Befores and Afters

Some things have changed around here in the last 6-12 months or so.....thought I would document them!



Halle lost her two front teeth!


Kitchen Before.....

Kitchen After


Kason got his much anticipated BRACES!


Brandon finally got a new phone after using his sister's hand me down phone for quite some time. (purple nonetheless)

Finally decorated my basement shelves - thanks to my talented sister in law Cyndy (didn't have a before picture....but love the after)

And, last but not least....we sold our very first car that we purchased as a married couple. 13 years, 204,000 miles, 5 kids later....it served us well. Farewell our friend - you will be missed!

What 12 years old looks like...

Kason turned twelve......

I still can't believe it!

I am not old enough to have a 12 year old.

My first born - who made me a mother cannot actually be 12!

I don't want him getting any older.....not one bit (he doesn't like it when I always say that).

He received the Aaronic Priesthood. His Dad gave it to him, through a blessing. He is passing the sacrament (and is so extremely handsome doing so). I am so proud of the choices he has made.

I love him so much!

He has given me my identity, my happiness, my world, my family, my everything.

He is the one who taught me how to really love, how to worry, how to give, how to serve others, how to survive on less sleep, how to rejoice, how to cry, how to be infinitely proud.....He made me a mother.

A role that I cherish dearly with all of my heart.

And for that, I am eternally grateful for him.



Thanks for coming to our family Kas.....it would not be the same without you.

Some of my favorite things about Kason:

• he is determined and responsible
• loves his sisters and brother with all of his heart (even though he teases them relentlessly)
• worries about others' feelings
• wants to do what is right, and can't last a minute if he has done something wrong without telling me
• is extremely bright
• very coordinated
• loves all sports.....especially basketball
• plays on competitive baseball, soccer, and basketball teams
• wants to be busy 24/7 (and does a pretty good job doing so)
• loves to read
• is a great pianist - even though he does not enjoy practicing
• teases everyone around
• loves to hunt...and even got a shotgun for his birthday. (No, this was not my idea - but it is a long "Larsen tradition", and Brandon INSISTED it was necessary.)
• respects girls (especially now that he thinks they are cute)
• can't wait to have a cell phone (and is trying each day to persuade me into getting him one.....not working)!
• loves the Dallas Cowboys almost as much as his Dad
• helps without being asked
• is a great listener
• was so excited to get braces on
• loves music
• worries like his mom (not a good trait, however)
• is an amazing student, and loves to be challenged
• was so excited that I actually let him have a slumber party with his friends for his birthday. (He has only been asking for 5 years straight)
• still lets me hug and kiss him....even in front of his friends

Happy 12th Birthday Kason! Bring on the teenage years!!

Let's Celebrate

Our Fourth of July weekend was full of fun.



Kason had a baseball tournament




We all had fun watching him




And, then we had fun celebrating our country's independance by parading, swimming, eating homemade ice cream, and watching fireworks.

I love the Fourth of July! It is the epitome of summertime.

March Madness

I know it's April....but our March was so full of fun - that I had to get it documented.



Kason had his annual baseball tournament in St. George. We enjoyed 80 degree weather...HEAVENLY!

The kids relished in being outside!

Kason and his team did great - I can't believe it is baseball season already.



Jaicee, Ava, and I actually had a side trip while in St. George. Jaicee had a dance competition on Saturday. But, of course we didn't want to stay home and miss out on all the St. George fun.

So...we drove back home on Friday night, went to her competition Saturday morning, and drove back to St. George that afternoon. Can you say CRAZY??

Family time is so wonderful....I love being with my little family (even when they are teasing and driving each other crazy)!

To Play vs. To Hang Out

It is happening....my boy is turning into a "tween/teenager", or something of the sort.

Do you remember when you got to the stage in life when you would call a friend and not no whether to ask them if they could "play" or "hang out"?

"Playing" just seemed so immature.....but "hanging out" was an unknown phrase.

Well, Kason's conversation on the phone yesterday went like this:

"Hey (insert friend's name), can you plaa......I mean hang out.......uh, can you come over?"

I remember this transition phase in my life, and I am sad that my sweet little boy is starting to lose a little of his childlike innocence.

Oh, how I am not ready for the teenage years!

My Boy is 11!

Kason turned 11 years old last week. How is it possible that I have an 11 year old? I can't figure that out....since I am sure that I am still 25 :)

I love the excitement a birthday brings for kids. Don't you remember that as a kid you would make sure everyone knew you were 10 1/2 and not just 10? Or, that it was your birthday in 2 months and you would be 11? Funny that as adults we no longer do the count down!

Kason had been counting down the days to his birthday for weeks.

He woke up ecstatic to open presents, go to school, and then celebrate his birthday with dinner and bowling.

I love this "big boy" so much!

He has a wonderful spirit about him, and I am amazed by his wisdom everyday.

He has a sensitivity for others' feelings that not many other people possess.

He has a drive to be the very best at whatever he does.

He loves all sports, especially basketball, soccer, and baseball!

He loves to watch the Utah Jazz with his Dad at night - in fact, he sneaks out of bed at night(when he is supposed to be asleep)to finishing watching with his Dad...and I usually don't know:)

He loves music....even the piano (although he doesn't admit it).

He is extremely responsible and takes great care in following instructions that are given....this makes him an excellent babysitter!

He loves his sisters and brother with all of his heart - and they love him back!

He has a special relationship with Braden....they just "get each other", and it is so heartwarming to watch.

He is very inquisitive and has been since he could talk.

He asks very good questions....and keeps asking more until he feels satisfied with the answer.

He is so extremely honest. His innate sense of wrong and right is amazing!

He is a great friend.

He respects girls (even though some boys at school make fun of him for opening a door for a girl)

He gives his coat to girls when they don't have one and are cold....(seriously, I love this boy!)

He wants to be "doing something" constantly. In fact, he knows what is on the calendar before I do - he is my "human calendar".

Kason, thank you for making me a mother. You are a wonderful person, and I am so proud of you. You make our family complete in every way. I love you so much! Happy Birthday

Best Friends

Since the moment Braden was born, Kason has been so thrilled to have a little brother. (I actually think that he was just so relieved he wasn't going to be the only boy in a house of girls!)

They have a very special bond, one that I hope will last forever!

Braden lives for Kason to come home from school, practices, friends houses, etc. He runs to him every time he sees Kason - yelling "Dare" (this is what he has called him since he could talk - who knows where he got it!).

As a mother, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing your kids love and protect each other! And there is something so sweet about brothers loving each other so much.

So, since Braden idolizes his big brother, he tries to do everything Kason does. Who cares that he is 8 years younger!

This is their favorite summertime activity to do together:

Kason is a great skateboarder....and Braden has totally surprised me with how good he actually is. The kid has no fear! These pictures were taken when it was 95 degrees outside. They didn't mind, they stayed outside for a long time perfecting their skills. When they came in, however, they had bright red faces and were covered in sweat! Love the determination boys!

oh, and just for your information...the big trucks in the background are not mine....just my neighbors across the street. Don't worry they have three more (even bigger) trucks in their driveway that you cannot see! (Do you think I am a little bothered by this?)

one other thing....I am not sure what is up, but the spacing on my blog has been crazy lately! Blogger won't let me separate my paragraphs with spaces....it just does what it wants! Any ideas all my blogger experts?? So, sorry about the "visually unpleasing look of my post"

Is it Already Happening?

Kason came home from school about a month ago to inform me that "he had the best day of his life!" He has said this many times before, but of course I asked him why. He proceeded to tell me that a girl in his grade had come up and asked him if he would "go out" with her friend.

WHAT?? I thought to myself, does this happen in the fourth grade? I didn't respond like that however, just calmly said, "so what did you say?"

Kason replied, "I said yes!"

I then asked Kason, "what does going out mean to you?"

"Well, it just means that you hang out with each other at recess and stuff", was his reply.

So, as I was partially freaking out in my head I tried to explain to him that it is probably best just to be friends with a lot of girls and not "go out" with anyone quite yet. He assured me all was fine and that they were just friends anyway. However, the smile on his face made me think that he was pretty excited about all of this!

Fast forward a week:

Kason came home sad from school because his friends were mad that he wasn't playing with them at school and was "hanging out" with this girl. He didn't know what to do, because he wanted to make everyone happy. I tried to lovingly explain that there are going to be a lot of girls he will like through his life, but none are worth losing your best friends over. He seemed to understand and was resolved to "break up" with this girl the next day at recess.

He came home the next day and solemnly declared that he had done it! He broke up with her because "she was breaking up his other friendships" as he put it. I was definitely relieved....this cannot already be happening to my little boy!

All was well for a couple of weeks, until one day Kason came home and declared "Mom, we got back together!" (How does he already know all this language?) Oh great - I thought, we are starting all over. I didn't have to worry long because the next day he came home to announce that they had broken up again, and that now she wouldn't even talk to him!

Oh, girls...they are all the same! "That is the reason you want to just stay friends", I told him!

He agreed and said, "You're right mom - it is dumb to 'go out' with a girl right now!"

He actually agreed with me - I know this will not happen often.

I have to laugh at this whole situation, because I remember when these things happened to me...however not in the fourth grade. I laugh that the kids still use the same "language". And that the result of breaking up is always the same - they don't even want to talk to each other anymore! And, I especially had to smile about the friend asking Kason if he would 'go out' with her friend!

I am not old enough to have to already experience this...I am afraid that there will be much more to come!

Sunday Dinner

Normally on Sunday we go to either my family or Brandon's family's house. It is great...no cooking for me! Today, however, we stayed home to have our own "Sunday dinner". In October Kason went deer hunting with his Dad. Kason loves to hunt (almost as much as his dad!). He ended up shooting his very first deer! Brandon steadied the gun on his shoulder, and Kason shot and hit the deer that was 200 yards away. He was ecstatic beyond words!

So, our Sunday dinner today was brought to the table by Kason. I cooked his deer roast - with lots of spices I might add - and I have to say it was pretty good! The kids loved it, and of course Brandon loved that I even ate it! Pretty fun to say that our 10 year old is bringing dinner to the table.