Sunday, December 25, 2011

Asher's Blessing

It was marvelous to have Asher's blessing on Christmas morning.  This Christmas was so different from the struggles of last year, and we feel so blessed to have this precious boy in our family. I can't help but think how amazing it is that Jesus Christ came to the world and atoned.  Because of that we can always hope for change.  When things are difficult we can have hope because we know that through the atonement change is possible, and that God wants us to be happy.  Thinking of Christ coming into the world as a small baby was especially poignant as we received our own baby boy this holiday season.  Stuart gave an amazing blessing and I am so grateful and proud to have a strong priesthood holder leading our family.
Asher Allen Larsen was blessed by the Melchizedek Priesthood with a desire to do right and make right choices.  Also as he learns and grows to look towards scriptures and the teachings of the apostles, prophets, and family members to guide him. He was blessed to prepare to be baptized at the appropriate time and be righteous to receive the Holy Ghost which will give him the gift to guide and teach righteously.  This gift will also prepare him to have the priesthood which is a wonderful blessing.  He will use it worthily and use it to bless others and fulfill his church duties and responsibilities.  He was blessed to prepare to serve a mission for the Lord and to have a strong desire to share the gospel and tell of Jesus Christ, that he may bring many to Him.  We was also blessed with a strong desire to go to and marry in the temple, for the the most important goal is this, and it can be found in sacred places.  He was blessed with that desire to go to righteous places.  That will give him a strong and righteous family and make him a good example as a father and husband.  His desire will lead his children to righteousness.  He was blessed with the ability to endure through life, he may at times falter, but he will overcome.  In hard times he will be strong and have the ability to overcome the challenges faced and know Heavenly Father and his family love him. 
So great to share this with so many family members, it meant so much to us for Flora and Franny to make the effort, and the Broomfield ward to let us use some of the time away from the Christmas program!



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve
















I wanted my chance to claim her too:
Isn't she cute!?

Reagan too!

 Seriously tho I love Christmas Eve at Stuart's house
There's a toasty fire...

Presents under the tree...







The nativity complete with sheep...




And the best part is that Flora and Francesca drove all the way out from Utah! It was so great to be with so many family members that we don't get to see very often!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Must Be Santa

So I have a tradition that I started with my kids that I know somewhere deep in his heart Stuart abhors.  Not that he would ruin my ambitions, or one of the few traditions that I have actually started and tried to stick to in our family (I am notoriously flaky if you don't know by now).  So yes he does go and stand in line for two hours and fork out 20 bucks for pictures of the blessed event.



Haha...don't know why but even when the kids hate it, I adore going to see Santa.  Chiara doesn't cry when she sees him anymore, but there is no way she is going to go sit on a strange man's lap, but she was shocked and amazed when Santa asked what she wanted and when she wouldn't answer said  "I'll bet you want a doll"  She talked about that one for awhile (I was glad Santa picked something that was already waiting under the tree!).  Now she knows that Santa gives candy and her "own baby dolly".  Asher seemed to think Santa was just fine and cracked open one eye then dozed right back off :)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Polar Bear Club!!!

What should you do when it's snowy and cold outside? Go swimming of course!
While this was actually an indoor pool, and quite warm (at least to those of us watching) we will still claim membership.
Swimming with Daddy

She discovered a love for this slide...


Then discovered the BIG one :)


With Grandpa

The REALLY big one (with Grandpa again)


Fun was had by all...


maybe a little too much fun.









 I vote we make this a family tradition!

May All Your Christmas's Be White

We were so excited to be able to have a white Christmas out in Colorado this year! This is the first time Chiara has been able to go out and play in the snow.  She loved it, and I think the men enjoyed the snow too.  They all pitched in and built an igloo.  Also being pulled around on the ta-bogon by Grandpa's truck seemed to be a hit.  Stuart built a slightly creepy 6-foot snowman.  Fun was had by all!



Start them out early!

Cousins!

In the igloo!

Frosty REALLY wanted to see what was going on inside!






Chiara discovered the joy of hot chocolate
after a hard day of play!


Some bundled up and chose to spend their time nice and cozy inside!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!


For those of you who didn't get your copy in the mail...

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Three Years!

In some ways I really don't remember not being married to Stuart.  It really seems like he's always been part of my life.  But only three short years ago we were married for all eternity.  This year we celebrated a little early.  A few days before Asher was born, while I was out at a Relief Society activity Stuart put up a HUGE banner that said Happy Anniversary!  Written on the letters are the things he has learned during our marriage, one for each month!  I was a little confused because our anniversary was two weeks away and I wasn't planning on having time to do much since we were going to try to make it out to Colorado for Christmas.  But being the smart and amazing guy he is he planned ahead so that we could celebrate before we got too busy with all the other madness!
It's hard to appreciate how long and huge this was!

During the day the doorbell rang and these were delivered!

LOVE!!!

I definitely married the right person.  I can't imagine that anyone has a better marriage than what I get to experience everyday.  I really am married to my best friend.  I love my life and its really all because I married this guy:



blogger template by lovebird