"Perfect" husband in training!!

Cayden thinks it is so fun to help me put away laundry!! I intend to keep it that way:)

No matter rain, snow or shine!!

Carlie's 2nd grade class went on a field trip to the LDS Church History Museum and This is the Place State Park to see firsthand what they have been learning about the Westward Expansion and the Early Pioneers.

They got to see what school was like back then

They learned how to write their name using the old Deseret Alphabet and got to see what the books looked like back then!

It was snowing and raining all day!! Luckily they let us eat lunch in the old schoolhouse at This is the Place State Park!! Since the weather was so bad they had to change the normal plan and we spent time inside instead of outside as much as possible.

Got to meet the barber and this lucky kid even got an old fashioned shave!!

Learned how they sewed and weaved back then.

Every field trip Carlie has ever gone on so far it has rained or snowed, does not matter what time of year it is!! Must be the required weather for field trip days (at least it is consistant)!!

11 Years Later.....

A friend around the world....

Carlie was so excited to get a letter today from her "friend" in Africa!! About a month ago the students wrote letters to the students in Africa. One of the people that started Carlie's school recently traveled their to help train the teachers and took the letters from the students. Right now the kids attend school in a chicken coupe with no electricity!! Carlie's school has been raising money so a real school can be built!!! It has been fun for the kids to be able to hear about what it is like in another country for kids their same age and be able to help by raising money so those kids can have some of the simple things they take advantage of like paper and pencils!!

What will he think of next.....

Cayden learned that he can break pretzels into pieces and make shapes out of them (I have such a smart boy)!!:) Lance took this picture on his phone so I could see it and we were discussing it later in the car. Cayden said, "Do you know what that means Carlie?? I am an artist!!!!"

In Memory of Grandpa Larsen......

Ervin (Rolly) Roland Larsen 1920 ~ 2011 Rolly passed away February 27th at his home due to cancer. He was born January 13, 1920 in Salt Lake City UT to Irvin Redmond Larsen and Annie Jane Gold. Married Zona Harvey, January 30, 1967. He as a Master Electrician by trade. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II. He loved his grandkids and his family. Survived by his wife, three children: Patty, Kathy, and Vin, step children: Douglas (Donna) Gillis, Sharon Bird, Rheta (Darryl) Higley, James H. Larsen, Randy (Brenda) Gillis, Janice Fitzgerald, Judy (Steve) Burgess, Nancy (Ray) Buckner, sister Thelma Moriaty, 57 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents, sister, daughter Connie Jenkins, two granddaughters Mary and Nicole. Funeral services will be held Thursday March 3, 2011 at the Prairie 13th Ward, 7337 So. Grizzly Way (5150 W) at 10:00 a.m. Viewing Wednesday March 2nd from 6-8 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy. (10600 S) and Thursday from 9:00-9:40 a.m. at the church. Interment Tridell Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Tridell, Utah. Special thanks to Joleen Huber and staff for her extraordinary care.

Spotlight

Today was Cayden's special day at preschool!!

Cayden is 4 years old

Favorite Animal.... Lion

Color..... Red

Food..... Chicken Nuggets

Favortite place to go..... In N Out

When he grows up he wants to be a...... Fireman

Loves to play with his....... Cars

If he had 1 wish he would wish for..... Trip to St. George!!!

Disclaimer, these are all "pretend" answers (except St. George) because he said "he couldn't put the same answers as last year"!!!:) Real answers.......

Favorite Animal..... Dog

Color...... Blue

Food..... Grilled Cheese

Favorite Place..... Cafe Rio

When he grows up.....Train driver

Loves to play with..... Toy Trains

Catch-up

January is such a hard month!! It is too cold to go outside and the excitement from the holidays has come and gone!! We didn't do too much but managed to have a little fun:)

We went to Classic Skating with Carlie's school (they have a night every couple months where the kids can go have a free night of fun)!!

Went to Incredible Pizza again and played all of the games this time (the favorite is Mini Bowling)!!

Drove up to Midway and checked out the amazing ice sculptures

Baked so many cookies I have lost count but I think I may have a helper now (and I need a double oven)!!:)

Finally, I had surgery the middle of the month to fix some problems caused by being blessed with a 9 lb. baby (4 years ago)!!! I became addicted to the show Cake Boss on TLC during this time!! We love that show now, I could watch it for hours and hours and hours!!:)

Carlie's Special Day!!

Before

After

Today Carlie was Baptized by her Dad and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!! She was terrified of going under the water (but after a lot of tears from both of us) she was really brave and did a great job!! We are so proud of her and the choices she has made and the great example she is to her family and friends!! We are so grateful for our family and friends who came and supported us!!!

The kids 1st Snowman......

While I tried to snowblow all of our snow this morning the kids made a snowman. The snow was so heavy I had to have our neighbor (thanks Tony) come help me put the snowman together!! I am not kidding, I cannot believe how heavy the snow was!! The kids had so much fun making their first snowman! We hoped for snow and now we are getting it!!

Christmas 2010

Usually Carlie has to wake up Cayden Christmas morning, not this year! Cayden woke up at 5:00 A.M. , ran downstairs and then ran in my room screaming "Santa came, Santa came!!" before running back downstairs. I went and got him hoping he would go back to sleep, luckily he did and the kids didn't wake up until 8:00:)

They were excited about their new Pillow Pets

Carlie was excited Santa brought her the Karaoke Machine she asked for!!

Cayden's new Dinosaur Train!! I hope that is enough trains now, I think that is #4 or #5!

I do not allow pictures to be taken of me in my pajama's, apparently Lance doesn't either since this is the only picture of us on Christmas!!!!

We went over to my parents later to make pizza's! Everyone wanted to do something different than the usual Christmas food. We cheated and brought a pre-made pizza....but we still had to bake it so that still counts:) We did an ornament exchange and played Christmas Bingo! Even Reggie came (Uncle Brandon and Aunt Rachel's dog) the kids thought that was fun! Everyone had a great Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we get together with Lance's side of the family. We have dinner, the kids put on their new Christmas pajamas and then the kids dress up and we tell the Christmas Story. Afterwards the kids do a gift exchange with their cousins. It is total chaos with 11 cousins but the kids love it!! When we got home the kids got the treats ready for Santa and Carlie wrote a nice note:)"Dear Santa please eat my cookies and this is from the Gillis Family"

We were nice and put the egg nog on ice so Santa wouldn't get sick!!