A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Reunited {and it feels so good}



Tomorrow, my little lady, you begin school.

Your first year of many.

I am struck by how quickly time has passed.

Remembering your tiny frame cradled in your favorite swing.

Basking in the sunlight.

Eyes shut tight,

Lips full and parted.

My little peanut.

I knew this day would come.

I knew also how ready you would be to embark upon this new season of life.

Backpack hung on closet door, filled with treasures.

Ready to walk the large and lengthy halls of school.

Crisp, new clothes laid out.

As we count down to the day, you remind me how you will

brave this new adventure alone.

Your independence makes me stand back in awe.

I wonder if this is how your Nany felt so many years ago.

My confident learner.

My brave girl.

My little thinker.

My little lady,

and peanut.



A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Comforts



Non-photographed highlights {vacation part IV}

- Upon arriving, we enjoyed a lovely brunch prepared by my mother, replenishing our tanks after a busy morning of travel.
- Dawn and Bob treated us to dinner at Harbor House on Lake Michigan, a night filled with delicious food, meaningful conversation, beautiful views, and laughter.
- I enjoyed a spontaneous trip to Target with my mom and aunts. Trips to Target are enhanced when shopping with those you love. Target continues to be one of the great loves of my life (kidding...slightly.)
- Jeff had two successful interviews with Froedtert Health for a promising position in the community.
- My dear brother, Adam, babysat our children so that I could enjoy a girl's night out with my girl, Becki, while our husbands rocked out to Pearl Jam's greatest hits.  We talked and laughed the night away over a pitcher of La Fuente's finest margaritas and food.
- We were able to enjoy a quiet brunch with Matt and Becki on Labor Day, where I was privileged to eat one of the most satisfying breakfast sandwiches I have eaten in a long time. Three words - beer cheese sauce.
- Jeff and I were able to enjoy sleeping in Monday and Tuesday morning as my folks kept our sweet ones over night, a treat for any parent on vacation.
- We were able to spend quality time with my Aunt Diane, cousin Dina, Aunt Kathy and mother Tuesday morning before we left Milwaukee.  We savored the extra time with family, each hug, smile, and kiss before we parted ways.
- The kids were introduced to the wonderful world of trampolines, and bounced their little hearts out.  The little lady is confident she will be getting a trampoline when "she is an adult." 

Burgers and more {vacation part tres}

WE RETURNED FROM THE NORTH WOODS SUNDAY AFTERNOON (SLIGHTLY EXHAUSTED). 

AGAIN, NO REST FOR THE WEARY.  JEFF SOON SET OFF FOR ALPINE VALLEY WITH TWO BUDDIES, AND THE CHILDREN AND I MADE OUR WAY TO MY AUNT DIANE'S FOR A LARGE FAMILY GATHERING. IT WAS AN AFTERNOON FILLED WITH REUNIONS, LAUGHTER, LAWN GAMES, EATING, CHASING AFTER LITTLE ONES, AND MORE EATING.

THE "BURGERS" sadly minus 1 very important Larson

THE LITTLE MAN THRILLED TO BE IN THE ARMS OF SUCH A BEAUTY, HIS COUSIN ALYSSA.

SECOND COUSINS UNITE.

THE LITTLE MAN AND JABEZ

A RARE PICTURE FOR WE ARE SELDOM TOGETHER,

MY BRO ADAM, SISTER DAWN AND BROTHER RICH.

(THIS ONE'S A KEEPER.)

A LITTLE EXHAUSTION SETS IN.

"BEING A PART OF A BIG FAMILY IS A LOT OF WORK."

LABOR DAY WAS A TAD MORE RELAXED, AS WE SETTLED OURSELVES IN PAPA AND NANY'S BACKYARD FOR SOME QUALITY  (AND LONG OVERDUE) TIME AS A FAMILY.

QUALITY TIME THAT INCLUDED THE REMOVAL OF NESTS FROM TREES, 

(CAPTIVATING)

CATCHING UP ON LIFE THROUGH MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS,

AND, ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL FALL-LIKE WEATHER AS WE PLAYED FOOTBALL, BOCCE BALL, AND BAGGO IN PAPA'S BEAUTIFULLY GROOMED BACKYARD.

IT WAS THE PERFECT SETTING FOR SPENDING TIME WITH LOVED ONES. THERE ARE FEW THINGS SWEETER THAN BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF FAMILY.  THE LITTLE LADY SAVORED EVERY MINUTE OF BEING WITH HER COUSINS, AND THE LITTLE MAN WAS DELIGHTED TO HAVE SO MANY ARMS TO RUN TO.  JEFF AND I DELIGHTED IN ONCE AGAIN REUNITING OUR SWEET ONES WITH THEIR LOVING AND DOTING GRANDPARENTS.  IT FELT GOOD TO BE HOME, IN A STATE WE LOVE, SURROUNDED BY THOSE WE LOVE.



Labor Day 2011 {vacation part deux}

WE LANDED IN MILWAUKEE WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON WE PACKED OUR SWEET ONES IN MIMI'S MDX AND HEADED FOR LAKE ENTERPRISE. SPENDING LABOR DAY TOGETHER AT THE LAKE  HAS BECOME A LARSON FAMILY TRADITION.  THANKFULLY, PEARL JAM SCHEDULED TWO CONCERTS AT ALPINE VALLEY OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND TO ENTICE MY HUSBAND BACK TO THE STATE. APPARENTLY, BAND TIES RUN JUST AS DEEP AS BLOOD.

AFTER A LONG AND RESTLESS DRIVE, WE ARRIVED AT CAMP DAVID. WITHIN MINUTES "SUMMER SUITS" WERE FOUND AND LIFE JACKETS WERE CLIPPED. 

NO REST FOR THE WEARY WITH THESE LITTLE ONES...

SUNSET COCKTAIL CRUISE - A FAVORITE ACTIVITY

SHIRTLESS IN ELCHO

THE LITTLE LADY FOUND THE NORTH WOODS TO BE QUITE FREEING.

SHIRTLESS...

NOTHING NEW HERE.

VACATION SUITS HIM.

WE WERE THRILLED TO LAY EYES ON AUNTIE DAWNIE AND UNCLE BOBBY AS WE HAD NOT SEEN THEM SINCE MID-JUNE.

THE LAKE BRINGS OUT THE LITTLE MAN'S QUIET SIDE.

FRIDAY TURNED OUT TO BE OUR BEST DAY OF WEATHER, SO WE FILLED OUR AFTERNOON WITH WATER FUN.

DISCOVERING A NEW SPOT TO PERCH ON BOB'S BOAT.

VACATION SUITS US AS WELL.

THE LITTLE ONES KEPT THEIR UNCLE BOBBY BUSY. I THINK THEY KNOW HE WILL OFFER THEM HIS UNDIVIDED ATTENTION; BLESS HIS NORTH WOODS HEART.

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES AT THE LAKE - EATING.

THIS LABOR DAY THE "KIDS" PLANNED THE DEEP-FRIED TURKEY FEAST, WHICH INCLUDED BAREFOOT CONTESSA CREAMY CHEDDAR GRITS recipe, PIONEER WOMAN BAKED BEANS recipe, FOOD NETWORK BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS BUNDLES recipe, AND PIONEER WOMAN YOGURT CREAM AND BERRIES recipe.  DAWN AND I HAD A FIELD DAY PLANNING THE MENU.  IT WAS DIVINE IF I DON'T SAY SO MYSELF! JEFF APPLAUDED US FOR INCORPORATING BACON INTO TWO DISHES.  INITIALLY, WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THIS; HOWEVER, IT PROVED TO BE JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF BACON FOR THE HEARTY MEAL.

OUR WEEKEND WAS FILLED WITH (MUCH NEEDED) R & R,

A LITTLE WORK,

LOTS OF PLAY,

AND, PRECIOUS TIME AS A FAMILY.

CAMP DAVID HAS BECOME A HAVEN FOR OUR FAMILY, AND WE ALREADY ANTICIPATE RETURNING NEXT SUMMER.

*DOC AND MINI WERE PRESENT AND VERY MUCH A PART OF THE WEEKEND'S ACTIVITIES CONTRARY TO PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.



Inaugural family flight {vacation part one}

IT'S OFFICIAL.  WE HAVE EARNED OUR WINGS. 

LAST WEDNESDAY WE ABANDONED OUR VEHICLE OF CHOICE, THE ODYSSEY, AND BOARDED A PLANE.  FOUR TICKETS.  FOUR SEATS.  BOUND FOR MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

NOT WANTING TO MAKE A ROOKIE MISTAKE, I CONSULTED THE BEST, PACKED STRATEGICALLY, FILLED MY CARRY-ON WITH TREASURES,  SAID A PRAYER, POPPED TWO ZOFRAN (my head and stomach do not tolerate traveling as graciously as I would like) AND HOPED FOR THE BEST.

FOR OUR SWEET ONES, THE AIRPORT TURNED OUT TO BE THE EQUIVALENT OF DISNEY WORLD.  AFTER PASSING SEAMLESSLY THROUGH SECURITY (thank you, Jesus!), WE PARKED OURSELVES IN FRONT OF A WINDOW AND WATCHED PLANE AFTER PLANE TAKE OFF AND LAND.  SQUEALS OF DELIGHT FILLED OUR CORNER OF THE AIRPORT, AS WE MUNCHED ON A GREASY BREAKFAST, MADE LAST MINUTE TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM, AND READIED OURSELVES FOR OUR MAIDEN FAMILY VOYAGE.

THE SLIM LEATHER SEATS, SUDDENLY APPEARED GIGANTIC AS THEY SWALLOWED OUR CHILDREN, THEIR BLANKIES AND AIRPLANE TREASURES.

WE HAD PLANNED TO BUCKLE THE LITTLE MAN SNUG IN HIS CAR SEAT; HOWEVER, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT HAD OTHER PLANS.  OVERALL, HE TOLERATED THE SEAT BELT, SETTLING FOR LIMITED VIEWS OF THE BLUE SKY AND THE ENTERTAINMENT HIS MOTHER PROVIDED.

THE LITTLE LADY WAS A DREAM CONSIDERING SHE WAS SEATED DIRECTLY BEHIND HER FATHER, AND AN AISLE SEPARATED US.  ONCE HER SEAT BACK TRAY WAS PERFECTLY ORGANIZED, SHE SANG HER WAY TO MILWAUKEE.

"I'M IN THE LORD'S ARMY....YES, SIR!"

APPARENTLY, THIS IS (NOW) HOW WE ROLL.


HATS OFF TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO BRAVE THE BLUE SKIES ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WHILE OUR TRAVELS WERE SMOOTH AND THE SKIES PLEASANT,  I PREFER THE COMFORT OF MY VAN'S CAPTAIN CHAIR AND THE OPEN ROAD.