January/February

Hello one and all

Happenings in Reed's life

1-School-Trying my best to not look ahead to end of year.  Every morning I wake up and start thinking about how long it is until the end of the year.

I have enjoyed it and know I'll look back on it as a memorable school year as I've tried to tackle History, Spanish, and Seminary.  I've really enjoyed teaching History for the first time, but it comes with some difficulties like more lesson planning and learning to work with "my team".  I don't think I've ever been great at working with other people, probably there's a lot of Dad in me there.  I'm too opinionated and get frustrated when things don't go how I want them too.  I remember thinking on my mission a bunch "why do we need companions?  If I could just teach the whole time it would go a lot better."  Now I think "why do we have to have common assesments and common curriculum, why can't I just teach history my way and you guys teach history your way"

I know it's not supposed to be that way, and I know if done right working with others leads to more beneficial results (at least that's what Stephen Covey says).  So it's a constant battle for me, but one that is worth changing over.  I have to have the mindset "OK Reed, if you just do what the school asks you to do and work towards that everything will be much simpler"  It's true, but difficult for me.  I really like my History and Spanish team, but often times find myself at odds with how and what we teach.  I have noticed the benefits though when I just get on the same page with them instead of the constant whining and complaining that teaching can become.

2-Seminary-It is so much better this semester!  I have such a good class, and I only teach one.  I am waking up at 4:10 only twice a week instead of 4 times a week and it's made such a difference!  I've had more time at home, been able to stay up later, and been able to study some aspects of seminary teaching that I didn't have time for in the first semester.  I feel like there's improvement, it comes slowly but surely.  No matter what happens I will forever be grateful for this opportunity.  It has changed my life for the better.

We have a general authority interview on March 2nd with Elder Baxter from the quorum of the 70.  It's pretty exciting!  I can't imagine it being a bad sign.

I taught d&c 88 and d&c 93 in the last couple weeks.  They both have some awesome awesome stuff.  I know Dennis has been fascinated with how we have eternally existed.  D&C 93 29-36 teach lots of that stuff.  Light, truth, intelligence.  You should study it with the D&C teacher seminary guide (online) Dennis.  I think you'd find it fascinating.

Did you guys know that this earth is going to become the Celestial Kingdom?  I may have heard that somewhere along the way but forgot, but I was totally caught off guard by that when teaching section 88.  The earth lives through the light of Christ.  It was baptized by water, it will die.  It will resurrect and become the Celestial Kingdom because it obeyed a Celestial law.  The earth fulfilled the measure of its creation, was obedient to the Father, and therefore will become a Celestial Kingdom.  So crazy and cool.  If we obey the laws that have been laid out for us we will receive our Celestial glory on this earth after the millenium!  (D&C 88:17-21)

3-I enjoy my callings of Sunday school  teacher, assistant cub scout master, and home teacher.  Have loved the New Testament thus far, am being introduced to pinewood derbies, blue and golds and everything else boy scouts, and love my home teaching families. 

Happenings in Amber's life

1-Her life has become wrapped up in one word, Hyrum.  She's created a special bond with him.  On Mondays and Wednesday's she helps tend our little niece Emma.  She usually goes out with them and maybe some neighborhood friends to a park or to a house for lunch or some kind of little walk during the day (hasn't February weather been crazy!).  

2-She's been enjoying some different fitness classes.  She really enjoys Zumba with an old ward friend named Laura.  Laura is a saint who has adopted 3 children from other countries.  All three of them are teenagers and in 8th grade.  The daughter has become extremely difficult.  It's crazy this thing we call life and the challenges it can throw out at us.  Every time Amber tells me about Laura and her daughter my heart just breaks.  Her daughter is constantly lying to her Mom and arguing with her.  The daughter is a good girl but just struggling right now.  

I saw a facebook post Mindy put on about Caroline lying to her face.  I don't know how I'm going to deal with lying.  Hyrum better never ever lie!  I never did.  Why do some kids never lie (me, Emily) and others lie all the time (Dennis, Caroline)?  I had a student lie straight to my face this year as a teacher.  She never admitted the truth.  I took it to administration, we called in her Mom, and she would never admit to cheating on the test.  Unbelievable, she had been caught red handed and she just wouldn't admit to it!

Anyway's I digress.  Back to Amber, she also took her first barr class with Bonnie yesterday.  They both got 10 passes on groupon.  Sounded like an intense but good workout.

3-She continues in young women and is grateful for good counselors.  There are triumphs and challenges in the calling.  Her group is growing.

Happenings in Hyrum's life

1-I love my Mom

2-I'm trying to figure out how to sleep through the night on a consistent basis.  I keep my parents on their toes with naps.  Sometimes I'll nap for a long time and sometimes I'll do it for only 20 minutes.  I don't want to make things too easy on my parents.  I know they want me to keep a consistent schedule, but I don't really feel like doing what they want me to do.  I have some of my dad and some of my Baba already in this way.

3-I love when Dad gets home from work, he always takes me on a walk.  He's always speaking to me and his words sound different than Mom's.  I don't quite understand what either one of them is saying to me yet.  He does let me listen to cool music on our walks.  I have a little beanie that when I wear it my parents start making really strange noises and squeeze me tighter and smile bigger.

4-I love my cousin Emma.  I see her twice a week and can't keep my eyes off of her.

5-I roll all over the place,  I'm getting stronger every day.  Mom keeps saying she doesn't want me to grow up, but that's all I want to do!

6-I have some pretty cool toys.  I'm finally tall enough to put both feet on the ground in a bouncer.  The bouncer is my favorite!  I also like putting everything I can find in my mouth.  I've started eating some different food.  I really like the sweet potatoes.  I can't wait to eat grown up food.

7-I love being outside.  I wear some pretty cool sunglasses that protect my eyes on sunny days.

8-I love seeing my grandmas, aunts and uncles, and cousins!  

Events

1-Night with an apostle, all CES teachers got to go.  It was with Elder Holland.  Overall message, fear not.  The battle has already been won.  If we are living the gospel, and if our students do what they are supposed to do, there is no reason to fear. 

Also a huge part of his message, be cheerful.

2-Valentines day rocked.  It was fun to exchange some small gifts and be with each other.  They should make valentine's day on Saturday every year.

3-Got invited to a Jounrey concert by some friends.  We have a friend that works for a company and the company rented out Energy Solutions Arena and hired journey for a private concert.  They invited us to go and it was so awesome!  Journey is now one of my fave bands.  They have some really good stuff and are better then I originally thought.

4-Birthday celebrations for January birthdays and celebrating Ben's birthday in February at Mom's house.

This is for you Reed

This is your sister, Mindy.  I thought you'd enjoy this if you haven't already seen it.  

James chowing down

James gets after it in the highchair:

Mary's GRE Scores

Hi everyone!

Dennis's post reminded me that Mary won't brag about how well she did on the GRE, so I decided I would brag for her.

Here is how she did on the 3 sections of the test:

78% Quantitative
95% Verbal
98% Writing

Now those are percentile rankings, so an average score would be 50%, and its impossible to get 100%. So basically she rocked that test!

Mucho Love,
Trent

Hello from the Larsens!

Hi Family!

I am happy to see many of you posting on the family blog.  It was my job to get it up and running so I feel kind of responsible for your involvement.  The one thing I need to tweak is to figure out how to make it so we are all notified of comments when they are added to the blog.  I'll figure it out.  Either way, though, make sure you look at the comments on posts.  I just commented on all of the January posts.

Here we are in February!  Hallelujah!  January was a rough ride for the Larsen clan and I'm happy to be out the other end of it.  I always get kind of down in January... not a lot for me to look forward to.  Next year I'm going to start a winter sport so that I have an excuse to get out and get some fresh air and exercise.  If only it weren't so darn expensive.

Greg is finishing up his run of the show "Is He Dead" at the Hale.  It ends this weekend.  It went six weeks with four our five performances a week.  Add that to teaching full time and I hardly ever saw Greg this month, and when I did see him I wasn't exactly getting his best self.  We made some mistakes this year with how much Greg took on- good lessons to learn for the future.  He has worked himself pretty hard and has stressed all the way through it.  I generally don't think I am too stressed of a person but the one thing that does stress me out is Greg's stress.  (Still with me?)  I am hoping once this show is over and spring is on its way that life will get a bit easier.

As you all know, Agathe joined us in November.  She is my student and asked me if she could move in with us because her host family situation wasn't working out.  I felt strongly that we needed to allow her to live in our home; Greg was more hesitant, but supported me in my desires. It has been much harder than I thought it would be.  She is completely dependent on us.  I am her mom.  I am responsible for making sure she has friends, meets people, has the "foreign exchange" experience, is safe, gets to school in the morning, etc.  We are also responsible for food for her, a bedroom, transportation, etc.  (She is not allowed to drive.)  It is a bit of a financial strain as we are not paid anything to host her but are expected to provide three meals a day for her.  I didn't think it would make that big of a difference in our grocery bill, but it does.  I pray that we made the right decision, as I have watched the added stress it has put on Greg and our family.  The second or third week she was here I kind of had this break down and said to Greg in tears that I think we had made a horrible decision and that we couldn't handle the stress of providing for her.  He said to me, "Bonnie if you felt strongly that we need to let her live with us then there is a reason for that."  I cling to that statement and hope and pray he is right.  It is hard to always know if you are doing the right thing, you know?  In my mind the right thing was to let her live with us.  But I worry that I am hurting my family in the process, putting too much pressure and stress on Greg and taking away from time that I spend with June.  It is just hard to always have a guest around, you know?  In some ways it feels a bit like an invasion of privacy, like you can't just relax in your own home because you always have company.  As Greg is so often busy that means that I spend the majority of my time with Agathe.  I have always thought I was the most extroverted extrovert in the world, but turns out I am a bit introverted!  I do like some alone time.  I do need some time to myself to recharge and re energize.  These are things I've learned these past two months.  Greg is very sweet to Agathe, but I can tell that when he comes home completely exhausted the last thing he wants to do is entertain a seventeen year old.

I hope that last paragraph isn't too depressing.  I think we've just bitten off more than we can chew.  I feel bad when I am frustrated or overwhelmed because it is not Agathe's fault at all.  She is the sweetest, kindest teenager.  She is sensitive and very mature.  There couldn't be an easier person in the world to have living with us.  But the bottom line is that it is someone in our home and in our lives constantly and it is just tougher than I thought it would be. Send prayers and love our way as we are not quite on top of life right now.  Also, if any of you guys are ever going anywhere fun or doing anything interesting at all, we would love it if you would invite Agathe. She would love to get out, and we would love a little break. She spends a lot of time at home.  I feel some pressure to "entertain" her but with June at home and Greg gone so much of the time we're not exactly in that stage of life.  She absolutely loves to ski and is down for anything in the world.  She is very pleasant and very easy to have along.  If you are going to the movie or on a hike or even a basketball game that is kind of nearby, Agathe would love to come.  She is shy at first, but once she opens up she never stops talking.  It is a bit hard because she has to be driven, but if there is something close I can drive her, or if it is something that you have to pass by Lehi to get to we will be happy to meet you at the freeway.  Thank you, family!  I say this with tears in my eyes- I suppose I am a bit overwhelmed.

June is sweet as can be.  She is the absolute sunshine and joy in our life.  She makes me want ten more babies.  Being her mom and watching Greg be her dad has been the most satisfying and happy experience of my life.  She has started rolling and will roll all across the room like a fiend.  When she's on her stomach she will try to scoot and reach out to grab something.  Not long and she will be crawling.  It goes too darn fast.

I am so grateful for my family and for my covenants.  I cling to those and to the promises to be with you all forever.  Love you.

And now, some pictures.

I finally finished June's nursery!  Seven months later!

Agathe turned 17 on January 22.  She requested "Salmon and pasta" for dinner.

Horrible family selfie, but it's the best we managed.

And, the best thing we've got going for us.  We can't get enough of her...

Pleasant Grove Blackburns

Dear family,

I'm not sure how this blog thing works but I'm sure we'll get the hang of it.  Ash got me logged in, so I'll have to figure out how to do it next time.

There was a certain connection that we all felt as a family when myfamily.com was up and running.  I miss it.  This will be good to see if we can get that back.

I'll just give a quick update.  Our day to day lives seem so much the same that I feel like it would be boring to write about what's happening.  But then I start thinking about all you guys and that I have no idea how Mary's big test went, what's new in Germany, and whether or not Trav and Tami even still live in Price.  That makes me realize that maybe some of the small details of our lives will be interesting to all you.

We'll start with the big news.  We've told a few of you, but.....ASHLEY IS PREGNANT.  We're so excited.  I really can't wait to have another baby.  I have this scary feeling in the gut of my stomach that I've forgotten how hard it was to have a newborn and that I'm being a bit naive when it comes to the reality of a baby in the home again.  But we're stoked.  More than anything, I'm excited for Emery to have a sibling.  She gets so bored with us.  I also feel like she has a sensitive heart and is a great care taker.  I think she'll be a great big sister.

My work is going well.  I really do like my job.  I get along really well with my boss. He gives me space and freedom to run all my projects the way I want to.  I'm really good friends with the other two project managers.  One is Cody Reynolds...some of you know him.  He's actually a Bateman and we became good friends in the CM program at BYU.  The other one is Tyler Berry.  He played football at BYU back in the day and acts exactly like you think a former football player would.  We bought a ping pong table for the office.  It's become the latest time killer.  Any dispute or argument we have is resolved over the table.  I'm proud to report that no one can beat me.  I think I'm finally ready to play Travis.

We finally finished the remodel on our little townhouse.  It actually looks pretty good and I'm kinda proud of the way it turned out.  We completely redid the two bathrooms, new paint, new carpet, new trim, and new doors.  We need to have some of you over for dinner so you can see it.  We'd like to move out this summer.  It would be nice to make it happen in June or July.  Ashley is due in September, so it would be nice to have the move over before then.  We'll probably move somewhere near point of the mountain.  I'd like to find something that's new and has an unfinished basement.  That way I could finish it for dirt cheap and add quite a bit of value to the home.  We'll probably keep this townhome we're in now and keep it as a rental.

Ashley should be able to quit working here in the summer.  She would possibly work part time from home, or maybe just quit all together and start teaching pilates again.  It will be nice to have her home full time with Emery.  As of now, Mom watches Emery twice a week, Ashley works from home twice a week, and Becky watches her once a week.  We're so grateful for the help Mom and Becky have offered us.  We couldn't have done it without them.

I bought a new truck.  I like it a lot.  My other one was getting way too many miles and it wasn't 4wd.
Goodnight everyone.  I'll try and figure out how to go see everyone else's posts.  Mom, could you email me the link/invitation so I can access it through my own email address and not Ashley's?  Send the invitation to dennis@egreenexteriors.com

SO LONG JANUARY

Ok, when Becky came to dinner today I told her I was going to scold her for not posting on the family blog.  Thanks, Becky, for rallying to the cause.  I have just sent texts to the other slackers who have not showed up on this blog.  Actually, the invitations expired that you got several weeks ago when Bonnie set it up.  SO the invitations have been issued again, and I am hoping for some results!
It's amazing to me how quickly we lose track of each other.  Some of us see each other regularly, others seem more distant, but these family posts help with information and insight no matter where we are geographically!

Ok, scolding done.  It's been a busy month for me, but now things have slowed down quite a bit.  I've reported to most of you about my trip to Dominican Republic.  It was ever so good....in many ways:
enjoying friendships, humanitarian opportunities, a break from the same-o same-o, perfect weather, and good old fashioned pampering...all combined to make it good.  But just as I enjoy going, I enjoy coming home.  So good to see everyone again, and be back in my home...my sanctuary.

 Events this month included:
JANUARY
3-A funeral dinner for a Sister in our Ward
3- Wilson's wedding reception at Reeta's house (helped with that!)
5-Taking down Christmas (ugh!)
6-Seeing Greg in a hilarious play at Hale THeatre in SL...."Is He Dead?"
13-Taking my van into be repaired because the Honda dealer told me it had a heating and cooling problem that could be a big deal.  I took it to EP Auto, the little repair shop that Poppa always liked, and they told me it just needed coolant or antifreeze or something like that....charged me $8! This is where I'd put a smiley face if I could figure out how to.
16-24 Trip to Dominican Republic.  It was ever so good....in many ways:
enjoying friendships, humanitarian opportunities, a break from the same-o same-o, perfect weather, and good old fashioned pampering...all combined to make it good.  But just as I enjoy going, I enjoy coming home.  So good to see everyone again, and be back in my home...my sanctuary.  Had a great conversation with a journalist from Germany on the flight home from JFK airport.  We talked politics...she was very liberal and very astute...I felt like I held my own, tho it took all I had. Even got a plug in for the church.  

26-Spent 4 hours this Monday afternoon helping to clean a basement apartment that should have been

condemned.  I don't know where to start, except to say I've never seen anything so bad.  As I cleaned and scrubbed, I was absolved of all feelings of guilt for being spoiled in DR.
27-Lunch with a friend of a friend who lost her husband a year ago December.  He was hit by an impaired driver (prescription drugs) on a Sunday morning on his way to hear his son speak in church.
The woman was BITTER.
28-Book Club with neighborhood ladies.  Always amazed (and a little appalled) at the challenges these women have.  Memorable (and awful) quote: "If I had it to do over again, I would never have married and never had children."
30-Another fun play with Bonnie..."Barefoot in the Park," while Dennis and Reed and families watched the Jazz game at my house.
29-30-Stake Conference.  Very good.  Our stake has 103 full time missionaries in the mission field.  Way to build the kingdom,
30-Piano recital for Davy, Eli.  Bravo!
Feb 1  Overblown Super Bowl.  Beck and family and Mary & Trent came over for dinner.  We had the tv on part of the time...tried to keep it low key.  Most interest for me was generated by the half time show.  Not bad.

Throw into that mix some Temple shifts, RS meetings, Emery tending, Zumba, etc etc, and the month is done.  Now for a few pictures:

Wild Welcome Party at the resort...a bit decadent

DR classroom taken through the window...these kids were Haitian refugee children...throw away chidlren in the DR.  The DR is already poor.,..Haiti is many times worse.  They are often abandoned or orphaned (parents with AIDS, etc) and DR does not take care of them.  This school was opened by a 23 year old girl from the states who wanted to do something about it.  She schools only Haitian children..no govt funds, just donations.  She also houses several of them at the school.  Amazing

Delivered shoes to a village school.  I helped this boy find these...he was so excited.  Hoping to do something like this in Mexico in June!

Back at our villa...the contrast was stark.

    Maid came in and made us breakfast each morning.  Shameful, I know; but I loved it!

                    Yep.....spoiled rotten (for a little while)

                             

                                   
                                                       Boys at a piano recital

                                       
                                      Oh, and yes, one more boy at a private recital    
                                                         The tradition lives on.....

                      That oughta do it....love you all!

The Brothers Griffin and One Princess

Sorry everybody that I didn't post last month.  I'm sitting in mom's family room sort of watching the Super Bowl.

What to write about?

Ben has been busy with basketball, got his eagle project done, and "failed my driving test."  Can you believe he's going to be sixteen in two weeks?   I can't believe we have become basketball parents. We whine and complain about politics just like the worst of them.  But I'll spare you.  Ben has a good team, and he's learning a lot.

Eli and Ricky just had a piano recital.  Ricky was born with more confidence than he needs.  But he's awfully cute when he goes up there.  No jitters for him.  Eli did well too playing Hopak, by a Russian composer who there is now way I could spell.  It starts with an M an ends with a Y.  Eli has decided he's not too fond of Russians.

Both Eli and Ben are their quorum presidents.  That means I get to hear things all the time like, "What?!  Another meeting?!"  or "Why do the leaders make us plan this stuff?  Why don't they do the work?"  or  "Why do the meetings have to last two hours?"  So yeah, we're training them for future leadership positions.

Last Saturday I spent all afternoon at a ballroom dance performance.  For Davy.  There are times when you wonder why you try.  I kept praying that he wouldn't run into the couple behind him, and let's just say my prayers weren't answered.  What I don't understand is how can a boy struggle in ballroom and then show such amazing aptitude at snowboarding?  I would think there would be some kind of correlation between these skill sets.  

Yes, he just tried out snowboarding for the first time last month, and his teacher said he was a  natural.  Go figure.  The snowboarding lessons were the reward for doing ballroom.  Obviously, he thought showing up for ballroom was enough.  "I'm only here so I don't get fined."  He's still pretty darling out there on the floor.  The funniest thing was that he was about a foot taller than everyone else.

Deborah  is still my #1 fan.  Everyone needs a fan.  She always wants to cuddle with me or
"hang out" with me or go wherever I'm going.

 She wants to go everywhere.  "I'm just going to drop Ben off to practice.  I'm not even getting out of the car."  She still wants in.  She will even watch Masterpiece with me.  Now that's dedication.  I would recommend that everyone find a #1 fan.  She's cuddling with me now, putting her arm around mine.  She's such a sweetheart.  I have already told her all about Nonnie, and it seems like they have a lot in common.  Deborah is totally into sparkle sparkle and thinks I need to wear brighter lipstick.

David has taken up cooking.  It's been great.  He's been making chili and chicken noodle soup and chicken tortilla soup and chocolate chip cookies and orange chicken and the boys are now demanding that he do all the cooking.  I'm trying to decide whether to be greatly hurt or just milk this for all it's worth.  

I will try to get a picture or two posted soon.  I'm doing this on Mom's computer.  Trent had to walk me through logging in.  Love you guys!

Rebekah



 

Superbowl, Chemistry, and Bowling

Hey everyone!

January is always kind of a welcome lull after all the holiday craziness.  It makes for a nice chance to relax, but not a very exciting fast Sunday blog post.  So sorry if it's dull, but I do want to keep you all updated!

Trent has started winter semester classes.  He's doing genetics, O-chem 2, abnormal psychology, psychology of gender, history of creativity, and bowling.  So far he's done really well to keep up in his classes.  This week will be the first round of midterms, and I'm sure he'll do great.  Last night we went bowling with Bonnie, Agatha, Marianne, and Adam, and Trent showed off his amazing skills.  I did less favorably, which is just fine by me.  Trent is also volunteering at the state mental hospital for his abnormal psychology class.  He's been able to work with adolescent boys, many of whom are in the hospital due to rough family situations.  It's been a really neat opportunity.  Every day I am reminded of how lucky we are to have the family, lifestyle, and general peace of the gospel in our lives.

I have been in the trenches of applying for the master's program in organic chemistry at BYU.  I have spent a lot of time gathering letters of recommendation, writing my statement of intent, and preparing for and taking the GRE.  I just took the test last Monday, and am anxiously awaiting the results for my scores.

A lot of people advise you to establish contact with professors before admissions.  Because I only want to do a master's, I'm at a big disadvantage to all the students doing a Ph.D.  If I can get a professor who knows he wants me in his lab before they make the admissions decision, I will be at a much better spot.  Trent and I went to dinner with a couple of professors a couple of weeks ago.  It was way fun.  We talked a little science, and a little bit about general life plans/stories.  I think it was good to get my name and face out there, and the food was delicious.  I've also met with another professor, and will meet with two more next week.  Fingers crossed!  I feel like I'm doing my part to get in, so I have to be content either way that the admissions go.  I find out April 15, which seems SO FAR away!

We are now gathered at mom's watching the Superbowl Game.  Well, every male right now is watching the game.  Each female is on some electrical device doing something else.  It's awesome.  I snapped some quick pictures, thinking especially of Mindy. :)

I told Davy multiple times to smile normal.

Other than that our life has been pretty standard.  We have watched a lot of BYU basketball.  I've been tutoring Ben in chemistry a little.  When I asked him how his test went, he said, "Alright."  When I pressed him for a few more details, he then said, "I dunno.  I got 100%."  That sounds pretty good to me.  We've also watched a lot of Psych.  Have any of you watched that show?  We really like it.  We're in the very last season.  It's one of the best funny:clean ratios I've seen for a long time.  It's been good.

We love you guys so much!  I hope everything is going well!

Love, Mary and Trent