Christmas Day

Little Kids are the cutest Christmas morning.  I love the excitement!

Blessed Reunion

We got to Utah in just enough time to unpack a bit, and then go to the Larsen family reunion.  We were especially excited because it was the first time we have been able to see many people, particularly Jamie and her kids!  This was the first time that all the cousins have been together since there were only two cousins!

It's fun to see how much the family has grown and also to catch up with all of Stuart's cousins and family that made it out!

The Harold Larsen Descendants 

My kids really loved playing with all their cousins and second cousins and Chiara keeps talking about how much fun she had and asking when she can go back to the family reunion.

We also took the opportunity with so much family gathered to bless Navy.  It was a beautiful blessing and it was wonderful to share it with everyone, her uncles and great uncles were all in the circle, in such a picturesque spot. She was blessed that she could grow and learn at this early stage so that she would successfully progress in her life.  That she would always search for good and to find truth and light.  That she would be baptized and continue her journey in Christ joyfully with great perseverance. She was blessed that she would surround herself with good people to uplift her and that she would uplift and help each other to remain true.  That she would always search for the spirit and radiate the spirit.  That the spirit she would carry would bless the lives of others.  Particularly, she would be blessed with the spirit and a desire to share the gospel, to bring glad tidings of the gospel to individuals and families.  She was blessed to prepare to enter the temple and find a spouse to love and care for her, who would have the same righteous desires to continue on faithful to the end.  To return to Heavenly Father and experience all the joys that he wants for her.  She was blessed to know that Heavenly Father loves her and wants her to return to him and obtain the complete happiness that he has in store for her.

An all around wonderful experience!

Yay for Grandma!

I have the best mother in law ever. Seriously. She is just fun to be around, I don't feel stressed when I see her, she actually makes life about 100 times better by helping out without making me feel like I'm a failure...that's a talent.  I never know what to say when my friends complain about their mother in law's because I have yet to find an annoying trait about mine.  Actually, if anything I wish I was more like her. It's pretty amazing. 

It also was awesome that she got to come visit for Spring break...the weather was a little chillier than we would have liked (weird unseasonable cold snap), But we sure did have a good time.  Some of the highlights were the beach, downtown Chucktown, Magnolia Plantation, Chiara's ballet lesson, and Monkey Joes.  I didn't take as many picturs as I should have (I was too busy enjoying all the fun), but here are some goodies for you to feast your eyes on.

Chiara and Asher were also in heaven with Grandma around.  Everyone knows she is the best for reading books and playing cars (which happened about a million times).  She also taught Chiara a fun new (made-up) game called silly smoothies where you can make anything into a smoothie, for example rubberband smoothie.  That game and a repeat visit have been requested everyday since she, sadly, left back to Colorado.  Thanks so much for spending your Spring Break with us!

Frannypacking to the DC Temple

It was really neat to go up to D.C. the day after Christmas and spend some time with Gigi and Eric. It was also a great time for Francesca to receive her endowment! She and a girl heading to the Philippians both were in the same session.  It was neat to hear the matron give her special instruction and talk about how Christ centered the temple ordinances are. She really emphasized looking for Christ in the temple and it was a neat experience.

  

Texas...Everything is Bigger

And this post is proof. It's a big post because we had big fun!

Sharon's house had everything:

there was loving

and cooking

some music

more loving

some more loving

some snuggling

a little more snuggling
(sorry guys its the only picture I took of the two of you)

There was cake,

laughing

a birthday boy

wishes

ice cream

cake

cake

and more cake!

There was some reading...

and more reading :)

some games

 And of course the best part:

 It was so much fun to meet Reid and Jana and the sweet cousins for the first time!  And it was so nice to see everyone else after so long apart!

The next day (the fourth) we headed out to The Alan Larsen home to celebrate in style:

Brothers!

 Had to squeeze some swimming in:

watch shows

took a nap

enjoyed Grandpa's homemade rootbeer
 (and other yummies)

 I may have then proceeded to indulge in a phootshoot spree:

Cousins!!!

 I may have gone a little crazy...but hey we have some cute babies in this family!

Of course no forth would be complete without fireworks!!!

Asher was enthralled!!

There was just one more day left for us to rest and relax.

Bumbo girls

 We took the chance to visit Grandpa Klosowsky's grave site.  I truly wish that I could have met him here, but look forwarding to getting to know him.

Whew!  And then we were off again!

So much fun was had by all and once again my back got a break...literally!

Proof: