A Larsen Family Party

The weekend before Christmas, we went to Northern Utah for a family party. It was a lot of fun...

I asked my cousin Kristin to plan something for an ugly sweater contest. My family was very creative. 

Mathew & his family...Oh they were so cute! I didn't get a picture of Whitney...she had an advent calendar on her sweater!!! Loved, loved, loved that they were so festive with the idea. My sweater wasn't planned at all! We found a sweater at Goodwill...when I put it on I realized it was a child's size large! Oh well I wore it anyway!!!

Yes that's me taking a selfie of me in my sweater!!!

I decided when the plans were being made that the family needed some kind of entertainment...I suggested we play Minute to Win It Games. I was then places in charge of planning it! We did 10 different games. I don't have much proof of anyone doing the games because we were having so much fun we forgot to take pictures! However, I did get my aunt Sandra & uncle Craig playing Whip Cream Tannenbaum...

They were chosen by their grandson Zack to play....

This is me giving the description of their game....(I felt bad for some of my family members when they were playing some of the games...)

This is the reaction that happened when they figured it out...

Some action shots...

Build the tallest Christmas tree with whip cream (or in our case 3-bowls of whipping cream)

As Sandra was working away she says "You can see who does all the cooking in our house!" I like Craig's idea of topping it off with the spoon!!!

The end results....Sandra won!!!

After Minute to Win It, we did our gift exchange. We went around the room doing the white elephant exchange...

This is the family during the gift exchange...

Cousins, cousins with a few parents...

Most of my cousins....

My girls were worried about the dogs in the car...of course they made an appearance! (But the dogs were just fine...they had blankets & their beds in the car! Todd even agreed with me! Oh well!)

Uncle Lynn on the hunt for a present....

Mom on the first of many of her presents that night!!!

Aunt Camille with one of her many presents as well...I think she took these from my mom...

I think this is when Bo got the pink cleaning gloves! They were a big hit!!

See there they are! And he isn't the one who ended up with them!!!

Ohhhh yes! The cream soda Jeff got! Breanne ended up with that. I do believe Jeff ended up with the pink gloves!

But Bo did end up with the shampoo! Notice his long flowing hair? Funny stuff!

This is one set of the pillow cases I made. Little Jade got the snowman ones and my cousin Rachael got the polka dot ones! I don't have much sewing skills, but pillow cases I can make...

My cousin Kristin announcing the winners of the ugly sweaters...

Connor ended up with the ugliest... (Oops...I was just informed that Brayden was the winner! I told them I was bad with names!)

Emma was the fuzziest....

Ahhh...here's a slight glimpse of Whitney's advent calendar sweater! This pic does NOT capture the details of the sweater! It was pretty fabulous & creative.

I saw many smiles on everyone's faces. I'm sad I wasn't able to get pictures of everyone & everything that was going on...but overall it was a successful night! We laughed as a family at all our silliness! If a family is able to come together and be silly and laugh together at each other's silliness I'd say it was a success.

I am thankful for my family. We may not see each other on a regular basis, but we are atill family no matter what. I am now thinking about what we can do for next years party...I already have so fabulous, fun ideas!

Christmas

Christmas was rather quiet for us this year. Josh & Adam were in North Dakota working because other people took Christmas off, so they stayed to work. I was okay with it, but I did miss them very much. Breanne & Tyler were in town, so we spent some time with them. On Christmas Eve, they came over late. They all opened their Christmas jammie's. While we were sitting and talking I started to fall asleep. I guess I don't have it in me to stay up too late anymore...

The next morning Nicole & I woke up early to get ready to go meet up with my dad & Joni as well as Breanne & Tyler. We went to where they were staying. We exchanges gifts, then went to breakfast.

We were going to try Marie Callendar's, but they didn't open until 11:00. We got there at 10:05! Oops! So as usual, we ended up at IHOP. Not my most favorite, but at least we were able to spend some time together. That's what matters the most! When breakfast was over, we said goodbye to my dad & Joni. We went home to open presents. I didn't buy a whole lot this year for the kids because I bought them stuff earlier in the month of some things they really needed, but it was enough to have a nice Christmas. However, I still have to take Nicole to a show I told her we'd go see together. (I had to put it off a few days because her friend came into town. Didn't think I should leave her behind).

The rest of the day, we just hung out at the house. I took a little nap, which I desperately needed. Of course a day wouldn't be complete without a trip to Del Taco! We had it for a late lunch/early dinner. 

Well....that's about it! Nothing too exciting.

This is Breanne & Tyler after opening their gifts. 

Not sure what Colie was doing...either opening presents or passing presents.

The two...well three including Sampson trying to pose by the Christmas tree. This is what happens when you don't have a self timer...

Our second little tree I set up I. The family room a few days before Christmas. It was just a simple tree with tulle ribbon in it. I thought it was really pretty. I put Lulu under it because she was a precious gift in my life who made an impact on me. Next to her is a simple little nativity grouping we were given. I LOVE nativities! So special little things were under this tree.

This is the tree in the living room. I love it! It's sparkly, glittery, and lots of pink!

Caroling with Seniors

I haven't mentioned much about my calling at church in the Young Women's Program. I have been a little frustrated at times with how the program has been run and in all honesty haven't really felt a part of the program like I had in the past. 

With that being said, I am trying really hard to enjoy being a part of the program again.... I'm doing my best to be more active with the Beehive class, but still feel a bit awkward fitting in with the ladies because they have all known each other for so long. I'm basically the outsider whose come into the program.

So tonight I decided to stay at the activity and do my best to have fun and participate. But when the activity planned gets started so late, I feel myself getting upset with even being there because it's a disadvantage to the girls...

Anyway, the activity was to go caroling to a senior center. In all of my years of caroling with girls I always enjoyed caroling and decided I needed to go. After spending about 45 minutes bagging cookies, we were finally leaving for the senior center 30 minutes late! (I really hate that! And knowing most seniors go to sleep early it just didn't seem right to impose).

I drove 3 of the little Beehives to the senior center. On the way there I turned on Christmas music (they said they liked that because they were able to practice). Cute! Once we finally got to the senior center we just started singing while walking down the hallways. Most of the seniors were sleeping with their doors closed. But a few had the door open and even came out to the hallway. One gentleman really touched my heart. He told us that he use to sing in a choir and his favorite Christmas song was White Christmas. I was so happy to hear him start singing along with us. I was toward the back singing along and felt a tear come to me. I really needed that. Then in another hallway another lady joined us singing as well....

Seeing the seniors singing with all the girls made my heart so happy, even though we were almost an hour late.

I'm trying really hard to find ways to feel more connected to the girls, tonight I felt more connected to the three that road in my car & felt the spirit of Christmas while singing carols, especially with the two who sang along with us....

Young Women of the Desert Inn Ward at the senior center....

Random turkey stuff

The other day this guy came into the funeral home dressed as a turkey...(sounds like the beginning line of a bad joke)

I walked up to the front to ask a question or something and this guy was standing there at the desk waiting for someone to talk with him. I stood there for a minute or so processing what was in front of me. Well I decided to ask...my question "Are you here for a singing telegram or something?" He said "No I'm here to pick up some turkeys." 

Again, my thoughts started going wild again (seriously, my thoughts go a million miles a minute when I see or hear something that's not normal). So I told him I'd go find out what he needed. 

I found my mom and told her some guy was up front dressed like a turkey. She knew who he was because he does it EVERY year! Oh my goodness! (I get dressing up & all, but going to pick up the turkey's dressed up is crazy to me! I get delivering the turkeys to people, but picking up the frozen birds?! Really?) 

So I followed her out to him, then turned to go help Mitch get the turkeys...apparently the man dressed as a turkey has to have his picture taken with people who give turkey's. I didn't give, I was just helping...

It was just weird to me! Then when we were taking the picture, he started this crazy loud gobble! Ohhhh....my!!! The things some people do. 

It's okay, I'm pretty random at times too!