Christmas in March

Ya ya ya. It's been a while. I was thinking of not writing all of my excuses for not blogging for 2 months but then I thought giving my excuses is actually a good way of documenting what we've been up to.

Dave is back in school finishing his degree after a 2 year break. He has 3 classes left to finish his degree which he's taking on top of working full-time, starting in a new position with new responsibilities, helping to start up a business, playing on a city league basketball team and the ward basketball team, serving in his ward mission leader calling, and the homework, group projects, visits and meetings that go along with all that. Don't worry, somehow he still has the time to stay up on BYU and JAZZ basketball, oh and spend a little time with us too. ;)

I'm back to teaching a full load of students. I'm currently serving as a ward missionary and the ward music coordinator (which I love but has been a lot more time consuming that I thought it would be with learning to play the organ and accompanying for most musical numbers), and coaching our ward's R.S. church ball team. I'm still singing with Deseret Chamber Singers and rehearse once a week. I guess that on top of being Mom to Jesse and Benson.

Needless to say...we're busy. Don't get me wrong! I'm not complaining. Life is so so good and we've been blessed to really live it to it's fullest, but blogging somehow has fallen by the wayside. I occasionally think about blogging at night but pretty quickly decide I'm too tired. So here I am at this point.........again........CATCHING UP!

So what you've read is pretty much life for us, but we have had some "blogworthy" moments in the last few months that are worth sharing. Mostly about the boys :) .

So Here WE GO!!!!

No one's hangin' stockings up
No one's bakin' pies.
No one's lookin' up to see
A new star in the sky.

No one's talkin' brotherhood,
No one's givin' gifts.
And no one loves a Christmas tree
On March the 25th.

This is a favorite of Dave's family that helps us to remember to make the Spirit of Christmas last a little longer.

First things first...I still need to Document Christmas!

Dave and I got together with some high school friends for an Ugly Christmas sweater party. It was really fun to catch up with everyone! It's blogworthy because it was at the governor's mansion. Pretty cool huh!! We're pretty good friends with Gov. Herberts son who hosted the party. Our sweaters were the ugliest we could find at DI 2 days before Christmas. FAIL! Note to self, shop for ugly Christmas sweaters before they're all picked through.

Sitting at the Governor's Desk


Bens even had a Christmas Sweater

We had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner with my Uncle Monty and Aunt Pam and their family, and my cousin Elissa and her family. My family had escaped to Hawaii for Christmas but we gathered what Larson's we could together for a wonderful Christmas Eve. After dinner we had a white elephant exchange. Always entertaining. We actually didn't do too poorly this year. Do you recognize the beautiful tree from the boys Christmas sweater pics. Jesse wet through his pullup so we stuck him in the back of the picture.

Jesse loved it when they busted out the Nerf guns

Aunt "princess" Pam and Bens


Way cute table settting! This kid was so spoiled!

This little snowman danced and sang Jingle Bells. Jesse was obsessed! We only had to endure it a couple THOUSAND times or so.

We had our first Christmas morning at our own place this year. We'd been doing the sleepover at Grandma's thing for the past 4 years.

What I loved:
1. Not having to pack up Christmas and haul it somewhere
2. Sleeping in my own bed
3. The boys sleeping in their own beds = sleeping later than previous years
4. Only scheduling things around what works the best for our family
5. Making a memory as our own little family

What I missed:
1. Others doting on my kids
2. Someone making breakfast for me :)
3. Feeling Young Again. I was "the Mom" this year.

Waiting to go see what Santa Brought!

My Little Christmas Elf. Bens LOVED that little Duck! His reaction to that gift was way better than any of Jesse"s.



It was a fun morning for our little family! We did head over to Grandma Baker's that afternoon for an "ooooh so good" Christmas dinner and to spend time with the fam.

The Baker family Christmas party was the next day where we had a fun white elephant exchange, played games and Grandpa Baker read the "Twight Nefore Mistchras." Always a hit! Yay for coming away from the White Elephant with Costo Truffles! Definitely a success!!!!

Jesse and Talia at the White Elephant
Jesse and Brigitte playing Grandma's Piano

Tom, Liz and Jacob listening to Grandpa's story.