Avery turns FIVE

Perfect way to start her day... birthday donuts and presents.

And yes, they are all Frozen presents :)

Plus, we went to see the last Night at the Museum.  It was so funny!

She has parties coming up, with Grandma and Grandpa and another with friends, but today this is all she gets... I spent the rest of the afternoon helping set up for the wedding tomorrow.

Cait and Michelle's Birthday

Ice Skating and Injury

Ava had an ice skating birthday party yesterday, so fun right? 

Well I'm a terrible mother, and didn't realize the ice rink was outside, so on a 20 degree day I only had sweatshirts on my kids. Not a good start. The boys didn't want to skate and insisted they only walk on the ice.  Avery loved it, but needed to hold my hand the whole time.  And Tess enjoyed being held by Brad, occasionally sliding her feet around on the ice, right up until she starting crying for no apparent reason.  When I tried to take her from Brad, she screamed in pain.  What?!  How is it, that with 20 kids ice skating, a baby who's been held the whole time could be injured?  I would say this was not our best experience, although Michele throws a great party.

After feeling around, it appeared Tess cried hardest when her elbow was touched so we took her to an InstaCare.  She also had stopped using that arm at all.  The poor girl had dislocated her elbow.  A quick pop back in place and she was as good as new.  Brad felt terribly guilty, but really didn't do anything wrong. I think he was super relieved to learn from my mom that this is a Larson thing, Blake's elbow was dislocated FIVE times!

Christmas with Mimi and Papa

We really are the luckiest, to get to have my Mom and Dad here so often.  With Chad's wedding only a week after Christmas, and no single kids left to come home, they decided to come up before Christmas and stay with my grandparents.  They came down the day after Christmas and opened presents with us.  Here are the kids favorites...

Christmas!

Is there anything better in a kids life than Christmas morning?!

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking...

Avery got the "ice skate Barbie" she asked Santa for and the boys discovered the Wii and Lego's Santa brought with their stockings.  Wesley went on screaming with delight about the Wii, while Jack ran straight to the table to open his Lego minifigures.

Wesley and Jack bought their siblings presents at their school's gift boutique a couple weeks ago, Jack then decided to wrap up more of his toys for his brother and sisters.  It was really sweet to watch them open their gifts from eachother.

 The kids big gift from us this year (aka LMS) is a 3 day Disney cruise in March! I don't think they quite get what this means though, so far they are most excited about flying on an airplane and going to Florida.

Grandpa and Grandma spoiled the kids... Tess got some new babies and Grandpa made her a baby bed to go with them, Jack and Wesley got Legos and robot bumper cars, and Avery got a song bird and other fun toys.

 After a relaxing afternoon we ate dinner and played Christmas games, complete with prizes! (The kids love this tradition at Curtis Grandma's house)

I'd say it was a GREAT Christmas!