Cub Scout Rite of Passage

THE PINEWOOD DERBY!!!
It's a much anticipated race!! This was our 1st official time to create and participate!
This one is Josh's! #1!!!!!!!!!!!
Josh drew the shape of the racecar he wanted on a block of wood and the teenage son of his Cub Scout Leader cut it with a band saw. Then Daddy and Josh had a blast painting it and getting it in tip top shape for the race. The night before the race... Josh and Dave went to Wal-Mart a bought some little "weights" and a Scale-- they drilled holes in the top of the car and kept weighing it to get it to the maximum weight!
It was quite the RACE-- Parents and kids are quite serious about it!! Lots of cheering going on!
We're neck and neck! WHO WILL WIN??
Watching the Race-- Jillian was big cheerleader for Josh! She was LOUD!!
Here some quick video of the racing fun! I think Josh came in about 5th overall! His car was one of the fastest!! oh-- and Jordan was a "helper"-- you'll see...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Big Ten!

Can't believe it... It's been a decade since our big fat Buddha baby boy was born! TIME is just so light speed now! My wish is that Josh enjoys his time as a kid-- that we can provide for him the best life possible-- filled with love and security! Here are some fun pics from the day--

Josh is TEN!

Josh got to pick where we went out to eat... He picked Outback Steakhouse! AND... the kid menu at Outback said... "for diners UNDER 10!!!" So... Josh got the OutBack Special Sirloin 6 oz. Medium Well with a loaded baked potato minus sour cream!! OH-- an a Caesar salad beforehand! He LOVED IT!!

Happy Birthday Boy!

A Special Treat for the Big Birthday boy!!

Thanks for Aunt Jen calling at 7:20 AM to sing a very loud animated Happy Birthday Song to Josh! He felt so loved as he was grinning ear to ear when he got off the phone with you!!

Thanks for Granddaddy and Grandma Jan calling and singing on the answering machine and then calling back again to finally reach the birthday boy!! He loved the card and cash too!

Thanks for the card and cash from Grammy and Grandpa!!

OH and... He plans on going to Best Buy (his favorite store) as the money is burning a big hole in his pocket!
Josh got a black iPod nano for his birthday-- He was so excited this morning before school when he opened his big (small) gift!

Happy Easter!

I can't believe it's already Easter! I love the traditions of Easter! The food (ham, greenbean casserole etc), the fun (eggs, baskets of treats), and mostly the great Sunday services filled with music and lessons about the the miracle of the atonement and the resurrection!
Today we celebrate our Beautiful Savior! I love the Crusader's Hymn... BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR! At church, the children sang this song in Sacrament Meeting...
Fair is the Sunshine!
Fairer the Moonlight!
And All the Stars in Heaven Above!
Jesus Shines Brighter!
Jesus Shines Purer!
And brings to All the World His Love!
Fair are the Meadows!
Fairer the Woodlands!
Robed in the Flowers of Blooming Spring!
Jesus is Fairer!
Jesus is Purer!
He Makes the Sorrowing Spirit Sing!
Beautiful Savior!
Lord of the Nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Thee will I Honor! Praise and Give Glory!
Give Praise and Glory Evermore! EVERMORE!
click on the picture below to see the song put to pictures!
Here are some fun pics from our little backyard Easter Egg Hunt...

My Sweet Friend Misty

I lost my sweet friend to cancer of the esophogus today. She's been fighting it since August when she was diagnosed after not being able to take any food or drink in. She has left behind a husband, a 7th grade daughter, a 5th grade daughter, and a little 1st grade son. I sit here with this lump in my throat and wet eyes as I grieve for them all. Misty wanted to live. She will be desperately missed until we all meet again!

This is Misty and her oldest daughter when we were on a choir field trip with our girls at Sandy Lake Park in 2007
Misty hated this picture-- we are at a surpise party and she's hugging the guest of honor.

This was a great day-- Misty with David and Jessica Miller, the day they went to the Temple!

Here is Misty 'in blue shirt' with the 'choir'-- we were at Sandy Lake Park again but this time 2008 when she went with her middle daughter. She is the "fun" mom!


I used to hang out at Misty's house everyday after school and wait for my kids to walk down to her house rather than fighting the after school pick up frenzy :)-- we became fast friends. She is down to earth and has a hilarious sense of humor. She is an awesome cook. One time we went to an Asian Grocery Store to get this 'special ingredient'-- I was such a wimp as I couldn't handle the smell of the place-- we were laughing and acting so crazy in the market. I could really be my complete self around her! It wasn't just a "surface" friendship-- We had long conversations about LIFE-- about our experiences and what we have learned so far! We were expert bargain shoppers together. But... we always shopped for our kids- never ourselves. AND... Our girls get along so well-- her oldest and Jordan and another couple of girls from church call themselves "The 4 Musketeers!"

I LOVE my friend Misty! I grieve for her family as I know the sadness of losing the mother who you love. Til we meet again-- I will do all I can to lift up her sweet children -- Please pray for The Larson Family!