End of the Year Updates

Raea is amazing. I watched her patience as she was helping her cousin to read. I am so blessed to have such an independent, responsible, nice girl to start off my family. I never want her to change.

Ethan is funny. He loves his stories. The other day I told him not to make up stories with real people. I told him that when he learns how to write, I want him to write me a story every night. He then asked me if he could make movies, and I cried because I knew he would be so good at that.

Larissa is awesome. She doesn't need anyone to create her own happiness. (Probably because she never gets the remote) she is not entertained by the TV and will spend hours in her room with her dolls and her purses. She has renamed her grandmas "Grandma Far Far Away" and "Grandma Close" and constantly talks about them.

Herston is surviving. He had a procedure on 12/22, which showed 2 large cysts obstructing his trachea, another lung infection, and probable celiac disease from the biopsy. He will have to have another surgery to remove the cysts and more blood work for the diagnosis of celiac disease. We feel optimistic that we are working towards a solution. He has also graduated to the nursery!

Grant is wonderful and even more domesticated. He has really had to step up to the plate lately due to my other demands, and he is shining. I wouldn't have been able to do work and school without him. We just need to work on the man dinners a little. :)

Coming in 2010:
My clinicals
Yellowstone
Ethan in Kindergarten (Only 2 kids at home, that hasn't happened since he was born!)
Raea's baptism
Enjoying a cup of water with Herston?
Disneyland?

Merry Christmas

Assorted Christmas Ramblings

Oh, gifts!
I am not liking Christmas this year. Too much pressure. Especially when I hear, "if you aren't going to buy me a real present, then don't buy me anything." My thoughts: You better like this one.

Oh, traditions!
There is 3 gifts I get for my kids every year: church clothes, pajamas, and toothbrushes.

On the Sunday before Christmas, I saw all these little kids running around with gorgeous new dresses. And then it hit me, why is Larissa wearing her Barbie play dress, when all of my kids have fancy matching Christmas dresses and suits under the tree?! My friend suggested that I let my kids open that present before church. GENIUS! Consider this one done for next year.

Then another friend said she opens pajamas on December 1st, so they can wear them all month. Where have I been? These cute winter pajamas aren't going to be good all year.

Am I saving any presents for Christmas? What kind of traditions do you have?

Tree Lights

Grant wouldn't let me boycott Christmas even though Lilly bit through our Christmas tree lights. A little bit of wire nuts and a little bit of kid power, and we were back in business.

Temple Lights

My second trip to the Temple Lights this year, but not as smooth.

However, the hot chocolate sold across the street was a good idea.

First Piano Recital

Earlier this month, Raea had her first piano recital. She did great and had good stage presence.

Slow and accurate.

Christmas List

Ethan and Larissa dictated to Raea their Christmas list. I thought it was interesting that Raea catergorized them, too.

LARISSA:
Games- Sorry Sliders
Toys- Princess Baby Doll, toy penguin

Clothes- Princess underwear, shorts, shirts, shoes, skirts, jeans

Money- $8

Backpacks- Princesses backpack, flower backpack, spider girl backpack

Stuffed Animals- Stuff dog

ETHAN:

Games- Hipo (where they eat it and are furry)
Toys-Batman cave

Money- $80,000

Backpack- spiderman, batman, frog

Clothes- spiderman shirt, jeans, shoes, shorts

RAEA:

Games-wii, monopoly
Toys- Hannah Montana's hair styler, more high school musical dolls

Clothes-Surprise me (5 of each)

Outside Things- like more chalk with 3D glasses, pool toys, a playset

So what about me you are all asking, here is my list:

The double hiking chariott, but since I have 4 kids that can't keep up, I need two.

The double cross country skiing chariott. Again, I will need two. I will also need all the snow gear for me and my kids because even though I love to play in the snow, I don't like to be cold.

Lastly, I would like a 10 day multi-sport vacation trek to Patagonia. I have included the website for your convenience. "We cross the Andes into Chile where we bike, hike and raft in volcano country. A sure highlight is the snow climb to the steaming crater of active Villarrica Volcano. "

I guess more importantly I would like the time, money, and babysitter to help allow me to do this.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Soccer 2009

This was Ethan's second soccer season, but his first season with AYSO. Ethan is a magical thinker and had a hard time focusing on the game. However, he loved playing, and he had the world's best coach.

Raea is at such a great age for soccer. She is finally getting the thought process behind the game. She loved playing goalie, but she made me nervous that she was leaving the net open when she would attack just like her aunt. I loved that she was all over the field because, "they weren't passing it to me, so I was just going to go get it."

Say What- Christian Version

I love my kids' preschool. They memorize a scripture each month, and if I have something to do, they can go to the extended lunch group. However, being a Christian/Baptist school brings a whole new set of say-whats.

Jesus is real... just like Santa.
Someone put Jesus in your heart.
You have a black heart if you don't believe in Jesus.
Did you know there is a big book about Jesus?

And my favorite... Larissa asking to sing the prayer.

FHE

"So there was this big tornado. And this little girl got stuck in a big hole, so Jesus came down and saved her. Then a ghost forgot how to fly and fell into a hole, too! So Jesus came down and saved him with his marshmellow. Then that is me jumping with my parachute. I went to the moon to save the balloon."-Ethan on how Jesus helps us and how we can help others

Memory Lane

Grandma O'Haver was my card playing, canasta loving, elephant collecting great grandma.

Alice's resemblance to Larissa in this photo is uncanny. Thanks to my older sister for scanning.

UPDATE: Send any stories about Grandma to azlarsen@cox.net to be included in her memory book. You are officially in the know.

Me, Myself, and Larissa

Almost everyday, someone says that Larissa is just like me. It is true, but as long as there are no surprises, and I give her designated hug time, there is still peace and happiness. I am so glad that we have become friends lately. Dare I say I am learning to love myself.

I am glad this is supposed to be old fashion because they never smile in those pictures.

Her personality is very obvious in this picture.

Sometimes

Sometimes, on really bad days, I remember when they wouldn't guarantee I would even be able to take him home. I remember praying by a baby on a ventilator for two weeks because he wouldn't breath on his own. I remember how they wouldn't let me touch him because it was too much stimulus. I remember finally holding him again after several weeks.

I remember not wanting to take pictures of my baby because he was so swollen and sickly. I remember not wanting to remember any of it.

And then I remember saying I would do whatever I needed to do to keep him. I knew I was signing up for a battle.

His swallowing is getting worse; there is more deteriation...but he knows how to smile.

Primary Carnival

I am one of the achievement day leaders for our girls in senior primary (children's sunday school). Our group hosts a carnival for the junior primary. Besides being uncharacteristicly cold, I think it was a success.

He told me so.

Neighborhood Chili Cook Off

I love my neighborhood. We have so many parties this time of year. Last weekend, we had a chili cook off. There was food, games, and even an inflatable jumper.

Apparently, this is what the party looked like to our 5 year old neighbor friend.

The Hayride Tradition Continues

This week it was finally Larissa's turn to go to Mother's Natures Farm with her preschool class.

I think it is funny that Larissa is the only child represented in every picture. I would have still had 3 kids in the photo (ie not school age), but Ethan was on his own fieldtrip. I also think it is symbolic that this year is the first time I am not wearing a baby.

Math Master

Raea was a math master for this quarter...(and the posing master)!

Thanks for the picture Jessica and supporting Raea while I was the fieldtrip queen. Horrible details to follow some day.

Frank Kush 5K

We had a 5K this morning with friends. My parents came along to help support with the kids.

I think my Dad thought he was getting off easy by taking Ethan on the 1 miler. Turns out that Ethan wanted to be an athlete today and ran the 1 mile in 12 minutes. (Great time Ethan AND Grandpa!)

Thanks to everyone!

Notes for next year: This is a very family friendly run. It was cheap and not insanely busy. We actually parked in the Tempe Town Lake parking lot. This is a great run to get your kids excited about running, And next year, I will dress all the kids to run.

The Balloons of Hope

Last year on a day that was particularly hard for me, this miraculously fell into my backyard, and I borrowed a little hope for myself.

Did you see Oprah yesterday?

Apparently a baby gate is not a cat gate.

Lilly or Dragon?

Cat mom and cat dad are resting fine tonight.

The kids in the back.

I decided to go see Grant's football game tonight even though it was in Laveen, and I would be bringing all the kids.

After the game I dressed them in pajamas in the parking lot, and just waited for this...

I love sleeping kids.

And Grant's team even scored a 99 yard touchdown!

dot-com

The weather is getting nice, so let the outside play resume! Unfortunately, I can't keep shoes on Ethan. Ethan came inside crying about his splinter.



"Mom, do something... go to splinter-take-it-out-dot-com, and find out how to take it out!"

2nd Grade

Raea got ready for pictures all by herself, and I think she did great! This is when the reality of my situation gets hard for me.

Today, two older boys came by the house to play with Raea. After they asked her what grade she was in to determine her worthiness to play, it was known to them that she may be the coolest second grader they know. She said, "I am funny, smart, and attractive." That shut them up real quick; they couldn't argue with that.

Super Cute

So this is my cousin-in-law-ish. I Love it!

Good Luck!

Just Keep Smiling

Someone once told me the key to taking family photos is to keep your eyes up and just keep smiling.

Isn't that the key to everything? ;)

New Goalie

Look who got some playing time in the goal.I love all my little athletes.

P.S. My first game is this Tuesday.

Soccer Season Has Started

Ethan had his first game tonight. Thanks for the picture, Grandma!

School Starts Today

Ethan and Larissa started school today. Even though they are at the same school, Ethan is in Pre-K, and Larissa is in preschool.

Trinity Preschool encourages parents to volunteer in the classroom, so today I stayed with Larissa. Does it get harder with each kid? Raea was no big deal. Ethan was ok. Larissa did not like it. I even had tears!

The Older Ones

Raea has always been such a great helper for me. Recently she has even started getting Herston out of the crib for me and giving him his special drink.

With Raea gone to school, Ethan has really stepped up to the plate as the big brother. He protects his little siblings and doesn't take nearly as long to get ready.

Growing up is so nice. And yes, I realize that new problems will come, but I am celebrating this stage.

Another Countdown

The only problem with Ethan and Larissa's preschool is that it starts after Labor Day.
Then it is just me and this cute one.

I might just get used to the quiet.

Twins?

Ethan wanted to get matching outfits, so he could be twins with Herston. I couldn't break his heart.

One is tall and skinny; one is not. One has brown hair and eyes; one looks like an Aryan.

Notice height difference here:

Wisdom Beyond His Years

"Mom, you have a lot of love in your tears."
-Ethan, age 4

School Pictures & The Tooth

Half jokingly I told Raea to keep her loose tooth in until school pictures. After Ethan colided with her, the tooth was unsafely hanging by a thread. She tried so hard to keep it in!

She lost it yesterday; school pictures are tomorrow.

P.S. Doesn't that look like such a big hole?

Happy Baby Contest

Many of you have seen this picture of Herston before. I love that he could be so young (3 months), fat, and happy. All votes count, so please go to Lauren Jean Photography, and vote for Herston.

Thanks.

So Sublime

I've seen better days; I've been star of many plays.

I've seen better days, and the bottom drops out.

Herston is really walking.

A little sneak peak from my recent photo session. Looking for a photographer? Email laurenkenna@gmail.com.

Second Grade

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Mom.

12 out of your 14 grandkids celebrated your birthday at school today!

Hope you had fun!

Summer Fun

This has been a great summer. We visited Sherrie, and the kids had a blast. Poor Grant, still had his ID band on.

P.S. Thanks for the great birthday blanket.

LegoLand v.2.0

We went to LegoLand again this summer after enjoying it so much in 2007 (LegoLand and rides at LegoLand). As a prerequisite for a large family with young kids, we wore matching shirts again, too. (Somewhere Laura has a picture of the family at the 1984 Olympics wearing matching rainbow shirts.)

Our next big amusement park is Disneyland, but we are waiting until everyone is potty trained (Winter 2010?).