life as a larson: March Madness Weekend

MARCH MADNESS WEEKEND 2010

THE OPENING WEEKEND OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT IN OUR HOME IS CONSIDERED (ONE OF) THE MOST WONDERFUL TIMES OF THE YEAR. WITH BRACKETS FILLED OUT, WE HEAD TO MILWAUKEE FOR A WEEKEND FULL OF HOOPS, GREAT FOOD, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE TRADITION STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH JEFF AND A FEW BUDDIES AND HAS SINCE GONE ON TO INCLUDE GIRLFRIENDS, WHO BECAME FIANCES AND THEN WIVES. LAST YEAR CHILDREN WERE ADDED TO THE MIX AND THIS YEAR THE CHILDREN ALMOST OUT NUMBERED THE PARENTS! OH, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN JUST TWO YEARS. WHILE WE MAY NO LONGER BE ABLE TO GIVE THE TOURNAMENT OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION, THE WEEKEND HAS TAKEN ON NEW MEANING AS WE CELEBRATE NOT ONLY COLLEGE BASKETBALL, BUT THE TENDER BLESSINGS OF OUR CHILDREN AND CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS!

SWEET ELLIE AND JOEY SET EYES ON EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME!

MY MAN, ROBBIE LIVINGSTON (CHAR'S FUTURE MAN.)

LITTLE JOE TAKES IN THE ACTION.

AUNTIE DAWNIE AND JOEY

JEFF AND HIS GODSON, RYAN, ENJOY THE GAMES.

LITTLE LUKE ASKS TO JOIN THE BIG KIDS FOR BATH TIME.

"COME ON IN, LUKE! THE MORE THE MERRIER!"

THINGS START TO GET NUTS IN THE BATH!

"OH ROBBIE, YOU CRACK ME UP!"

BEST BUDS.

WE HOPE THEY DO NOT MIND THESE PICTURES WHEN THEY'RE 18.

"UM, MOMMY, COULD YOU PLEASE LEAVE US BE FOR A MOMENT."

"THIS WAS THE BEST DAY!"

"ROBBIE!"

GETTING READY FOR THE BIG BUCKY BIRTHDAY BASH.

RIGHT AFTER JOEY WAS BORN, JEFF TOOK CHARLOTTE TO BARNES AND NOBLE FOR A BOOK SIGNING WITH BUCKY BADGER. THAT DAY HONESTLY CHANGED CHARLOTTE'S LIFE. EVER SINCE CHAR CANNOT STOP TALKING ABOUT BUCKY. SHE MENTIONS HIM TO STRANGERS IN GROCERY STORES, SHE TALKS ABOUT HIM FIRST THING EACH MORNING, AND REQUESTS HER BUCKY DOLL IN BED EACH NIGHT. LAST WEEK, WE EVEN PURCHASED A LITTLE BUCKY STICKER FOR OUR CAR WINDOW. SHE TALKS TO IT WHILE I DRIVE! WITH HER INTENSE AFFECTION FOR BUCKY IT SEEMED LIKE THE OBVIOUS CHOICE IN THEME FOR HER BIRTHDAY.

MORNING OF THE BIG DAY

CHAR KEEPS HERSELF HYDRATED.

EVEN THOUGH SHE WOKE UP WITH A LITTLE COLD, SHE PUT ON HER GAME FACE.

PROUD PAPA. WISCONSIN PRIDE.

BADGER FANS!

COUSIN KENDALL, GETS INTO THE FESTIVITIES!

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL EAGERLY AWAITS HER GUESTS.

OUR SWEET BIRTHDAY GIRL.

DANCING AROUND IN HER TUTU (A TAD OVER THE TOP, BUT I KNEW SHE WOULD JUST LOOK PRECIOUS IN IT); HOWEVER, SHE WAS NOT AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE OUTFIT. EACH TIME WE ASKED HER TO PUT IT ON, WE WERE MET WITH A DECIDED "NO!"

IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES OF MOMMY, MIMI AND AUNTIE CAJOLING HER TO PUT IT ON. THE RESULT WAS ONE CUTE BIRTHDAY GIRL!