Holiday Makeover

Room with a ceiling

Finished project

Just before the holidays, I got a job at JetBlue in Reservations. This will be a job from home after 6-7 weeks of training. That meant I would need an office. We had a few options to choose from: use one of the finished rooms in our basement, the office up in Zach's large bonus room, or our front room/piano room. All three had their conflicts. The basement room would be quiet, but out of the way (too far out of the way) and needed carpet still. Zach's room was finished, but if I had a shift at night, it would interfere with his sleep etc. The front room was a good location, but let in too much noise. The ceiling was open to the family room and there is a large arched doorway with no door. We decided to transform the front room, getting rid of the piano (that no longer got used) and the green couches that never fit in this house. My sweet hubby took one week off during Christmas and New Years and this was his vacation...home remodeling! It was a very tedious and at times scary remodel, because we put a ceiling in and a wall on top of that to reach our vaulted ceilings. We just finished this weekend with the walls and still need to put in french doors with a arched window over the top, but it turned out great and we now have more function in a room that never got used.

This One's For You, Sis!

The kids waiting for Santa & "Buddy"

Even Zach sat on Santa's lap!

Aunt Eunice was able to come

Tyler is Joseph and this year, Kris was not the donkey, Brad was the lucky one!

Bryce, Kris and Hayley enjoying the party

Last night, we had the annual Back Family Christmas Party. Usually we have it at one of the aunt's & uncle's houses, but this year, my mom and dad were in charge and held it at their ward house. According to my calculations, I estimate there were about 60+ people there. I made the comment to my siblings and hubby that it was a lot like a ward Christmas party, and I don't like those either! But, this year, it seemed more manageable. Maybe it was the space, maybe it was the fact that you got to eat at a table, maybe it was having my own family including my brothers at the table, maybe it was the absence of the obnoxious songs using the chimes, maybe it was the absence of the individual family talent show. Or maybe all of the above! Needless to say, the program consisted of a guy from my uncle's work who sang several songs, the annual Nativity scene, and the visit from santa...so much better. During the Nativity, my dad came up to me and said, "I sure miss Missie and her family this time of year, " and I agreed. So, I just wanted to wish her and her family a great Christmas and a Happy New Year, and let her know that we were and are thinking about her at this time. Merry Christmas to everyone else as well!

This video is to help her relive some of the party, I know she just loves them!

Also, thanks to my mom and dad for probably the best and most enjoyable Back party ever!

Mystery Solved

Last night, Kris and I left the kids to attend Kris' annual ASPE (American Society of Professional Estimators) Christmas party, where Kris was awarded "Estimator of the Year", a surprise to both of us. Meanwhile, the kids back home were keeping themselves busy making movies. When I left, they were using Zach's friend's camera, but somehow our camera was pulled out. Let me preface this by saying, we bought this camera new in September. It was a Nikon $100 camera. Our cameras are getting cheaper, the more we have to buy. When I got home, I noticed the lens stuck on the camera. Upon interrogating the kids, we narrowed it down to the boys. All got a lecture, then Kris got the idea of checking the memory card. I think we found the guilty one. It looks like an accident, but gosh dangit, I am still mad! No camera, and Christmas is coming soon. Maybe someone will get a broken camera for Christmas!

Watch it here:

www.vimeo.com/7983081

FYI: Upon viewing this video, I heard Tyler say "Oh shiz" (one of his favorite words, that doesn't sound so great!) I apologize if it sounds like a curse, I've tried getting him to say other things. Just to prepare you for the almost profanity!

P.S. This was Justin and Tyler's attempt to make a video like their older brother likes to do with his friends. So good to know what goes on while mom and dad are away. It might be cheaper to start hiring a real babysitter!

A "Lost" Tooth

Justin lost a tooth the other day at school. He was so excited to show me after school what had happened. I was on the phone at the time, I looked at it and told him to go put it in a bag. Somewhere along the way, Justin dropped his tooth and lost it. After I got off the phone, I see Justin crying on his bed. He tells me that he lost his tooth and now the toothfairy won't come to visit him. We all told him that the toothfairy would still come if he just wrote a note. This was not enough, so I had to revacuum the whole house again and sift through the dirt and junk. Still no tooth. I finally got him to agree to write the toothfairy a note. This is what he wrote:

Which translated from bad picture, reads: "Dear toothfairy, I lost my tooth but I dropped my tooth and now I can't find it."

Fortunately for him, our toothfairy paid double the amount for not having a tooth! (I guess the toothfairy figured the agony over the lost tooth earned him twice the price!) I just hope the other kids don't try the same thing!

Halloween Fun

Here are the Halloween pictures in no particular order. Hayley was a dead bride (thanks to her 5th grade wax museum project. She was Molly Pitcher and I told her there was no way in you know what that I was going to make or buy 2 costumes for her, so we compromised). Justin and Tyler were of course, the same thing, a black ninja. Justin informed me that next year, he wants Tyler to pick out his costume first, then he will pick his (that way they won't be the same, I say, "Brilliant, son."). Can you tell who wants to be just like his older brother? And Zach of course, did not get a costume this year (he's 13, can you blame me?) But I wish I would have taken his picture, because about an hour after he had gone over to a friends for Halloween fun, four boys showed up on my doorstep, in hilarious costumes. Zach was Darth Vader, borrowed from his friends stash, one of them was a dog, one a nerd, and one a skeleton in a very tight, probably size 8 full body costume! It was pretty funny! Oh, and Kris will be so happy I added this picture in, but he thought about being Napoleon Dynamite for our ward trunk-or-treat, but chickened out. Good thing we got pictures first. Too bad Hayley was taking pictures and it turned out blurry, but you get the idea! Anyways, glad it's over, now on to the next holiday...

Look What We Did Today...

Meet Cody, the newest member of the Larson family. I know, I know. There goes my nights to a newborn puppy. He has taken to Hayley so I am hoping she lives up to her end of the bargain by mothering this little guy. We still need to get him to eat dog food (which then leads to poop), he left his mother this morning after his last nursing. I've never weaned a dog before, but if he's anything like Tyler...He's only 7 weeks old, so wish us luck, and let's hope this one works out! The things you do for your kids...:)

Super Six!

My baby turned six today. He has really grown and matured a lot in the last year, and now that he is in kindergarten, he has really flourished. He is such a good kid and fun to be around. Tyler has a zeal for life. Happy birthday Tyler!