Blogger

So much has happened that I haven't posted yet. When I went to post, blogger said I had used my limit of space and could not post more pictures. While I'm trying to figure it out, I don't want to waste updates on my family. I will continue to post things that happen even if I can't post the pictures yet. Stay tuned to see how I figure this thing out.

Dance Recitals

Today, Dec. 8, both girls had their first dance recital. It was their Christmas family celebration show. Makenna had her show at 9:30 (then her 1st bball game at 11) and Bryn had hers at 12:30. They sure looked super cute. Makenna was one of the only girls that remembered the dance and did it full out. Bryn did very well remembering her dance as well. I was a little disappointed in the level of technique that was taught not only to my girls, but to the older girls that performed as well. I love the people at the studio, but I'm not quite sure I want to keep them there. I might be studio shopping really soon. I was really proud of how well both girls did. Tyler's parents were able to come and support the girls as well.

Basketball

Makenna started her first season of basketball with practice on November 30. The first practice was not pretty. She has never played and I don't think she has ever really shot a basketball to the hoop. The second practice got cancelled and Kenna had her first game on Dec. 8. I was really nervous to see her play. At least the other girls on the team can make it to the rim. Although Makenna may not be able to make a basket yet, she knows how to steal a ball and dribble down court. She knew how to cover the player from the other team and get the ball from them. She really surprised me. I have to say that 6 year old girls basketball is pretty comical. I am excited to watch Makenna grow and learn in this sport. Ty and I were both very proud of how well she played today.

Thanksgiving 2012

We spent Thanksgiving at home this year. All of Tyler's family came into town. Danielle and her girls came in a couple days earlier than everyone else. Everyone else came in on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Friday night, before Thanksgiving, Jan had the girls over for a sleep over with their cousin Addison and Kimber. Tuesday we all met for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Wednesday, Kimber and I took pictures of the cousins. Getting all four girls to cooperate was definitely a difficult task. That night we had Steve's Ribs for dinner and hung out altogether as a family. Thursday, Thanksgiving day, Tyler and the boys played football. His sisters, the girls and I went to Bass Pro shop to take pictures with Santa. We had a wonderful meal made by my Mother-in-law. We had tons of desserts and spent the day lounging around. The girls all got to make gingerbread houses. Kenna and Bryn loved playing with their cousin Addie. Thursday night, Ty took the girls home and I hit black friday with Jenn and her mom. It was warm until about 8:50pm and then a cold front moved in and it was freezing. We went to Target, Wal-Mart, Kohls, Old Navy, Jack-in-the-Box, Office Max and Game Stop. We ended up getting home at 6am. I ended up with a few good things at great prices. Friday was a busy day. We met Tyler's family for lunch at Ted's. After lunch we headed to downtown OKC to take family pictures. After pictures we went back to Tyler's parents house to have a birthday party for Brynlee and Makenna. Bryn's birthday was on Sunday and since we had everyone in town, we went ahead and celebrated Kenna's too. It was a minnie mouse and zebra party. We did cookies instead of cake. It was all our family and the Jeffries family and Jenn's parents. On Saturday, Danielle and her family left. On Sunday we went to Ty's parents ward. Tyler played the piano in sacrament for Kimber to sing. Then we went back to Jan's for dinner. Kyle and Kimber left that night and Dallin and Keely left early the next morning. We had a good time visiting with our family.

Mary Poppins

My father-in-law has season tickets at the Civic Center. He invited to take Tyler, Me and the girls to go see Mary Poppins with him and my MIL. On November 7th, we took the girls to their second musical, Mary Poppins. Tyler ended up having to work so my best friend, Jenn, came with us. I have to say the play wasn't what I expected it to be. I enjoyed the movie much better. The girls did well for the first half of the play. At intermission they ended up falling asleep and slept the second half of the play. It was interesting, but definitely not as good as other musicals I had seen there. I am thankful to my father-in-law for sharing his tickets and love of musicals with us and the girls. We have future plans to see Westside Story and Lion King.

Voting

Let me just say, I hate politics. Yet this year, I was extremely excited to vote for some change. I do NOT agree with how the past 4 years have gone for our country and was not looking forward to what the next 4 years would bring us if there was NOT change. A lot of prayer went in to this election for me as I know it did for many others. I tried to remain optimistic about the situation. I thought most people could see that change needed to happen. I felt that Obama was voted over Bush 4 years ago because people wanted change, not because Obama was really better, but people were done with Bush and what he did/didn't do. That gave me the feeling that most people could see that even though Romney wasn't perfect, that Obama didn't do much and what he did do wasn't good. I, along with others in my community, were feeling good about the outcome of the election. I was over cleaning our old house the night of the announcement. I remember looking at my phone as I received a notification on my phone that Obama won. I just started crying. To be honest, he scares me. I just have to remember what the scriptures have said, the world will get a lot worse the closer it gets to the second coming. Although many of you might not agree with my feelings towards Obama, that's ok. This blog is kind of my journal and I want to write this and keep it for future use. I am hoping that the next 4 years won't be as scary as I think they will be and remember the Lord knows how things are supposed be and we are under his care.

My 28th Birthday

Back in April, tickets went on sale for Carrie Underwoods concert in Oklahoma for October 25. Tyler bought tickets for us to go as my birthday present, Thank You Ty!! Carrie Underwood is my favorite artist and I love her music. I was super excited to see her concert. I couldn't wait for my birthday to come to go see her. Tyler and I went down to bricktown and ate at Chelinos for dinner. Then we went over to the Chesapeake Energy Arena to hear Hunter Hayes and Carrie Underwood perform. It was an awesome concert and a great birthday present.

I also got to go out with my best friend, Jenn, to dinner and to a show. I'm lucky to have such good people in my life

Halloween 2012

We had many Halloween festivities this year. Jenn J. and I took the kids to the pumpkin patch. Our family went to storybook forest again this year with the Jeffries family. We went to our ward Trunk-or-Treat and the girls had a blast as usual. We went to Mitch Park for their Pumpkin Palooza. There were lots of crafts and pumpkin chunkin'. The girls had a lot of fun. On Halloween, we tried to carry-on the neighborhood chili and trick-or-treat party. We went to downtown for their annual trick-or-treat on the street long enough to do the loop and come home. We met friends at our house for chili, soup, homemade rootbeer (courtesy of Jenn) and trick-or-treating. It was great weather and lots of fun. Makenna was Merida from the movie Brave and Brynlee was Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Limo Ride

Makenna won a limo ride at school for their fall donation drive. Instead of doing a fundraiser with cookie dough or gift wrap, the school asked for monetary donations. The 15 students with the highest dollar amount of donations won a limo ride. Makenna was one of those students. On October 26, Kenna and 14 other students, went a with the principal to Pizza Hut for lunch and then to Braum's for ice cream. She was so excited and such a blast. Also, for certain amounts of donations the students were entered to win a razor scooter, Ipod touch, dvd player, bike and other things. Makenna was super lucky and won the IPod touch. A big thanks to her grandparents and great grandma that helped Makenna with her school donation drive.

Random Phone Pics

 How sweet is that?! Bryn feel asleep like this on the trip from Atlanta to McRae

 Me with Dallin and Keely on the night of their reception

 The girls so sad to say good bye to Nicole at the Atlanta Airport

 I watched my best friends kids for almost 2 weeks while she went on cruise with her family. It was long, good week. It for sure had its ups and downs, but I survived. This is after I got all 4 kids ready for 9am church all by myself.

 My biffle and I before we got rained out of the cancelled Sugarland concert

 Diane, my best friends mom, and her 50th wedding anniversary quilt. I was able to deliver it to her in Utah when I went up for my brothers wedding.

 Me with my brother and his wife, Kristen

 Seeing an old friend, Rashel. She has such a cute little family

 Bryn was super excited when we found this Minnie Mouse at Costco

 Bryn with Minnie and Mickey

 Oh how I love In-N-Out. No, those aren't both of my burgers. One of them was my moms! :)

 While in CA, the girls made plates for Steven and Kristen's new home

 Riding on Radiator Racers at CA adventure

 Bryn loved the ladybug teacups

 Makenna and I on the Tow Mater's Junk Yard

 Christy and the girls on the teacups

 Bryn was tuckered out after Disneyland

 bahaha...Bryn passed out on the plane on the way back to OKC. We wore her out in CA.

 Jan took Makenna out for a grandma/Kenna afternoon and Kenna got a manicure and pedicure. She was so excited. She got zebra print nails.

We had some friends over to watch the football game. They had kids too so we put their kids in Bryn's room and had Bryn share with Kenna. This is how I found them when I went in to check on them. So cute.

Les Miserables

Tyler and I

 Jenn and I

On October 10, 2012, we had the opportunity to go see Les Miserable. Tyler's parents have season tickets to the Civic Center broadway series. They were out of town when Les Mis came and offered us their tickets. We gladly accepted. We took my best friend Jenn, Tyler's best friend Chris and another couple that is are our friends from another ward. It was fun night and a great show. Thanks Brad and Jan!

How is Brynlee?

Brynlee is doing well.  She had her annual check-up with her hand dr. He was impressed with the fact that she could pinch her thumb and finger together. I laughed and said she could do way more. So Bryn showed him how she uses her thumbs to play games on my phone, draw and pick up tiny objects. The doc was in awe. He took multiple pictures and even took video of it. It makes you feel good that even the dr. is amazed at her progress. Bryn truly is one extraordinary little girl.

She is loving school and I'm told every time I pick her up that I get my monies worth. They say she plays hard and has a great time. She a hoot in ballet and tap. She can't sit still during ballet. They do slow movements and she'll do them for a minute and then busts out in fast dancing, then goes back to slow. It is so funny. She is doing soccer, but I don't know how much she really likes it. She doesn't really get involved in the games. She does okay in practice. But every week she asks to go. She is doing well in speech and OT. Her therapists love her and think she is doing awesome.

Bryn now has a Minnie Mouse room and loves it. She is trying to give up naps on me. She doesn't even get the chance very often to take one anymore since we are going all the time. She is a stubborn little girl and although a pain, I love her for it. She is my cuddle bug and I love that about her. She can make me smile even when I'm really upset. She is growing into such a good little girl. She is almost like a sour patch kid, first she is sour, then she is sweet. I think that's the best way to describe her right now. We love you Bryn.

How is Makenna?

Makenna is doing well. She has the attitude of a 13 year old though. She is snippy and acts like a know it all. She is learning quick though that that does NOT fly with me. She had a donation drive at school and was one of the top 15 students in collecting money. She won and IPod touch and a limo ride with the principal, oh yea, and a cool t-shirt ;). Funny thing is, she has lost her IPod almost everyday she has had due to bad behavior. I'm trying to nip this thing in the bud quick. I want my sweet little girl.

I had a P/T conference with her teacher at the beginning of October. The teacher told me what I already knew, that Makenna was excelling in the classroom. She was tested for her reading and is reading a 2.4 (second grade, fourth month) reading level. She is testing above average in math as well. It was good to get to know her teacher. I am very confident in her teacher helping her excel and stay ahead in class. Makenna loves her and she loves Kenna. I am able to help out in Kenna's classroom this year as a volunteer and look forward to getting to know the kids in her class.

Makenna is still in dance and enjoying it. She is getting a lot better at soccer. A couple weeks ago, she made 2 goals. We are so proud of her. This winter she will be trying out basketball. Should be comical, but she begged to play, so why not!?

We are very proud of Makenna and know she is a super smart, beautiful, talented little girl. She will do great things in life and will hopefully be an example to others. Heaven help us to get to that point ;)

Settling in

We have been in our home since September 8, 2012. We had moved things over little by little, but on September 8th we moved over all the big stuff (couches, tv, beds). The girls love their rooms. Things are coming together, slowly, but surely. I love having a home. I love a garage, backyard and one level. I love Makenna's school and I now feel 'grown up'. It is so nice to own our first home. I want to finish a few more things before I post pictures. It was fun picking out a new fridge, kitchen table and entertainment stand. It has been so nice to be in a home we own.

Dallin and Keely's Wedding

This post is a little out of order. It is from August 2012

 Cousins

 Dallin and Keely with the flower girls and ring bearer

 Tyler and I on the wedding day

 Our family at the reception

 The bridal party - Tyler was the best man

 Nicole and Bryn

 Bryn on the wedding day

 Bryn on the day of the reception

 Our family

 Keely with the flower girls

 Me and my girls

 The girls on reception day

 The girls at the temple

 All the cousins

 Brad and Jan with all the grandkids

Bryn and Addie looking through the temple doors

 Nicole and Kenna

 Kenna on the day of the reception

 Kimber and the nieces

 Makenna on the temple day

 Nicole and Bryn

 Nicole with the girls

 swinging on the front porch

 Bryn loving on Addie

 The completed Larsen family - except all the grandbabies to come

The girls at the temple

 Kenna petting a starfish

 Bryn and Kimber in the slide

 The girls. Addie didn't want to be a part of photos at all

 Kimber and the girls

On August 1, 2012 the girls and I headed for Atlanta, GA. Tyler's brother Dallin was married in the Atlanta LDS temple on August 3, 2012. Tyler flew on the 2nd. We went the the Atlanta Aquarium on the 2nd with the girls. It was Tyler's sisters, me, all the girls and Nicole. On the 3rd we went to Dallin and Keely's sealing the temple. After that we got in the car and drove about 3.5 hrs to McRae, GA. It was a super small town. That is where Keely is from. The next day, the 4th, there was a reception in McRae. It was very pretty, quite the party. The next day we got back in the car and drove 3.5 hrs back to Atlanta to fly out back to OKC. It was a whirlwind weekend. The girls had fun with their cousins, they loved being a part of the wedding and they wanted to be a princess like Keely. Jan did a great job planning everything down to a T. We had an itinerary and everything. We knew exactly where we needed to be and when. She is such a good planner.