jack is a pro and getting Katie to laugh.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
travelouge
I've been on vacation. And while I could have written about our comings and goings while we were vacationing I decided not to.
Two weeks ago Dave took Step 1 of the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam). Early Monday morning we packed up the kids and drove to Hartford, CT where we flew back home. It was a perfect storm. Dave had 2 weeks off, Ana had 1 week off of school, and we got good ticket prices. So we scraped together our change and took off.
*The flights there went really well. We had a 4 hour layover in Dallas, where they had a kids play area and Katie had fun crawling around. We got to my parents house late Monday night.
*Tuesday my sis from Idaho Falls drove down to visit. Ana decided she's marrying her cousin Seth.
*Wednesday we headed up to Rexburg. Of course, it wouldn't be Rexburg if it didn't blizzard while we were there. We drove around town, ate at Arctic Circle (milkshakes!!!), toured campus with Dave's nephew who wants to go there, including the new BYU-I Center and the unrecognizable student life building, and stopped by a good friend's house for a wonderful visit. We saw an entire sunset on the drive home.
*Thursday was a nice relaxing day, where Dave and I snuck away sans kids for a lunch with his brother and then hung out with Granny and Gramps the rest of the day, including a rousing game of Mexican Train Dominoes and chatting late into the night.
*Friday we were joined in Pocatello by 5 of my sisters, which resulted in good food and lots of laughs. Ana and Jack had great fun re-uniting with their cousins.
*Saturday my younger sister Heather, a.k.a. H-word, a.k.a. H, went through the Temple for the first time. I felt so much peace. It had been far too long since I had been to the Temple and it was a wonderful time to spend in the Temple with so much of my family. We went to lunch as a group, too, which was fun and yummy even though I did get a plastic honey jar ring in my sandwich. We then headed to Rupert for the remainder of our trip.
*Sunday we were able to see the blessing of our neice's baby (that's right, I am a great-aunt - 9 times!) and then spend the afternoon at Dave's sister Leanne's house. The weather was warm (65 degrees) and the sky was blue. I soaked up the sun. All 7 Larsen children were together. We even got a picture!
*Monday was full of visits by family, driving around town, and late night card games. Good times were had by all.
*Tuesday I went to my friends' house for a lunch/playdate. I had some pretty stellar friends in Rupert and I loved catching up with them. Ana decided she's going to marry her new friend Carson. They were even holding hands.
*Wednesday we said our goodbyes and then Mom and Dad L drove us down to Salt Lake. We visited Temple Square, ran into a friend from Vermont (random!) and visited the new Deseret Book across the street.
*Early yesterday morning we woke up, hugged Grandma and Grandpa tightly, and headed home to Vermont. THAT was the real adventure. We had scheduled a 1 hour layover in Dallas. We were late getting in, so we hurried to our gate, only to find out that our flight was delayed. Long story short, we changed gates 3 times, and due to our plane being rerouted, then weather keeping it from getting in, then needed a new flight crew, then waiting for a new flight crew, our 1 hour layover turned into a 7 hour layover. Surprisingly, the kids did amazing! We set up "camp" in a cozy corner at our gate. The kids played and danced and skipped and sang and found letters and ate snacks and played on Dave's iPhone. Katie crawled and crawled and crawled and ate a napped and crawled. Through the course of the day, we had several people tell us how good our kids were. One guy even came over to our "camp" just to say how impressed he was with our kids and how they were not obnoxious but just normal, happy kids. Finally we got the kids in their jammies and boarded the plane. Katie and Jack were asleep before we took off. Ana was asleep before the seat belt sign dinged off. We landed late, we drove for a while, then stayed at a hotel about an hour and half away from home.
That's the gist of it. I may post more snippets as they arise. We are so glad we were able to go. The kids miss everyone already. Re-entry (into real life) is always a little turbulent, but I'm sure in a few days things will be back to normal.
We are so glad we were able to visit our family. 4 years is a long time to be away, but we are enjoying our life here in Vermont, and we are already half way done.
Two weeks ago Dave took Step 1 of the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam). Early Monday morning we packed up the kids and drove to Hartford, CT where we flew back home. It was a perfect storm. Dave had 2 weeks off, Ana had 1 week off of school, and we got good ticket prices. So we scraped together our change and took off.
*The flights there went really well. We had a 4 hour layover in Dallas, where they had a kids play area and Katie had fun crawling around. We got to my parents house late Monday night.
*Tuesday my sis from Idaho Falls drove down to visit. Ana decided she's marrying her cousin Seth.
*Wednesday we headed up to Rexburg. Of course, it wouldn't be Rexburg if it didn't blizzard while we were there. We drove around town, ate at Arctic Circle (milkshakes!!!), toured campus with Dave's nephew who wants to go there, including the new BYU-I Center and the unrecognizable student life building, and stopped by a good friend's house for a wonderful visit. We saw an entire sunset on the drive home.
*Thursday was a nice relaxing day, where Dave and I snuck away sans kids for a lunch with his brother and then hung out with Granny and Gramps the rest of the day, including a rousing game of Mexican Train Dominoes and chatting late into the night.
*Friday we were joined in Pocatello by 5 of my sisters, which resulted in good food and lots of laughs. Ana and Jack had great fun re-uniting with their cousins.
*Saturday my younger sister Heather, a.k.a. H-word, a.k.a. H, went through the Temple for the first time. I felt so much peace. It had been far too long since I had been to the Temple and it was a wonderful time to spend in the Temple with so much of my family. We went to lunch as a group, too, which was fun and yummy even though I did get a plastic honey jar ring in my sandwich. We then headed to Rupert for the remainder of our trip.
*Sunday we were able to see the blessing of our neice's baby (that's right, I am a great-aunt - 9 times!) and then spend the afternoon at Dave's sister Leanne's house. The weather was warm (65 degrees) and the sky was blue. I soaked up the sun. All 7 Larsen children were together. We even got a picture!
*Monday was full of visits by family, driving around town, and late night card games. Good times were had by all.
*Tuesday I went to my friends' house for a lunch/playdate. I had some pretty stellar friends in Rupert and I loved catching up with them. Ana decided she's going to marry her new friend Carson. They were even holding hands.
*Wednesday we said our goodbyes and then Mom and Dad L drove us down to Salt Lake. We visited Temple Square, ran into a friend from Vermont (random!) and visited the new Deseret Book across the street.
*Early yesterday morning we woke up, hugged Grandma and Grandpa tightly, and headed home to Vermont. THAT was the real adventure. We had scheduled a 1 hour layover in Dallas. We were late getting in, so we hurried to our gate, only to find out that our flight was delayed. Long story short, we changed gates 3 times, and due to our plane being rerouted, then weather keeping it from getting in, then needed a new flight crew, then waiting for a new flight crew, our 1 hour layover turned into a 7 hour layover. Surprisingly, the kids did amazing! We set up "camp" in a cozy corner at our gate. The kids played and danced and skipped and sang and found letters and ate snacks and played on Dave's iPhone. Katie crawled and crawled and crawled and ate a napped and crawled. Through the course of the day, we had several people tell us how good our kids were. One guy even came over to our "camp" just to say how impressed he was with our kids and how they were not obnoxious but just normal, happy kids. Finally we got the kids in their jammies and boarded the plane. Katie and Jack were asleep before we took off. Ana was asleep before the seat belt sign dinged off. We landed late, we drove for a while, then stayed at a hotel about an hour and half away from home.
That's the gist of it. I may post more snippets as they arise. We are so glad we were able to go. The kids miss everyone already. Re-entry (into real life) is always a little turbulent, but I'm sure in a few days things will be back to normal.
We are so glad we were able to visit our family. 4 years is a long time to be away, but we are enjoying our life here in Vermont, and we are already half way done.
Friday, February 24, 2012
mommy school
Last month, my neighbor and I started a "mommy school" with our two little boys. It has been really fun. I knew I'd like the once a week quiet time at home while Katie was napping and Jack was gone, but I didn't really anticipate how much I'd LOVE teaching those two little boys. We don't really have a plan or schedule for what we are teaching - we just do whatever we want.
The lesson about our bodies included an obstacle course. They thought this was awesome and Jack has asked when we can do it again.
Another day we talked about sight. We went on a scavenger hunt around our neighborhood.
Something red:
Something blue:
Something tall:
Sara is a teacher so she always has lots of fun ideas for the boys. (see here) It's been a lot of fun and the boys get so excited to go to preschool!
The lesson about our bodies included an obstacle course. They thought this was awesome and Jack has asked when we can do it again.
Another day we talked about sight. We went on a scavenger hunt around our neighborhood.
Something red:
Something blue:
Something tall:
Sara is a teacher so she always has lots of fun ideas for the boys. (see here) It's been a lot of fun and the boys get so excited to go to preschool!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
baby eating
I really did not know what I was doing when Ana was a baby. I always let her eat with her hands, and she was always a mess. She still is a mess when she eats.
By Jack I kinda had a few things figured out and I spoon fed him for a long time.
So when Katie was born, I thought, "I've got this."
But of, course, Katie is a different baby. And suddenly I realize, I really don't know what I'm doing.
This little one doesn't like to eat from a spoon. She pulls a face. She spits it out. Then she tries to grab the spoon and wiggles like crazy which makes a total mess.
But she will eat a few things if she can feed herself, so that is what we are going for recently. Man it is a mess!
She is cute, though!
By Jack I kinda had a few things figured out and I spoon fed him for a long time.
So when Katie was born, I thought, "I've got this."
But of, course, Katie is a different baby. And suddenly I realize, I really don't know what I'm doing.
This little one doesn't like to eat from a spoon. She pulls a face. She spits it out. Then she tries to grab the spoon and wiggles like crazy which makes a total mess.
But she will eat a few things if she can feed herself, so that is what we are going for recently. Man it is a mess!
She is cute, though!
Friday, February 17, 2012
fly me to saturn
This is Jack's favorite book to pick out from the library.
For a while, he called himself "Jack Saturn J.A.C.K. Larsen."
And if it is time to take that one back, he chooses another just like it, only about stars or galaxies or jupiter or uranus.
Today he requested a coloring page of the Hubble Space Telescope and a space shuttle. And we had this conversation:
"The Hubble Space Telescope takes pictures of planets. And stars. And nebulas. And supernovas," he said.
"You could be an astronaut when you grow up," I said.
"Yeah! I could be a dad and an astronaut at the same time! Then I could go up into space," he said excitedly. "I could fly to Saturn and Uranus and Jupiter. Oh, and Mercury. ... But I better watch out for meteors." Then he got serious. "I think I'll just stay in the space ship so I don't get hit by meteors."
The other day it occurred to me that someday he'll love another woman more than he loves me. I am trying to think what I can do to stop time in it's tracks and keep him 3 forever.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
lover's day
Ana told me she's in love with a boy in her class.
"Really, Mom," she said. "Me and Mikey are in love already." She even drew an extra heart on his Valentine.
A girl after my own heart. My kindergarten love was named Bobby. Through the years the name and face changed but I was always "in love" with some boy.
Every once in a while something stops me and I start thinking about all of these "loves." The neighbor kid. The funny one. The missionary. The one that was too good for me. The one my parents didn't approve of. The high school sweetheart.
And finally, the One. He came at a time when I had sworn off boys and was set for a mission as soon as I turned 21. I really, really wanted to serve a mission. I took the mission prep course. And as soon as winter semester 2005 started, I was going to get my mission papers together.
We started dating the last week of fall semester.
He was easy to be around. He made me smile and laugh. He was smart and spiritual. He is sensitive and caring. And we had so much in common - like our love of fry sauce. So I made a choice to love him the rest of my life.
I made that choice every day. Most of the time it is easy. Sometimes it is a little more difficult. Love is a choice. As a wife. As a mother. As a friend.
Sometimes I think about how we are changed by this choice we make. I am different now than I would have been after 7 years with any of those other "loves." I am better. I like to think he is better because of me too.
Our first Valentine's day (2005) we went out for milkshakes. We've celebrated in like manner every year since. But because Vermont is seriously lacking in the milkshake department (Ben and Jerry's and Hood have the ice cream industry covered out here) we made our own last night.
I'm still in love with him.
"Really, Mom," she said. "Me and Mikey are in love already." She even drew an extra heart on his Valentine.
A girl after my own heart. My kindergarten love was named Bobby. Through the years the name and face changed but I was always "in love" with some boy.
Every once in a while something stops me and I start thinking about all of these "loves." The neighbor kid. The funny one. The missionary. The one that was too good for me. The one my parents didn't approve of. The high school sweetheart.
And finally, the One. He came at a time when I had sworn off boys and was set for a mission as soon as I turned 21. I really, really wanted to serve a mission. I took the mission prep course. And as soon as winter semester 2005 started, I was going to get my mission papers together.
We started dating the last week of fall semester.
He was easy to be around. He made me smile and laugh. He was smart and spiritual. He is sensitive and caring. And we had so much in common - like our love of fry sauce. So I made a choice to love him the rest of my life.
I made that choice every day. Most of the time it is easy. Sometimes it is a little more difficult. Love is a choice. As a wife. As a mother. As a friend.
Sometimes I think about how we are changed by this choice we make. I am different now than I would have been after 7 years with any of those other "loves." I am better. I like to think he is better because of me too.
Our first Valentine's day (2005) we went out for milkshakes. We've celebrated in like manner every year since. But because Vermont is seriously lacking in the milkshake department (Ben and Jerry's and Hood have the ice cream industry covered out here) we made our own last night.
I'm still in love with him.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
its been 6 months
Katie is 6 months old! I can hardly believe it.
Everywhere I go people tell me how beautiful she is. She is so smiley and sweet. No one can make her laugh like Jack can. She smiles when her sister or Dad come around. She cries when Mama leaves. Or walks past her without picking her up. Or looks at her without picking her up.
In general, she likes to get packed around. She also likes to sit in her high chair to eat, but she won't actually eat food from a spoon. She still wakes up once or twice at night.
My heart melts when she babbles "mamamama" or "dadada" or "hi" even though I know she's not saying words.
She weighs 16' 10" (59%) and is 27 in long (94%).
oh, and on more thing: She's crawling!!!!
Its been a long time coming. It is adorable.
We love our little baby. She makes me so happy.
Everywhere I go people tell me how beautiful she is. She is so smiley and sweet. No one can make her laugh like Jack can. She smiles when her sister or Dad come around. She cries when Mama leaves. Or walks past her without picking her up. Or looks at her without picking her up.
In general, she likes to get packed around. She also likes to sit in her high chair to eat, but she won't actually eat food from a spoon. She still wakes up once or twice at night.
My heart melts when she babbles "mamamama" or "dadada" or "hi" even though I know she's not saying words.
She weighs 16' 10" (59%) and is 27 in long (94%).
oh, and on more thing: She's crawling!!!!
Its been a long time coming. It is adorable.
We love our little baby. She makes me so happy.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
the fighter
I am a fighter. I have a super defense mode that is very easily activated and when it is, I am ready to fight.
I remember one time when I was in college, I was at Wal-Mart with my mom when she suggested I use brown mascara instead of black: defense mode activated.
Any time I hear of (or think about) someone not vaccinating their kids because they think it causes autism (IT DOESN'T!): defense mode activated.
And if I feel my sense of self or belief system is under attack or being undermined: defense mode super-activated.
And wo be unto those who cross my path in super defense mode. Usually, that person is Dave. He puts up with a lot.
That's probably why I like to write. Something about putting my thoughts on paper eases my defenses. Here I sit tonight, in super defense mode because of some imagined attack, but instead of finding insignificant things to fight about (which is usually the result) I will write. Perhaps I will pull up a google doc and defend myself in a place no one will see, like a letter written and not sent. Then I will probably wash some dishes so I have clean spoons for breakfast.
And soon my defenses will be down, and I can be loveable again.
I remember one time when I was in college, I was at Wal-Mart with my mom when she suggested I use brown mascara instead of black: defense mode activated.
Any time I hear of (or think about) someone not vaccinating their kids because they think it causes autism (IT DOESN'T!): defense mode activated.
And if I feel my sense of self or belief system is under attack or being undermined: defense mode super-activated.
And wo be unto those who cross my path in super defense mode. Usually, that person is Dave. He puts up with a lot.
That's probably why I like to write. Something about putting my thoughts on paper eases my defenses. Here I sit tonight, in super defense mode because of some imagined attack, but instead of finding insignificant things to fight about (which is usually the result) I will write. Perhaps I will pull up a google doc and defend myself in a place no one will see, like a letter written and not sent. Then I will probably wash some dishes so I have clean spoons for breakfast.
And soon my defenses will be down, and I can be loveable again.
Monday, February 6, 2012
a boy and his cars
My boy loves cars.
When Dave asks him what he did that each day, he always starts by saying whether or not he played cars. This has been going on quite some time. I love how he names all his cars. So while we were playing the other day, I pulled out the video camera and he told me the names of his favorites.
(Please excuse my ringing telephone, (I find it ironic that I go all day without a single phone call and in 5 minutes of making this video I got 2!) the messy play room and the fact that Jack is slightly out of focus. I am not a professional video-grapher.)
I love that little boy!
When Dave asks him what he did that each day, he always starts by saying whether or not he played cars. This has been going on quite some time. I love how he names all his cars. So while we were playing the other day, I pulled out the video camera and he told me the names of his favorites.
(Please excuse my ringing telephone, (I find it ironic that I go all day without a single phone call and in 5 minutes of making this video I got 2!) the messy play room and the fact that Jack is slightly out of focus. I am not a professional video-grapher.)
I love that little boy!
Friday, February 3, 2012
in which i pretend to be a craft blog
Christmas gets me in the mood to craft. Or maybe just winter in general.
I really wanted to make matching skirts for the girls this year for Christmas. Ana LOVES dressing matching with Katie. Katie's blessing sweater still mostly fits her so I made skirts to match that.
I got them done the week before Christmas and wouldn't you know it, I could not find Katie's little sweater anywhere. I searched all the week before Christmas - still no sweater. So the holiday came and went without taking pictures of my kids in their new Christmas outfits. Finally I resigned to it being lost and ordered a different one from a different store. Wouldn't you know it, the VERY DAY that sweater came in mail I found Katie's blessing one. It's pretty small now, but I put it on her anyway.
Ana really wanted a pillow pet for Christmas. I had a hard time coming around to it. I just couldn't justify spending 20 bucks for a pillow with a head. So I decided to make her a huge owl pillow. Then I found a knock-off pillow pet for 10 bucks and decided to just go for it. But I still wanted to make an owl pillow. So I made Katie a mini one. I love how it turned out!
Last year I made a wreath out of our Christmas Tree's bottom branches. I had so much fun, I thought I'd do it again this year, and then take a crappy picture of it.
Of course I had to make Katie a stocking:
Probably my favorite thing to sew is burp cloths. I know, that's weird. But they are fast, I don't have to think too much, and it satisfies my creative urges. This one was for a friend who is due next month with baby Benjamin.
So there you have it. 2 months worth of craftiness. Now it's out of my system for a few weeks, and maybe I can get caught up on housework. Okay, probably I'll just read some books instead.
I really wanted to make matching skirts for the girls this year for Christmas. Ana LOVES dressing matching with Katie. Katie's blessing sweater still mostly fits her so I made skirts to match that.
I got them done the week before Christmas and wouldn't you know it, I could not find Katie's little sweater anywhere. I searched all the week before Christmas - still no sweater. So the holiday came and went without taking pictures of my kids in their new Christmas outfits. Finally I resigned to it being lost and ordered a different one from a different store. Wouldn't you know it, the VERY DAY that sweater came in mail I found Katie's blessing one. It's pretty small now, but I put it on her anyway.
Ana really wanted a pillow pet for Christmas. I had a hard time coming around to it. I just couldn't justify spending 20 bucks for a pillow with a head. So I decided to make her a huge owl pillow. Then I found a knock-off pillow pet for 10 bucks and decided to just go for it. But I still wanted to make an owl pillow. So I made Katie a mini one. I love how it turned out!
Last year I made a wreath out of our Christmas Tree's bottom branches. I had so much fun, I thought I'd do it again this year, and then take a crappy picture of it.
Of course I had to make Katie a stocking:
Probably my favorite thing to sew is burp cloths. I know, that's weird. But they are fast, I don't have to think too much, and it satisfies my creative urges. This one was for a friend who is due next month with baby Benjamin.
So there you have it. 2 months worth of craftiness. Now it's out of my system for a few weeks, and maybe I can get caught up on housework. Okay, probably I'll just read some books instead.
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