Few pictures from today

Adie thinks that she is a "big girl" now and wants to walk everywhere.  Never mind that she fell five times trying to walk up the driveway.  She was so proud of herself when she finally made it to the top.

The cadillac of all strollers.  I love this thing!  It took me a while to save up for this bad boy but it was worth it!  We use it all the time to go on longer walks or just for containment in the mall.

I get so many strange looks.  I actually love watching people's reaction to this stroller.  (Valco Baby is the brand name just in case you were wondering.)

We made it to the park and I had some happy girls.

If I don't know where she is, chances are the bathroom.  It is the first place I look.  She has never actually gone potty in the potty chair, but someday she will surprise herself and do it.  Cousin Della likes the chair we pulled it out for her, but Adie seems to like it too!  Maybe I will have her trained before she turns two!

Thoughts for the day

I have been reading the the book of Matthew  and Luke lately and have been pondering life for Mary and Elizabeth for that matter.  What did they really feel like?  Elizabeth never saw or met the angel but I am sure she knew his presence by the way Zechariah acted.  Mary on the other hand was pregnant and not married.  What did people say or think?  Were there hushed tones whenever they walked into a room.  Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months.  Did either of them experience morning sickness?  What did they feel when the initial shock wore off?  

Once they had John and Jesus...did they hang out?  Being cousins and all, one would expect to see family as often as they could.  I always think of Jesus being a man, but what was life like as a child.  Did he talk all the time at the supper table?  or was he the kid who always lagged behind because he was taking in all the beauty that He created.  He probably was the kid who everyone wanted to hang out with because he made everyone feel so special.  So here we have John and Jesus...did they go fishing together, tell each other boy "gross" stories, get muddy and dirty and giggle about it the whole way home?

What did it smell like where they lived? You know you really KNOW a place when you can almost taste the smell of a place.  I don't know if that makes sense at all but I know what I am trying to say.  When I think of being in China, I get a taste and a smell all at the same time.  

These are just my thoughts for today...

_______________________________________

Random note:  Grace and Lydia are doing each other's hair right now.  I will have to take pictures to show you my little hairstylists.  They make me laugh!

It feels like home

I finally did it! I put my pictures on the wall in our dining room.  I have been wanting to do this right when we moved in, but never had the creative energy to put them up.  Now it feels like home to me.  There is something about decorating in family photos that makes me feel like I am constantly surrounded in love.  I know that I am always surrounded by Christ's love but I think this is His visual reminder for me.  

We went to the cabin yesterday afternoon with kids.  We all had a great time and I even tried slalom water skiing.   (It is a big deal that I figure this out and very soon!  It is a rite of passage for the Larsen family.  My niece has just learned and she is 8)  Everyone was so encouraging in the boat.  My sister-in-law and her husband and all the kids ages 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, and 1  were all telling me how great I was doing.  Even after 5 awesome wipe outs!   They kept telling me that I was getting better!  I must admit that I am sore today - I don't think anybody's body is ever ready for face plants into the water.  Mommy's can't get hurt doing silly things like water skiing:)

The past few days

Carrie and I took all the kids swimming a couple of days ago in the neighbor's pool.  The kids had a blast!  You can see the roof of our house through the windows...so that is how close to family we live.  I never would have imagined that we would like this close to family. It is truly a blessing!

She is ready to go!  Granted it did take her 40 minutes to think swimming was fun.

She looks like she could get into a little bit of trouble with those pig tails!  It is a good thing that she is so cute!

We went to the Mall of America yesterday and to the Underwater World.  Grace and Lydia thought it was so cool to see the sting rays and sharks.  Adie didn't care for it so much - maybe when she is bigger.

We had a few moments in the car...three snoring children is music to my ears!

Yeah South Dakota!

I am so proud of the state that I just moved away from.  Vote Yes for Life  took on Planned Parenthood and won!  The legislators made informed consent the mandate now.  This is what each doctor who is to preform an abortion must say... " That the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being"  and they have to tell them a whole lot more! Read it all for yourself!

WAY TO GO South Dakota!!  and may all the glory be given to Jesus!

Pass this on!

Amy Lawrence Photography

I had a friend ask who took our family photo.  Amy Lawrence is simply the best if you live in the Sioux Falls, SD area.  Check out her website.  She is a dear friend and an amazing photographer.  We feel blessed that she was able to take pictures of our family before we moved.  She also took pregnancy photos when I was 9 months pregnant with Adie and they were incredible.  I never felt so beautiful in my life.  (I am serious!  I felt prettier 9 months pregnant than on my wedding day.  Call me crazy but it is true)  I keep those photos above my bed.

Enjoy looking!

Angel

Sleeping...and baseball fun

The cheer team!  We set up the baseball batting cage in our neighbor's backyard.  The kids had a great time trying to hit a few balls.

Kissing cousins




All of my girls are sleeping right now. I don't remember the last time that happened!  Swimming lessons wiped out Grace and Lydia.  So with my free time I am paying bills, catching up on email and wait...I hear Adie crying.  Gosh my time was really short!  But on the bright side...I did get 5 minutes!  

We are so thankful to have Daddy back from Africa.  The girls love the videos of lion, penguins and leopards.  We missed him so much!  A girls' mind is a battlefield when her husband is gone.  I didn't sleep well and I had to recite bible verses over and over until I would eventually fall asleep.

It has been so awesome living next to family!  We have shared so many meals and so many life activities that is has been a  real blessing!