Our 2012 Christmas Card Text

The Larsen Family 2012 Top Ten

10. Entering - for the first time - the realm of competitive sports. Sophie (8) and Spencer (5) both tried spring soccer. For Sophie that was enough, as she was content to watch the butterflies and play with the dogs at the games, but Spencer embraced the sport. By the end of fall season he was scoring 2-7 goals per game, developing his footwork, and learning to play with a team (when not staring off into space and picking his nose). I never thought I'd enjoy watching soccer, but hyper, hysterical little kindergarteners wildly kicking each other’s shins - I mean the ball - is hilarious!

9. Spending time with friends. Oregon with Christy, Cali with the Allens, dinners with the Fransons, neighborhood parties, video fests, and chocolate buffets... thanks everyone - you bring great joy into my life! I will particularly cherish our 80's Valentine's Prom and festive St. Paddy's day memories (see my blog - rexburglarsens.blogspot.com - for the totally radical details). Long live the Party Barn!

8. Les Miserables and the Hobbit: we are massive fans of both and to have those movies coming out this year is exciting to our whole family. One of our favorite family songs to belt out is "One Day More," (Spencer plays Valjean, Maggie Eponine, Sophie Cosette, and Gary and I rock the Thenardiers, Marius and Javert). And Maggie (11) is counting down the days until she gets to see the Hobbit brought to life, having enjoyed the book (that’s the rule – she can see the movie if she’s read the book.) We bonded over the Hunger Games this year too – we’re both Team Peeta - but there are parts of the movie I definitely will not let her watch.

7. Developing our flair for the dramatic. Maggie was chosen as the narrator for her school team's spring patriotic pageant, memorizing and delivering her many lines with her usual panache and perfection. Sophie entered the fray as well, dazzling as Dorothy in her 2nd grade class's version of the Wizard of Oz. Spencer entertains us all constantly too… but not if he thinks we’re watching.

6. Finding the right dog food for Bella.  Believe me, this was a biggie. Once we found the magical brand that helped her lose her chub, her doggy dandruff AND her gas in one fell swoop, great was the rejoicing in the land of Larsen! And Petco delivers it to my house free of charge.

5. iPhones. Gary and I both got them. Don't laugh, but they really have changed our lives. I'm no longer chained to my computer desk to work on studio stuff, and thanks to FaceTime, I got to see and talk to Gary every day during his four week study trip to Ireland this summer. I still don't constantly carry it around with me, but it sure has affected my lifestyle, and brings me closer to the people I love through texts, pictures, FaceTime, and Scrabble.

4. Family time in Maui and Aspen Grove. We started out 2012 with New Years’ in Maui and also had a beautiful summer week at Aspen Grove. Maui was its usual perfection – we are big fans of the Ka’anapali Alii, Whaler’s Village, snorkeling and Leilani’s fresh fish. Aspen Grove - we love that place as well! This year we got to go in June for a family reunion to celebrate my paternal grandmother, Nanny, who is a lovely and spirited 91 years old. There were almost a hundred of her descendants there, and our week was, as always, filled with beauty, hiking, games, BYU Creamery ice cream, crafts, climbing walls, kids camp with amazing counselors, informative lectures for parents, chats by the pool, and unbeatable family time. That beautiful resort in the shadow of Mt. Timpanogos is practically sacred to me now, both for its superb beauty and for the memories we make every time we go there. Our children are growing up with Aspen Grove, Maui, Ireland and France as their special places... we have been very lucky.

3. Sophie's baptism. One of the most magical weekends of the whole year was the Saturday when our little Sophie got officially baptized into our church. The Larsen side of the family showed up in full force, as did Nana, Papa, Nanny, the Idaho cousins, and our local friends. Sophie glowed all weekend and to have so many of our nearest and dearest there to share it with her was so heartwarming.

2. Watching Gary's progress with his PhD. One word sums up Gary’s entire year: research. He's trying to complete a 4-year program in two years. And he's doing it. He's amazing! Hopefully by this time next year he will be Dr. Gary Larsen! And we will be able to both fly back for his graduation from the University of Limerick, a place very dear to our hearts.

1. France/Spain. The biggest event of our year, and possibly one of the more significant of our lives, was the trip to Europe we took with our studio dance team, American Rhythm. I organized the 44-person, two-week tour to France and Barcelona after our little clogging studio received a much sought-after invitation to an international folk festival in Rodez, France (where Gary served as a missionary almost 20 years ago). It was an amazing opportunity for growth and adventure, and our 28 dancers embraced the whole experience from day one. Performing in front of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, singing "the Spirit of God" in Arevieu, American night in Belmont sur Rance, bonding with so many people from so many cultures...we had the best time, and I am so thankful for this experience. We've had our fair share of unique events in our lives, and this trip ranks right up there with the best of them.

Merry Christmas to you all, our dear friends. We love you and pray for your health and happiness as we close this year and look forward to a new one. May it be bright and beautiful and filled with blessed memories.