Trash Band

The kids wanted to make instruments so we checked out the recycle container and got some great finds. We made a guitar, drum and tamborine.

Then they had band practice.

And then had a parade down the hall. Good times!

Cousins and Uncles and Aunts - Oh My!

Huge Rocking Chair
I love that they call him Josh the Squash. He really is so squishy!

Jack and Hailey in Springville when we stopped to see Cody and Julie and the kids.

The kids with Uncle Milton and Aunt Adel. Thanks for the great weekend! You guys are great!

Nancy and Austin Bunot with the tribe. You guys are the best!

West Point, Utah

We took the kids to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. We stayed with my Aunt Adel and Uncle Milton. We always have so much fun when we visit and this trip was no exception. Nancy and Austin came down from Wyoming and it was fun to see them too. The kids had a lot of favorites from the trip. Saturday morning Milt asked the kids if they wanted to earn some money. They, of course, said yes. He paid them each 1 penny for every rock they picked out of his planter boxes and garden. $15.00 later... They had a blast!

We love a good-lookin' barn!

Uncle Milton doesn't say 'no'. Anything you want to do... I think my kids have figured that one out.

A 'tea party'. I walked in right as Jack was saying the prayer.

Man chefs! My Aunt Ann and Uncle Lenny and their daughter came over for a little bbq. Ann brought a dessert called Death by Chocolate. What a way to go!

Brinley hasn't ever really seen 'real' grass up close. She was all about pulling it.

Sparklers left over from the 4th.

They could not get enough frisbee with Austin. He was a great sport. I think the kids wore him out. They are becoming pretty good frisbee throwers and catchers. Thanks Austin! (and Nate too)

Maybe giving Henry bubbles to play with outside next to the bird bath/fountain wasn't such a great idea. Austin came out in the front and said, "Have you seen the fountain?" Oh No! I showed Lars and told him to wipe the grin off his face so we could talk to Henry about it. He asked Adel what he could to 'fix' it. She said not to worry about it. Image our surprise on Sunday morning when I walked outside and saw this...

Milton is apparently just a kid at heart! The kids were awe struck! They have a new hero.

The Temple

We asked the kids what their favorite thing was at the temple. Kayla liked all of it especially the star shaped chandelier in the celestial room. Henry liked to mirrors in the sealing rooms. Jack liked all the stairs. Brinley liked all the pictures of Jesus.

While we were looking at the picture of John the Baptist and Jesus in the baptistry a man came up behind us and told us there is only one other painting like that and it is in the Copenhagen, Denmark temple. As we were walking down the hall (we were the end of our tour) 2 men with name tags and the title engineer came out of door and Henry peeked inside. The man then turned around and said, "You look pretty interested in that room" So he unlocked it and let us all go inside. It was the 'underbelly' of the temple. There were pipes and air conditioners and heaters and all sorts of buttons and panels. Jack looked at it and said, "Pretty".

Poor Moroni got hit by lightening.

We stopped for gas after the temple and looked up and saw the Jordon River Temple so we took a picture.

We had a family night about the temple and how we would all get to go together to see it for the open house. Then we talked about the fact that if we wanted to be in the temple again as a family we would have to earn that right. I showed the kids a temple recommend and explained that you have to be worthy to enter the House of the Lord and that Lars and I would live worthy so that we could be in the temple with the kids when they grow up. It was very special to stand in the celestial room of the temple with Lars and the 4 kids. If you can make it to the temple open house I would highly recommend it!

Memory Lane, Orem, Utah

We had some time on our way to West Point, UT so we stopped in Provo and had ice cream at the BYU Creamery. Delicious! Then we went to see the house Lars grew up in. Apparently it has changed quite a bit. Then Lars took us to the elementary school he attended and the park where he played (hookie that is).

This is Lars' kindergarten room door.

The kids enjoyed the park and the toys at the school.

Gotta love those Utah Valley Mountains

Summer Sunset

Lars truly enjoys a great sunset. Especially when he can share it with the kids. I think I have a picture of him with each of the kids like this one.

The Paris

Great picture of the Eiffel Tower

FIREWORKS!!

We spent the night of the 4th at the Larkins. Our kids are at that innocent age where they would be just as happy with sparklers, pop-its and Otter Pops as with a huge firework production.
This picture is the result of Felycia making some really funny faces at the kids.
This is what we thought Felycia looked like - she wouldn't do it for her own picture.Poor little feverish, teething, girl cutting molars for the 4th. Loving on her Otter Pop.

With Deric off to the MTC, Felycia was the resident firework master. Punk in her hand and lighter in her back pocket. She did great! Thanks Felycia!!!
The remains of the spectacular.

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

!!!SPARKLERS!!!

Happy Birthday America!! (Don't adjust your monitor, my camera was being fuzzy)

Busy Week

This week Emmah (Lars' niece) from Texas came and stayed with us for a few days. I think we wore her out. We started Thursday morning by going to Anderson Dairy for a tour and ice cream sampling. It was delicious and of course I left the camera at home so just picture talking barnyard animals, a video of 'old' Las Vegas, lots of kids and freshly made cookies and cream ice cream.

Thursday night we had a barbecue and let the kids play in the little pool in the backyard. We surprised them with a trip to Krispy Cream doughnuts to watch them make their famous doughnuts. We took the treats to the firework show at the park and had a great night.Friday morning we started off with pancakes and preparations for a picnic in the park with pizza. (It was our 'p' day). We came home and had a beauty shop. Kayla and Emmah got manicures, pedicures and their hair straightened for our night on the town. We went to the Bellagio for the fountain show and atrium. Another late night and 5 tired kids.

Saturday morning we left by 7:45AM to get a primo spot for the Summerlin Parade. Grandma and Grandpa Larsen met us there and we had a great time watching all the floats and balloons. We saw Elmo, Abbycadabby, Clifford, Curious George, Hello Kitty, Darth Vader, the Storm Troopers and The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and many more. We had lots of fun!This is officially the longest post I've ever posted! We did have a great and exhausting few days!