Our Christmas Card Pictures

We were finally able to get our Christmas card pictures taken this past weekend. They have been ordered, printed and shipped. Hopefully, they will come in the mail tomorrow so that I can get them sent out before Christmas. I had big plans for our Christmas card this year. We normally take our picture in our back yard by the big oak tree, but circumstances prevented it this year. I originally planned to take the pictures over Thanksgiving weekend so my sister-in-law Liz could snap them for us. This didn't happen because the kids were sick...for two weeks straight! We have also had a lot of rainy weather, which doesn't work well with outdoor photos. So, our friends, Jon and Amy offered to let us come over and use their studio to get a family photo! Thank you so much Jon and Amy!

The Larson's 2009

Erin---she didn't smile in a single shot. I promise she's a happy child. She didn't smile in last year's Christmas card picture either!
Grant 2009

Erin 2009 (somewhat smiling)

This was the morning before she got a haircut...

Erin's First Haircut

It's raining here today and the kids and I are over at Stephen's parents' house in order for him to get some school work completed. We have to pretty leave the house, or Stephen does not get any peace and quiet. Erin's hair was getting long, but very straggly (is that a word?). So, on a whim, I decided it was time for her first haircut. There was no ceremony or planning involved as there was with Grant's first haircut. Rather, I grabbed some scissors and a comb and went to work. I almost forgot to take some pictures!!!! Luckily, Phyllis was there to snap some for me!

We didn't have the traditional lollipop, but a candy cane will suffice!

Salmonella and Our Trip to Atlanta

The last few weeks have been a little crazy around here. Erin contracted Salmonella poisoning from Stephen's parents, who, along with like half their church, got it from their Thanksgiving pot luck. I had no idea that this was contagious. I thought you could only contract this by eating tainted foods, but now I know better.

Erin became sick the Monday evening before Thanksgiving. At first, I thought it was a stomach virus and braced myself for a full on infection for the whole house, but we weren't getting sick. I was then convinced that this was bacterial. Wednesday, she wasn't doing any better so I took her to the peds office only for them to say it was viral..(really? This seems to be their answer to everything. Erin had been sick more than she has been well since August. I have made multiple trips to their office and they always tell me it's viral. She will run a fever of 102-103 for 5-6 days - during which she never sleeps and is quite irritable. Then she will be better for a week or so. I am contemplating changing practices. What child gets a new virus every other week. She's not even in daycare?) Thursday came, Thanksgiving Day, and we had the entire family over for Thanksgiving. She seemed to be improving, but Friday morning we decided to take her to the children's hospital here in Jax. Her fever had been 103+ for 4 days and now she had bloody stools. She was so sick.

While we were there they gave her fluids and did a culture...which we would have to wait on the results until the following Monday. They sent her home, but she really didn't improve.

Monday came. It had finally been a week since she had become sick and she was doing a little better, but guess who got it now....Grant! The hospital called and let us know that she had Salmonella!!! They told us to call her pediatrician office at once! So, we did and scheduled an appointment for Grant, who by now was just as sick. The next day when I took him in the doctor basically told me that he probably had it too (no really?) and that we should just let it run it's course. They only give antibiotics for severe cases....I want to know what constitutes a severe case. We went through a box of 150 diapers in 10 days...I think that's severe enough. I have never seen my children so sick. Erin would scream and double over with pain every time she had a dirty diaper. Anyway, it has taken about 2 and a half weeks, but I finally think we are on our way to getting better.

The CDC even called to check on Erin. I guess the hospital reported her case to them. We wouldn't have known that my in-laws and everyone else at their church had salmonella if it wasn't for Erin's trip to the ER. They all suspected food poisoning, but nobody else had a culture run.


After all that sickness and lack of sleep, I left for a much needed girls weekend away. My mom, Aunt Vicki, Melissa, Liz and Anna all met in Atlanta last weekend for a fun-filled trip. My wonderful husband stayed home and took care of the kids who were still getting over the nasty salmonella poisoning. I owe him big time!

It was Anna's eighth birthday so we took her to the American Girl store for her birthday!

Anna brought her doll, Ruthie, along for the trip. Ruthie enjoyed some pampering. (I think we need some pampering on our next trip.)

Ruthie's new do!

We had a delicious dinner right there at the American Girl Bistro to celebrate Anna's special day! It was a lot of fun and Ruthie ended up with some new outfits! What little girl wouldn't like the American Girl store?

The next day we went to the Georgia Aquarium. It was awesome! I would love to take the kids back to visit it. The shear size of the aquarium was breathe taking.

This picture does not do this Whale shark justice.
He was HUGE!

Ruthie and Anna

We also enjoyed some shopping and went to see a movie while on the trip. It was so nice to get away, sleep through the night, and spend some quality time with those I love!

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a great Thanksgiving with the entire family this year! There were 26 of us gathered at our house on Thursday for a delicious meal. It was so nice to have four generations on both sides of our family gathered together. I did not get a group picture (and shame on me!) It was so nice to see everyone. Melissa and Chris even made the trip from Texas to join us! It was a busy week and Erin was sick the entire week....so please excuse the lack of pictures.

Dad striking a pose with his Turkey before he carved it.

Anna, she is growing up so fast!

Boys being boys

I love this picture!

The girls

Erin in her Turkey shirt

More posts to follow!

Little Boy Blue Come Blow Your Horn....

Grant has always seemed to have a love for all things musical. He is constantly singing and humming while playing with his toys. He also makes up songs daily (usually to the tune of Jingle Bells : ) Lately, I have been trying to widen his exposure to different kinds of music. Stephen and I are (or were) musicians and I hope to pass along our love and appreciation for music along to our children.

The other night I was playing the piano for Grant and Erin and I decided to lift the lid to our baby grand so that Grant could watch the hammer hit the strings as i played. I have fond memories of my mother playing the piano for us when I was little. I would dance around the living room, sit next to her, or sometimes simply lie under the piano and listen to the soothing sounds while she played. While, I am not near the accomplished pianist that she is, I can play a little. As I was playing, Grant said with delight, "Mommy, the piano's dancing!!!"

Yesterday, I was playing a variety of music for the kids and I was pointing out each instrument to Grant. That's when I told him that his daddy played the trumpet. He asked to see it. So when Stephen got home, he brought his trumpet out and played a little for Grant. Then, we let Grant have a turn. He couldn't have been more pleased!

I think we have a future brass player in the house!!! Now the question is: will Erin play the clarinet?

Trunk or Treat 2009

Wednesday night we had Trunk-or-treat at our church. I love it because it's fun and a very safe way to let our kids trick-or-treat. It's also great to get together with all of our friends and their children for Halloween. There were some mighty cute costumes this year!

Grant and Erin getting candy from their first stop Mimi and Papa's car

Erin checking out her loot

Grant, as Woody, and Kate, as Little Bo Peep! Oh how I tried to get a picture of the two of them all night, but this is the best I could get.
(In the movie, Toy Story, Woody's girlfriend is Little Bo Peep)

Erin picking out her candy from Jon and Amy's car

Grant took off on his own this year

Check out this cute little chicken. Erin couldn't keep her eyes off of Baby Brody the chicken.

We are going to dress up tonight and go over to see Old Papa, Granny Peggy and Aunt Vicki for some more trick or treating fun!!

Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres 2009

Saturday evening we took our annual trip to Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres. We had such a good time, as always, and enjoyed some fellowship with bunches of friends. My mom and dad came with us this you too! We did take a group picture, but it's on Jon and Amy's camera. Maybe they will post it on their blog soon. (hint, hint : )

Our little pumpkin
Erin in the corn maize

This is how Grant entertained himself the majority of the time. As soon as he saw the big pile of dirt it was all over. I didn't even get a picture of him by a pumpkin!

This is as close as he got to the pumpkin patch

Erin was all smiles

Grant checking out how to pump water

He was really trying to get the water flowing!

Mommy and daughter... no family picture this year! I should have taken one of us in the pile of dirt! Ha!

Grant navigating the "mountain"

The famous cow train!

Grant with our friends' baby. He LOVES babies right now. Sorry it's a little blurry. We were on the hayride.

Sweet girl

Again....dirt!

We had a great time and can't wait until next year!

Dress Up

Right now I am holding a sleeping baby, but she didn't go down with out a fight! I finally gave up trying to put Erin to sleep this afternoon. I finished sewing up some pants I made for her and realized she was being very quiet. This is what I found:


She had gotten into the clothes that I am trying to store away because she has outgrown them! She had 6 shirts on! She was very proud of herself and I had to get a picture!She fell asleep shortly after this without any hesitation!

Our Trip to "The Cousins"

The cousins...that's what Grant collectively calls any and all of his cousins. This time he is referring to James, Anna and Luke. We took a quick trip to Montgomery last weekend to visit Brian and Liz. While I was there, Liz and I shopped at one of the local consignment sales. We had a great time visiting and I came home with a good start to the kids' fall/winter clothing. (You have got to love consignment!)

Saturday morning we went to James' and Anna's soccer games. (Luke was unable to play last week due to a large cut he had on his chin. : ( ) James takes after his daddy and is such a natural athlete! His team won, and he scored one of the two goals for his team! Brian is one of the coaches for his team.

I didn't get any good pictures of Anna's team playing. It was their first game and the coach showed up 45 minutes late and told the parents that she wasn't going to be the coach. Luckily, some of the dad's decided that they would step and coach this year.

Erin watching the game.

Stephen and Grant

After the soccer games, we spent the rest of the day watching football and grilling out. We had some delicious food and our teams won!!!

I love this picture! James, Anna and Luke are such good cousins!

This is my attempt to get Grant in the family picture. He wouldn't stop playing with the Razor scooter!