Fun, Fun, Fun

Time to update you all on what has been going on in the Larsen Family (or more likely, just type it down for myself to read and pat myself on the back for doing something semi-productive). This spring has been really good so far. Jesse and I definitely enjoyed the Easter weekend and the warm weather. We actually laid out on a blanket for a little while and got tan (well, Jesse got tan). And now the weather is back to normal, cold and windy :( But I guess that just makes it easier to appreciate the warm weather.

We've done a few exciting things over the past couple months, Jesse and I went to his first Jazz game against the Denver Nuggets. The Jazz totally dominated so it was awesome! I was such a mean wife and made Jesse get t-shirts to commemorate the occasion.

Yeah it was pretty sweet. And it just so happened that this pretty cool car was in front of our hotel...

Yeah, part of me thinks that seeing the car was cooler for Jesse than the Jazz game, but we both had fun.

We've also made some serious improvements to the house... 

Jesse, Rick, and Kollin putting a window in the basement.

I wish there was a before-before picture, but just imagine florescent lights, wood paneling, the central heating unit in the middle of the room, and cement floors.

The After-Before

Ta-Da!

Full on Man Cave

And now I'm not scared to go in the basement! The first movie we watched was Real Steel and Jesse was totally enjoying his investment in a new sound system.

Jesse is still loving his calling in YM. I think he is learning a little patience working with 12 year olds but I know he has so much fun with the boys. I'm loving Primary more every week. I have to say my favorite part is when I get to go to Nursery for singing time. All the kids are {SO} cute! And a few of them, their first words in nursery have been the names of songs, especially the bumble bee song. So cute. 

All in all, life is pretty good here in Rupert, and we are so blessed to be able to enjoy it all.

A New Year

The new year has brought some ups and downs. The ups have been spending time with family and we had a wonderful Christmas. Jesse got the camo he wanted and I got a puppy--ok so its a pillow pet puppy, but I'll take what I can get :) We also got some movies, a photo book, and a new camera! I've been using it a lot to help justify our getting a new camera. So here's a few of our Christmas pictures...

 Oh, and I made my brothers these awesome foot-y pajamas.

Another up, I got a calling in December to be the primary chorister. When I first got the calling I was super intimidated. I know kids shouldn't be scary, but I was a bit terrified. Now that I am a month into it, I love my calling. It is so much fun to teach these primary songs and come up with activities to teach the kids and invite the spirit too. For Jesse, he has been called as the assistant scout master for the Deacon's quorum. He is loving planning all the trips and camp-outs and uses as an excuse to try and get a camp stove...I'm not buying it :)

For the downs...so we came home last weekend from Sherlock Holmes (awesome movie!) to this...

Since it's dark, I'll explain...a tree fell on our house. And our car. In the top picture, where the load-all is, that is where our car was. So now we are in the middle of insurance claims and stuff. No fun. But we are definitely blessed that no worse damage happened and that we are ok.

Again, on the up side (!) we got a new set of couches! Kind of a last minute, spontaneous decision but we feel good about it. Of course it's hard not to feel good in on a soft, reclining sofa :)

So, 6 days into the new year and already it is crazy! But I am grateful for what we have and the loved ones around us. We really are blessed.

i love this time of year

I am feeling very blessed. I am coming to realize that I am not in charge of my life. I mean, I get to make decisions but I am not in control of everything. And that is hard to take for a control freak like me. But I feel like maybe I've been worrying about those things I cannot control when I should be grateful for the things that I have. I am so grateful for Jesse. He is more than I could have ever asked for in a husband. I am grateful for our friends and our families. I am grateful for our home. But most of all I am grateful for my Savior. As we celebrate His birth, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for His life and sacrifice for me.

Back in the Magic Valley

I love this place! After my recent graduation (oh yeah!) we were able to move back to Rupert! For a while we didn't think we'd be able to sell our apartment contract in the Burg but last minute a couple wanted it and we were able to move in 3 days. So for now we are staying with Jesse's family and waiting for the remodel on our next home to be finished. There is so much going on at the house it is awesome to see more progress every day. I know we both just feel so blessed to be here.

Wow, we are lame :)

Ok, so we are not the best bloggers. But that is ok because we have been just a little busy. But good news! Jesse bought a 4-wheeler (yeah this is kind of old news because we got it earlier this spring, but i digress), he is just a few weeks from finishing his 2nd to last semester of grad school, I just had my senior violin recital last week which went amazing and I am 5 1/2 weeks from graduating and being done with school FOREVER! So I am just a little excited about being able to leave the burg and move on to warmer weather but while we are still here we have been trying to enjoy some of the local recreation.

Last week end we decided last minute we wanted to go fishing, so me, Jesse, Derek, Emily, Brooke, Tayne, and their soon to be born child :) all went fishing. About ten minutes after we got to Henry's Lake it started raining, then hailing, and it was cold. And their were fish swimming all around and nothing was biting! Just a little frustrating. Brooke and Derek both ended up reeling in a fish but after that we had no luck. But even though we got skunked and rained on I really had a good time. It was nice to get out of our little apartment and spend some time outside. I think we'll be heading to Yellowstone soon and I am super excited to see Old Faithful. (Yeah, I've lived about 3 hours away from it my whole life and never been, and I'm probably a little overexcited but I'm easily entertained).

Well, I can't say much else has been going on, just work, school, and lovin' life! I can't say enough how blessed I am for a wonderful family and an amazing husband. I love my life!

One year Anniversary

This Monkey stole Kylie's Banana! He kept running up to her and so she finally gave it up after he threatened to attack!

For our one year Anniversary we went back to Jesse's mission to Costa Rica!. We had so much fun! We saw monkeys, crocodiles, parrots, sloths, and a ton of other animals. We met many members there and got to spend some time with one of Jesse's converts and his son. We spent 3 days with a member, 1 night overlooking an active volcano, and 4 days on flamingo beach! We had a blast! We went the end of July and first week in August

The sunsets were beautiful!! So many times it looks like a postcard and it was hard to believe we were actually there!

July

We were so excited for the 4th of July. We got to spend 5 days away from school (yeah!) and spend some time in the sun. I got to go water skiing at tubing with Jesse.



And then Jesse had me show him how to slalom. I told him I would if he would try it. (He wasn't officially part of our family until he tried haha.) And guess what...


He gets up on his first try. Yeah. So he has no excuses anymore!
And yesterday was Jesse's birthday. He is 24! We had a fun time opening presents, playing frisbe and just hanging out.


This is him first thing in the morning. He woke up and asked where his presents were haha!


He blew out all 24 candles! Yeah!
We're doing awesome! I finished up my 5th semester of school and we're headed out to Costa Rica in 3 DAYS!!! So we'll update you when we get back!