Christmas 2012

Every year we are so blessed to have family close for fun Christmas Celebrations.  We always have a Larson Christmas Party the Saturday before Christmas at my Mom's house where we do a fun talent show, open trade gifts, and visit with Santa.

On Christmas Eve we go to My Grandma Hall's house for a party and then we go to Jason's Uncle Dan Reeder's for another party.  We always let the kids open their Christmas pajamas before we go.

Christmas morning we wake up at our own home and read the Christmas Story on top of Jason and my bed with all the kids.  It takes about 30 minutes and is all about the Savior.  After we do that, then Jason and I see if Santa came and then we let the kids walk out one-by-one, youngest to oldest, to see if they received anything.  It is always so fun!

After opening gifts we get ready and go to Jason's parent's for Brunch and it is the most amazing brunch as you will see by the picture below.  After we hang out there for a few hours, we then go down to my Mom's for Christmas Dinner and it is always so yummy.  We hang out for a few hours there playing games, opening gifts, and eating then we go home.

It seems like a crazy few days, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  It's busy as ever, but totally worth it!  I LOVE Christmas and I LOVE my family . . . .what a wonderful thing to have both of them hand in hand!

Jason's mom made this beautiful quilt for Keira and Keira sleeps with it every night

Jason's mom also made this amazing quilt with all of the jeans that Jason and his brothers grew up wearing.  She has been saving them for years but was never inspired by any pattern to make a quilt with them until she saw this pattern.  She made one for each of her five boys and also for Jason's dad.  It is beautiful!

Bantam Team

Kelsea made the Bantam A Team this year and this is her team.  She is having a great time and really enjoys her teammates and her coaches! She's getting to be quite the good little basketball player. :)

12 Days of Christmas

Someone did the Twelve Days of Christmas for our family this year and it was super fun for the kids.  I think it was so thoughtful of someone to think of us and we thank whoever it was with all our hearts!

NO More Diapers!

For 13 years straight we have had one or more children in diapers, and for 18 months of that time we had three children in diapers at the same time. Keira, our youngest, turned 3 in October and I have been putting off potty training her because of how busy we have been.  Well, we ran out of diapers so we decided to just do it . . . and she potty trained easier and quicker than any of our children!  Wow! She has done SO well, even in the night (once I take diapers away I don't ever put them on my children again, not even in the night); she has only had two accidents in three weeks. :)

I'm happy to say, for the first time in 13 years I have NO children in diapers!  Yay!!!!

Christmas Sing and School Parties

Jason and I went to see the school Christmas Sing and then I helped in Brianna's class for the Christmas Party.

Council Reflections Awards Night

The song Brianna wrote for Reflections moved on to Region and she was honored at the Westlake Council Reflections Awards Night.

Puppet Show

Every year we do a Nativity Puppet Show for one of our December Family Nights.  This year was no different.  It's always a lot of fun and even the older kids enjoy it. :)