Look what I did!

I planted bulbs in November hoping they would grow this spring. I am so excited that they bloomed and look so pretty.

Earth Day

To celebrate Earth Day at school, we made paper and recycled crayons. Here are a few pics to recap our 2 days.

6 more weeks....

April's unit is on weather, so we created "rain" in our classroom! It was a mess but alot of fun.

6 more weeks until the end of the school year and I can't believe it. As I am going through my ideas and plans for the last siz weeks of school I am realizing how attached I am to my kids and how much I am going to miss them. Being the great LDS person I am, I decided to go on Shutterfly.com and create a memory/scrapbook of our year together. I am way excited about. I have found some pretty cute quotes and my parents are so excited about it.

Here are some quotes for the book:

"The important thing is not so much that every child be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn." John Lubbock

"I trust the time is coming, when the occupation of an instructor to children will be deemed the most honorable of human employment." Angelina grimke

"Pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in the world is done by children." Annoymous

I am very sad to end the year but I have learned alot and am looking forward to the next batch of kids I get to teach next year.

No I am not crazy.....

...Just determined. So I am running in a 5k with a girlfriend in about 3 weeks. I started training pretty much everyday and then I got sick with an upper resp. cold and have been down for about 2 weeks. I went for a fast paced 1 1/2 hour walk yesturday and my feetsies and butt bones hurts today. I am sure if I hit it hard now until the run, I should be fine.

Also, the reason why I may be crazy. In October, I will be going to Wisconsin to spend the weekend with a highschool friend and run a half marathon- no that is not a typo. When I told my friend Jen what I was planning to do she was surprised and wondered if she would be able to do that (this is the friend I am running the 5k with). So I have about 6 months to train for it, I think I can...... I think I can.......

I am on a health kick out now. I really want to get in shape and get a regular exercise routine down. I guess it's because Dennis is home at night now and I feel I can go to bed earlier to wake up earlier to exercise..... I have been doing pretty good about getting up on Saturday mornings at 8 and going for a run so why not wake up during the week and do the same thing??? The only thing holding me back right now is the fact that I would have to wake up around 5 and I am not sure I am ready for that yet.

Happy 4th Birthday Deanna

As this week comes to an end....

We have so many things to be thankful for this week. I am excited for 2 great reasons. First, I will get my husband back at night and we will be making our old income back! Hallelujah! He got offered a position at a company in West Chicago, after talking with me about it, he accepted.
Second, I have an interview at Lakewood Creek Elementary in Oswego for SECOND GRADE!!!
This has really been a great week :)

Tyler James Hildebrand

So after 3 babies in 2 weeks, I am ready for a break from the hospital. Nicole and Josh's son arrived at 10:06a.m weighing in at a whopping 10 lbs. 1 o.z and 21 1/2 long. He has a full head of black hair as you can see and looks just like his momma!

Sephora makeover

One of my friends works for Sephora so my cousin and I decided to go visit her and get makeovers. I was very excited because I am tired of my current make up and I never feel like it looks good. After that night, I LOVE the makeup and I will never wear makeup again without using foundation primer first. Thanks Jen :)

Conference Weekend

(Pictures to come later)
This weekend was so nice. It's the first weekend in about 3 months that I haven't felt like it has flown by and been robbed on my time at home. Saturday morning I woke up around 9 and went for a run with Monster to prepare for the 5k I am running in next month with Jen Martin. The weather was so gorgeous this weekend and I loved being able to be outside. Joseph and Andrea came over to watch the afternoon session of conf. with us before the guys headed off to Priesthood session while Andrea and I headed to Mongolian BBQ to have dinner with the mother in law. After 2 hours of waiting for our table (so worth it) we were stuffed full and ready to head home and watch the movie The Ultimate Gift ( I HIGHLY recommend it, its great)

Sunday we had our friends the Millers and their little boy Vance over for brunch and then to watch conf. It was so awesome to be able to be at home watching it from my own couch in the comfort of my own home. In between morning and afternoon session, Dennis and I took Monster for our walk and decided to go down and check out the new park in our neighborhood. A few weeks ago we went to a park by the inlaws and took Monster down the slide. Well today we did it again. After he went down on my lap the first time, he ran right back up the steps to go again by himself, it was hilarious. It is so great to have a dog with such a great personality, he fits into our family very well and is spoiled to death!!

After dinner, Dennis helped me cut the fabric for my quilt and then we relaxed watching some tv. I am so glad my weekend went so well and I actually got to relax and enjoy time with Dennis.
Now I just hope my week won't be too crazy- I am busy every night this week and will be at the hospital on Thursday- my BFF Nicole is having her baby and I am soooo excited to meet him.

Our day at Church

We had a new Bishop called today in our ward. What's funny is that right before we left the Geneva wasrd, Bishop Koch was called and we left soon there after. I was a little disappointed because he is such a righteous man and I thought of how awesome the spirit was going to be in the ward (not that it wasn't already, I just knew amazing thing were going to happen). Since having been the Nursery leader in the last ward, my testimony was a little weak. I felt that I needed to do something to get it to go back to that amazing feeling that I had when I was first baptized. I sat through the entire sacrament meeting as those who were asked by the Stake President to bear testimonies- it was a great meeting. Then enter YW, Sister Main gave an awesome lesson on the Priesthood. She left the last 7 minutes for testimony bearing and I started to reflect on having the spirit with you always and how Sister Main shared her experience of when she felt the spirit leave her when she wasn't where the spirit could be with her. A few moments of sitting there, my heart started beating and then it started pounding, it was seriously going to jump right out of my chest, I wanted to bear my testimony not only because I got that feeling of the spirit back that was SO strong but it has been 2 1/2 years since I have bore my testimony outside of teaching lessons and giving one talk at church. The YW president got up to close the meeting right as I was going to get up. Oh well I guess I will have to do it next time I thought. As I sat there for the last 2 minutes during closing prayer, I felt that I disappointed Heavenly Father. I neglected that prompting of the Spirit to bare my testimony to these girls that needed to hear it most. So I want to bear testimony now that I know Heavenly Father has sent his son for us and that this Gospel is the true Gospel and that the church is true. The Spirit is such an important "tool" to have with us in times when we need guidance and direction. The YW in our ward bring out such a sweet yet profound spirit and they helped me to see that and get that feeling back. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Self less act

I took these pictures of Sariah when they stayed with us last week. I wanted to post them because I felt that the pictures from the hospital didn't serve justice to how cute she is. Later that night, she feel asleep on my chest while we were laying on the couch watching T.V and started to think about the fact that she could have been ours. Her mother was willing to give her to us because we couldn't have a child like her. That is a true friend in my book and I am so greatful to her mothers willingness do to something so un selfish. I know one thing, even though I can't be a mom at the time, I am going to be one great aunt.

Valentines Day

I know Vday was almost 2 months ago
but with the computer problems we have
been having lately, I didn't get around to posting any pictures

This is from the Valentines Day Party at school with my 2 assistants
and almost all of my kiddos

Friday Night Late Night

I am sitting here in my bed at 12:30 on Friday night or if you would like Saturday morning. No that wasn't a typo I am in my bed- our dell of 6 years finally went kaput and this past week and I broke down and bought an HP laptop. I am very excited about it because I don't feel like I have to be stuck in the office whenever I need to do something on the computer. Now I can be wherever I want to be.

I just wanted to take a minute to reflect on my spiritual thoughts this past week. I LOVE my calling as the Mia maid advisor and being in YW in general. It has really strengthen my testimony as i try to be an example to the girls. The other thing that has helped is the Book of Mormon challenge. I feel like this is the time I am supposed to grow spiritually.

Just a few thoughts for the day.

Playing Mommy

Ok, I now have a new respect level for mothers. After taking care of Deanna for the past 5 days I don't know how moms do it especially those who work! Dennis had been working at night so it's like I am a single mom, I can't get anything done!! I now know what its like to not be able to do the following:
1. Sit through YW (luckily I wasn't teaching)
2. Have 5 minutes of piece and quit
3. Keep my sanity after hearing WHY? 500 times in 5 minutes
4. Sleep in!
5. Take a shower by myself
6. Get ready by myself
7. Get to church on time
8. Watch TV
9. Pay bills
10. Do the dishes
12. Walk the dog
13. Raise a child and hold a full time job ( no stinking way)
14. Go to Bunco or any other event I want to because I now need a sitter)
The list will just go on and on and on..........

What I know I will be able to do:
1. Go to bed at the same time as a 4 year old (actually not that bad)
2. Dress a child and myself and make it to church during the opening hymn
3. Clean up puke
4. Play Tigger and color until the markers run dry
5. Make dinner and eat by 9pm
6. Make a kid laugh, even if it wasn't that funny
7. Put a child in time out several times in a day
8. Not get in the shower until 12pm and feel o.k about it (maybe that not a good thing)

It really has been great taking care of Deanna. It has really opened my eyes as to what mother hood will be like and I am not sure I am ready to be there yet, with a 4 year old anyway. She is so cute at times yet a pain in the behind at other times.

Now bring on her sister Sariah and I can do that, hands down

New Toy!

Dennis' phone went kaput this past week so we went into Nextel to see what we could do since we had insurance on the phone. It was either get a refurbished phone (which would be the 6th one) or switch to sprint and get a brand new phone, which we had been talking about for a few weeks. We decided to switch to sprint and get news phones, after all we couldn't pass up the deal of getting 2 phones worth $700 total for a whopping $200! Here is a pic of my new toy that I absolutley LOVE

Sariah Lynn Larson has arrived!

Niece #2 was born on Friday, February 29th- a leap year baby. So while Shanna is recovering, I am playing mom to my 4 year old niece Deanna. The next few weeks should be interesting!

Just when things were getting alittle better......

I have to had it to the advasary, he is doing a fine job and bringin me down and making me absolutley miserable. As many have known, Dennis and I found out last September that we aren't able to have children of our own but we are still holding on to that glimmer of hope, that miracle some wish for. Life has been extremely difficult since that day, 2 weeks before out 2nd annivesary- I would say much harder since Dennis and I have grown up together, been high school sweeties and best friends since the day we laid eyes on each other. My biggest frustration is that fact that everyone under the sun (including my little sis that I found out about today) is expecting! I can't escape it, I really can't. Just when I start to get over it someone informs me of their good news. The hardest part for me is that I am such a caring person and have the best friends in the world, yet I can't be happy for them and it's killing me. I have NO ONE to talk to about this whole ordeal because they are all pregnant and I don't want them to feel sorry for me, I just need someone who understands where I am coming from. So I have just been keeping it all inside because I don't want anyone to feel bad for me but at the same time one can only keep it in for so long. So today my sister calls in the middle of a break at a meeting at work and informs me that her husband of not evern a year and she are preggos. First, they are living in my uncles office, don't have insurance and fight quite often. I ask Why do they deserve a child and not me? Why me? I have always been a good girl, played by the rules, held the idea of family sacred to my heart even though I grew up in a broken family (if you can even call it that?) and this is what I get. Why does God allow the people who don't deserve a child to have one yet those who are ready and willing and have that capacity to love don't get that opportunity. You constantly here about parents killing their children yet I would give my life to have a child of my own.
It'e even harder because I feel like someone is missing. I feel like their is a spirit up there waiting for us and maybe their is and he/she will be sent to us one day but it hurts because their is a closeness that a husband and wife have when they share and child together and Dennis and I will never be able to experience that kind of connection and it breaks my heart.

So, if you are reading this please don't feel sorry for me but keep me in your prayers because having my family values and knowing what I know about families and the spiritual aspect , it is really pulling at my testimony of the gospel right now.

Book of Mormon Challenge

President Hinckley often stressed our making the Book of Mormon part of our lives. He was 97 when he passed away, and we would like to celebrate his life and teachings by reading the Book of Mormon in 97 days.


President Gordon B. Hinckley on the Book of Mormon
"I take in my hand the Book of Mormon. I read its words. I have read Joseph Smith's explanation of how it came to be. To the unbelieving it is a story difficult to accept, and critics for generations have worn out their lives writing books intended to refute that story and to offer other explanations than the one given by Joseph the Prophet. But to the open-minded, this critical writing has only stimulated them to dig deeper; and the more deeply they dig, the greater the accumulation of evidence for the validity of Joseph Smith's story. Still, as has been demonstrated for a hundred and fifty years, the truth of the Book of Mormon will not be determined by literary analysis or by scientific research, although these continue to be reassuring. The truth about the origins of the Book of Mormon will be determined today and tomorrow, as it has been throughout the yesterdays, by reading the book in a spirit of reverence and respect and prayer."



I have joined the 28,000 others in the challenge of reading the Book of Mormon is 97 days in memory of President Hinckley. Here's a link to the site if you are interested in joining in.



http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/

Oops, I forgot some resolutions

After reading my friend Sarah's blog, I realized that I forgot to put some stuff on my list (inspired by Sarah of course)


Health is going to be the major focus of 2008 for the Larson family. We would like to exercise more than we do and lose a couple extra pounds gained from these wonderful years of marriage.
I too need to eat more fruits and veggies daily (sometimes I go days without consuming either!)

Financially- all I can say is that we would like some more financial freedom this year. We hope to go on a vacation and finally take our "honeymoon" this year.

Be happier- to define this more so you don't think I am not happy. I don't want to let stuff get to me like I used to in the past. So what if my students are little rug rats one day or my boss doesn't know what the heck she is doing or my parents act like children... its worth getting so stressed out about. Let the good times roll I guess.