Camp David 2015

Our annual trip north this year required the purchase of a trailer attachment for the Yukon.  As I lined the hallway surveying the little duffle bags, I imagined what it will be like to pack up our crew years from now, when feet are no longer little and clothing compact. 

 

For three days we enjoyed the fellowship of extended family, adventures on the water as our little ones tested out new skills and made bold choices, warm temperatures and orange sunsets, comfort food at its finest, and the inevitable chaos that comes with lodging a family of six, modifying schedules and embracing unpredictability. 

 

 While Everett's nights were less than ideal, we enjoyed introducing him to the pontoon boat and his first boat rides. 

 

 

June spent her days exhibiting her wide range of emotions which are equally captivating and exhausting to witness.  She enjoyed testing new boundaries, exploring, snacking, and walking on and off the pontoon boat demonstrating that while she may be petite, she is very capable. 

We all agreed that Joey and Charlotte are the perfect ages to explore and appreciate all the north woods have to offer.  No longer requiring constant supervision, we enjoyed watching them spend hours in the lake, splashing about.  They appreciated fishing lessons with Doc off the pier, boat rides with Uncle Bob, and their first tube rides.  In particular, I have loved watching their relationship grow this summer as they have spent the majority of the summer by each other's sides, exploring, being creative, sharing ideas and becoming best friends. 

 

Moments like these are meant to be treasured.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to slip away into the beauty of God's creation spending time with loved ones, making memories.  

 

 





Milestones - Watch Me Grow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



"E" comes home

Everett David

 

Everett David Larson arrived February 7, 2015 at 1:30 in the morning.  I should note that my due date was the 8th, and I had a scheduled induction for the 12th.  I could not have been more thrilled with the way our sweet boy arrived as I had never experienced laboring at home or having my water break naturally. 

 

The afternoon of the 7th I began to feel as though I might possibly be in the early stages of labor; however, I was 1) hesitant to believe my contractions would pick up and 2) anxious as to whether or not I would know when was the right time to go to the hospital.  All of that became clear when at 10:30 pm my water broke while I was resting on our couch.  It was just the thing I had been praying for...confirmation and certainty that this was going to be the big night! 

 

We literally sprang into action, calling our good friend from church to take the night shift with our older three, and proceeded to make our way (for the last time) to Meriter Hospital.  I cannot tell you how comforting it is to have a husband in medicine during moments like these.  After parking in his reserved stall, he wheeled me right up to triage, navigating all the right halls and pressing all the right elevator buttons cool as a cucumber.  We spent some time in triage before moving to labor and delivery for the main event.  I have never been one to labor quickly, but I'll just say that we arrived in our room just before midnight and our sweet boy made his way into the world at 1:30.  I've been told that describing my last labor as "fun" is an inappropriate way to describe what happened.  But in all honesty and the INTENSITY of labor ASIDE, it was such a wonderful experience to have labored at home, experience my water breaking, and transition so quickly in labor.  To quote my hubby, "That was fast...and awesome."  I never expected to meet our son before my induction date, nor labor so fast, and for that I'm grateful.  I will always treasure the special ways the Lord answered prayers that night and for the unique story our little caboose has.   

 

7 pounds 13 ounces, 21 inches long

"famous" crop of Larson locks atop his perfect head

 

And, suddenly we were a family of six.  Three blue-eyed babes and one brown-eyed girl.  Tiny noses all the same, full cheeks, and bright eyes.

 

I was smitten.

 

 

For what seemed like days, when in fact it was probably closer to thirty hours, our precious babe did not have a name.  We arrived at the hospital with a short list and got hung up on two names for hours...and hours.  "Can we please name him?" I begged, ready to address him properly and forego "Buddy," as fitting a name as that was for our sweet boy.  We created T-charts discussing the pros and cons of each name choice, asked nurses for their input, and finally invited other family members into the discussion (looking back this was our mistake).  Until at last we knew...

He was Everett {hearty; brave} David {beloved; honoring Jeff's father}

 

Jeff and I enjoyed each and every minute of our hospital stay, soaking in the many private and quiet moments with our new son.  We streamed hours of "The Americans" stopping only long enough for Jeff to pick up take-out from some of our favorite spots around town, to be monitored by the wonderful team of nurses responsible for Everett's and my care, and for a few precious introductory visits by loved ones. 

 

I hold each and every memory of Everett's delivery close to my heart recognizing the gift that he is and the blessing of his safe and healthy arrival.  I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for our brave and beloved boy.



He's five.

For the little man's fifth birthday, I threw what might as well have been the equivalent of a rave.  He invited the usual suspects from church, and requested pizza, glow sticks, silly string, and a disco ball.  Done.  Jeff was unfortunately absent from the scene taking his oral board exams, so a dear friend came to help chaperone the magical event. 

 

After the boys covered our backyard and one another with silly string, they threw back Pizza Hut pan pizza and dirt cake, then spent the rest of the evening in our basement exhibiting wicked ninja moves whilst waving glow sticks to the beat of thumping techno music in the dark.  As they disco ball illuminated happy faces, I couldn't have been more thrilled to celebrate our rapidly growing boy in all his boyish glory.

 

We celebrated as a family the following weekend with Daddy home.  With a Star Wars themed cake we sang and celebrated our sweet Joey boy.

 

{Five} has been a good year for our little man.  He has grown in height, maturity, confidence and hilarity.  He always catches me off guard with surprisingly insightful comments as he observes his surroundings.  I'm grateful for each day that I am able to look into his big blue eyes, and be the recipient of his wide smiles and bear hugs. 

Nine years.

 

 

The sun is streaming through our windows.  Our house has been stirring for the past hour.  The kids are a buzz asking a flurry of questions, bright-eyed, unaware of what this day symbolizes for their father, and our family.  They know, they've been told, but they will need to be reminded.  Their innocence a blessing, lightening the heaviness that is in our hearts.

 

 

Nine years have passed. 

 

Yesterday, Jeff said something that has stuck with me through the night.  "There are times when it feels as though it happened just yesterday, but then I think about the fact that nine years have passed.  I am not the man that I was nine years ago.  I've had a zillion kids.  That is the painful part."  Yes, that is where our pain exists, in the reality that we are unable to share the beautiful moments we are experiencing in his absence.  While rocking our newest addition, his second nephew, the tears came.  Everett will never know the pleasure of hearing Uncle Brad's laughter, or witnessing the playful, witty banter that so effortlessly existed between his father and Uncle. 

 

I look at the above picture and agree, my husband is not the man he was nine years ago.  I ache for moments reflected in this picture, for the simple joy of watching them laugh together but know his influence is still upon my husband, and always will be. 

 

Brad would be so proud of the man he has become. 

 

Today we will gather as a family.  There will be burgers on the grill, there will be stories shared, there will be the noises of his nieces and nephews, there will be tears and there will be laughter.  We will remember, and we will continue to miss.  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Daddy, wake up.



She's two.

 

The littlest lady rang in her second year of life with an early morning trip to Bloom bakery for donuts followed by a play date on the train tracks of Middleton with pals.  As I recall the morning in its sweet and simple perfection, I believe it represents our third born's personality and preferences well.  She is equal parts sugar and spice, observer and risk taker, craving the comfort of mom's arms and the freedom to explore. 

 

 

I see in her the desire to confidently embrace all things that come her way independently. She can often be found "mending" her own wounds, pulling chairs up to the sink to wash...anything, battling pant legs in an effort to dress herself, strapping on shoes and subsequently throwing them across the floor because they are "too tight" or "not working," taking any toothbrush she can find to brush her own teeth, standing at the refrigerator holding cups up to the water dispenser willing her cup to be refilled, running after her siblings determined to participate in any and every activity they are doing. 

 

 

I see in her a gal who loves to celebrate.  She is enthusiastic, boisterous, comical, and charming.  She loves an engaging conversation and becomes quite animated at the dinner table, working hard to add to the discussion, hands flapping, eyes bright.  She comes alive when music is played, preferring a beat that is loud and thumping.  She is quick to request favorite songs, shouting out her preferences from the back of the van, testing the limits of her five-point harness when a particular beat catches her fancy.  Her movements are rhythmic from the way she prances around on tiptoe to the way her tiny body sways when Led Zeppelin is played.

 

I cannot say that her being two is without its challenges, so many of her strengths right now testing my limits as a mother, her determination, tenacity, and constant activity keeping me humble.  She is a daily reminder that in my weakness, He is strong, that His mercies are new every morning. 

 

I'm so grateful for this little firecracker, bright and beautiful. May I always appreciate her colorful display.

 

"Colorful"
by Rocco Deluca

You swim like you're on fire
Live like your last day
Drink like it's water
There's no tomorrow
And you think no one can hear you
Raise your hands to be called on
You know all the answers

You're the most colorful thing that I've seen
You're the most colorful thing that I've seen
You're the most colorful thing that I've seen

You dance like no one's watching
Sing 'till the song ends
Then you sing some more
And we can hardly believe it
Words that flow from your mouth
Drink like it's water

You're the most colorful thing that I've seen
You're the most beautiful thing that I've seen
You're the most colorful thing that I've seen

You are an enigma walking
Make no excuses for the way that you carry on
And we can hardly believe it
The words that flow from your mouth
Drink like it's water, girl

You're the most colorful thing that I've seen
You're the most beautiful thing that I've seen