Sunday, December 16, 2007

thanks Andrea for this fun quiz....

What kind of holiday treat are you??



Some people spend all winter complaining about the temperature, but not you. You're equally happy whether you're ice cold or steamy hot. You believe traditions are an important part of the holiday season, and you probably love rediscovering the decorations you made when you were little. All that old-timey awesomeness is heart-warming, but your personality also has a spicy sprinkle of nutmeg that keeps the holidays exciting and inspires you to start new traditions, year after year.

if you want to try out the test for yourself go to this site...

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Christmas TAG...




1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Hmmm. wrapping paper. I worked in customer service for Dillards and learned how to wrap like a "professional"... so, I love it.

2. Real tree or artificial? I wish I could say real. But, I think next year will be our first real tree... it's just too messy with little ones...

3. When do you put up the tree? ASAP. sometime after... Halloween. I know. I'm a freak... It really just depends on what I bribe Stephen with to bring the tree upstairs...

4. When do you take the tree down?the first week in Jan

5. Do you like eggnog? not so much. just a little at parties or something...


6. Favorite gift received as a child? A ski trip with my family..

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Pieces of one. I was going to put it out this year but we are missing dear Mary and baby Jesus.

8. Hardest person to buy for? totally Stephen. He doesn't really tell me what he wants... so I just end up getting him what I want him to have...

9. Easiest person to buy for? All of my kiddos. They are pretty much easily entertained.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? honestly. I can't think of a bad one.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? I LOVE getting mail. cute fun mail. And I love making cards... But, honestly I didn't get around to sending cards this year...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? hmmmm. My kids love Polar Express. But, it's on about every other night... so I am pretty burned out already.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Christmas sales!! really, I look all year for little things...

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? fudge. angel dust. chocolate covered... anything.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear. but, totally up for a change next year.

17. Favorite Christmas song? I love Christmas shoes. and I sing Silent Night to my kids all year. we love it.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I love to stay home. I love how cozy we feel at Christmas... but I also love to see family...

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? uh... Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo...

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? silver star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas eve we open one present... pj's! then we all wear them Christmas morning... (my way of controlling how they look for pics...)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? we focus way too much on gifts. It's crazy that we spent hundreds on presents & we don't spend much time focusing on the Savior... it's easy to get sucked into... but, still very frustrating...

24. Do you buy gifts for your pets? no pets here.

25. Have you ever been Christmas caroling? yeah, a few times.

26. Hot chocolate or hot apple cider? hello. is that really a question...Hot chocolate! a million times over.

*** I am going to tag ~~ Shawna, Amy, Kristie, Sharlie, Lindsey, Monica and Regen.... really, anyone and everyone....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

A Different Christmas Poem



The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
'What are you doing?' I asked without fear,
'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!'

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.'
'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'
Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and a ll,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'

'So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'
'But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.'
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Fun facts....

dev's fun facts:

A: Attached or single? attached to my hunky hubby
B: Best Friend? Stephen
C: Cake or Pie? cake
D: Day of choice? any day that Stephen has off...
E: Essential item? car with a dvd player
F: Favorite color? red
G: Gummi Bears or Worms? bears
H: Hometown: Federal Way, Washington
I: Favorite Indulgence? date night
J: January or July? July
K: Kids? four yummy ones.... so far.
L: Life is incomplete without? my family
M: Marriage Date? June 29th 2001
N: Number of Siblings: 2 brothers 1 sister
O: Oranges or Apples? apples
P: Phobias or fears? car accidents, losing a family member
Q: Quote: "Making the decision to have a child is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." --Elizabeth Stone
R: Reason to Smile? my funny kids
S: Season of choice? FALL!!
T: Tag three friends: any of you!
U: Unknown Fact:I have been stranded and rescued from a mountain
V: Favorite Vegetable? Green beans
W: Worst habit: writing thank you's
X: X-Ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound
Y: Your Favorite Food? sticky rice
Z: Zodiac Sign? Gemini

Where I was 10 years ago:
Living in Prove, Dating Stephen & working for JcPenney
Where I was 5 years ago: SAHM with a new baby
Where I was 1 year ago: uhhh... same. SAHM, waiting for my baby #4.
What I was doing yesterday: I was tending to my sick kids. rearranging furniture...
5 places I'd rather be: nowhere.... although, I wouldn't pass up a vacation with my hubby
5 treats/snacks I love/like: fudge cycles, almond joy, toast, chocolate milk and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
What I would do with 100 million dollars: SHOP! ;) buy a new house on a huge piece of land. take my whole family on a cruise. invest...
5 TV shows I like/watch: Dancing with the stars, Jon and Kate plus 8, Good things Utah, General Hospital and Scrubs


Stephens fun facts:

A: Attached or single? definitely attached
B: Best Friend? my Devenie
C: Cake or Pie? Pie
D: Day of choice? day with my family
E: Essential item? food
F: Favorite color? green
G: Gummi Bears or Worms? bears
H: Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
I: Favorite Indulgence? watches
J: January or July? January
K: Kids? four
L: Life is incomplete without? my family
M: Marriage Date? June 29th 2001
N: Number of Siblings: 5
O: Oranges or Apples? oranges
P: Phobias or fears? snakes and the dark
Q: Quote: 1 Nephi 4:13 "Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. "- Edmund Burke
R: Reason to Smile? my kids
S: Season of choice? spring
T: Tag three friends:
U: Unknown Fact:I'm very shy
V: Favorite Vegetable? corn
W: Worst habit: chew my nails
X: X-Ray or Ultrasound? of course Ultrasound
Y: Your Favorite Food? lasagna
Z: Zodiac Sign? sagitarius


Where I was 10 years ago: Dating Dev, working construction
Where I was 5 years ago: Married to Dev, had a little baby, working UTA security, graduated from Police Academy.
Where I was 1 year ago: counting down days to baby #4, working for Helper Police Dept.
What I was doing yesterday: Brad & I had an adventure with a trailer... and I was helping with sick kids.
5 places I’d rather be: there aren't 5 places I'd rather be...
5 treats/snacks I love/like: chocolate covered peanuts, gum, doughnuts ;) reeses peanut butter cups and kettle corn
What I would do with 100 million dollars: Build a bigger house for my wife. Assure my kids college funds. Set our retirement. Help those that have helped us....
5 TV shows I like/watch: Scrubs, Las Vegas, Cops, History channel

lovely L's...



It's really hard to pick just one thing for each letter.... I am really proud to be a LARSEN... i love loVE LOVE being in lOvE!!!.... but my favorite L is ***LABOR***
I know. I know. Most people think I am lying or crazy when I tell them how much I love to be in labor. I would have dozens of kiddos if I could. There is something just magical about giving birth. Don't get me wrong. I am not claiming no pain or all bliss or something crazy like that... I just love the experience. Kendyl was born on her actual due date... 9 hours of labor and an hour of pushing... Brad was 3 weeks early, 8 hours of labor and three pushes... Avery 2 weeks early, 8 hours of labor and came out with one push... Rylin 2 weeks early, a day of labor and one push...
Labor is such an interesting thing to me. I honestly get jealous when people go into labor. I love the sounds of the machines... the ice chips... the warm blankets... uncomfortable~numb bum~ beds... DRUGS... and I love my Doctor. You really never know what your outcome will be but it is a wonderful miracle from God that we get to experience this. Hmmm.... no more babies for a while, but just talking about it makes me hungry for it all again....

other loveley L's... Library, Last minute vacations, Larsen family reunions, Laughter and the Land that I love....

family pics from Thanksgiving...


Wednesday, November 21, 2007

one thing I am grateful for...


I am sitting here pondering about the several different things I am grateful for. And one thing that pops into my mind... of which I am VERY grateful for is our solders. I am in awe at these men and women that freely give of themselves to serve our country and to help others as well. I have two brothers-in-law that have served in Iraq. One is over there right now. It makes me so proud...

I have found a great GREAT site that I really want to pass along....

Xerox has created a program that is SIMPLE and wonderful. They are sending free cards to soldiers. All you have to do is go to the site--pick a card-- write your name--a message-- and they will send it off for you. So many of the soldiers don't hear from many people and it is easy to feel forgotten... this is a wonderful way to send our thanks. Especially around the holidays. Please pass this along to others...

~~~it's a great FHE activity... we had the WHOLE family do it on Thanksgiving... it was great!~~~

God bless our troops.

Let's Say Thanks.com

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

my FAVORITE k.....KENDYL DEV



Kendyl Devenie Boyer

I have the cutest 5yr old. I know. I know. I am her mom, naturally, she is the cutest to me... but, seriously, she's yummy. If I had to describe her in one word... it would be... clown. She is a funny little bug. Seriously, she doesn't go more than 5 minutes without doing something funny. She keeps me laughing all day.
I was volunteering in her class the other day and her teacher pulled me aside and started complimenting her. She was amazed at how fast she was picking stuff up. Yesterday, at home she said "mom, I taught myself to say the alphabet backwords..." then she proceeded to do it~ without any help and without missing a letter~ I freaked out. I asked her where she learned it and she said I saw a girl do it on TV and thought she would try it... it is so funny. I can't even do it...

It's so fun to watch her grow~~ but boy do I hate to see it all happen so fast. She is beautiful inside and out. And I am very proud to be her momma. Love you nugget!




Other Krazy K's I love~~ Kisses, KSL.com, my clean Kitchen, Kizoodle.com, skeleton keys and korker bows...

boys will be.... boys..



my sweet B was running around the house and crashed into the fireplace... put a gash in his head all the way to his cranium... I about had a heart attack. It was bleeding like crazy... Stephen was coming home from Provo-- he was about a half hour away. I couldn't do a whole lot besides sitting there with a towel to stop the bleeding. Thank goodness for my Kendyl to help get me stuff... turn off bath water... get my phone... ah, what a good helper.
None of the Doctors would do stitches so we had to take him to the ER. URgggg.
This kind of stuff really freaks me out. I can't stand when any of my bugs get hurt. It makes me sick. And I can't let go of them...
Brad did so good. He was freaking out when it first happened. But we started to talk about pirates, his dad, disneyland and his uncles. Then he was really in a happy place. He couldn't stop talking. Apparently, he has been to disneyland already with his uncles. They went there to pick up his dad and see baby Jesus. Then they stopped to see Jack Sparrow and help him because bad guys burned down the pirate castle... there were a few snowmen and a statue of mom there as well. It was quite the story. I wish I had a recorder... it's funny how people deal with shock. Anyway, I am just glad that he's ok. That it wasn't his eye or something worse. poor buggy. At least he gets to go to the store to pick out a prize for doing good! A new sword will make everything better.... :)

Monday, November 19, 2007

new look....AGAIN!

OK. I was totally unsatisfied with the look of my last green blog. It was cute... just not really what I wanted. So, I changed. And I will surely change again.... sometime in the future. You have to change it up a bit every now and again... right?!

Anyway. It's pink. Really pink. But I love it :)

I got my template from this great site.. it's called Matie Kay Creations
She does really cute FREE stuff... check her out!

bath time...



Wednesday, November 14, 2007

here are some pics...



Over the last few days I have done a few photo sessions. The pictures turned out so yummy that I thought I would share a couple...
for some reason my posts are blending together... who knows what I did wrong... sorry.






Sunday, November 11, 2007

J..J..J....

My favorite J.
Hmm.
I think it's.... jewelry. I go through stages in my life when it comes to jewelry. Before I was married... never left the house without some... (not to mention make up too! ;) I always had at least some earings... a watch... you know. Cute stuff. Then, after a while... got married... had a baby... ahh. Unless I want my earings yanked out... or my daughters taking my necklace and leaving it who know where... I just can't. It's just not possible with babies... and toddlers. And now, after years of neglect, I am getting back into my obsession. It's not quite the same as the pre children days... but I am back into my chunky bracelets... crazy necklaces... and an occasional pair of earings.
I know. I know. It's not a passionate... couldn't live without... J. But, I still love my jewelry. Even if it's only on rare occasions.
check out this AWESOME necklace on ETSY
I love these earings too
other jammin J's: Joseph Smith, Jennifer Weiner, homemade Jam and JcPenney (hello. I worked there forever....)

Sunday, November 4, 2007

who can resist taking pics in the FALL!!

on our way home from church today I stopped and took a few pics of the older 3 kiddos. (dad & Ry aren't feeling so hot today...)



YUMMY! i love the fall!! Don't you??

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Monday, October 29, 2007

check it out!!



I have updated my other blog... the one for all of my yummy creations... check it out!
It's devsdesigns.blogspot.com

Sunday, October 28, 2007

ok. ok. here is my fav I...



Hello!! It's the INTERNET. {although, ice cream was a VERY close second}. I love the internet... I keep in contact with my family that live all over the US { myfamily.com }. I keep in touch with friends from back home { myspace.com }. I can look stuff up in a jiffy...{google.com } I sell my stuff online {ebay.com }...in fact, check out my new site for my yummy stuff... devsdesigns.blogspot.com . I send my digital pics to get developed... and they ship them right to my door... ( snapfish.com ). I check my local news ( ksl.com ). Every now and again I get my star fix on TMZ.com ... I check out all my favorite blogs... you know who you are!!! ;) and so on. and so on. I would be lost without it. Recipies, lesson ideas, quick gifts, remodeling ideas... I love this stuff!!

I also love-- ICE CREAM! IKEA, indoor swimming pools, ihop, ink pads (por scrapbooking...), Indiana Jones, Ice cream sandwiches and Ice Age.

Friday, October 12, 2007

for those that haven't seen this....

this is for the mommas...

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Happy Birthday B!


Brad had the best birthday... at least that's what he said while opening up his presents...all he got were pirates swords and guns... and billy bob teeth. Actually, the only thing he asked for was this set of nasty teeth... who knows what is so fascinating about nasty teeth... :)but, he couldn't have been happier!

I made a cake before dinner... and asked Stephen to take it out while I was changing a diaper or something of that sort... well, he took it out and tried to flip it onto a cookie sheet.?.?. yeah, that's what i said!Well, he tried I guess. Anyway, it crumbled and it was just a disaster... we tried to at least put frosting on it... yeah, bigger mess. Needless to say, it tasted great... looked questionable... and I learned my lesson... don't change diapers with a cake in the oven!!!!

Saturday, October 6, 2007

HubbyLicious H!!!

No doubt about it! My husband is my favorite H!


These are a few reasons why:

He is my best friend. He is charming. He loves his family. He makes me laugh. He has a strong testimony of the gospel. He works hard. He brings me flowers. He is hot. He sticks out his tongue just a little bit when he tickles the kids. He is a handyman. He wears a uniform:) He starts my car for me in the winter so it's warm when I get in it. He makes a smashing breakfast. He took me to the temple. He wants a big family. He enforces FHE. He makes me feel safe. He has more integrity than anyone I know. He will watch cowboy movies with Brad all day. He gives me a break from the kids when he knows I need it. He doesn't get mad when I shop ;) He is a southern gentleman. He helps others all day... everyday. He has a smile to melt your heart. He is always suprizing me with fun stuff... like our trip to Las Vegas this month!


Our love story is crazy... short story... we dated. we broke up. we dated. we broke up. I moved. he dated. I went on a mission. we found each other again. then it only took us 6 weeks to get married. I know we are soul mates. I know that we will be dancing the funky chicken on our 70th wedding anniversary. He is my favorite person in this world. I love him to death....

other Happy H's: Halloween, Holding hands, Headbands, Heidi Swapp, Helper utah, Hand-me-downs, christmas Ham, Hand & foot and Haircuts.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

a great G.....



my favorite G is.... GARAGE SALES!!

loL... that makes me laugh... seriously, if you know me... you know I LOVE a great deal... and how can you pass up a really good garage sale. In fact, one of my greatest secrets is that my house is decorated with 85% garage sale finds... from antique trunks... to curtains... to school clothes... to picture frames... to beat up desks that my hubby and I "redo"... it's great! Although, I haven't been as dedicated the past two summers.... I really need to get back on the bandwagon... there are few things greater than a fun treasure hunt.... and friends that will go and share them with you....

**as you can tell... photo is totally unrelated, just one of my favorites....**

other Great G's: Grandparents! frozen red Grapes, Gymboree, Garbage disposals, fresh cut Grass, Gratefulness, sales rack @ Gap, Garden Veggies...

Monday, September 24, 2007

Favorite F!




ah... this was a hard one... I really love a lot of F things... but, I am going with.... FAMILY!

I have the best little family ever. My hubby is everything I want in a spouse.. he is my best friend.. an amazing father.. and a great provider. He amazes me with his testimony. He has great faith and is a great example to his little kiddos. I can't ever imagine my life without this hunky man. I love him more than chocolate milk.
Each of my kids are so special and bring me such joy. It's crazy how different they are and how much they each add to our family. I love these little bugs.
I also have a wonderful Dad, loving Mom, amazing brothers and my sister is fabulous! :)

Other funky F's I love: FOOD! Friends, Freedom, Faith, Finished basements, Fall, Fords, Flip flops and fireplaces...

and my favorite E is...

EBAY!! I am totally addicted... besides all of the great deals I have found... I sell my scrapbook pages on there and it's a great way to make money from home... I have found the best stuff... 7 pairs of new elastic waist jeans for Kendyl... $12.00.... brand new school shoes for K $5.00... selling my pages for big $$... I love it!






Other Excellent E's Earings, Easter, Eclipse, Excalibur{the hotel in Vegas...} and Elastic lace (hello! I have 3 girls... they always have a headband on...)

D is for Dancing...

"Shake what your momma gave you!" that's my motto. Well, one of many. I LOVE to watch my kids shake it... I love dancing with my hubby... I remember going to a valentines party when we were dating--it was for a friends ward-- and we were one of three young couples.. it was all "old" couples {probably my age now...} and we danced the night away... it was so fun... I love taking Kendyl to her ballet classes... I love the "recitals" in our living room the girls give... I love watching my parents dance... Kendyl and I have "dance offs" in the car sometimes-- we try to one up each other, DANG, she's good! Stephen dances with his girls with the music on FULL blast.. it's adorable... I love dancing with the stars... & So you think you can dance...





Other delightful D's: Daughters, Dads, Dates, Daisies, Dress up, Diapers.. just kidding, Drifters{yummy candy bar in England}and Dounuts... hey, my husband's a cop...

Saturday, September 22, 2007

and my favorite C is....



Cuddlebugs!! hello... is there anything that really can compare to a great cuddle? I don't think so... I love the sticky ones... the goodnight-half asleep ones... the I am sorry-- I won't ever do that again, ones... the I really missed you ones... the--don't let me go momma ones...

I just can't get enough of them. And really--- I get sick when I think of how fast time flies and how quickly they will be saying..."not in front of my friends mom!!" or "you're squishing me mom--let go!" {OK, I admit they say that one already sometimes :)} It is all happening so fast I just want to hold on to them and never let go....

Other fabulous C's: Church, Cookies, Christmas, Chocolate, Chubby babies :), Cousins,Chad Marvin & Cameras.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

my favorite B


Well, without question my favorite B.... is my B! Bradley. This little big man is such a sweetie. One of my favorite memories of him was a couple of years ago I asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up and he said " I want to just have a job with my daddy as a policeman so I can protect all of my girls... I will make sure you guys are safe mom!" It was precious! And he still says it to this day. He is very protective of his "girls". Everyday, when Stephen goes to work he will tell B to take care of his girls and be a big man... boy, he takes his job very seriously.

Brad is my cowboy... as most people know, he loves John Wayne and a good cowboy movie. He knows Silverado by heart. He will wrestle anyone! He loves superheros as well. This Halloween will be difficult for him to chose which road to follow... it's a toss up between Batman, a pirate and a cowboy... I don't know how he will be able to chose just one... he is a really tough guy with a big heart. I love him to pieces. One of my FAVORITE things in the world is to lay on the couch and B will lay on my legs... he knows I love it and will rush over and snuggle right on top of me. He is a great snuggle bug. I dread the time when he will grow out of that stage... He is also quite the comedian. He loves to trick people and say funny things. One of his favorite words {because of Stephen and my reaction to it} is -precisely. He will say it then just rumble this cute little belly laugh. I could eat him up. That's my favorite B.

some of my other favorite B's: Blankets {really heavy ones...}, Bubble baths, Babies and Books... {just finished Twilight...}