Welcome to the world Collins Rose Larsen!

Born July 31st 2014

albs 3oz

19 inches

6:51 pm 

On the Homestretch!

View from the belly

37 week belly - its getting big!

Tai Grant got a picture of me carrying two watermelons!! (35 weeks pregnant)

Well today i went in for my Baby Dr. appt and found out i'm sitting at 3 cm dilated! with my dr gone next week i even got my membranes stripped today (which was an unexpectedly painful/not fun experience…) I've had a ton of contractions, but nothing consistent. Ive checked my hospital bag a hundred times, cleaned the kitchen, and put the kids to bed. And now???…well i'm not really sure what to do with myself. I'll spend a portion of tonight finishing the Book of Mormon - i only have 15 pages left. which is neat. And a lot more time just sitting on the couch self-reflecting. I always get this way right before a baby - it really brings life's priorities into perspective for me. Will the baby care that i cleaned out the garage? washed the baseboards? finished a quilt? obviously no. But they are all things i *thought* were so important to accomplish before she got here. Today i stopped everything to help Jones finish a puzzle that was much to difficult for him, but he always tries because of all the trains on the picture. It was so fun to cheer him on and see the joy it gave him to place every piece ever-so-carefully. Thats why i've decided to step back and basically quit Peony and Plum, my little headband business with my friend Taylor. I feel like its just getting in the way of the small things? and letting me truly enjoy every second with my littles. Jones decided to start talking so much this week and i was shocked to see how much it changed him from baby to toddler. I can't believe Lane and I are on our third child, that we finally get a girl, and somehow our other "babies" are in primary, and making decisions, and learning how to be all around independent. I'm guilty of thinking sometimes that i'll enjoy them once the house is clean, or i've made a dozen headbands, or something else equally trivial. I need to be here for them. NOW. with no distractions. Which is hard for me, i like to be creative and a lot of times that is done when i'm alone, making something i think is beautiful and different. but i think i've finally realized that that part of my life needs to be shelved and i need to find other ways to bring that creativity out. I want my kids to learn to be creative!! i feel like its been such a blessing in my life, and a really neat way of expressing myself positively. So that is my new focus, my kids! even though i should've realized it a little earlier. My mom said that is the one thing she regrets most, is putting her creative interests above her children - and i'm trying really hard not to have regrets raising Locke and Jones. I'm so far from perfect its laughable, but that little bit of extra time needs to be spent with my family, not holed up in my craft room while the kids and lane play without me. So with some new goals and resolve to become a better mother i'm heading to bed. And hopefully waking up with painful contractions…wish me luck!

Last Relief Society activities

Our activities are now quarterly so we only have to plan 4 activities a year. The RS birthday dinner was  2 months ago and we went with a bright sunny look with a covenant theme. On each table we had a mason jar with conversation starters that were covenant-related and after eating and mingling we had our Relief Society president introduce the theme for this year, The power, love, and joy of covenant keeping. It was a simple program and made the night flow really nicely. Sometimes i always think i need to have a complicated, amazing program so this year was really nice to simplify!

For dinner we had a "pasta bar" with homemade alfredo and spagetti sauce, rolls, veggies, and cake. It turned really yummy! and worked really well. I was worried about the pasta sticking but a bit of olive oil fixed that! 

We even set the tables all fancy! ha i love making and effort and having the ladies feel special - they love it!

We got new tablecloths which were SO NICE! but i forgot to wash and iron them before the activity - spray bottles to the rescue! the chair ties are tiny black and white polka fabric from walmart on sale. They worked perfect! 

These were the cute favors for each girl to take home, i got the containers at the dollar store (12 for a dollar!) and everything else was from my craft room. The twine represented the actual covenant we make with heavenly father, and inside were little chocolates we made with a Vernal Temple mold we found online.

The centerpieces were all leftovers from Kennedy's wedding! so that came in handy! 

I made the wreath from dollar store flowers, and everything else i already had. 

With the leftover dollar store flowers and some scrapbook paper i made this quick banner for the stage. It was easy, fast, and looked really cute! 

The night was a big success, our dinners always have a nice turnout. 

Last week we had another activity I didn't take any pictures of! but we invited the young women to come enjoy an Ice Cream Social with us. At first we played a fun get-to-know-you game, then split into teams and played a ton of minute-to-win-it games! The ladies had SO much fun with this, the funniest part of the night was when little old 90 year old Wilma won out of everyone getting a cookie from her forehead to her mouth the fastest! i died laughing, she was shockingly fast! Then we enjoyed ice cream with a million toppings. It was a perfect summer activity! This fall we are planning on another preparedness workshop, so that will take a bit of work, but i'll post pictures and let you know how it went! 

Playing catch-up!

Ok i'm getting all my pictures together from the last 6 months that i've neglected this blog, updating it all and then starting the 10 on Tuesday again. I just did our blog book from last year and it was SO fun to read through those fast little 10 highlights from each week. So worth the time and effort. Also i took way more pictures?? Its just a good idea for us all around! my kids think they are celebrities in the blog book. Its extremely entertaining. 

One thing i really want to get better at is getting Lane and I into more of the everyday snapshots. Its way too easy to just snap ones of the kids and call it good.

Unloading dishes with an oven mitt. So necessary...

One of the many times Charlie has been manhandled.

 We took Jones's bottle away right after this picture was taken. He actually gave it up really easy! Maybe it was because the kid was 2 1/2 and just plain didn't really even want it anymore...

Can anyone guess Locke's favorite color? for the past 6 months its blue EVERYTHING - shoes, glasses, crayons, easters eggs,…etc. Such a typical boy. 

One thing that made me sad was to realize i have taken hardly any pictures being pregnant with baby No. 3! Its just gone by so fast and with all the millions of projects i've tried to finish before she gets here, taking pictures of myself hasn't been high priority! But don't worry, i will flood this blog with her pics when she gets here!

This was a cute moment having a toast on New Years Eve with Lane's sisters family. I took the picture and instead of saying "say cheese!!" i told everyone to say "auntie Brittany is having a baby!!" It was so fun and a great way to bring in the new year. Incidentally Nicole is now pregnant with their fourth! (we're not sure what it is yet!)

 So i'm pretty sure i scarred Jones on Easter when we went to see the Easter Bunny at our local grocery store. I'll be saving this for his wedding slideshow. Also he likes to use all sorts of "mediums" to express himself artistically. even food (yogurt).

This was right after Lane and I bought our first minivan! i was so excited and i have loved it ever since. There is a reason moms drive minivans. They are MADE for us! 

Teaching Locke a little healthy competition…(and how to cheat!!) 

I was feeling really sick at christmas, and therefore i only have a couple of measly pictures to show for it. The kids got these mini - hot wheels that have been one of their favorite toys ever since. Locke slept in and by then i was in the bathroom (ahem…with morning nausea. yuck.) next christmas! i'll probably over-document. meh, such is life. 

We took Locke and Jones to the circus and Locke insisted on dressing up like a clown! haha i have no idea why, but it was the cutest thing ever. 

Here's Lane, so proud to be standing on top of the hay mountain he created. It only took a few months of never-ending work...

I love naps - mostly because it lets me squish and kiss their cheeks with no resistance. 

The neighbors dirt hill that the boys have spent most of the spring playing the days away on...

And the aftermath of playing on those dirt hills: two boys who look like they got into a playground brawl!

Who else thinks that napping positions are just seriously so dang cute, and what looks like (to me) horribly uncomfortable?? 

Locke "helping" me clean out the shed!

Just on one of our million of walks around the farm..

This little cutie gearing up for his first primary talk - he wasn't scared at all! 

Jones crawled up on my lap one evening and fell asleep, he loves to snuggle but will rarely fall asleep! so i thought the moment should be documented. 

Jones and his truck obsession. 

I walked in the bathroom to see Jones scooting around with his dino boat around his ankles while rubbing a "lady's feminine product" all over his face. Makes sense kid. 

The day we got our sectional delivered from the Oak House (which was closing down). We got a screaming deal and the kids were SO entertained by the whole process. Thats what happens when you finally get a visitor on the farm! 

Locke sitting on the edge of the silage pit, chucking in handfuls of dirt. I can't remember how many hours i spent doing this as a child. "memories"

That time Jones fell asleep with the his two heavy trucks and screamed every time i tried to move them..

And then split his head open (yes, again!) on our bed this time. He was board because Lane and i were changing the sheets, and he was tumbling around on the bench at the end of the bed - and somehow did this? to this day we still aren't exactly sure what happened. 

One of the rare times i think to take a quick pic before church! Self timers are made for farmers wives who never have husbands home!

 The day we all stressed out - Locke didn't handle a preschool activity well and the power steering went out in the car, and i was sick from the baby - it wore on all of us. so we came home, watched cartoons, and i made bows. We survived. 

Right at about 32 weeks pregnant and she was kicking so hard that day! she seriously gave me torpedo belly that day!!

Locke, hamming it up naked, by the baby pool. Where we spend almost every afternoon. 

Lane telling the boys when they can blow out his birthday candles. He turned 31 this year! and celebrated by baling hay for 18 hours!

After a stressful final interview where you have to prove your marriage, we ate out at Red Lobster. Even though Lane hates seafood. I guess he will do anything to please his 8 month pregnant wife!

Lane loves to take a quick nap on the floor on hot summer afternoons and lately the kids have been joining him. 

A very animated and exciting conversation about poop - its gone on for 15 min and they show no sign of stopping!!

That one time we ordered a tv to come in the mail and it showed up busted. And Lane thought this constituted a "mad/angry" face. i think i peed my pants laughing. 

Yes, i know everyone and their dog has a picture of kids wearing their dad's boots - but i never get board of it. Seriously cutest thing ever

Locke with cousin Warren - beach babes!!

The kids kept themselves busy entwining animals into the tablecloth while i redid a RS bulletin board. 

This is how Jones decided to keep himself busy while Aunt Mandy and Uncle Karson were visiting - Mandy, justice, and I got our craft on - and jones got board. Nothing untypical for this two year old! 

And we made a ton of essential oil blends. We've both used them a ton ever since! 

Our cousin Teagan was called to serve in the Hungary mission and thought she was catching a bus from the airport (she's from Canada) to the MTC - little did she know we had planned a little welcoming party to see her before she headed out! 

It was a ton of fun and the kids loved blowing on the noisy toys and yelling as she came down the escalator. Good luck Teagan! you're the most caring and amazing young woman and you'll be an absolutely fantastic missionary!