Park Weather- FINALLY!!!

We have finally had some nice fairly warm days that allowed us to escape our house and head to the park. This has been a long awaited activity for the kids. Here are some pictures of our first trip to our favorite park. This park is known to my kids as the Pirate Ship park, but last fall the pirate ship went away and was replaced by new play equipment. They seem to like it better, except the fact that the swings are gone. But I am sure that they will always call it the Pirate Ship park. Hopefully we will have many more trips to this and all the other parks this summer.

Trip to the Beach- well sort of

   Just wanted to share this really fun activity that Brookie and I (along with Luke) were able to attend! Our church held a Sandals and Seashores Mother/Daughter get-together. It was really awesome and a lot of FUN!! They were really successful in bringing the beach into our church- literally. Brookie was excited to wear a new summer dress and her flip-flops and I was thrilled to get out the capri's and sandals as well.

   We packed a picnic lunch that we shared with friends, we drank cherry limeades, we ate ice cream cones, we heard great stories and songs (Brookie and her little friend Annie even sang), we played some volleyball and we played in the sand. It was the greatest trip to the beach so far this year!!

Our new little guy

  I know that I have already posted all these pictures on facebook, but for those of you who aren't facebookers I wanted to share them with you as well. Our little guy, Luke Nikolaus Larsen arrived April 19th at 4:30 a.m. We went to the hospital on the 18th and expected that to be his birthday, but he had his own plans! He took his precious time but we were so happy when he finally arrived. Things went very well and my plan to have no epidural was successful. He weighed 8lbs. 4oz. and was 20 3/4 in long. He is our biggest baby but sure doesn't look it. The first thing that I noticed about him was all his blonde hair- he has quite a bit of it.
  Silas and Brooklyn were really excited to finally meet him!!! They came first thing that morning with jammies and bedhead! They always want to hold him and can't give him enough kisses. They are both very glad to be big brother and big sister.
  Now that we are home things are getting back to normal. My mom was up here for one week and that made things very easy. Since she left, we have had to adjust a little bit mostly at dinner time and when I need to take a shower. But all in all everything is going smoothly. He eats good and sleeps well. I can't complain!!
  I hope that you all enjoy these pictures of our little man!!

Easter 2010!!

Here are a few highlights of our Easter celebration this year. Kiddos loved coloring eggs and finding them. Brookie had her Easter dress for awhile, but I wouldn't let her wear it until today. Her favorite part about it was that it came with a matching one for her baby doll. Silas told me that he wanted a striped shirt for Easter and he liked it even more when I let him pick it out himself. So they don't match but they are still so stinking cute!! They both got their own Bibles in their Easter baskets and they are so proud of them. We had Easter dinner at our house with Gpa Dale and Pat as our guests. Lisa (Sam's mom) wasn't feeling well so we missed her. It was my first attempt at making a turkey and I must say, it turned out to be pretty yummy!! I even got all the insides out! Hope you enjoy this handful of picts!

Happy Birthday Sam!!

Today is Sam's birthday and I just wanted to send out another birthday wish to my wonderful, sweet husband!
Sam, you are one of the greatest blessings in my life. Thanks for all you have ever done for me and our family. Thanks for your sacrifice each and everyday! You are truly loved by me and our kiddos! I just hope you know how blessed we are to have you in our lives! We love you so much and hope that you had a great birthday!

Trip to Anchorage

Our family took a trip to Anchorage a couple weekends ago. We were looking for an excuse to go so Sam could get some stuff for the fishing boat and I just wanted to look for a few baby items, so once we heard that a friend needed to be picked up from the airport- we jumped at the opportunity.

We also planned this as our last rendevous as a family of 4. The kiddos loved it- they got to go to Chuck E. Cheese AND Bouncin' Bears. I didn't take any picts at Chuck E. Cheese because it was so packed in there that we were told that there needed to always be someone at our table if we were holding stuff there. But here are some pictures from our kids new favorite place to go in Anchorage- Bouncin' Bears!! Sam and I really liked it too- we think it is the perfect thing to have up here since the winters are so long and there is only so much you can do inside and outside when there is snow on the ground.

Is it time yet??

This has been a question lingering in my home for a couple weeks now. Each and every day my two wonderful kiddos ask me- "Is it time for our baby to come out yet?" Each time I smile and gently say "no, not yet", but not too long ago I came to the realization that it will be time very soon!

I am really starting to over-think everything and cause myself anxiety over his arrival. Everything from do we have what we need to how will the delivery be? Over the past couple weeks, I have made lists upon lists of what to do and get before he arrives and yet I still feel a little unprepared. This is the only time I have felt this way in a pregnancy so I am not sure how to react to it.

I am happy to say that this week is spring break up here so every extra-curricular thing we are involved in took a break this week, which has allowed me to get many things on my lists crossed off. Of course some of them are an everyday battle, like keeping the house picked up. We, well I should say I, have been really trying some new activities to get the kiddos involved more in this part and put our reward system back on track. The baby's room is pretty much in order which is a relief, since this time last month it still looked like the 'classroom'. With the week halfway over I am striving to get as much crossed off my list as possible and then just maintain everything as we go along. I guess I should share this goal with my hubby since most the dirty clothes I pick up each morning are his!! So wish me luck on my tasks!

As for the actual arrival of our little man- only four weeks left!! I just can't help but think of how this delivery will go. The other two were very different but with one commonality- very fast! So that makes me a little nervous. And then of course after bringing him home and the kiddos getting jealous or feeling left out is a huge burden that I feel right now. I just pray that all will go smoothly and safely and that everyone will adjust very well!

My last mom thing for today- it suddenly hit me a couple weekends ago that I will only have two kids for just a little while longer. I only have so much time left to give them all my attention. This freaks me out. I can't help but think how Silas will be heading to school in August and then he will be out of the house for 6 hours everyday. I mean all the times lately that I have been so frustrated with him and not handled it in the best way that I could- I don't want our last few months of being home together to be like that. And Brookie is Miss Spotlight. She can entertain herself for awhile, but always has something to show you or needs you for something. I know she will be a very big helper, but how long will it last?? I just pray that I will have the strength to deal with the challenges and handle everything a little better! And I pray even more for Silas and Brookie to somehow understand the changes and not feel neglected.

There is my venting for the month- hope not to bore all you that frequent our blog, but sometimes I just need a listening ear and I'm going to get it one way or another! I will keep you updated on everything as much as possible. Love to all!