Norway Family

It only takes a moment...

2011-10-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

In a moment you turn around and life has changed. I used to be a girl who wished she was married and had babies..I was that girl for a long time~ then in a blink of an eye that changed.

Then I was a girl with a new husband and a baby on the way.

Then I was a mommy who worked and a wife who was always disheveled.

Then I was a mommy who was sick and so pregnant with a husband who was about to loose his job.

Then I was a mommy with a husband who was working 85 hours a week. I had a husband who worked so much and was under so much stress that he lost to much weight that myself and others were worried for him.

Then I was a mommy who had two little ones and was pregnant and had a husband who was working at a good but boring job.

Then I was a wife who's husband was lied about. My two little ones a baby and hubby all needed a strong person to rely on. I needed a moment to scream in my pillow.

Then I became a teachers wife, and mommy to more than my own.. Our friend Emmett came to us. We worked that way for a long time..

Now I am the Mom to three school children and the wife/girlfriend to my Hubby AND, he and I are the entertainment for our friend Em..

It only takes a moment for your life to turn around and you become a different person, one that you never knew you could or would be.. I hope that I am ready for whatever moment comes next.

A teacher you wish would come live at your house..

2011-07-09T22:56:00.000-07:00

Did you ever have a Teacher you wished would come and live at your house? One that made you feel like you were REALLY special! The kind that you knew would always take your side, and have faith in you?? I had a couple that I really walked away from feeling like there was someone at school who KNEW I was going to turn out OK.. Ever wonder how your parents felt about that Teacher??

Sam has had a Special friend the last 3 years who loved him and was really into him and his strengths. I have LOVED her and felt so grateful for her ability to see past what other people see. Jen has seen his funny side, tender heart and very intelligent and inquisitive side! This year there have been a lot of cutbacks in our school district and she unfortunately has lost her place at the school.

We will always love that she gave him a place to go that helped him feel safe from the world.

Sam and Jen

plus.. she has cool shoes!

Once upon a time..

2011-04-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time we took Family Photos..
We would head over to the Mall and pay the Picture People some money and they would produce fantastic pictures that we LOVED and we hung them on our wall and felt so much pride!

Then one day...THEY MOVED!!

It has been 5 long years since we had professional photos! All because the Picture People moved & because we had a bad experience with the others guys (JC Penny's, Sears, Walmart)

We have tried and tried to take a nice picture. We would set the timer on the Camera and Rune would run really fast to try and get in the picture and smile nice.

Every now and then we did okay..

BUT, More times than that, they were not great.

Like THIS one~!

One thing is sure, we never looked the way I wanted us to.

Then, a couple of years ago a great gal moved in our ward at church who was SO creative! SHE was a great photographer and lots of people started having their pictures taken by her and I grew more and more frustrated at our lack of a family picture. I would lay in bed wishing that I would call her and she would do our pictures too! EASY you might think but, not for me!!

Since I am always a truthful with you here I will be so again! Here it is..
I HATE to have my picture taken!
I have never been the kind of girl who felt at ease in-front of a camera.. It has gotten worse as I have gotten older. (and less youthful..lol ) I would think, as soon as I have lost a few pounds I will cal or, when I get a hair cut that makes me feel better I will call or, when we have more money for really cute April Cornell dresses for the girls. I thought of a lot of other reasons not to call all because I feel so un-photogenic. The funny thing about it is that I take hundreds of pictures of everyone else.. We have documented (as you may know) everything our little ones have ever done.

Finally I called her!

We went and had pictures taken last Friday!! How very grateful I am that Kristen Moss was okay with doing it on a short notice and that she was willing to go to the spot (far away) that I wanted to go. This is what she did for us! What a wonderful friend!
THANK YOU Kristen Moss Photography for making us smile!

March and all the fun it brings~

2011-04-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

March.. and all the fun it brings~

2011-03-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

Valentines Day

2011-02-14T23:05:00.000-08:00

Our kids gave out these fun V-day gifts to their classmates.

This guy was asked at School if I dressed him ??
Nope this is all him! ;) The best Helper ever~

Her are the kids with their Valentines from Dad
(and Mom) the girls received beautiful necklaces
and Sam had a new Box Car W/ track cleaner!
(That is big stuff for a train guy)
Mom (me) had Dad pick up candy for them.

One more crazy shot ;)

Here I am ready to go into have an MRI. Not as restful as I had prayed for.
Next time I will ask for better medication! lol

Photography Days 6, 7 & 8

2011-02-08T20:41:00.001-08:00

Day 5 Who else they love.

Generations..
Family History Work

His gift of love and promise to me.

Day 5.. Love to Hate

2011-02-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

Day 5 of my Photography Course~
Love to Hate.
I absolutely Hate:
trying to get Lilly to take any kind of Medication~
I absolutely Love:
the thought that she can get better, if she takes them~

Day 4 ~ What They Wear

2011-02-04T16:11:00.000-08:00

When Rune first came to America I was amazed that he did
not bring any Jeans with him. I soon understood that he
liked to dress "Casual yet Smart".
Which to him meant no Jeans and really not T-Shirts either.
I am all about the comfort level. I have Mom uniform of Jeans and a T.
At best I could be dressy in slacks and a button down shirt.
I mean really I like a great Sunday dress, but when Church
was over so were it's clothes. WELL. In these last years I have
seen the importance of looking less sloppy and he finally got
a pair of Jeans, he is very willing to wear a t-shirt as well.
One thing has not changed..
He likes to wear his Sunday Best.
ALL DAY Sunday~ Tie and all. At first it made no sense, now...
I love that about him.

Then and Now ~ Katelynn Riley (day 3)

2011-02-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how fast it all changes, and how much it stays the same. I have loved those eyes of your from the first moment I saw them..
Also, from the moment you were born I knew you were your own gal ;) I am just so glad that for right now you are still my little gal~

How he looks

2011-02-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

When I hear people foolishly say things about my husband I always feel really bad for them.
You see, there never has been a man who gave so much and received so little.
He gave up everything.. For only a hope that his dreams would come true.
When I hear people say things about him I always think to myself.. "This poor fool has lost out on a Loyal Friend."
This is how he looks to some people,

A man who falls asleep in Church..
A man who is always looking for a baby to hold..
A man who make comments that sometimes seem off the wall..
A man who doesn't mind looking silly..
A man who hugs, sometimes to much..

Want to know why??
He is busy serving.. SERVING people who need help, THEY might not realize that they are in need, but he does~
I am more fortunate than anyone knows, because..
I am married to a giant of a man~

The most fun husband ever!

2011-02-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Our life might not be the kind that some people want.. BUT, It is in every way the kind I want.

I was getting ready for a new Photo Assignment (Fairy Tales) and was SO stumped.
Our girls have had a lot of pictures taken of them for these and it is not always easy..
This time I had inspiration from my Dear Hubby..
You see, for the past 5 years he has worn the same suit to church every Sunday.
This means it has baby spit up on it from our 5 year old.. We have no baby.. But he still "Wears it with Pride".
Well for his Birthday a few weeks ago we bought him 2 brand new suits!
Back to the photo shoot.. I thought he would be so silly and fun to take pictures of. the Story of The Emperor's New Cloths was one I thought he would have fun with. He Had more fun and stayed in Character very well!

Katie was a Fantastic Court Jester for us!

(yes he had a swim suit on)
PS..
Not every one always loves what we do..lol
But then again we do not always love what everyone else does either..
That's why I am glad that we are us~

Dinner

2011-01-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Yummy Salad (inspired by my pal Chelsea's great salad.)

Homemade Tarter Sauce. SO GOOD!

Sam thinks he is so funny! I love almost 10 year old boys.

In our family when you turn 5 you get butter knife privileges!
She is so proud~

Could this be more funny?

favorite moments

2011-01-19T23:12:00.000-08:00

It's okay, it's not real!

2011-01-05T15:57:00.001-08:00

Our kids are so great!

I love that they trust us about everything~ I am asked questions all day every day..
I am just not that knowledgeable..lol These are some hard questions!!

I am grateful that they are the ones that came to live with us, I am glad that we are our family.

So.. What is it that is not real?? That thing I said up at the top there. ↑
Here it is, every time there is a movie on I have to tell the kids this.. "It's ok, it's not real."

I have always been bothered that they will all cry and run into a different room if they are afraid. We have to leave movies all the time because it is to scary. I get frustrated by this some times.
And... when other people tell me about movies I usually hear something like this..
"It was a GREAT movie, your kids might not be able to handle it."

Well, I have been thinking about this alot this past holiday season. Here is the deal..

I am HAPPY that my kids cry at scary things~

I will be so sad the day that they think that it is funny when people get hurt. I would never want them to think it is okay to kill anything. I don't want them to be alright with violence towards women or children~

I am so grateful for the tender souls that they have. I feel blessed that they believe me when I tell them they are going to be alright.

Do you know how great it is to know that there are people who completely trust you? I do~

PS.. From now on if people ask me how a movie is I might just say..
"Your kids will like it they are very desensitized~"
Ok..I would not do that ;)

2010 Year in Review

2010-12-28T16:51:00.000-08:00

2010..
I remember when I was in 3rd grade in school and we talked about the years to come And I learned how old I would be in 2000, 2010, 2020 and so on..

I thought 40 was SO old. We were given books to right down and paste in from catalogs all the things we thought we would want. I planned everything I wanted in life and where I would be:)

I don't have the book any more but, I am sure it looked very much like THIS~ :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLRWmeklb_k
We had a Happy 2010.. I do not feel old~

Playing with an Idea~

2010-12-06T19:46:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas

2010-12-05T22:43:00.001-08:00

Every year when Christmas times comes around I think to myself..
"Why didn't I work all year on getting things ready and purchased.."

I think, "why am I not the one who sends homemade Christmas cards the day after Thanksgiving."
Better yet...how come I don't even keep a list of who I sent cards to last year... ?

I feel Grateful when last years dresses still fit the girls..
And pray they don't get taller,
at least till after the winter so they can wear them every week!

I wonder, "Who is in charge of all the celebrations?"
Then I look around for the Mom.
You know.. the one who will make it all happen and even make it look effortless~

Then I remind myself..
IT'S ME!

(With a LOT of help from a loving Father in Heaven)

I am really good under pressure..
Things will be fine and our family will love whatever I do~
Because in Their Eyes I am perfect! (well..mostly)
So I need to just go with the flow..
I have to remember ..The only person I am competing with.. is me.
and I am good~ :) (well.. lol Mostly)

PS.. SO ARE YOU!

Merry Christmas~

The First~

2010-12-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

Little Donkey
Eric Boswell*

Little donkey, little donkey,
On the dusty road.
Got to keep on plodding onwards,
With your precious load.

Been a long time, little donkey,
Through the winter’s night.
Don’t give up now, little donkey,
Bethlehem’s in sight

Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem.
Follow that star tonight,
Bethlehem, Bethlehem.

Little donkey, little donkey,
Had a heavy day.
Little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way.

Little donkey, little donkey,
On the dusty road.
There are wise men waiting for a
Sign to bring them here.

Do not falter, little donkey,
There’s a star ahead.
It will guide you, little donkey,
To a cattle shed.

Thanksgiving fun~

2010-11-29T12:17:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Katie, the midnight cleaning crew.

The adult table.

Kids Table.

cousins identical cousins~

A Great Giveaway~

2010-11-28T18:26:00.000-08:00

My pal Michele is doing a giveaway over at supper cute blog! She is a Talented girl!! Go check out her Jewelry and try and win a piece! http://shelstringblog.blogspot.com/ I promise she is SO great I have a Beautiful necklace that she made, People ask me about it all the time!
click HERE to go to the contest:)

Portrait by a Friend!

2010-10-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

I have this pal.. Kristen, She is Fantastic! We worked together in or Church helping 8 to 12 year old and now again we work together with 12 to 18 year old gals.. SHE is a BLAST~
You know what else she is.. a Photographer!
That's right she is one of those gals who is Unbelievably talented and making kids look cute and Adult's look youthful! I have longed to have a pal that could make my wrinkles SMOOTH and my teeth look WHITE~
She is doing a Portrait GIVE AWAY!!
Hope on over to her Blog and ruin my chance of winning! :)
(Really~ even if I don't win we are going to have her take pictures.. She is So great~)

You can see we need a new picture!

My poor family has issues smiling..haha oh well!

FORTY!

2010-10-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

I remember thinking how old 40 seemed~
Now, not so much! :)

My new hobby

2010-09-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

Manipulating every picture I take~

Finding old Pictures~

2010-09-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found an old picture of yourself and wished
you could go back in time and tell yourself that you were OK~
I was given some old pictures recently and this one was
in the stack. I sure wish I could tell that girl to be happy..
I thought I was SO ODD..
I was to tall, to fat and already looked
"girlie". I LONGED to be one of the normal girls.
I hated how I looked~ I think this picture was one
of the early *I wish I was different* pictures..
If only we could go back and tell ourselves to enjoy~

PS..
I am OK and not going crazy..lol If you know me well
enough you know.. :) it's not a Crisis just a thought~

every now and then

2010-09-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I think I must have something really wrong with me~

(I must.. with posting an extreme close up~ it's for those of you who want to know my eye color.)

I am so happy in our life and I love my kids so much!

Here's the deal, I think I go from one big thing to the next... I get myself so wrapped up in what I "have" to do.. whether it is for:

Our little family, our extended family, our friends, our church, our lives, kids school, Rune's work, having to read all the facebook updates, needing to make a clever comment on a pals blog.. ETC~

I get totally involved. AND lol I am not a side line worrier.. I am a full fledged, should get paid for it worrier.. Here is my every now and then moment..
Sometimes I get so involved that I some how make myself sick ~ for instance.. this summer started out with Trek

and I was SO excited and knew it would be a life changing moment.. It was~ Just not the one I thought it would be. Heat Stroke right off the bat~ We get home and start recovering from that.. Sam is off to Cub Camp

and Rune starts teaching Summer school,

and I gear up for my new hobby, the one that might give me purpose..

Photography..

I get into it and play with some gals that I have followed for about 3.5 years I totally am digging it!
All of a sudden Katie has a heart issue~

My whole world then revolves around that, and how to not let her be sick or finding out what it is.. DAYS AND DAYS of worry are spent on this, during the same time I am trying to be a good YW leader and trying to help in ways that I can with Camp..

I spend hours and hours worrying about it going off. During this same time Rune has had more working hours than one person should have..

and he is still not complaining~(And to think there are men who won't take care of there own kids.. Rune is caring for every kid in the whole town it seems~)Kate has a birthday

in the middle of camp so I must have a party for her before because in my imaginary world Katie is going to die and I must make this the best birthday ever~ (if you know me well enough you know it is true.)

Then there were the weekly visits Katie had to the hosp.. in there toss in Rune having Strep and Lilly having it then my dad..

Then it is Ward Camp out time.. I must make this good because the kids did not have a fun summer (with the heart and the trek and Rune working more than ANYONE wants to and being sick) I feel the need to pack like we are going for 5 years rather that 24 hours! LOL (SO TRUE) by this point I have become a crazy version on myself.. the ultra competitive one that has to be the best mom the one who has thought of everything.. (I should tell you by this point in the summer our house NEEDS a maid) then I get Strep.. BUT, I can not let Rune go camping with my children by himself.

so I go because I can do anything~! (except keep myself together) we have a fun time~ ;) next thing I know.. I am offending people who I think I am friends with.. Then we have to go home and get ready for my Dads 80th birthday party..

so crazed~ Then the next day we had to take Katie to the children's hospital to find out exactly what is really wrong with my sick baby girl.. guess what, it's just SVT.. "Just teach her how to be CALM" the head cardiologist guy says to me~ LOL LOL LOL He must be looking at some different MOM~ so YAY she is ok.. now get the kids ready because school starts in a few days Frantically buy the kids their school stuff... why are there no Pink Pearl Erasers?? Then get the new life schedule together so kids can have the calm life we want them to have.. Find time to do some laundry?? and the kicker.. I am still sick..lol

I really need to find a way to not always be frantic.. (after all I am supposed to teach my Katie how to be calm..lol) I am just not sure what it is that needs to give. I am so glad that I have been able to keep my anxiety problems down really well, but.. I have not figured how to do it and keep up with the rest of my life. I am not in a ball crying! BUT, I am not sitting in a comfy chair, in a clean house reading either~ (have I mentioned I deemed September as no eating out month.. Maybe this is one of the ideas that should have gone..lol)

How do people do it? Every now and then I think I might need to stop and have that break down I think I am destined to have.. LOL Then again every now and then I think.. I am ok.. Take me or leave me.. I hope you take me.. cause I am in need of positive moments~lol

P.S.
LOL..Did you miss my ramblings? You might not get another post for 3 months..lol sorry~

Have I mentioned we are going on TREK??

2010-06-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

Ok probably anyone who would take the time to read my blog already knows.. We are going on an LDS youth Pioneer Trek with our Stake!!

So If you are a reader of the old blog you also know I am NOT a camper!! So, why am I SO excited about this???

1, My whole life I have heard Pioneer stories and thought I could never do that.. Now I get a chance to try and EVEN more I hope I can have an stronger love for these saints and their dedication.

2, I am excited to test myself..(And scared to DEATH!) Physically, Mentally, Emotionally but most of all.. Spiritually!! I think during my mission I felt the spirit like never before, or since~ I am praying that this will bring that up a notch! :)

3, I Loved doing things that were really spiritual when I was a Youth.. I am praying that we one of the 10 kids that is in our "family" will want to soak it in!

4, I can't wait to see Rune experience this pioneer moment.. He has his own, I know~ BUT, he LOVES family history and I know this will make it burn even stronger in his heart.

5, I have learned SO much more about my own families history and that means SO much to me.. My Dad is almost 80, he will not be around to ask forever.. Doing this now has given he and I a whole new subject to talk about!

We leave in 6 days.. YIKES~ I will try and get some more on before we go and will get a bunch more up after~ I have not found any blogs about other folks experience. I hope I will get that up~!

June 5th

2010-06-06T04:21:00.000-07:00

Life

Out of commission.. Will return when illness ceases~

June 4th

2010-06-04T23:44:00.000-07:00

LIFE~

Getting tables set up for the Trek/Camp Auction

Kids getting Paper ends at daddy's work~

Marshmallows.. On a Stick~

June 3rd

2010-06-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

Life

Sam has a new Map.. I see Norway~

Katie surprised us by lovingly getting sick in our bed in the middle of the night~
Oh the Fun things we do as a family~

Lilly and I went to a Memory Study at the University today.. (to do a study for them)
She passed! ;) My favorite part, when she was coloring and the lady asked what she was drawing and Lilly said " a Frog and a Skunk that live in my house."

June 2nd

2010-06-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Life

Stacking pillows on this chair is Fun for Lilly~
(Not so fun for Mom to put away everyday :P)

Good deals at Grocery Outlet~
(Hershey's CC only $1.49)

Trying to decide...
Should I outline this and make it a permanent piece of art in the family-room?

June 1st

2010-06-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

Life~

Lilly Bean in the pantry.

Memorial Day flowers~

PeanutButter Cookies

Easter & General Conference fun~

2010-04-20T13:51:00.001-07:00

We had such a fun family/friends filled weekend.

Our best pals came to watch for the weekend

and family came and ate and we had a fun Egg hunt..

I loved Conference!

I also love Tivo..lol So that I can go back and rewatch! :)

Spring Break

2010-04-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

The Place to go if you LOVE the
Spruce Goose ;)
( we do have one person who LOVES it!!)

Spruce Goose

Newport Aquarium

At the end of the long underwater
tank you HAVE TO take this picture~

Our Pal Ben came along with us!

Puffins~ ;)

Tivo Madness

2010-03-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

(our original remote that has been used for years..)
Once upon a time we were SO excited to get a TIVO!!! It was so great and I really thought to myself that the World had finally all become GOOD~ We quickly found that we NEEDED one in the bed room because we could tape shows that we did not want the kids to watch and see them when we had a free moment.. Then..the trouble began.. We had one Tivo remote and one other direct TV remote. (no one liked that one) then Rune scored a THIRD TIVO BOX!! so Sam needed on in his room..(granted we put the old one in that has all the Saved old kid shows and did NOT hook it up for service but just let him have the fun old shows)
Anywho...
Here is the problem,
REMOTE Controls either Run away from our home our the commit a form of "hara kiri"!

Well, a few weeks ago Rune went down to Next Step http://www.nextsteprecycling.org/store and brought home 7 new Tivo remotes..

I still can't find one so.. lol MAYBE.. just maybe we should stop using them :)

I'm Back...

2010-03-13T15:51:00.001-08:00

I have not been able to blog for a while.. We had some issues with Blogger and Picasa~ I could NOT post pictures.. And I was PROTESTING!!!!

But, Oh Happy Day~ my DH looked it over and has finally fixed it for me! YAHOO:)

Blue & Gold

2010-02-26T19:30:00.000-08:00

We had our Troops Blue & Gold Banquet this past month! This was a really fun day! Sam and I enjoyed working together to make the cake and try to have fun at the same time!! It was fun for both of us!!

I was really proud of him, he tried hard to make it smooth and decorate it! When we were working on it I had suck memories of being in the kitchen with my Mom and watching her work on Cakes.. She was a really wonderful cake decorator. I am not great at that.. I have never figured out how to make a Beautiful Frosting rose lol.

Well, in our Fam we tape the Food network cake challenges and watch them together so I knew Sam would love this~ Sure enough when we were putting it together he told me that he "felt like he was on the Food Network!" lol

Katie's Heart~

2010-02-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

Katie had a visit to the hospital..

She had a little heart issue, and had a lot of tests!!

She had to wear a heart monitor. It was really frightening..
But, her new pal Kevin
helped her.

Katie had Xrays of her heart. It helped us know that
she was going to be just fine, after her Medicine and some rest.

TAG: this story has a picture!

2010-01-11T21:14:00.000-08:00

I was Tagged by Mommaduck!
(Thanks STEPHANIE~)

1. Open your first picture folder.

2. Upload the 10th picture in the folder (if you don't have ten pics, then go to the next folder.)

3. Tell us the story behind the picture.

4. Tag 5 friends to do the same.

(Can you believe that this was the picture!! It is her 4th Birthday this week!!)

This is one of our little Lilly girls first pictures! It was from the day we took her home.
(She was born on the 16th of January.)
It was so hard to have Lilly.. I knew that she was going to be our last and I really wanted to cherish every moment of it. But it was a hard time too.. I had some complications that ended up being cruddy.. We loved her so much! My favorite thing about Lilly at this point was that several of the Nurses asked if my Husband was Hispanic because she had so much hair and had such a great dark complexion. (We all know I have one of the whitest Norwegian husbands around so it was funny to have all the questions!)
Look at all that hair.. CRAZY!!

Now, I tag..
Jen Hess, Cari Z., Sara W., Lisa W., Amiee L.

Oh what do you do in the Winter time, when all the world is cold??

2009-12-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

i

We have found a fun pass time this year~ taking pictures of the kids through the frozen layers of ice we find around the yard. ;)
Then, we smash it! lol It is a fun family activity.. And it did not cost us anything!

Weeks and weeks ago..

2009-12-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

LILLY IS CUTE TOO~

So, the big kids took part in their schools Christmas choir.. they were going ot get to be in many performances, but this was the only one they were both well enough to go to ..
Fun times!!

KATIE is the one with her hands out singing like a star~

Sam is the kids at the very end ;)

Watch Kate give it her all for a moment ;)
Swing away Kate, Swing away~

Tom Turkey you just got Pardoned, what are you going to do now? " I'm going to Disneyland!! "

2009-11-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Turkey Mercy

Most Americans have heard of the Presidential Turkey Pardon, but what’s the real story? How did it get started? And which president was the first to let his turkey off the hook (or out of the oven, as it may be)? Here are some facts to set the record straight:

In 1947, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board started the tradition of donating a turkey to the White House every year. However, they originally gave the birds for Christmas, not Thanksgiving.
President Harry Truman was the first president to receive a turkey, and it became his dinner.
President George H.W. Bush was the first president to show a little mercy in 1989: “But let me assure you—and this fine tom turkey—that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy. He’s been granted a presidential pardon as of right now.”
President Bill Clinton believed that each of the eight turkeys he met during his terms had distinct personalities.
The pardoned turkeys resided in Frying Pan Park in Virginia until 2005.
In 2005, President George W. Bush started sending his turkeys to live out their days in Disneyland, where the birds were, in their own years, named Grand Marshall of the Thanksgiving Day Parade!!

LOL

The Lucky Tom Turkey gets to go to DISNEYLAND!!
When will we get to go??
Maybe we should give our kids up to the White House and we would get a trip to Disneyland out of it?? :)

~Lilly~

2009-11-19T20:23:00.000-08:00

I was putting Lilly to bed one night and helped her change out of the outfit of the day and into her PJ's and while I was doing it I was singing her a little song about her new unders.. (Yes I even make up songs about new underwear~) So as we put the said garment on she looked at me and smiled one of her big smiles and said...
"Mom, my hiney is so happy with you!! "

I love being her Mom..Even when her hiney is not happy with me;)

So far so good...

2009-11-03T11:53:00.001-08:00

For my Bday this year I asked for a Great Big Present~ It was not one that I had ever thought of before..

I asked Rune for the gift of Daily Companionship Scripture Study and Prayer..(DCSSP)

Not to say that we wont continue to do it with the fam or by ourselves but to study and pray together..:)

Well... So far so good! we have had a day or two where our reading was a little later than the set aside 6:30 am that we agreed to , BUT we have gotten it done each day!

I am proud of us~ I like it because everyday I am getting a great big gift, Love. We both love the scripture, went on Missions, serve the Lord..
But I am not sure we were taking time together to show our Love & Dedication to each other and to Father in Heaven in a meaningful way.

It has surly given our evening and morning prayers with the kids a great boost too~ Sam, who is not a strong reader has been more excited & even told us his interpretation of a scripture that was wonderfully insightful! I know that that kids scriptural growth is directly related to ours~

What a wonderful thing!! Plus think of it..It's a year of getting a birthday present ever day!! :) Yahoo~

Birthdays

2009-10-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my Birthday... (I case you had not heard)
I really feel so blessed that I am where I am at this moment of my life.
There have been other moments where my heart hurt so much that I did not think it would be possible to move forward.. There have been moments that I felt like my entire life had crumbled.. But, right now is the best moment. I hope the snap shots that I keep in my heart will always be these ones.. of a Happy marriage, Happy children, Happy family, Happy Me~

My Life has been blessed, it's a gift from our Father in Heaven~

Weddings

2009-10-19T11:49:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time when I was 18 years old my Brother and Sister-in-Law gave me my very own baby niece to play with.

She prayed for me that I would get married.

We were best friends.

She was always a joy to me.

Congratulations Heather & Stuart Welker~

She that inspires Me~

2009-10-06T09:45:00.001-07:00

For a while now myself and many of my other Blogger pals have read a blog that inspires us to be more..
NieNie Dialogues it is written by, Stephanie Aurora Clark Nielson.
She now writes of her journey and life, of surviving, of Motherhood & Marriage.
She and her husband were in a plane crash just over a year ago.. read more at her blog.

For some readers it is an inspiration to be a better cook, home decorator, craft/party planner extraordinaire, writer, wife, mother, daughter, sister & friend.
But the thing I bet we all read it for it to watch and learn how to be more loving to ourselves & how to endure life and all it's trial with a realistic outlook .. and she helps us know that God is always with us.. ALL~

Rune and I read it together. We use it as a reminder to love each other more fully and to enjoy our life's in every moment. We have tried t odo and be more loving in our actions and thoughts towards others, we have had FUN remembering to be better friends.

I am always touched by her words..

Well, Wednesday October 7th she will be on Oprah.. I am Not an Oprah watcher.. But You can bet that the tivo will be used ;)

So, If you want to watch something that will make you feel and grow please take a look and see what I mean.

Dinner by Candle Light

2009-10-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

This week for our Family Home Evening we had dinner by candle light. Sam wanted to eat like the pioneers. (they are talking about pioneers in 3 grade.) So after we said the payer Sam said "This is just like how the Pioneers had it, right Mom?" I looked around and said , "It's really close pal!" I did not want to ruin it for him by mentioning that they did not have a fridge that magically poped out crushed ice.. or a convenient Fred Meyer to buy their Marion Berry pie at. I am guessing they also had no Ikea plastic glass's.. And I do NOT remember hearing any old time family stories about my great grandparents crossing the country just so they could pick up pear scented candles at Walmart for a buck! :)

For Sam, it was a great pioneer night! That's all that counts right?

I survived..

2009-09-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

We did it.. went camping and I did not die!
BUT...lol We took NO Pictures!! I *forgot* ;)
I know you feel shocked and disappointed to not see pictures of me in a sleeping bag or Rune trying to figure out the tent, none of the kids in their Pj's all day and none of the OutHouse/honey bucket.. None of the great food and none of our neighbors who camped in our grounds with us. You also are not seeing any pictures of the air bed that did not hold the air OR the lizard that the kids found.

It was a fun time I have a true belief that Camping should last longer than 15 hours..Maybe next time *lol* we will go for more than one night! :)
It was nice to spend time with Church pals in the great outdoors!

PS..it rained.

CAMPING

2009-09-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

We are going on our ward camp out this weekend! Just thought I would tell the whole world...
(I am not a great camper)

BUT, I AM GOING CAMPING

The last time we went to the ward camp out Katie was cutting her first tooth and cried the whole night... We were lovingly told by a few friends that they were overjoyed to hear our family all night long...lol So I am a little worried!

But we will do fine right?? Right!!

OK,
I will return and report;)

My 11 week Hiatus or How I spent my Summer Vacation

2009-09-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

When this last summer started I thought I would take a break from the world of blogging.. It had really become a chore that took me away from the fam.. (I am sure I did not replace it with anything better..lol ) BUT, you know us... we still took all the pictures so that we could share them. So here are a *few* lol
There are of course stories for each picture but, I will never get it all done if I write them all :) SO, if you want to know more ask!

Leaburg Fish hatchery

Lilly by the McKenzie..( she was named after it)

Dancing at the Saturday Market

2009-06-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of living in our part of the world is the Saturday Market. My Dad thinks it is full of hippies ;) I think it is one of the most fun places to people watch! Enjoy our girls, who dance better than me!

In the last few weeks.

2009-06-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

We have been Crazy!!
All the end of the school year stuff and more!
Here are the a *few* of the snap shots from our lives..
(We start with the most resent.)

Katie lost her first tooth.. She pulled it out all by herself. Sam ran to us to tell us..lol Brave girl!

Proof we had it for a moment she promptly lost it!

Me and my toothless girl.

Earlier that day I took this picture of her because she was so darn cute telling me she was going to get it out that day!

Rune found the biggest scary spider in our back yard.

He has NO love for spiders..(they only have Daddy long legs in Norway so he never knows what kind are poisonous.)

we had friends over..

for Birthday parties..

Our BIG 2 year old Niece A.J. ;) Happy Birthday!

Friends having Fun times!

Birthday Cake for our dear friend Doug!

Birthday cake for A.J.

Played with Josh..every kid loves this Car!~

Ate Father's day Breakfast.

Made the said Breakfast! The kids made the Monkey bread!

Hung out with the Elders Quorum gang!

Made Bird houses at Home Depot..We Love the Saturday free kid classes!

Celebrated the end of the school year with a cone!

Katie Graduated Kindergarten! Kate with the Class helper Steve..

With Justine one of her Teachers

Cari her main Teacher.

Kids flew the plane of the roof..With their Daddy of course!

Had some mad moments ...

had some happy moments!

We went to Milla's birthday Party and had rainbow ice cream.

Sam was in the second grade *Follow the Drinking Gourd* program.

We made Cheese!

We did about 4000 things but..this is probably as many pictures as you all can handle..lol

Siblings

2009-06-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

I always feel like I had a Wonderful Childhood.. I grew up in a great family & was Loved and Cared for by great parents.. I have wonderful siblings that I look up to and try to be like.
BUT..
I was so far down the road. In age my closest brother is ten years older than I am! Then there is almost 20 years til the next & almost 22 years to my sister!!!

So.. I did not grow up with *friends* to play with or argue with or tease or defend or fight or make~up with or any of those things that you learn as a kid in a big family.. I have no real experience with any of that.. I kinda think this has crippled me in a way. As an adult I find it hard at times to get along with others, to not easily get my feelings hurt.

I have worried about this as a mother a lot because not only did I not learn these things but I am not always sure the best way to teach these things either.

I like to have our girls wear matching clothes.. I know most people think I do it because I have issues(read OCD here) with matching things.. lol In reality I have thought maybe it is a great way for little girls to feel a bond and stick together ... Whether the outfit is cute or lame they are in it together~

I hope that we are doing things right by our kids but...lol I guess we wont know until years down the road :)

Lilly jumps HIGH

2009-05-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

ok..lol My movie will NOT show up..let me just say.. she really thought she was going to jump up to the trees. :)

a Sunday in the country with us!

2009-04-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

This Sundays photo shoot.. If only we would all smile at the same time~

Our Long Easter Weekend...(Or the days of to many pictures..)

2009-04-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

OK, let me start by saying this... I know you are being forced to look at a crazy amount of pictures with this post.. I am sorry for that! BUT, in my defense, We have had a Crazy Wonderful, BUSY, Blessed weekend!
So here it goes, try hard not to notice my poor grammar skills!

It all started Thursday night at Sam's 2nd grade Presidents on Parade Program

He represented JFK I thought he did the best! ;)

Grandpa went with us ! The next morning was spent getting Easter stuff together and preparing for our Activity Day Girls parents night. (I am the Leader)

Then we had a clear break in the weather and took advantage of it by calling everyone and having our *impromptu* yearly family Egg Hunt over 300 this year.

While the hunt was going on..

I was making Appetizers for the Activity night program.. finding serving dishes to lend my great pal Quincy for her wonderful family event,

and watching the kids,

and being amazed that 8 little kids can find so many eggs so quick!!

got dressed and went to church..so my little pals & Zelda(my assistant) & I could
have a great modest fashion show:)

Also we ate like crazy..

The before mentions appetizers.
I went home and rested then got busy making desserts.
Woke up and made a little more then went to a baptism.. :)

We got to witness a family get the greatest gift:)

This good friend is married to ...

The cleanest newest member of the ward! It was a blessing..really a joy for my little family
to see this man accept the gospel with his whole heart. And for himself, and his dear family
chose to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We will always remember the impact that this has made on our family.
We then went to their house and had a great family BBQ! A great gathering of Friends & Family that love & support each other.

We went home and rested..(fainted..lol) then got up and made..

Sam's Easter Eggs

Katie's Eggs

Lilly's Eggs

LeaAnne's Eggs

Rune's eggs

Then we listened to the story of how after Jesus was Crucified they took his body to the tomb and and washed and prepared it.. I used this cool idea I found online to show the representation
or Christ's body and how the tomb was empty.:)

The ingredients..

Putting them in the *tomb* when they came out..Jesus was *gone* ;) cute idea for kids!
Then Rune went to work :) so did I..lol

Katie's: (Here are the kids baskets:p)

Lilly's

Sam's (you can also see mine and Rune's in the back there too!!)
We woke up to them and to the most yummy Easter Breakfast casserole.

before

after!

Easter Photo Opportunity :)

Girls in dots

We Then went to church and had a wonderful Sunday Service!
Rune was asked to help in the Confirmation for Tracy!
Then we listened to our Ward leaders council and love us.
We then came home and had a fantastic meal and a small (17 people) family gathering.
This was such a great Easter Weekend! We saw our friends family change and grow:) we remembered our own Missions and Promises and Covenants:) We again remembered the Atonement which make this all possible, what more could a family ask for!

Sam's Baptism

2009-04-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Sam's Big Day~

Sam was Baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-Day Saints this weekend. It is a really big step in our 8 year old boys life and we were so proud of him. You read & find out more about our Church here.
We are grateful for the LARGE amount of Family and Friends that were there to support and show there love to Sam & our Family. We have had a great time getting ready for the day and preparing and learning all about what to expect from baptism. He was able to go in to the water and under just like Jesus did. I was proud of him and how brave he was. The next day he was given the gift of the Holy Ghost. On the way home from the baptism he said to me I think I am the cleanest boy in the world right now. Then Sunday he told me to feel his chest.. he said can you feel it Mom..I have the holy ghost in me:) smarty boy!

We love you Sam!

It's so hard to say Goodbye

2009-03-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Our Dear,Dear friend Delores Ericson passed away..

She was, to the Larsen family, the joy of our street.. Our kids loved her like a Grandma: The cookies and visits and prizes.. the hugs and hair brushing's and understanding ear.. She walked down the Monday before Valentines to tell me they thought she might have a little Cancer and she needed to have a biopsy.. March 7th she passed away.

We all loved her and will miss her.

Every picture that I take for this blog I take with the camera that she gave me..she wanted to see everything we were doing..

When she made it to her next home, I know she was met by a kind lady who wanted to hug her and tell her thanks for loving my kids.....And I know she shared the gospel with her too~
(My Mom and Delores died 10 years apart .. I know they would have been friends0

A day with no smiles~

2009-03-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

One day a week or so ago Katie was at school and had a little accident. When we picked her up the teacher said "oh yeah Katie fell down today." So when we got home I was crazy mad that no one had called to tell us ..I mean she had a Nasty EGG on her head..In my most upset Mom way I took her outside and was going to take pictures of the whole thing to DOCUMENT!!! but I got out there and she looked at me and said.."You can take the pictures but I will not smile!" she made me laugh so hard~ I thought well.. I am not happy about this but I need to also look at the happy things..She is okay and has her same *zippie* attitude that she has always had, so ... we watched her and loved her and she was fine. I am giving the school the bennefit of the doubt. (they did give her ice packs) so there is Katie's day with out smiles.

See how hard she really worked to keep the smiles off her face!

Five more reason I love IKEA..

2009-03-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

I REALLY LOVE IKEA~

Here are a few more reasons.

1. You can count on seeing people you know and love shopping there.

2. Kids LOVE the food and it is cheap!

3. They are obviously animal friendly.

4. Even your husband wont mind walking around it for 3 hours.. he might get a little tired..but no complaining!

5. Frozen Yogurt.. YUM~

A little tv watching for your enjoyment~

2009-02-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

Enjoy :)

A week without Mom

2009-02-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

I have had a crazy flu bug all week!! Really I felt crummy last Saturday and it has only gotten worse. This evening I thought I would venture out to see what everyone was up to ..
This is how I found them.

The best friend a girl could ask for... worked 4 jobs and never complained about me being sick or the fact that he had to take care of everything and everyone.
Lilly who now "ONLY WANTS DADDY" as I heard her cry when I asked her if she wanted to sleep with me.

Sam..our tender boy..I see that bowl on your bed sir!;)

Katie girl.. The room looks okay for having no one help her pick it up all week!

My little cave..I am crawling back in it now.
(You might notice that I have taken over all pillows at this point!)

Lilly turns 3!

2009-01-19T20:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to our Lilly Bean!

cousin's and pal's

Yumm...Cake!

The one good picture of them;)

Open that present!!

Buddies

This is a quick song from her family party.

Here are a few reminders of the day she was born.
(I know you are glad I did not put up all 2000 of them..lol)

I can not believe that our LAST baby is already 3 years old!
Lilly Bean we love you and are so very thankful to
Father in Heaven that we get to spend forever with you!
XOXO's for Lilly!!

A REAL date~

2009-01-10T22:24:00.001-08:00

Well, you all know that I have had a long standing *Date Night* with my Computer; since Rune works on Friday and Saturday nights. Well with the New Year came news that Rune would no longer have to work on Friday nights. !!YAHOO!! So this week we planed to go to the Temple for our date, but the ward trip was canceled so we decided that we would go out and celebrate our 9 years of knowing each other and knew we would have fun doing that~
So always mindful of the budget we remembered we had a gift card to one of our favorite spots in town BJ's, it is a fun place that we really like. so..lol
We dropped off the kids at our home teachers place (thanks again Colton's!) and headed out.

The food was great..We both had salads and our main course and the whole dinner cost us $3.00 :)
Then we went to Springfield to the SONIC..we have really wanted to go there but ..with the kids and all..lol No time and no money for all of us it has not happened..

SO, Rune and I hopped over and partook of the BEST shake I have had in YEARS! For $2.19 we shared a regular sized HOT FUDGE SHAKE!! YUMMMMMMM! (yes it was that good)
We went to see about a $1.00 movie but nothing sounded good to either of us~
Soooo...lol He dropped me off at the church where they were having a Relief Society girls night out game night and he headed over to the Colton's to hang out with his friend..lol
As I was getting out of the car I asked if he was sad we weren't going to continue our date and he laughed and said "we had a good time, you are a cheap date..go play with your friends" lol that's one more reason I LOVE him. :)

Rune and his meatloaf sandwich.

Me and my Angus Beef Dip sandwich.

A better look at them both~

We ate it all up!

Rune happy knowing we were going to be paying
with a gift card~

YUMM~O

One last look at the place and off we went!

Try taking a picture of yourself sucking a shake through a straw..
Not always a good look..lol But I think we did ok..
Total amount spent??
$3.00 + $2.19
= $5.19 for one great night!

The First Thing he Said~

2009-01-08T23:32:00.000-08:00

The Very First thing Rune said to me was "Tell me all about your mission..."

It is amazing to think that we met 9 years ago this week.

Not everyone knows exactly where they were and what they first said to their spouse, actually most people do not even know the Date that they met.. Because Rune and I met on the internet we are lucky to know lots of those little things.

I did not want the week to go by with out remembering a few things about that day.

NINE things that still amaze me about that day:
1. That night I was studding my lesson for Relief Society the next day.. the lesson was about not judging those who are different from you.. lol I told them all about him & I thought he was ODD...and how I was really judgeing him unfairly.
2. I had my niece Kelsey with me.. we stopped by to check on my Dad's place & use the computer on a whim.
3. Rune asked me for my phone number so that he could call me to get another girls number from me (a common friend ) and I was afraid to give mine.. (what did I think would happen) But felt fine giving out this other girls number with out asking her first..lol
4. We had a few people in common from Oregon & Utah to Norway. One was in my student ward & one worked with me in a wholesale flower shop. This still amazes me.
5. Rune told me to "give him some kind of a test to prove he was safe and LDS" Little did he know how many tests there would end up being over the years..lol" (I did not think then that he could look up the stuff I asked we were online.)
6. He had been on 2 missions.. and when he was set apart the 2nd time he had a beard..This really stuck with me, who was he an old time prophet?..lol
7. I told him to call me at 7:00 pm my time, not knowing it was 4:00am his time.. And he did it.
8. I thought his name was made up..lol
9. After he called that night and we talked for an hour I hung up and said out loud (to myself since I lived by myself) that I was "never going to talk to that dork ever again." LOL
I also said.."Why would some guy from Norway call the US and spend that much money to talk for over an hour to a girl he don't know"...

I am and will be Eternally Grateful to him for calling and then calling again & again..
I love ya babe~

( BTW, That day I had NO IDEA where Norway was and had to look it up!)

P.S. We did NOT MEET on an
LDS singles site or in a
Chat room or with the help of any kind of
Dating site~
Father in Heaven Set us up~
I like to add that every time..lol

New Year's Fun

2009-01-06T00:31:00.000-08:00

For New Years Eve we hung out with the Brandt's (Our really great friends from the ward)
They were so nice to invite us for dinner and to play and talk and wear their wig..lol
The kids had a BLAST! The girls all dressed up and gave us a show.

Tre built their girls a climbing wall for Christmas and my 2 brave climbers loved it.. (Katie not so much a brave climber but she still really thought it was cool and tried it out!)

Rune had to work early at the newspaper that night so we were home by 10:30 and he was off to work.
Sam and Katie had a *sleep over* and little Lilly sacked out on the couch. :)
It was a fun New Years Eve!

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T08:54:00.000-08:00


Things we love and are looking forward to
blogging about in the new year.
(if you click on it you can see it better)

Wrapping, Opening, Eating

2008-12-27T20:23:00.001-08:00

These are a few pictures of Christmas :)
We had three nights of Christmas Dinners..
One with Grandpa and Aunt Patty,
One with Jim & Jeanette and their kids and Grandpa (and a quick hello from Aunt Patty)
One with the Walters family & Grandpa ;)

Katie in front of the tree.

Rachel

great cousins

Sam and the girls

Sisters

all three can ride together! :)

Walters and Larsen kids..a fun time!

Dinner with the Webb's Yumm~o

Family Time

(we all missed Mike and Kathi & Heather but we understood.)

Sam and his presents.. church pants & pj's and socks and books from Bestemor & Aunt Patty and planes & legos from us.. AND the SPRUCE GOOSE from secret Santa. We got our "Jule Pakke" package from Bestemor Astrid (Rune's mom) a week or so ago and waited to show them to the kids til Christmas eve so they would have more fun things to open :)

The girls got matching dresses and socks and dolls & pj's from Bestemor! books and hair bands from Aunt Patty and Tinkerbell's from momma and daddy and Santa too. They all got a Yellow ride on toy from our secret Santa too. It was a much bigger year than I thought it was going to be. We have had kindness shown to us by so many people with cookies and visits and love.. Christmas is a wonderful season with great dreams and blessings.

CHRISTMAS EVE dinner with Grandpa and Aunt Patty. We had a nice roast and every one was well fed.

Lilly wrapping Momma's present a new stock pot. I have only ever had my moms.. now I have one with a lid that fits..lol

Katie is a great wrapper. Lots of tape!!
I really felt like it was a nice year..I was able to do everything with out getting sick or being worn out(which nver happens to me you know..lol) so I am going to count that as yet another Christmas blessing! :0) HO HO HO

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

Larsen's Christmas Time Todo's

2008-12-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

Here is our last week..
the 12 we bought a tree:) Actually..lol we did not buy it .. one of my BFF's (Diana) had a coupon for a free tree and gave it to us.. so we were able to get a great big tree and not have to pay $45. yahoo!

Happy family standing in front of our 9 foot tree 9we have always had Nobels but this was our year of the Douglas)

I have always been really picky about my Christmas tree..I even took one back one year..(crazy I know) but I was proud of myself to be able to choose and be happy with one so quick!

Sam got to cut down the tree all by himself!

It took FOREVER;) but he DID IT!! And I was really proud of him!

Did not even complain about getting cold and muddy and tired!!

This is how it looked after Rune cut it..What happened?? We do not know!!

I admit it.. I cryed

After Rune *fixed* it.

I still cryed.. but he did a good job of drilling branches in it!

Sunday night we woke up at 2 and found it had snowed alot!!
Our house at 2 in the morning..The snow was beautiful~

Lilly and Sammy played HARD in the snow!

Sam got it good!

THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS..lol Katie hurt her knee (which is why you do not see her in the pictures)

Lils talking a "walk"

Foot prints in the snow!

Our beautiful tree~

Lils having fun & and getting COLDER!

Sam's so happy he'll do a little dance. This is the view from the drive way looking down our street.

Lilly looking outside at the snow.

Our House ..at the end of the street

Lilly really got it.. (it think her shoe's were on the wrong feet)

Sam felt bad about *getting Lilly* so bad..lol

Front door

Katie and her bff:) Lilly

Christmas Mice~

2008-12-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

My friend S'mee over at Tuesdays Tutorials made these and I just HAD TO make some too!
We LOVED them! she has a great video that will teach you how to make these Yummy treats!

Pictures and a few weeks of no energy..

2008-12-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

We have done so many really fun things in the last few weeks.. Some how I have not had the energy to post.. I know sounds funny but I have been REALLY tired, yet I have most likely slept more than I normally do..lol I know I am just an immunity system wimp!
(maybe it was all the fun that just knocked me out! Right?~)
Any who here are a few glimpse's into our last week or so.

Here is Our ward party:)
( I was home sick..bummer)

Lilly with Santa Who knows what she asked for ...BUT lets see what the other kids wanted~

Katie who wanted all the candy from his pocket AND,

I understand she was asking for a life sized doll that will sew for you..?? Maybe we will get a maid for Christmas! ;) hohoho

Sam asking for a *Spruce Goose* model and a Lionel train set.. I wonder if Santa thought he was talking to a kid from the 50's lol

Rune who braved the Ward party with the 3 kids by himself~ Thanks Babe~

Our cookies are the ones in the middle on the large glass plate.

Rune took a picture of the meal but did not bring any of it home..I am not sure if he was showing it to me or showing off..lol

Katie told me tonight that she wanted to make sure her Ears were showing so that everyone could see how well she can hear.. lol Gotta love her and her ears!

The family Christmas picture~ If only I knew how to photo shop I could be there too.

My favorite kids~

Thanksgiving:) at Our house.

Yumm..Ok you might see we had Sister Costco bring her yummy pies.. I did make caramel pecan brownies.

some of the Fam that came to our house. We had 17 people altogether!!

More fam

The kids Loved playing together!

Crazy Larsen girls!

Dinner with friends~

Dinner at the Brandt's YUM ~
Lilly, Katie and Iris
Thanks again Quincy and Tre!

Quincy, Violet and Kris

Scott, Tre & Violet

Thankful Play~

Katie's Thankful play at school :) Love our goofball faces!

Our kindie Thankful play (the day before Thanksgiving) see how proud Katie was after she did her part;) She was first and stood up and said what she was Thankful for; Her mommy and daddy and grass and Sam & Lilly :)
Go team!
(BTW It was also PJ's day at school~ so lol you can see most of the class looks *sleepy*)

This Week~ With an Edit

2008-11-22T12:18:00.001-08:00

We had 2 field trips (only one got pictures..lol)
You can find her at the end with her Daddy's black coat and her sassy pink boots!

Kate at the Science Factory

Enchilada Casserole

1 lg can enchilada sauce (I use a Verde)
1 can of corn drained
1 4oz. can of diced chilies
1 1/2 pounds ground beef & 1 small Onion diced
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 (16 ounce) can black beans drained
1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Call you family over for dinner..;)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with garlic salt and onion powder and onion; drain fat. Mix beans and corn and 1/2 can of the enchilada sauce with the meat.
Dip enough corn tortillas to cover the bottom of a 3 quart casserole dish in the remaining enchilada sauce. Arrange tortillas in the dish. Spoon in half of the meat mixture, covering the tortillas. Spread half of the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the meat. Cover with another layer tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Spoon in remaining meat mixture and top with a final layer of tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Pour any remaining sauce over the layers and top with remaining cheese.
Cover and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Rune's Norwegian pancakes

This is Rune's recipe..I don't know it..lol
Rune and a little of the pancake cream..lol

Carrot Cake

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting~

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

In a small bowl beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form; set aside.
In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then fold in whipped cream.

This is a regular old boxed carrot cake, I added walnuts and raisins and a jar of purred carrot baby food. I also as you can see put nuts on top.. The frosting is what makes this shortcut cake.. I have a really great carrot cake recipe BUT I was lazy.
have a slice~

Our Kindergarten Turkey

A Larsen family Car Conversation~

2008-11-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

So.. When Rune first came to the US he was amazed at how many 18 wheeler, big rig, Mack Trucks we had on our roads.. He quickly came to call the single a Prince, the double a Queen and a triple a King. (my Family loved this about him)

Today we were driving on Interstate 5 and seven Prince's passed us all at the same time~
Well we said to the girls.."look all the princes are chasing after you beautiful girls".

About 2 minutes after that Sam asked "what kind of a car do Prince's drive?".

Now, I was a teenager in the 80's so I took this as a prime moment to say I was sure it was a "Little Red Corvette".. and laughed at myself and looked to Rune to get his knowing smirk of joy when I really crack myself up..

Well this time nothing like that happened.(this really happens often actually)
I said .."you know Prince's song "Little Red Corvette" then I pressed on to sing all of it that I could remember which was only this line.. (which is good cause the song was a crazy naughty song)

"Little red corvette
Baby you're much 2 fast, yes u r
Little red corvette
U need 2 find a love thats gonna last"

Rune just looked at me and said.."I have no idea what you are talking about."

Now this was getting maddening..So I listed every Prince song I could remember and Finally he said that the song "Purple Rain" rang a bell.. now He and I are exactly the same age..So you would think he would have known this song!

And that's how conversations happen in our car..

If you ever wonder why I talk so much.. now you know..I am just in desperate search for anyone to get my random, useless (USA only) knowledge jokes.

BTW, Sam was more confused than you are right now..

Team Larsen~

2008-11-18T13:15:00.000-08:00

When we were in our first years of marriage we had a bishop tell us we need to treat each other like teammates..(funny for us since neither Rune or I are Team sports fans)
We laughed about it a little and when things are maybe a little tough or "harry" we tease each other and say... Don't forget we are TEAM LARSEN~ Well when the kids got old enough to understand things well we told them we were a "team" and that we need to be on each others side at all times.

I love it when I see our kids showing their "TEAM" spirit!
You can see they were on team Goofy pictures this day~

You asked for it, You got it.

2008-11-17T19:07:00.000-08:00

Cake, Cake, Cake!
Banana Cream Cake
This is the easy peasy lemon squeezy way to make a cake that seems fancy..
but takes little work.

CAKE..Yummo

Best way to cut banana's

Whipped Cream

You will notice here that I am not a great foster on the sides... I blame my Mother! She never let me frost the sides as a child so I did not learn her great techniques as a child..lol I like the peak look on this cake so,,tops ok for me.

Banana Cake
Ingredients..
1 white cake mix (mix as directed, but use warm water)
4 Bananas (about)
2 small containers of heavy whipping cream. (you'll add a little vanilla and a little sugar)
Bake in two 9 inch cake pans.

Layer like this: cake, cream, banana, cream, cake, cream, banana and cream again~
lol Easy, Easy, Easy!

Side note..use long 3 toothpicks to keep the cake together so you do not have slider cake.
(like I did this weekend..lol)

Sometimes I am to much..

2008-11-15T18:14:00.001-08:00

Do you ever see yourself in your Children?

Sometimes in my desire to be friends with people, I want to help them to much..
Every now and then I have to remind my self to back off..lol

The same way I have to tell Sam to back off and let people be his friend instead of overwhelming kids by being around to much.. He wants to be friends with people SO bad but is not always sure how to do this.
Could it be that he and I have the same social immaturity??
I guess so.
So if I have tried to over help YOU I am sorry.
:)

Date Night~

2008-11-14T19:56:00.000-08:00

Do you know that my husband works nights??
TRUE STORY!
Anywho... Date night to me means my dear Rune sleeps till work time the kids watch a fun family movie, I play on the computer and do a little church "homework"~ Meaning I read my lesson again or do handouts or whatever I need to do.

Tonight I am thinking about all the political stuff going on. I am and have always been proud of our church and of how I was raised. I have been really saddened to read and see all the anti-LDS propaganda in the news this last 2 weeks. I am truly saddened by the way things have gone down.

I have read this and thought so much about it...
"If the challenge of the secular church becomes very real, let us, as in all other relationships, be principled but pleasant. Let us be perceptive without being pompous. Let us have integrity and not write checks with our tongues which our conduct cannot cash.

Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel." Elder Neal A. Maxwell (you can read the whole article if you click his name)

Tonight as the Computer and I have been on our "date" I found that several of my childhood friends have aligned themselves with groups that are out to harm to my personal beliefs and I felt sad.. Sad that I will surly have to make a choice at some point soon about our friendships. Sad that they will judge me without really knowing (or wanting to know) the truth on mine or my church's feelings. Sad that so much hurt has and will happen because of it.

Like the Emails I get that say you should "pass this story of the Lord along if you really are brave" I know it is now the time to really stand up and be proud of our faith.. I am afraid of how it will all happen. What lengths the world will go to.

But I have faith that our prophet Thomas S. Monson is the true and living prophet on the earth today..so I must follow him, knowing I am doing the thing I was sent here to do~Build up the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So that's what I did and thought about on Date night.. :) what do you do?

This weeks menu~

2008-11-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

I thought why not share the week's menu with my blog pals...Here it is~
So I like to plan what we will have but it is sometimes a chore!
I often have a hard time sticking to what days we are to have it ;)

This week we have had/will have the following:
M~Hawaiian Haystacks with all the extras. (leftovers from Sunday)
T~Burritos & rice & chips and salsa.
W~Chili & corn bread.
TH~Potato Soup & garlic bread & big salad.
F~Cheese Ravioli's, big salad & garlic bread.
Sat~ Not sure yet..
Sunday~Lemon Chicken & butternut squash and a big salad.

I might do a pizza or stir fry on Saturday..lol we will see how I feel that day.

There you go I feel better after telling you. ;)

My happy little life.

2008-11-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I forget how really happy I am.
I forget that I am Married (finally) and did so IN the Temple.
I have Kids (the ones I prayed for, FOREVER!!) who I really like not only love!
WE have a very safe life that is full of fun.
I am not skinny BUT my Husband still thinks I am sexy..lol
We do not have a lot, but enough to live on.
Food on the shelves.. stove in the kitchen..lol
SO...
WHY do I forget??

Why do any of us forget to find the happy things in life?
The "Tender Mercies" that have been shown us?
I know for me I get caught up in the I wants, or I wish.
OR..lol why did I, or why didn't I's.

I just for one day would love to give everyone a moment of happy...
See how very blessed you really are.

So I give you this little gift..
Be happy, happy in your place in life. Know that you are great and SO MANY more people than you can imagine want to be where you are, don't take it for granted.

38

2008-10-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

I had my birthday this week..

Kept it small..

All day the kids wanted to know when everyone would be getting here..lol

I made myself "MY" Banana Birthday cake.

Tasted GOOD.. :)

Helpful Lilly

2008-10-25T10:23:00.001-07:00

Lilly likes Corn..

A lot..

If you do not put it right away,

She'll clean it and cook it!

(Hope you like the bread on top of the Microwave!)

What..no time to blog??

2008-10-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

I am amazed at how many things I have NOT blogged about this last few weeks.
Really....
How can I say I have not had time when you all know I am just sitting around not doing much of anything..lol
But the time just gets away from me!
So here it is ..A picture blog~

Katie and Lilly at Northern Lights tree farm. Kate's class had a field trip to get pumpkins at this farm. (We got a lot of picture's just not great one's of our kids..lol)

Corridor's kindie class 2008/2009

Me and Jeanette at TOFW :) best fun we have had so far at TOFW..even with the car break in!

Lilly fell asleep in Grandpas Arms..Again!

Best Friends!

Praying Mantis.. it was SO HUGE! It is on Sam's bike helmet.

Tad and Gretchen at her Birthday party at the Walkers~

here we are getting our "real" pumpkins.

Uncle Jim and our little angels!

Webb's fall family picture~ It looks GREAT! (good photographer!)

Larsen's Family Fall picture..(WHO took this Yikes! ;p)

Two of my best men. (I am sure glad they like each other so much!)

Rune and the kids~

Rune made this picture..

Jim made this one!

Katie and I at a photo shoot..lol

Sam's 1st train ride..Spruce Goose field trip.
(one of the reasons we love our school..The kids get to do great fun field trips)

In the hanger at the field trip.

I am not a fan of this picture..but rune likes it.

J bug's Birthday..Yay we got him a gift he liked!

Tagged

2008-10-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

My Niece~in~Law Sara tagged me :)

Four things I love about my husband!:

He is not worried what other people think about him.
He is a great Dad.
He is willing to help anyone at any time...no matter what they need.
He left EVERYTHING behind just for the chance to possibly be mine.

Four movies I would watch more than once:

The Egg and I
Terms of Endearment.
La vita è bella (in Italian)
Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion (don't laugh)

Four TV shows I watch:

The Office
The Biggest Loser
Little House on the Prairie
Next Food Network Star

Four Places I've Been:

Provo, Utah
Copenhagen, Denmark
Chicago, Illinois
Storslett, Norway

Four Places I'd like to go:

Jamacian Cruise
Utah(the whole state) in the Fall
Norway~ My FIL's hytte
Martha’s Vineyard

Four people who email me regularly:

Kathy F.
Jeanette W.
Sam's Cereal.com
Bath & Body Works

Four things I would like to eat:

Chicken Quesadillas (from Burrito Amigos)
Club Sandwich (from Fin's Drive in)
Rune's pancakes
Maple Bars..YUM!

Four things I look forward to next year:

Being in less in debt
The 4th of July
Lilly talking more
Our Vegetable garden

Four people I tag:

Kathy F.
Cari Z.
Line (Bergen beauty)
Jodie W.

Good Mothering

2008-10-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

Good Mothering Lesson # 58
(This happened after weeks of hearing about poking and getting tired of it.)
Child #1~"Mom she poked me in the eye again.."
Me~"poke her back"
Child #2 crying covering eye~"Mom he poked me in the eye"
Me~Looking closer "wait a minute.. can you see???"
The good mother lesson: don't tell your children to poke anyone in the eye..tell them to stomp on the foot.. You don't need it to see and you get over it quicker ;)

We are learning and hopefully we will all survive.

TOTALLY FREE!!

2008-10-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

SO, this COOL place called Handbag Planet is doing a giveaway to launch their store. (They launch on the 15th.) They're giving away one handbag every hour for 24 hours. They have really cute bags!!
Plus....Who doesn't like a FREE bag! You get to pick which one you like the most and MAYBE win it!!
I like the cute one with the stripes!
Have FUN!

101 I things I think about.

2008-10-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

Post 101
1. I wish I was not such a procrastinator..
2. Receiving the newspaper is a burden to me, I hate the mess.
3. I wonder if that guy who played Joe on Blue's Clue's ever got a girl? ( He said it was tough to Regis)
4. Why is reading so HARD.. poor Sam..
5. I LOVE Ice Water. CRUSHED from Orange Julius is the best.
6. If I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life..it might be "The Way we Were" .
7. I hate seeing grown up women in exercise leotards and tights.
8. Making dinner every night is HARD. (That's why most women quit in their mid 50's)
9. I think goldfish crackers are great..BUT, the rainbow ones are coolest.
10. I have WAY to many clothes that I cant or wont wear anymore..But I know the second I get rid of them I will be sad.
11. When I teach a class at church I judge how well I have done if people are crying at the end. (CRAZY)
12. Pumpkin shakes at McDonald's are sent from heaven.
13. I LOVE Target .. It is the best store to go if you are feeling blue and want to shop it out.
14 . I cheated on a test in a class in 10th grade Social Studies I have felt bad about it ever since.
15. I hate having garage sales.
16. I would have a pedicure every week if we had money for it.
17. I like to pop other people Zits... (weird)
18. I am a hoarder (surprise) of shoe boxes.. They are SO HANDY!
20. Glasses that are small have no place..If I want a drink I want a BIG one!
21. If it gets above 71* I am HOT if it is under 66* I get COLD.
22. I don't like to talk about going to the Dentist..I hate it in fact.
23. I LOVE to make lame faces in the mirror in the morning.
24. In my own car I can sing better than anyone in the world!
25. I think it is smart to have at least 3 crock pot's, small, regular and a big oval one.
26. I only like SOFT candy corn.
27. My bed is the MOST comfortable bed..BUT I LOVE to sleep on the couch.
28. Garlic is a staple..it should be poped in most dishes.
29. Marriage is WAY more work that anyone ever tells you.
30. Is there some rule about sunflower seed's? do you spit it all out or chew it all up?
31. Lighting is my worst problem..the LED lights in our house STINK!
32. Reading my Scriptures is one thing I am BAD at..
33. When it snows I don't like to drive. (even though I can just fine)
34. I don't like to hear parents say *get out of here* I like.. *hop out for a moment*.
35. Plastic glasses seem to get cleaner than glass ones.
36. I LOVE the blue nasal aspirators they give you in the Hospital when you have babies.
37. Hugs are better when you make a squeeze noise.
38. I always feel itchy.
39. I am afraid one of my kids will bite down on an electric cord and get shocked.
40. I only own like 4 Cd's. (lame I know)
41. I brake for animals.
42. One of my BIG must haves in a husband was watches football. I am SO GLAD Rune doesn't.
43. Sometimes I post on a blog and then think it looks lame and delete it and come back later.
44. I am afraid to ask people to be my facebook friend. What if they do not remember me..lol
45. We have 5 cars. 5
46. I have never "forgotten" to eat.
47. My kids all have beautiful eyes.
48. I wonder if I am alergic to Nickel?? Some buttons on jeans bug me.
49. Why is it that 3:00 am is the time I wake up??
50. The more I buy to get organized the less organized I am. ??
51. I have a hard time not hearing EVERY conversation around me..I think it stems from being a telephone operator.
52. Ever notice how GOOD a DQ blizzard sounds & how it's NEVER as good as you want it to be?
53. Once in a while I envy thin gals at church.. (but I love them still)
54. Stuffed Zucchini is easier than you think to make.
55. I LOVE washable markers!
56. Please and thank you are the magic words!
57. Most people are nice.
58. I think 83 is a good age to die.
59. Why is it that Bill Cosby always uses Phylicia Rashad in his shows..(at least 3 of them)
60. I am not a fan of shrimp.
61. I wish I still talked to my favorite mission companion.. Sister Bomgren where are you?
62. Hamsters give me the willies.
63. I have a great phone voice! (call me you'll see!)
64. I love to talk about Ikea.. But, when you talk about it in Scandinavia it is not as cool..
65. Milk Duds are best on warn popcorn, they get melty.
66. The salt Potato chips leave on your fingers drives me CRAZY!
67. I have not had any kind of soda in 19 years. I miss Mug Rootbeer every summer.
68. I am afraid of those green lady bugs..WHAT are they?
69. Rune wanted to name Sam, RUBEN.. like the sandwich.
70. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the bread in Norway! Why IS our bread SO SOFT?
71. We are late for Church every week because I like to over match things..It is MY FAULT. :(
72. Jim Halpert is my TV boyfriend.
73. My arm hurts more when I BLOG..
74. The fear of sleepover pranks still flows in my heart. (frozen unders anyone)
75. I ALWAYS cheat at solitaire when I am playing with a deck of cards.
76. If you have read this far you are procratinating something too...lol
77. I almost always have squinty eyes in pictures.
78. My older sister has a MUCH bigger vocabulary than I do.. :( oh well..
79. I have not purchased a pair of pants in years. (lucky me..I still can wear all my old ones;/)
80. Luvs brand diapers are my favorite! I have used them all....
81. I watch Day's of our Live's now and then, I was raised on it, I remember Maggie as a drunk.
82. We do not have a KMART in town..when I see their add's I miss it.
83. The phone's at our house never get hung up back on the charger.
84. Only 3 of the burners have worked on our range the whole time we have lived in this house.
85. I love dill pickles! The best is on the Tuna Sammie:)
86. My favorite song is "Melt With YOU" by Modern English..It was cutting edge now it is a Ritz Cracker ad.
87. I am afraid to play Bunco because of all the math..(LAME I know)
88. Why is my hair so thin?? I mean it used to be good.. Was it being Prego??
89. The after school special "The boy in the plastic bubble" with John Travolta was the BEST ever.
90. Grahm Cracker and frosting cookies are better than you remember!
91. We only had ever had 1 box of bandages our whole marraige till last month..Since Lilly got stiches we have purchesed 3 boxes.
92. I LOVE to eat at the Temple in Provo..lol They have great mashed potatoes! ;)
93. I totally see a need to have at least 12 bolts of beautiful ribbon at all times!
94. I do not understand my husbands LOVE for the "Dog Wisperer" We do NOT have a dog.
95. This is a little harder than I thought it would be... lol
96. I am bothered by all the nasty Celebrity political backing. (really)
97. Hot Dogs taste better in Norway.
98. I have a feeling that Jessica Simpson cheated on Nick Lachey and thats what went down..
99. I almost always talk to the cashers at the check out.. I like to ask them to guess what's for dinner.
100. I should be better about taking Lilly's *nin nee* (pacifier) but she loves them so much.. I remember felling the same way about mine. (I miss you nummie nummie)
101. I know my brother Mike will read everyone of these! :)

Eye Lashes and other girlie things.

2008-09-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

~POST #100~
My entire life I have lived with a horrible curse..My Dear mother(a Katie) passed it down to me. She inherited it from her mother. (also a Katie) This curse is a CRAZY lack of eyelashes and the ones that are there are so short they don't do you any good. I have felt sorrow over this my whole life...(insert sad Brady bunch music here.)

I also was not gifted in the make up department..lol I really have NO idea how to put it on effectively! My dear Mother had the need for only 2 things in her make up bag..an eye brow pencil and a tube of Mauve or Coral lip stick (from Avon) so she was no help. I have tried at different stages in my life to buy and use it but , it just has never really stuck with me. A combination of fears that I am doing it wrong and I am sure I look OVERLY made up when I do try it..
Sooo.. to get to my point of this blog:

I was putting my little Kaite girl down to sleep last night and as I lay down by her to talk about what would happen today... I was overwhelmed! She was SO beautiful with those eyelashes that she inherited from Rune..

The ones that go on and on.. They left shadows on the rest of her face. I told her that it was going to be picture day and she looked right at me and said ...
"What will I wear?? I'll need make up!"
I looked at her this perfect little 5 yearold pixie, a mix of Rune and myself and knew once again, she and I are going to have trouble in a few years..lol
She already knows more about makeup and fashion than I ever will..

Oh well..at least Sam will think I am cool for a few more years.

and Lilly

...well the thing about her is she looks a lot like my MOM...SO, I'll just hand her an Eye brow pensil and a tube of Lipstick ..and Maybe she'll be good to go:)

An active imaginary life..

2008-09-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

I read this phrase on a *friends* blog..I say friend because I have never met her we are only imaginary friends..
Back to the post..lol I read this phrase *active imaginary life*and thought to myself at once.. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE!

I tend to over think everything until I have worried myself and my kids sick! I don't know why I do this, But I know I have always done it..

I remember walking home from 1st grade and the boy I played with everyday(Gene Bodean) had found a new friend to play with that day..on the short half a block trip home I imagined that we were married and that he was cheating on me and that he was going to leave me and the kids ,our 7 kids, would be left alone and be homeless..Well, by the time I got home I was crying and I ran in ot my Mom and told her how my husband was leaving me and the kids...lol NOW, I did not come from a home where divorce was a topic so I don't know why I worried so much..lol

I have many times been the winner on a game show or ran up to Bob Barker..lol
I also have been the bride for every wedding I have ever done! lol

I still do it! When Rune and I were first married we had a lot of getting to know you issues because we met and got married so quick .. (plus we met online, and only talked on the phone for the first 2 months of our 3 month *courtship*) Anywho..on one particular occasion we had gone to the movies and after he needed to use the restroom and I sat and waited in the mall by the exit. WELL it took forever!! I started to get worried and all of a sudden I was thinking..What if he has left me, I will have to call my Dad and tell him to come get me, everyone will know ..*my online guy only came for the greencard*..ahhhhh ok by this point I was crying and a mess (and 8 weeks pregnant) Rune came walking out the door..and walked over to me very puzzeled.. I had to tell him how lame I am.

This also happens to me if I almost have an acident in the car..I think about needing to tell the persons family how sorry I am etc...It is crazy!!

Or if I see a sign that says *pie $6.95* I think about walking in and getting the pie and how excited the kids would be if I brought home a pie..lol

Well on our last trip on the way home for some reason we were not seated together on the long flight home to the US from Copenhagen. Rune told me he would fix it..lol but I worried alot about it. While he waiting in line to get it fixed I sat on a chair close by..but really I was in a whole different world where I was seated by a stranger having a panic attack much like the charater John Lithgow plays in the old Twilight Zone Movie and all of a sudon I looked up and saw that the whole waiting room was there and talking and laughing and I was being a NUT! Rune walked over to tell me that he had gotten it all fixed..I pobably looked like a nut to him. (he is wise to my fears by this point!)

So, the next time you see me and I look like I am deep in thought..I am..it just might be in a silly imaginary world..
I promise I do not have schizophrenia ;) I just have a great imagination!

Blooming Flowers in Norway summer 2008

2008-09-15T14:58:00.001-07:00

There were SO many flowers in bloom!! It was a little like heaven for this little girl!
I would tell you all there names (in Latin)..BUT I have no intent in boring anyone! ;)
I am so glad this time we were there for a bit of summer and a touch of fall.
Just know I loved it! It was way more colorful than it had been 7 months earlier!
I know Rune is used to my calling out all the flowers names but, very kind about it this time!

Thanks for indulging me on this post:)

The food we ate in Norway...

2008-09-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

These are some of the meals we ate..... some are mine and some are Rune's :)

ok, some kind of pork. & two kinds of Potatoes:)

The last breakfast in Norway..take a look!

fish

ox..

taco's (my night to cook)

before

After

Hawaiian Haystacks (my night to cook)

Biff Snadder (mine)

Wok..Biff

Kylling

goat

airport..Hotdog

Wedding day in Norway

2008-09-10T16:20:00.001-07:00

The Bride and Groom
On Storslett, Norway

Elin and Jonas

Greta, Elin and Dagfinn

Rune, Elin and Me

Elin and Karl-Erik

Sweet Anita

Anita and Jonas

Elin and Kalle

The *new* Fam; Julie,Chris-Robin, Sander, Kalle and Lars

Rune and his sister Elin the beautiful bride

Rune and Elin walking down the isle

Handing off the bride:)

Kalle's side of the family all in their Bunad's

The newly Wed couple

Their little Family.

Winding up the time.

2008-09-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that the time has gone so very fast...It is already time to go home. We will leave for home on Tuesday morning...at 2AM!!
Here are a few of the things we have been doing:) I will tell more about them to you when I have more time.
I have eaten goat, reindear, harring, cloudberry, erterstuing..
We have seen, waterfalls, fox, sheep(in the road), mice on the road, a tiny live frog & a big dead frog..
Hugged 75 people I do not know..
Chopped wood in the wild forest for Mamma
Went to the most beautiful 13 and a half hour wedding!!!!!
Shopped a lot and ..
Pee'd in places that I would normaly NEVER go in!

Pictures to follow! ;)

adventure's in NORWAY!

2008-08-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

we are getting ready for Goat dinner. :) Jonas thinks this is a bad picture, which it is not. The goat tasted good.

Mommy and Daddy loves you!

Bestemor and Bestefar are loving you too!

Norway Family

It only takes a moment...

A teacher you wish would come live at your house..

Once upon a time..

March and all the fun it brings~

March.. and all the fun it brings~

Valentines Day

Photography Days 6, 7 & 8

Day 5.. Love to Hate

Day 4 ~ What They Wear

Then and Now ~ Katelynn Riley (day 3)

How he looks

The most fun husband ever!

Dinner

favorite moments

It's okay, it's not real!

2010 Year in Review

Playing with an Idea~

Merry Christmas

The First~

Thanksgiving fun~

A Great Giveaway~

Portrait by a Friend!

FORTY!

My new hobby

Finding old Pictures~

every now and then

Have I mentioned we are going on TREK??

June 5th

June 4th

June 3rd

June 2nd

June 1st

Easter & General Conference fun~

Spring Break

Tivo Madness

I'm Back...

Blue & Gold

Katie's Heart~

TAG: this story has a picture!

Oh what do you do in the Winter time, when all the world is cold??

Weeks and weeks ago..

Tom Turkey you just got Pardoned, what are you going to do now? " I'm going to Disneyland!! "

~Lilly~

So far so good...

Birthdays

Weddings

She that inspires Me~

Dinner by Candle Light

I survived..

CAMPING

My 11 week Hiatus or *How I spent my Summer Vacation*

Dancing at the Saturday Market

In the last few weeks.

Siblings

Lilly jumps HIGH

a Sunday in the country with us!

Our Long Easter Weekend...(Or the days of to many pictures..)

Sam's Baptism

It's so hard to say Goodbye

A day with no smiles~

Five more reason I love IKEA..

A little tv watching for your enjoyment~

A week without Mom

Lilly turns 3!

A REAL date~

The First Thing he Said~

New Year's Fun

Happy New Year

Wrapping, Opening, Eating

Merry Christmas

Larsen's Christmas Time Todo's

Christmas Mice~

Pictures and a few weeks of no energy..

This Week~ With an Edit

A Larsen family Car Conversation~

Team Larsen~

You asked for it, You got it.

Sometimes I am to much..

Date Night~

My 11 week Hiatus or How I spent my Summer Vacation