Life these days.

Christmas break was full of family, sleeping in, and having everyone home. Now it's busy season for Eric, ward conference season for me, and life with only 1 parents for the munchkins. We are hanging in there so far, but it's only been a few days. 

Here are a few glimpses into life recently in larsenland. 

Christmas morning!

Scotty finally got the Lego x wing he wanted. 

Alyssa and I made a closet for her Dolly's clothes. 

Kids are Funny People

I have thousands of pictures I could share, and millions of stories bouncing around in my head. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I'm spending most of my time these days just living life and running out of time to talk about it!

This, gem, however, needed a quick share.

Alyssa, fresh from the bath and resembling a cute little girl instead of an straggly orphan child, is jumping on her bed.

Me: "Alyssa, your bed is not for jumping on."

Alyssa: "I wasn't jumping!"

Me: "I can see you jumping!"

Alyssa: "Ok, I'll close the door."

Eric and I just looked at each other, stunned. Alyssa: 1 Parents: 0. It's hard to consistently enforce the rules when you are surrounded by little lawyers with the gift of gab.

And now, 11 reasons why my kids can always make me smile:

Rachel is 1-derful!

Teeth: 2 bottom, the edges of the 2 top in the past week

New tricks: pulling up, cruising, giving kisses, pointing, nodding, shaking her head

Signs: more, occasionally she signs thank you, please, and banana

Words: nothing consistently real! She says "eh" to mean yes, "uh uh" if she's in trouble, and babbles mama, dada, and nana sounds

Favorites: food! Especially graham crackers and sweet potatoes. She can gum down just about anything, even small pieces of chicken. Dolls. She screams if Alyssa has a doll and she doesn't. She cradles her dolls, pats their backs, smoothes their hair, and sings at them. It's adorable, except for the screaming part ;) she also loves her siblings, the bath, swimming, and my parents' dog Timbre. 

Dislikes: people taking her toys or not sharing food! Sleeping at my moms house. Getting woken up from naps to pick Scotty up from school. When she's upset, she screams like demons are ripping her arms off. Repeatedly. 

My favorite things: she snuggles and pats my back when I hug her. She is curious and explores, but actually stops and listens when I try to keep her away from something! She is so emotive and conversational, nodding and shaking her head, singing along with me. Just when she's starting to seem big, she snuggles up and nurses (at least 4 times a day still) and I get to keep her as my sweet baby :)

St Malo California

Well, school has started here and getting back to life as normal reminds me that, once upon a time, I used to be good at blogging!

At what point do you give up on catching up and just decide to plow ahead? I suppose now is as good a day as any!

A few weeks back we got to spend a week in St Malo Beach in California. This year my brother and his kids were able to come from Iowa! It made for good conversations and game nights, but also added the noise and chaos of three more small kids. 

The only downside to the trip was a ridiculous allergic reaction to mosquito bites. I got three on the same foot and it swelled so much I could hardly walk for several days. It was a week before I could move my toes!

It's hard to see in a picture, until you realize that my toes are closer together because of the swelling and all of the wrinkles and veins are hidden...

Stephen and Emily in AZ!

Ok, my blogging has been ridiculous. It's hard to get motivated to sit down at the computer, transfer pictures from the hodge podge of phones they were taken with (my "regular" camera hasn't had batteries for a year now), and actually get words down. I plan to go back and blog about lots of highlights from the past 6 months, but for now, I'll start here.

Eric's younger brother Stephen and his beautiful wife Emily and their son Daniel (who is a total charmer, by the way) came down for a long memorial weekend-o-fun! For those of you contemplating trips filled with sunshine, we sure know how to party!

In four and a half days we fit in swimming, a trip to the zoo and the splash pads, a drive down to Tucson to the Titan Missile Museum, a quick stop by the Gilbert Temple, paint balling, shopping, a surprise birthday party (for me!) and lots of good food. The best part was that I had essentially no part in making any of that food! Thank you husbands who like to cook in their spare time, a nice date night out at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant, and Joe's Farm Grill.

Here are a ton of pictures, most thanks to Emily :)

the moon was huge. and apparently worth a short hill hike for better viewing :)

the zoo splash pads are AWESOME.

water babies!

Aunt Emily was a HUGE hit with my kids. Alyssa in particular wanted NOTHING to do with me if she could have Emily!

Titan Missile Museum

Date night: hooray for awesome friends (thanks, Linds!) who volunteered to babysit all our munchkins

Sneaking some piano time with Rachel

She's getting pretty brave

Happy Birthday to me!

Scotty was a great helped with Daniel

Our new temple! Coming sometime Fall 2013 (hopefully)

I so wish my kids got to live near their cousins! Someday...someday.