone, (I know, I’m a swift one). Tonight I sat down at my computer, turned on some Fleetwood Mac (still obsessed), and started sorting through the dozens of pictures that have been collecting on my phone over the last 10 months or so. It looks like my kids learned how to take pictures with my phone way before I did; there are several, and I mean several, pictures of basically nothing…a blanket in a heap on the floor, the dog running past in a blur, a big jar of magnetic letters on a bed. Nevertheless, looking through these incredibly random photos is providing me with a fun rewind… tiny glimpses into everyday life around here. For some reason it makes me smile.

Here are a few shots, in no particular order. Some were taken by me, some by the kids…

My niece Emily (whose nickname is Mimi) sitting by her very own café

My dad in New Zealand is looking very excited to be conversing with whichever kid is on Skype at the moment

I think this was one of the first times we met Miss Caitlyn Clyde…now Mrs. Caitlyn Johnson.

My feet in plaster. I’m had some orthotics made. Darn those flat feet of mine!

The Marriot Center at BYU, filled to capacity with women from all over the country, gathered together for Women’s Conference. Very powerful experience, and a highlight of my year.

I loved this headboard I saw in a model home…love the bird fabric and that lamp!

 
Someone showing their stuff on the new Flow Rider at Lindon Aquatic Center. This thing is so cool. I secretly wish I could do it.

My brand, spanking new niece Catherine. Just hours old.

A pair of Lamps at IKEA. I’m going to get those someday soon. Love the shades.

My darling daughter at Primary Children’s Medical Center emergency room. She looks pretty happy for someone who’s about to undergo a lumbar puncture, don’t you think?

That same darling daughter’s lovely knees, just after she fell off a motorized scooter. See the band-aid?

Chosen wall paper pattern for the redecorating of Mary Kate’s new room. A project that looms sometime in the near future. I think it’s going to look really cool when we’re done.

Beautiful rainbow over the mountain top.

A trip to the grocery store with my boy Jonathan. As you can see, I still have a pebble ice problem. I need help!

Homemade Chicken Madeira with asparagus. So delicious, but I’m still working on perfecting the sauce.

Elder Ballard speaking to us during General Conference this last weekend. He’s instructing us that we should refer to ourselves more often as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rather than Mormons. I can see the wisdom in that. We are a Christian religion first and foremost. We want people to know that without question.

There you have it…random slices of my exciting life. I should do this phone dumping exercise more often. Who knows what will turn up next time?