352/365

We had the Larsen Christmas party tonight.  It was a wonderful night as always. John and Shauna go to so much work to make it a fun and special night for everyone.  This is probably my very favorite night we have with Brian's family all year long.  The kids anticipate it for weeks, everyone is so happy and excited to be with eachother and the cousins sit and play with their new toys in their new jammies for hours.  It's pure chaos, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

One of these years I need to get a picture of the way we (as in the adults) get to open our present from John and Shauna.  Every year, John goes to the bank and gets a hundred bucks for each couple (this year two hundred! Wow.. thank you so much!!) in the smallest bills he can get. He then proceeds to roll each bill up in a tiny roll, hook them to ribbons, shove them in a cardboard tube and put poppers inside one end of the tube.  One the count of 3, each couple pulls the string as confetti and popping sounds fill the air as we retrieve our cash. It's a fun tradition and I think John enjoys it as much as we do.  He is such a kid at heart. He loves giving gifts... he lights up everytime.  I know he and Shauna put alot of thought into every gift they give and I'm so grateful for them.

The night was wonderful.  Family, Gifts, New Jammies, Laughter and of course.... Santa Claus!

I came home tonight and started thinking about how blessed I am to have the two families that I have.  Not only do I have a wonderful family that I grew up with, but I have this amazing family I married into.  Each family (my own and Brian's) enriches my life in different ways.  Larsen's love to have fun and remind me in the importance of tradition as they have special things each year that we do together as a family.  They teach me love and simplicity as they don't really need anything fancy or great... their family is all they need to be happy.  They teach me to be happy and excited to see those you care about and to always show them that love (yes....I'm talking about the big smiles and hugs we get every time we see them. We all know I'm not a hugger, but I'm getting better!) As I came home from this Christmas party, I couldn't help get a little teary as I thought about how grateful I am for Brian's family.  They are wonderful people. I am grateful to have them be apart of my life. It was such a great night! Thank you for a super fun Christmas celebration.

Check out this crazy crew!

I LOVE this picture. The kids were lost in the story Santa was telling them about always believing in the magic of Christmas.  This is what it's all about. 

 

351/365

The fun started early today as I headed over to Tiffani's house for our annual "Ugly Sweater/Christmas Sock exchange Brunch" If I can say anything about this neighborhood, it would be two things.
1) We are really good at serving and helping eachother
2) We are GREAT at partying!!!
We love any excuse to get together with the girls and party party party!! The ugly sweater party is super fun. We all dress up in our ugliest sweaters and head out for a couple of kid free hours to act goofy among friends and eat a bunch of yummy food.
This year, I was crowned the "Queen of the Ugly Sweaters"! I was so proud. I have never worked for anything harder in my life.  I think the winning piece of my outfit was the chimney hat with the feet coming out of the top. (the picture doesn't show it very good) But it was pure genius I tell you. Pure Genius!!!
As you can see in the picture, I shared the crown with my good friend Jen.  This is a TERRIBLE picture of me (no make up... not even looking at the camera....lovely.. just lovely) I very rarely get my picture taken and this is the one that ends up on my blog! Luckily, it helps prove how awesome you had to look to win the contest. :)

 All of us lovely ladies in our super "AWESOME" sweaters.
Thanks Tiff for a great party!

So now I hold the crown for a whole year.  I've already got great ideas in store for next years party so you all better watch out.. I just might keep the crown for another year!

350/365

We normally have late over on Fridays but it was moved to tomorrow so the kids and I had a night at home while Brian was at work tonight.
It was pretty much like late over without the cousins.

fun dinner.
movie in our jammies.
popcorn.  (we always have to have popcorn)
stay up later than usual.
having fun together.

I love spending time with my kids.

349/365

Avery had her mini holiday dance performance today. They do a HUGE show in the spring, but today was just a cute little dance during her class.  Her teacher's name is Ms. Kaylynn.  She is DARLING!!!
She teaches them so much and you can tell she loves teaching.  The cute scarf Avery is wearing is from her teacher.  Ms. Kaylynn had a Santa hat on today that she said she got from her very first dance teacher and it had meant so much to her, so she wanted to have a special gift for her little class so they could remember that she loved them. HOW CUTE IS THAT???


Avery did a great job today. She loves going to dance.  I love watching her.  She is always smiling, always happy and so very social!! Aves... I love you so much! Great job today!

348/365

Nothing too important to report today except to say I think this kid is the cutest baby on the planet. 

Look at those eyes!!! 

Love you Connor!

347/365

TODAY WAS KADEN'S KARATE GRADUATION.....

Why is this post in a purple font you ask?????
Well, someone earned his PURPLE belt!!!! 

He was so excited. He couldn't stop smiling! I was so proud of him.  He worked hard for this.  When he got his belt, he ran over to me and Brian and gave us huge hugs before he ran back to where he needed to sit with his class. I had gone over by him to take a picture when he was doing the ceremonial "changing of the belt". I tried to get his picture and all he kept saying was, "I gotta go show dad!!!.... I gotta go show dad!!!"


Way to go Kaden!! 
We Love You Sooooo much!

(this is kade running to show Brian.. you can just see how excited he is)

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(picture coming soon)

Tonight was our annual Sohm Family Service Project.  We try to do 3 or 4 a year, but the Christmas one is always the most fun.  

We've tried many different service projects over the years. We've helped out at the food bank, we've done many things at Primary Children's, we've helped different charities, but this year we decided to something fun for the people around our own area.  

Each family made some soup and bread and chose someone they felt was in need of a meal.. or a little extra love this Christmas.  Then, as a family we went to each house and gave the the soup as we sang at their doorstep.  It was really fun to have each of us have a special connection with one of the people we were serving, and then fun to introduce all 28 of us singing at their door! I'm sure we were a bit of a sight to behold!! 

I gave our soup to a family in our ward that lives in some apartments near my house. They live on the 2nd floor and we filled up the small landing to her door and then continued all the way down the stairs! I'm sure the whole apartment building heard us singing! It was fun though. I think everyone had a fun time, and the kids got to be with their cousins.... that's always the highlight of any of our get togethers. The first question from Kaden's mouth anytime I say we are going to grandma's is, "Are we going to be with Riley and Garrett?"  They LOVE their cousins.  I'm glad we all enjoy being with one another. I have a great family. 

345/365

I wish I had a picture of the kids giving their tithing to the bishop today, but I didn't think it would be very appropriate to be photographing our tithing settlement.

who knows.. maybe I'll re-inact it for the picture!

Now that Kaden is 8 years old, we felt like it was time he started paying tithing.  We've had a couple little lessons about it this past year, but today it sank in.  It was a neat afternoon.  The kids counted all their money and we helped them figure out what 10% of their income would be.

Final Tally:
Kaden-  $4.74
Avery-  $   .31

They filled out their own tithing slips and gave their envelopes to the bishop. It was a neat moment for me to see them happy to give and understanding that their money helps builds temples and churches.  Bishop Ghiz spent most of the time talking to the kids about how important it was that we give back to our Heavenly Father.  He had play money and had the kids count it and divide it into what went back to the Lord.  Kaden, Avery and Brighton were sitting across from the bishop and watching him so intently. (To be totally honest... Bright was being super good because he was next to the candy and he knew if he was good he would get a treat at the end!) It was a crazy moment for me to realize that we were these guys parents. It is our responsibility to teach them and bring them closer to the Savior.  It made me look to the future a few years and wonder how they will be.  Will they still be happy to give back to the Lord? Will they love to serve? Will they have a testimony?  I pray with all my heart that they do.

344/365

We had our Ward Christmas party this morning and guess who came to visit???

HO. HO. HO!!!

 Kaden:  "Santa, I want a Nintendo DS and Spy Gear for Christmas"

Avery:  "Santa, I want a tv in my room, an ipod and a laptop"

(haaaa, ya right... do you remember you are only 5?)

Brighton:  "Santa, I want Thomas and trains"

Connor:  "Santa, I want to grab your white fluffy beard!!"

343/365

DATE NIGHT!!!!
I haven't had a real date night with Brian for over a year! It was late over tonight so we shipped the kids off to Eric and Jenni's. Since Connor isn't quite big enough to go to late over yet, we got him his own babysitter. He's crashed our dates for a year now, but no crashing tonight! He wasn't invited.

It was so fun to just hang out with Brian without any distractions. We had a yummy meal at Texas Roadhouse then we went and played mini golf where I got spanked! Oh my gosh, I did terrible.  I think he beat me by about 20 holes.  Next time I will crush him! :)

342/365

My best helper today was Brighton the Puppy.
Yep.... he picked up every single train with his mouth and barking while on his hands and knees.

341/365

Today was my first time teaching the scouts.  This is going to be a really fun calling.  I'm so happy to be able to be there with Kade ever week.  It's the perfect age. Even though there are nine 8 year old boys, they are at that cue age when they are still so excited to be in scouts.  They aren't too obnoxious yet, and most of them are Kaden's buddies.  Pretty cool combination.  Kaden was so excited for me to come with him tonight. Last night he asked me if he could help plan our activity. He's going to be a great helper.

So, I had no clue what I was doing. All I knew was that I had to do something centered around the monthly theme of respect.  I found an activity where they could earn a belt loop if they learned "manners".  They did better than I ever imagined they would! They were so good! Not even too wild! I was proud of them.
I decided to set a table and give them pizza, peaches, a cookie and some green beans. Water or Apple Juice to drink.
They had to learn how to eat correctly (which foods you use forks and which you can eat with your hands), they had to ask for things politely, and say please and thank you. They had to take at least one bite of everything....even the things they didn't like! They were so darn cute! I wish I had a video camera to show off how darling they were eating their food in their little cub scout uniforms. I have never heard a room full of 8 year olds so quiet and respectful (I probably won't ever again either!).
I taught them how to shake hands with adults and how to introduce themselves by shaking hands and looking them in the eye as they said it was nice to meet them.  They did a great job. It's going to be to be their leader.


(update from a week later)
The best part was that I saw one of my scouts a few days later and I went to say hi to him and he stuck
out his hand to shake my hand!!!! I was so excited!! They actually learned and had fun doing it.
I felt the night was pretty successful.

340/365

Great news!!!!
THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL!!!!!!!!

Today was a glorious day. Kaden and Avery in school. Brighton at preschool. Connor taking a nap while they were all away.
                                                          It was HEAVEN!

I love my kids. I really do. But I REALLY love my alone time!!!

And the other good news?
Kaden totally rocked his Karate test tonight! I'm so proud of him. Next week is graduation. I hope he gets his purple belt. He deserves it. He's worked hard to know all his moves.

339/365

I was sooooooooooooooo excited for them to back to school after a three week break.  Today was supposed to be the day.
but.............
All four kids have been coughing up a lung.
Kaden has thrown up twice.
Now he's got the runs........

Why does this always happen the day they are supposed to go back on track?
WHY????, WHY????,WHY????

338/365

We've been trying to deal with sick kids today. Connor had been a bear all week long. Poor guy can't get over a slight fever and nasty cold.
Now the other kids seem to be getting the same thing.
The cutest thing about today is that I came into the family room to see these guys on the couch watching a movie.  I didn't put him there. Bright must have pulled Connor up himself so they could cuddle.  Geez, you can just tell Connor feels yucky... poor little guy.

Good thing he has such a sweet brother.

337/365

Today has been on of those days that was a whole lot of running around but not getting anything really accomplished.  I seem to have those kind of days alot.

I really need to get my life organized and get control of it a little better. In my heart I want to be an organized mom where menu's are planned, work outs actually happen, schedules are set, homework and reading time is priority and time is not wasted...... but the reality of it is....  my brain and body obviously don't talk to my heart very often because they don't agree on the above mentioned "lifestyle" habits my heart wants to achieve.  

How to I get them in-sync? 

Any Ideas? 

I need some serious butt kicking to get my life back in order so I can be the best mom and wife I am meant to be. 

336/365

Friday nights are usually set aside for Date Nights, but tonight it was craft night instead! 

The kids had late over at Tyler and Jana's and Brian had to work, so that left me to fend for myself! One of my neighbors planned a craft night, so I invited Callee to hang with me and we "crafted"! We had such a fun night.  There were about 8 of my friends hanging out working on Christmas gifts, talking, drinking yummy italian soda's and of course eating! 

I've got the coolest neighborhood with the neatest people.  As I was hanging out with them watching some sew, some just chatting away and others on the cricut cutting machine, I realized how much I appreciate the women in my life.  I value the friendships I've made while living here. I enjoy being around people who are raising children some older, some younger than my own. I love having the church as a common ground for us to fall back on.  It was so fun to be with all of them, but especially to be there with my sister. We don't ever get to just hang out.  I wish we did it more often.  

I hope that someday she will live in a neighborhood just as incredible as this one is for me.  One that will have women going through life's stages the same as her. A neighborhood where they will watch their kids grow up together and see friendships evolve and grow over trials and hardships as well as parties and Girl Night Outs.  It's one of my greatest joys of being here in Bluffdale for me. I love the people I'm surrounded with every day of my life. I love the kids my children are surrounded by every day. The women in Springview Farms are some of the dearest friends I have ever had. I can't wait for Callee to experience that someday. 

335/365

Last night was my final "Thankful" post.  It was a little weird to not post something I'm thankful for today. As I took this little challenge, I learned something very valuable. I learned that when you are intentionally finding things you are thankful for, it is then when you start to realize there are so many things in your life you have been blessed with.
I tried to find some of the daily things that touched me on that particular day, but now that the month is over, I realize just how much more I have to be thankful for.  I have been given so much. I have been blessed with amazing people in my life. I thank my Heavenly Father for circumstances in which I have been born into and the great blessings I have in my life.
All I can say is THANK YOU! I guess the bottom line is what I'm thankful for the very most is that I am a daughter of God. HE is my Father. HE has given me all of this. HE has trusted me to live my best life and teach those under my care.  HE will continue to love me and have faith in me even when I screw up. HE is why I have so much to be thankful in the first place.  I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father.
In my most humblest prayer, I bow down and thank THEE for everything that I have.

(here's just a few other things I didn't get to write about that I'm so thankful for)

334/365 & Thankful Day 30

333/365 & Thankful Day 29