Monster Truck Rally

For Christmas Walker got a big remote control monster truck from my Mom and Dad.  He has loved playing with it in our playroom but hadn't gotten a feel for its real potential because we couldn't take it outside with all of the snow.  Today, with the sun shining and the streets nearly completely dry, it was the perfect opportunity to take it out for a real test drive.  This little truck is CRAZY fast and can clear just about any curb or obstacle.  The kids were both excited and terrified as they tried to outrun Allan's expert driving skills.

Walker was having fun running from the truck but later decided that he would be better off with a helmet on.

Lillian wasn't all that interested in all of the action but she enjoyed the beautiful weather as much as the rest of us.

2nd Annual Spring Party

Emma is destined to be a party planner.  She would throw a party every other weekend if I allowed it but for now I've limited it to one every 3 or 4 months.  Our Spring party is one of them.  Thanks to Pinterest, planning these sorts of things get easier and easier.  We did a rainbow theme this year, mostly because the colors of the rainbow make me happy.  The kids were excited to make some cute crafts, eat yummy food, and play, play, play.

The Crafting

Spring Blossom Painting

This is Avery, one of Emma's cute friends

Walker pouting because it wasn't his turn first

Finished Products

Why are rainbow colors so pretty?

I love the concentration on their sweet little faces

The Food

The kids were more excited about these Kool-aid flavored ice cubes than anything.  It took them 40 minutes to eat because they had to eat every one of them. 

This is what our rainbow cake looked like before we baked it.

And this is after.  This was a much better alternative to the Rainbow Brite cake that took me two hours to decorate last year.

The Playing

All in all our second Spring party was a success.  Emma is already planning for next year.

8 Months and Counting

Lillian turned eight months old last Sunday.  The previous week I had taken her for a very overdue 6 month check up to Dr. Davidson, their pediatrician.  He had the same thing to say as always, that she is "shrimpie".  Fifth percentile shrimpie to be exact.  Regardless of how little she is though she manages to climb onto and into everything imagineable.  She certainly is keeping us on our toes.  She'll be climbing stairs and walking before we know it I'm afraid.

She LOVES her baths.  The second I start running the tub she is scrambling to get up and into it.

Emma and Walker are especially thrilled with her new found mobility as it means, or so they think, that she can be carried, dragged and chased nearly anywhere in the house.  They especially like to pretend that she is a new puppy on laundry days.

Emma is the little mother hen, as usual, and for the most part Lillian tolerates being rocked and cradled by her 8 hours a day.

The more surprising development is that Walker wants to spend every available moment with her.  He is always begging me to put her in the playroom where he can play with her and he has become incredibly protective of her.  It's so exciting to see their little relationship develop.

Lillian thinks it is hilarious to try and chew on Walker's blanket.

And Walker thinks it's hilarious to drag her around by her ankles.

This picture makes my heart melt.

Happy 31st Mom and Dad

Thirty-one years ago Dennis Larsen and Holly Broby were sealed in the Logan, Utah temple for time and all eternity.  Four children and four beautiful grand children later they are still an incredible example of a couple whose love and adoration for one another has increased year after year.  As a child living in their home, where peace and respect prevailed, I cannot recall cross words ever being exchanged between my parents.  I remember numerous covert missions to the mall where we would pick up my Dad's car from the parking lot, wash it, and leave a plate of goodies that would be waiting for him when he left the office for the day.  I have equally fond memories of Christmas mornings as we waited anxiously to see what exciting and elaborate scheme our Dad had come up with to surprise Mom with that morning.  I still love to see the delight on his face as she opens each gift from him.  Since becoming a wife I have a greater appreciation for those little gestures and for the effort and energy that goes into maintaining a marriage like theirs.  From the time that I was a young girl my Mom has set an example of the kind of wife I wanted to be.  Equally my Dad has shown me the love and respect with which a husband should treat his wife.  I will forever be grateful for their amazing examples and for the loving and peaceful home in which I was raised. 

We love you so much Mom and Dad!!  Happy 31st Anniversary.

St. Patty's Day

One day I plan to have a day full of fun on St. Patrick's Day, complete with leprechaun traps, colored meals and green goodies and "gold" hidden throughout the house.  This year was not the year, however, so the kids were willing to settle with green waffles and whipped cream and a craft.

I love sitting back and watching my kids create

It makes me so happy!!

I tried for 10 minutes and still could not get this picture to rotate!!!

To avoid our living room looking like a "Babies 'r' Us" day and night I've hidden Lillian's toys between our couches.  The little stinker is so clever that she makes it to her favorite spot no matter how many toys I put out in the middle of the floor for her.