Talking to Grandma

Princess really enjoys talking on the phone...A LOT!

Her favorite person to talk to:Grandma Pancakes

Her favorite person to talk about: Grandpa Windy Car

Her favorite person to imitate while on the phone: Mommy!
Too cute for words!


***Countdown to my birthday: 2 DAYS!

Day after Christmas

We were able to get together with my Mom's side of the family the day after Christmas. We loaded up in the suburban and headed for MN. It had been a while since we had last seen most of that side of the family, so it was good to get to spend some time with them!

We were thankful for the DVD players in the suburban...it helped make all the miles go very smoothly (or at least as smoothly as one could expect with two 2 year olds!)

It seems that there is some tradition of taking pictures of the only 2 granddaughters, however, Sara looks great and me, well not so much...thanks for taking it while I was talking!

One of Sara's jobs is working at an apple orchard, and the Honey Crisp apples she brought for us were a big hit for the kids...between the 2 of them they ate 3! Princess NEVER eats apples!

Grandpa was trying to take a nap and the kids (egged on my Sara) were saying "wake up Brampa, WAKE UP!"

Ever since Sunshine has been a little guy, Jess has had a soft spot for him...it continued during our short time with this side of the family...thanks for loving on him Jess!Princess thought that Kaylee's Rainforest stroller was LOTS of fun!
She had brought her new Baby Wendy (thanks Aunt Christy & Uncle Zachie!) So she pushed her around for a long time! Sunshine joined in on the fun as well!

Kaylee and Regan had a picnic for Princess & Sunshine while we were waiting for the real food!Since it was the day before Sunshine's 2nd birthday, they were all troopers and threw him a party! John Deere theme again ya know!
He did pretty well blowing out his candles!
Grandpa & Grandma gave hime two John Deere puzzles...thank you!The Johnson clan gave him this ADORABLE hat! He is also opening one of his gifts from Mommy & Daddy...a book called the Squire & the Scroll ~ a must for Christian families with little boys...also check into The Princess & the Kiss ~ a must for Christian families with little girls!We even let him have some ice cream, he enjoyed it. But no cake for this birthday boy!

Mom, Sara, Matt & Kaylee chatting it up/eating some cake! It was good to finally meet Matt!Uncle Bob! He has been such a blessing to Handsome & Myself since the very first time I brought Handsome to one of these family get togethers...R&K the only other Larson great grandchildren!

Mommy Moments

WARNING: Potty time story to follow....

So as I stated in a previous post, we are probably getting to a point where I will be sharing 'Mommy Moments' often as we entered into a world with 2 two year olds! Well this particular MM comes from Black Friday. My WONDERFUL mother and I got up shortly after 2 am to leave the house by 3 am so that we could be at KOHL'S by 4 when the doors opened! Our husbands and my children were still sounds asleep when we left them but we did have plans of meeting up with them for lunch somewhere. Well, we finished at Kohl's, made our 2nd coffee (capichino for me) stop and headed to Target to stand in line and be there when the doors opened at 6 for the $88.00 dual screen DVD player for the 6 1/2 hours trips back and forth across our state. I also had to get Handsome a camera to take with him to Uganda in a couple months and a few other things. Anyway, we hit Hobby Lobby and Toys R Us and then it was time to meet with the guys and kids at TGIFridays for lunch. Before our food came Princess proudly told me, "Mommy, wet diaper." This is her way of telling me 1 of 2 things. Either it is time to sit on the potty chair RIGHT NOW or it is too late and my diaper isn't the only thing wet....well this was one of the change the entire outfit times. Her and I headed to the ladies restroom to care for the problem. It had been a long day for me already and I thought that I would use the restroom as long as we were already there. As I flush my wonderful, in training (potty chair that is) daughter in her not so soft voice says, "YEAAAAAHHHHH, Mommy go potty in the potty chair YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Tinkle Tinkle....YEAAAAAHHHHH Mommy!" Now some might be slightly embarrassed by something like this...I took it as a moment to thank God for my daughter. We then went to wash our hands a a very nice lady who was also washing her hands looks over at us. You could tell she had gotten a kick out of this and she very kindly says, "we must be potty training." I said "YES" and we both chuckled.

What a blessing it is to be able to be her Mommy!

25 & 23 months old!

Today the kiddos are 25 and 23 months old so I thought I would just give you a little update about where they are at in their little lives!

Princess ~

~ Is currently working on potty training and doing okay (depending on what day it is!)

~ She LOVES looking at books and magazine (particularly while sitting on the potty)

~ She is wanting to be a little Mommy to her dolls.

~ She feeds them, rocks them, puts them in the swing, pushes them in the stroller, kisses their owies, rubs their heads (I do that to the kids when they are tired), and makes sure to correct them when they are doing wrong!

~ She helps in the kitchen ~ just last week she 'made' Ethan a snack. I put different things Ethan could have in little bowls, gave her a big mixing bowl and a spoon and let her go to it. It made a 'trail mix' of sorts that her brother enjoyed! She was proud when it came to snack time and I announced that they kids were having the snack that AG made!

~ She still sets the table, puts the shoes/coats/and toys in their proper places, helps with laundry, throws garbage away, helps Mommy make the bed, and does VERY well at keeping her brother in line (even though that is NOT one of her responsibilities!)

~ She is putting sentences together and getting better and better at pronouncing words every day!

~ She is starting to go up and down steps without holding on to anything

~She talks to Grandma Pam on the phone almost every day

~ Loves John Deere

~Says "GO Vikings! Uky Green Bay!"

~ Tells you when she has a stinky or wet diaper

~ Likes to help Mommy with the puppy chores and play outside

~ She knows 'This Little Light of Mine', 'Jesus Loves Me', and all the signing time songs. We are working on 'Away In the Manger', 'Silent Night', and 'O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E' at the moment.

~ She has many family connections down, if you say Eric...she will say Michelle. If you say Slater...she will say Lucas & Corin. If you say Uncle Zachie...she will say Aunt Christy. If you say Aunt Melissa...she will say OOOOphie (Sophie!) There are many many more connections she has made.

~ She also has started praying with a little help here and there. How precious it is to see our daughter praying and singing Bible songs at such a young age!

~ She is loving, funny, caring, strong, smart, passionate, friendly, and growing up way to fast!

 Sunshine ~

While Sunshine has had a few setbacks in the last month and a half with getting food he shouldn't have had and various colds and flu's, he is doing very well. Here are a few things he has been up to lately:

~ He is Mommy's helper, he likes to get things from different rooms and bring them to Mommy and Daddy...these are his 'special tasks'

~ He is trying to dress himself and is doing pretty well at undressing himself

~ He is big into tractors and trucks right now, but just as happy to play dolls with Sissy

~ He doesn't like the end of meal time or puppies

~ He is a Daddy's boy when it comes to helping or snuggling if Handsome is around he is first choice!

~ He is liking to be held again (so cute!)

~ He has graduated to 2t tops and pants (but still needs the adjustable waist)

~ Has the most beautiful eyes and eyelashes! AND knows how to use them!

~ LOVES wearing hats

~ He also really likes when Handsome cuts his hair, Sunshine actually cries when the clippers get turned off!

~ Is starting to understand what stinky diaper and wet diaper means (maybe he will be potty trained before he is 8!)

~ Has the most ADORABLE handsome smile that could melt any ones heart!

~ Is our stubborn, whiny, sweet, mischievous, tender, blankie loving, determined, easy going, quiet, busy body, trouble making, thinker!

(a picture I took by the creek the week that Grandma was here visiting...it is of the kids shadows while they were facing each other looking at a rock)

The two of them together are such a blessing to Handsome and myself. We were just talking on Friday night after our company left about how so many things in life have been disappointing or not what we expected but parenthood has been all that we expected AND SO MUCH MORE! We love our children so much and do pray that one day (sooner than later) God would bless us with siblings for Princess and Sunshine. I do not know where time goes, but if you blink you may miss something. Enjoy the silly things, laugh at the small things, rest in the sane things, remember the subtle things, bask in the sweet things, and run with the someday things!

Princess turns 2!!! AKA ~ Grandma's Visit Pt3

We had a cake that was similar to her first birthday cake, perfect for a princess!
Blowing out her candles
Trying to get a taste of frosting while her guests sang 'Happy Birthday To You...'
Doing well with a spoon, enjoying her cake and ice cream


I LOVE this picture!
Some of the party guests
Opening her gifts
Grandma gave an umbrella, can you tell that Princess & Sunshine really enjoyed it! They laugh and laugh when you pop it open!
 Princess received some things to be a little mother, baby bed, baby stroller, baby swing, ironing board, play food...she is really fitting into the roll of mother well, just ask her brother!


She also received a pretty butterfly necklace and she wanted it on right away

Trying on Grandma's Crocs (the wrong feet!)
Having fun playing with her new toys
Lucas really had Sunshine laughing
 Sunshine was all tired out from our trip up the canyon and APrincess's birthday party
Thank you to everyone to came for sharing this special day with us! Thank you for the wonderful gifts, and thank you for your friendship!

Grandmas Visit, Pt 3

On Saturday September 27th, Princess' 2nd Birthday, we decided to take a drive up the Canyon. It was said to be 'peak day' for the fall foilage...and they were right...it was Beautiful!

We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls, my favorite!It was just beautiful!
I was taking most of the foilage pictures out the back window, over Princess' head!

She was pretending to talk on the phone for much of the drive
This is at Bridal Veil again, Handsome was trying to get the kids to see the waterfall
We took them down to the creek
 Sunshine had fun throwing rocks into the water
Watching leaves fall
This is for my mother...for some reason she loves the picture...I would love it more if I wasn't in it!