fun at the planetarium

For winning the Reflections Contest, the kids got free tickets to go to the Clark Planetarium so today the kids and I and my little nephew Jonah went to Salt Lake to go visit the Planetarium. Pretty cool stuff!
They did the "Fresh Air Forecast" and walked on the moon and Mars. We saw a 3D show called "Deep Sea 3D" which just gave me a whopping headache. Just goes to show how old I am, I guess! Taylor was perfect--he even sat and watched the show (I think he just liked the Reeses Pieces we kept feeding him)
Anyway, it was the absolute perfect day with some pretty great kids, if I do say so myself.

PLEASE stop dreaming of a white Christmas...

OK...are you kidding me? Does anyone else think the snow is a tad excessive? We feel a little bit like hermits all holed up in our house, but actually, there's nothing I like better than to be with my family.

CHRISTMAS MORNING: We had about 10 minutes of fun until the power went out for about 4 1/2 hours. Doesn't sound too terrible until you realize that Santa got the kids a Wii for their BIG present...not a lot of fun to just sit and look at it. We had candles and flashlights and lanterns going throughout the morning. That's why all of the pictures are so dark--we had to rely on the flash of the camera. We had a great Christmas and hope you all did too!

fun BEFORE Christmas!!!

We have had some fun things this past week and will post a few pictuers from each activity. Megan had her band performance this past week--she's getting to be a pretty good "flutist"
Friday I had my very fun aerobics friends over for a tasty lunch---forgot to take pictures when they were here, but how cute is the table?
Saturday was the big Larsen family party here at our house complete with hula dancing and carol singing.
This evening we went to Lindsey and Mark's house to celebrate his birthday. Yummiest cake/waffles EVER! Thanks for having everyone over, Linz!!!

And now, the week of Christmas. A little last minute shopping to do but like my mom said, it feels like we get 3 Christmas Eves! Love and Joy to all of you!!!

happy birthday sweet taylor jennings!

Well, the day has come. Taylor turns "1" today. For some people, that might be exciting, but for me---not so much. I have absolutely loved every day with him this past year. He is such a sweet little boy with such a funny personality. He loves to joke around and loves to make people laugh. Each day I think, "THIS is the perfect age" and then he does something new and I think, "No, THIS is the perfect age!" He's had quite a year with RSV, tubes, surgery and a few tumbles and stumbles but he's no worse for the wear. I mostly just feel truly blessed to have him as my baby. He's been nothing byt a joy in this family and we love him to pieces. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAY!!!

ANNIES 2ND BEST DAY EVER!!

Well, this will still pale in comparison next to meeting David Archuleta, but Annie got her new contacts today. She chose "emerald green" and looks absolutely beautiful! It only took her 15 minutes to pop them in--we haven't tried getting them out yet. She won Student of the Month today and also 1st place in Reflections for her piano piece. What a great day!

Zach also had a pretty good day himself--he won Student of the Month and 1st place for his piano piece in Reflections too.
Happy Day at the Larsen house!!!

bit of randomness today

Just posting a few pictures off the camera. Nothing big--Zach and Taylor LOVED seeing Santa at our ward party last Saturday.


Alex loves Tay and Taylor loves Alex!!!

Piano teaching is done for the season so BRING ON CHRISTMAS!!!
And for all news Archuleta, his new video for the song "A Little Too Not Over You" is on YouTube now--just thought you oughtta know...

here's an early christmas present...

Yeah--so we love David Archuleta in this house (mostly the girls do...) and found this absolutely beautiful clip of Silent Night sung a cappella. Enjoy--and thank me later for showing it to you!!! (start at second 26 to bypass all of the screaming girls)

annie's a hospital pro now!!!

Annie did SO good today! She was pretty nervous but has kept saying all day long that "it wasn't as bad as I thought...". We got to the hospital at about 7 a.m. and checked in.
She had the BEST nurse ever!! She was so sweet to Annie and made getting the I.V. a breeze!
Annie loved the nice warm blankets they kept putting on her but got a little teary when we walked to the surgery room. They let me stay with her until she was completely out so she didn't see me go.
One of the first things she asked for in the recovery room, after a drink of water, was her purple ipod so she could listen to David Archuleta's new cd. What a fan!!!
The doctor came and got me and told me the good news/bad news. He didn't find anything abnormal during the procedure--he sent some tissue to be biopsed (sp?). Anyway, it's still a hit and miss game to find a medicine to help her stomache, but we"re sure grateful for the outcome today!!!

fun with the fam

Over this long weekend we went down to St. George and stayed in a house that Steve's parents have there. We took the kids to see the movie Bolt, went out to Tuacahn to see the lights, the live nativity and take a little train ride, and mostly just hung out together as a family. My kids are so sweet to eachother--Alex took off his coat and gave it to Annie at Tuacahn and he gave his beanie to Zach that night when he noticed that Zach's ears were getting cold. They all helped with Taylor during the movie (he finally fell asleep halfway through...) and honestly just enjoyed eachother's company. I am a lucky, lucky mom!

i LOVE having days off!

When I don't have to teach 12 piano students, I find that I have all sorts of time to do fun things with the kids! Today we went to the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy with my sister and my sister-in-law and their kids. What a cool place! Where else is Zachary going to be able to touch a stingray and a starfish SAFELY? I loved how Lindsey's little girl Josie was amazed to see all of the "Nemos". And how her little boy Jonah would get just close enough to the stingray to feel brave, but not touch it. It was a really fun afternoon--I love Lindsey and Karly!! And lunch at Wingers was the icing on the cake.....even though Thanksgiving is tomorrow!

sisters sleepover weekend!!!

I love this one particular weekend of the year. My Aunt Becky, her girls and her girls-in-law all get together with my mom, sister and sisters-in-law and we have the FUNNEST WEEKEND!!! We went to Johnny Carino's for dinner last night, gave eachother little presents afterwards, woke up this morning and went to breakfast, then shopped, Shopped, SHOPPED!!! We end up talking and talking non-stop for 2 entire days. When all the girls went home, my whole family came back over to our house and watched the BYU/Utah game. Tough loss for sure!!! We can now look forward to Thanksgiving and heading down to St. George in a few days. I love the Fall!!!

how cute are my kids?!?!

we FINALLY got all of the kids' school pictures. for some reason, they lost megan's pictures this year and had to reorder them from california. anyway, alex is 14 and in 9th grade, megan is 12 and in 7th, annie is 11 and in 6th grade and little zach is 7 and in 1st grade. lovin my kids!!!

oh my heck!!!

Today was that "ONE" day--we all have them every once in a while--you know the "ONE" where you have BIG projects to do and it all combines to make the perfect storm?? My "ONE" day started actually last night where after teaching 11 piano students, Steve and I had to go to the church get the gym set up for our primary quarterly activity I was in charge of. It took a couple of hours and I was already tired at 7:00 a.m. when I had to wake up to get ready for the Teacher Training meeting which I was incidentally in charge of too. After the meeting and the activity, I had 2 piano recitals this afternoon. Combine that with it being Zach's birthday today, all of the Federation registrations due for my piano kids and a quiz I was supposed to take online (pushed that till tomorrow....), OH MY HECK!!! Glad today's over--hopefully won't have another day like this for a LONG time!

CALGON....take us away!

We took the kids on a fun "secret" get-away this weekend. Steve and I packed for them so it was a total surprise when on Friday night we packed them all in the car and drove to a Marriott Hotel for a night of swimming, games and SO MUCH FOOD!!! Some kids loved the cold pool And the other kids hung out in the hot tub!
The next morning, Steve, Alex, Megan and I went to the BYU game while sweet little Annie watched the 2 younger boys. We love our family so much and love spending time together. Sometimes you just need to get away to do it...

Marriott Halloween Party

It's hard to believe with all the snow that's outside today that this picture was taken less than a week ago! Marriott always goes all out for their parties and this year was no different. We had so much fun together--and Steve even got paid time off the phone! Next up.....THANKSGIVING!
P.S. Seriously, Alex?!?!

halloween and hsm 3

We seem to do things a little different with the older kids on Halloween. Alex got to spend the night over at his Uncles Cameron and Collin's house to play video games and watch movies, the girls and I went to see High School Musical 3 with Lindsey and Carrie, and the little boys were our trick-or-treaters. We got to go to Steve's Marriott work party which was super fun. They had a spook alley, carnival games, and a little trick-or-treat route throughout the building. What a perfect day capped off by a beautiful night to go door to door for candy. Hope everyone else had a great Halloween too!!