Cousin Raya’s Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Raya!  Thanks for inviting us-we had SOOO MUCH FUN!!!!!!

Nana’s 60th Suprise Funeral Practice (Birthday Party)

Nana arrived to Rodizio Grill to everyone shouting “DON’T DIE” instead of SUPRISE!

The cousins had a great time playing together.  We all wore black in honor of the “funeral dress rehersal” since Nana is SOOOOOO old!!!!!!!!

Our kids gave Nana a funeral plant and a birthday card with dentures on the front.

Happy 60th Nana Maya!!  We love you and we’re glad you didn’t die of a heart attack with all of the teasing during your “roast”.

Grandma Muggy’s 80th Birthday in WA

I enjoyed a wonderful weekend trip to WA to celebrate my Grandma Muggy’s 80th birthday.  A wonderful respite and chance to relax and enjoy many family members!  Happy 80th Muggy!

Mom took me for a trike bike ride after the party.  It was slow, relaxing and so beautiful to enjoy Washington’s green landscape.  Life should include more moments like this one.

done

Swimming at the Marriott with Gma Diny!

Conference Weekend

The talks that impacted me most this weekend were focused on the temple.

Powerful thoughts came to mind!  So grateful for these opportunites to seek improvement!

Here is a link to Elder Bednar’s talk (my favorite).

Here are some photos from our weekend.  Brigham’s parents came to our house to watch conference with us.

This is kind of a goofy photo of yours truly, but shows the posted menus that I collected from each family menu for “Karmel’s Cafe”.  Business hours are the first Sunday of each April and October from 8-10am.  It was a huge hit!  The kids are always hearing me say…. “You get what you get and don’t throw a fit.  This is not a cafe, it’s a cafeteria-just one option!”  So they were thrilled to get a huge list of things to choose from off their printed menus.  We all had fun making it and serving it restaurant style.  Below is Abby filling out her “Karmel’s Cafe” menu.

It’s a good thing the talks are posted on-line for future reading.  There is a danger in watching anything laying down!

Between sessions, we did “Grown Ups and Doughnuts”.  Each of the 4 kids picked a grown up and picked books from the huge assortment of new library books.  We read and ate donuts!   Happy kids…

Happy New Year with Greene Cousins

Happy Cousins ringing in the new year!  Below, my brother Dave and his wife Amber joined us for the New Year.

We’ve been getting LOTS of snow here in Mapleton!  Above is Ben’s MEGA icicle he broke off of our house.  Below are some more icicles from the front of our house.  Lots of snow shoveling exercise.

Riding Horses with the Cousins

Thanksgiving 2008

For Thanksgiving this year, we enjoyed being hosted by Brigham’s sister Lisa and her family down in St. George.  We stayed with his Brother Josh and his wife April.  The day after Thanksgiving, we had fun riding on the Miner’s horses.  Abby especially was thrilled with the horse experience!

Thanks to our Veterans

Here is a photo of my wonderful brother Mike, who just welcomed his sixth child last week.  Luckily, he was home for the event.  Thanks Mikey for serving in the Military and for all of the sacrifices that you and your family make for me and my family and our nation.  Love you!  Thank you!

Some summer updates…

It seems like I’ve been gone 1/2 the summer. We went to AZ for awhile to visit my mom and dad. While we were there, Gpa Dave passed away. I took the kids to see him at his care center and he passed away the next day. So we came back to UT and got ready to go to WA for his funeral. It was great to see all of my family and to celebrate his life.

Here’s my family of origin all grown up. Kids lined up from oldest to youngest. Yep-I’m #5!

Here’s the whole crowd at Priest Point Park right after Grandpa Dave’s funeral.

Our little collection of Larsons on Puget Sound in WA.

Following is a slideshow of pics so long that only grandparents would be interested to sit through. If you sit through the whole thing… you must be a really good friend or be really bored. Leave us a comment and say hello if you are in any of the above categories. We hope you are all making great family memories this summer! Love to you all!

Easter 2008-Celebrating The Living Christ!

THE LIVING CHRIST
THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—”built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE

6 months ago at our Stake Conference, our leaders challenged the members of our stake to memorize, as families, the entire Living Christ. We took their challenge and taught our kids a few lines at a time. For Easter, we presented the whole memorized document to the best audience one could hope for… Grandparents! Then we had a great Easter egg hunt, a wonderful Lamb dinner, Grandma Beth listening to the kids piano playing and lots of good quality family time! We hope you all enjoyed your day of celebrating the Living Christ. Happy Easter!

New Cousin-Visiting Baby Roman Greene

My brother Dave finally got his “boy”. Welcome to the family Roman Richard Greene! We had a fun visit holding him. He makes our 5 month old Brig Jr. look like a big boy!

Brig Jr. Baby Blessing

Click here for all blessing photos

Christmas 2007

Click here to view all 2007 Larson Family Christmas Photos

Click here to view 2007 Greene Family Christmas Photos

Las Vegas Reunion

Early November, we road tripped down to Vegas for a family reunion with my siblings. We stayed at Circus Circus and ate at alot of buffets. It was a whirl wind, quick trip! So fun to be together with my whole family-all six kids at one time. That is a rare moment. Thanks Dave for planning it!

Bananas and Ice Cream

We said goodbye to Grandpa Dave about 10 days before Brig Jr. arrived. My parents entered into retirement and were able to take over his full time care. We think about him though every time we eat bananas and ice cream. The kids bring him up often and have good memories about “when Granpa Dave lived with us”. Serving him taught us so much and was a positive gift we will always be grateful for.