Diaper Rash Cream

When Emmas Grace was in the hospital the nurses gave me the hospitals "home made" butt cream. They wouldn't tell me how exactly they made it, just that it was mostly cornstarch and Vaseline.

Well, today the nurse at the pediatricians gave me the exact ratios:

Equal parts Vaseline, Cornstarch, Boudreau's Butt paste, and Lotramin AF.

It worked wonders for Emma Grace. I'm hoping the miracle will repeat itself for Logan.

Betty June Larsen obituary

Betty June Butler Larsen (1923 - 2010) Betty was born to Laurel H. and Ruth Priestley Butler on Jan. 31, 1923, in St. Anthony, Idaho. She has one brother, Everett Laurel Butler. She graduated from Madison High School and the LDS Seminary in Rexburg, Idaho, in 1941. She was a cheerleader, played clarinet in the school band, sang in school choir and was a member of the high school drama club and a girls club called "The Pepper Club."She attended nursing school at the St. Joseph Methodist Hospital in St. Joseph, Mo. She worked at the Remington arms plant in Salt Lake City where bullets were made during WWII.She married LaGrande C. Larsen on Feb. 5, 1943, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They had six sons and one daughter. All six sons served missions for the LDS Church. All seven children were married in the temple. They have 48 grandchildren and 106 great-grandchildren, all of whom she consistently declared were "hers" for time and all eternity.While living in Teton County, Idaho, she served as a political party chairman and PTA president. She organized and directed the Teton High School drill team, "The Fabulous Featherettes," who achieved state championship honors for several years in a row. She organized and sang in "The Choraliers," a women's singing group that sang for programs, on the radio and at funerals. She also sang together with her husband for many special events in Teton Valley. She and LaGrande, along with a few other couples, founded Pierre's Playhouse, a community melodrama theatre in Victor, Idaho. After moving to Logan, she and her family built the Pickleville Playhouse summer theatre on the banks of Bear Lake. Pickleville is still managed by family members and has provided high-quality, wholesome family entertainment since 1977. Betty had great love for the hundreds of "adopted" family members that worked with her at Pickleville over the years. She and LaGrande rarely missed a performance. Betty was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as a Sunday School teacher, Primary song leader, dance director, member of the Stake MIA presidency, Young Women's leader, Cub Scout leader, twice as Relief Society president, Relief Society board member and visiting teacher. She was also an officiator in the Logan LDS Temple. In 1989 Betty served with her husband as a full-time missionary in the Philippines Davao Mission and returned there for a second short-term mission in 1991. She was honored as the Utah Mother of the Year in 1993 and had speaking engagements in several states while serving on the National Mothers Council. Betty's life was spent devoted to her family. She never missed an important family event. Whether it was a sporting event, dance recital, graduation, baby blessing, missionary farewell, wedding or any other significant occasion, she was always there loving, nurturing and encouraging as the matriarch of her family. She always encouraged her family by word and deed to keep their "Honor Bright" and reassured them that "That'll Work!" She had very special, loving relationships with each family member and will be missed dearly.Betty passed away on Sept. 2, 2010. She is survived by sons James (Judy), Steven (Jeanne), Bruce (Debra), Ryan (Laura), Wayne (Kris), and daughter Andrea (Ted). She was preceded in death by her husband LaGrande and her son John (Marlys). Her husband, children, their spouses and their children have been the joy of her life.

Goodbye Grandma

Betty June Butler Larsen

Just before we left for the beach I got a phone call that my Grandma Larsen had suffered a massive stroke and was no longer with us. It was very unexpected. She was 87 years old, but she was in good health. She had just had cataracts removed from her eyes, so she must have been planning on sticking around for a while. I guess it’s a blessing that she passed so quickly. She was really lonely without Grandpa and now their together.
We got home from Florida on Monday and I flew out to Utah Tuesday and returned home Wednesday. It was definitely a whirlwind trip, but I needed to be there.
As I flew across the country I thought about Grandma and here are a few memories that I wish to record.
-Grandma was always calling us her little ducks. She liked to keep her “ducks in a row”. So much so, in fact, that she numbered us. I was the number 14 grandchild. My Christmas gifts were labeled with a 14. One year they gave us all sweats and a rubber band shooting pistol. We were all very greatfull for the sweats during the huge rubber band fight that followed. Mine was labeled with a 14. It was a great system because when it was time to go there was never a debate over who’s was who’s. We just looked for our number and we were good to go. My cousin Marli (15) and her sisters made all the grandkids numbers to wear at the funeral. She was just missing 2 living grandkids. It made us all remember those that have passed away before. Most notably to me was Jolene (17). She was my age and passed away way too soon, leaving 2 sweet girls behind.

Betsy #14 & Marli #15

Betsy #14 & Letitia #16

-Grandma and Grandpa have 48 Grandkids and 106 great-grandkids. Grandma was VERY proud of her posterity. She told anybody who would listen how many kids she has. At her funeral my uncle made the joke that if you over estimated the number of great-grandkids it was no big deal, just stick around for 9 months and you’ll be right on.

-One year I had a gymnastics meet on Halloween. I was sad that I didn’t get to go Trick-or-Treating. So, on the way home my dad took me to Grandma and Grandpa’s to Trick-or-Treat. When I knocked on their door they made such a fuss over me. Grandma felt really bad that I would only get to knock on one door. So she said, “Well, we don’t really like any of those other kids anyway.” And she dumped her whole bowl of candy into my bag.

-Grandma and Grandpa used to rent the elementary school by their house for our family parties. We would play for hours in the gym. We especially loved the turtle scooters. I’m not sure if I ever won a race, but I tried REALLY hard. After a few hours of play we were kicked out so that the men could play basketball. It’s a good thing that most of them are doctor, because I can’t remember a time that someone didn’t end up broken or bloody or at least badly sprained. The pain must have been worth it, because they did it every time.

-Being a “Pickleville cousin” was an anticipated event in every Larsens life. It really felt like the ripe old age of 5 would NEVER get come. “Cousins” was the best. Singing and dancing on stage we felt like we were the stars of the show. Practices were held at Grandmas house and at her church. One year Grandma decided that we should all learn how to clog. So, we met at her house once a week for clogging lessons. The girls were OK with it, but it was a deal breaker for the boys. We sang country, 50’s, and show tunes. Grandma’s feather bed is for sure an all time favorite.

-Grandma had a touch for drama. I’ll never forget when Marli (15) was in a touch and go situation after having a baby. It was really scary. I would get updates from my dad telling me that things were looking up. Then my phone would ring, Grandma would be crying and telling me that my best friend was going to die any minute now. I was so confused I didn’t know who to believe. Turns out that if I take half of what Dad says and half of what Grandma says I have a pretty good picture of the truth. Thankfully in this situation Grandma wrong in her prophesy. Marli pulled through and is happy healthy.

-I’ll miss Grandmas phone calls every time a hurricane is on it’s way.

-Honor Bright, 123, I love you Grandma.

Happy Birthday, Betsy!

For my birthday I got to take my girls to the Sound of Music at the Fox. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was fabulous and the girls loved it, too.

After the Fox I got to go to Chuck E. Cheese! I’ve never had a party there. I always wanted one, but the nearest location was in Salt Lake and my parents would not agree. Imagine, having to wait 34 years to finally have the hip hop dancing mouse sing happy birthday to me.
Actually it was Cozette’s birthday party, but Jeannie and Nikki did sing “Soul Sister” to me and I did blow out a candle.

Sunday Mike invited over some friends over for cake and ice cream. The kids thought Daddy was making fun of my cooking skills, or lack thereof, when they saw the cake. I’m not going to be the one to let them in on our inside joke. What a funny Man.

Logan Vs. Skateboard

You should see the skateboard!

(I took this picture after it had been healing for about a week and a half.)

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

My Emma Grace turned 3 this year. Time flies when you’re having fun. I honestly cannot believe that we’ve had her for 3 years.

She decided long before her birthday that she wanted a Minnie Mouse party. So, trying to be a organized Mommy I purchased the Minnie Mouse accessories before we went to Utah. Good thing, because there is no way I would have been able to do it after we got back.

It’s also a good thing she was so specific in her theme. One trip to the Disney store and her gifts were a done deal. I pretty much bought everything they had with a Minnie on it. She was thrilled. Mike got her a Princess bike that was a hit as well.

Minnie is the style of the day!

She looks tiny, but she rides it just fine

For her party we set up the water slide, played in the sand, and put up a slip and slide (seemed pretty wimpy after our H2O slide, but the kids liked it). All her favorite friends were there. Cozette, The Boys, Lacey, The Andrades, and Gavin (Gracie's little guy).

Birthday girl in action

Alyssa manned the waterslide

No Fear!

Gavin

Emma Grace and Cozette

After pizza it was time to blow out the candles on her butterfly cake. Silly Mommy didn’t notice that when I started singing Emma Grace had a big mouth full of CARROT! So, the cupcakes closest to her had some additional nutritional value.

Check out the cheek full of carrots

We broke a piñata and opened presents. Emma Grace had a fantastic time. She talks on and on about her Minnie Mouse party and all the friends came. What a blast.

Pinata

Aerial View provided by Savannah

Daddy distracted Logan during presents

We love our Gracie. She is at such a fun age. Everything that comes out of her mouth is precious (except when it’s a fit, or she’s cussing one us out)

Here’s a few of her latest:

-Dat guys amazing

-explaining the way it is to Gracie Smith. “I Gracie and you Gracie. You not me. I little Gracie, you big Gracie, OK?”

-I hit Lo-Lo, he hit me. I say sorry and cry, and Lo-Lo too. We OK Mom.

-no food (shood) or water, 3 (shree) days. (Spirit quote)

-Emma Grace and Logan love watching the movie Spirit in the car. It is priceless to listen to her sing along with the music.

-When I get big I gonna get that bad guy and throw him in a tree! Then the bees will eat him!

-When Gracie want sto trick us she says, "oooooooooh, oooooooh, I a gooooost. Don't worry, Mom. I not a scary goost." She means ghost, but it sounds like goose.

What a cute girl. We are truly a blest family.

School is is session!

Getting back into the school routine was kind of a trick this year. Alyssa started a week before Savannah, who started 3 days before Emma Grace. I guess I should be grateful that I was able to spread the chaos over a longer period of time. But, it felt like I was running a back to school marathon instead of the usual sprint.

We got back from Utah on Sunday and had a few days for the babies to have some puking days. We were on a role ya know. We needed to stick with what we knew. Thursday I took Alyssa to meet Mrs. Anderson. We had to take both girls to their yearly check-ups first, but we made it just before the teachers were shutting their doors for lunch. Mrs. Anderson is awesome. Savannah had her for 4th grade as well and we look forward to another round.

Friday I took the girls bowling with the Simpsons and then climbed into bed. I had been taking care of sick kids for 3 weeks, I guess it was my turn. I stayed in bed until Sunday morning. I can't remember the last time I slept through a whole day. Because I was in a semi-coma, Mike took Alyssa shopping for her "first day of school outfit". The girls said he was a GREAT shopper. He helped her find 3 complete outfits in a record 20 minutes. WOW. She looked great and daddy won some serious brownie points.

Monday Alyssa started back to school. It was weird for both of us that she was the only one going. She had a great first day. She started out nervous and ended excited. I really enjoyed having Savannah home. She got pretty bored without her sister and friends. She didn't really have anything to do but help me. It was great.

Friday Savannah had a class pool party. She met lots of her new class mates and got pretty excited about the new year.

Monday Savannah enjoyed her first day. Unlike most middle schools, Savannah was not told who she would have as a home room teacher. They all went to school and participated in "team building" activities as a whole 6th grade class. After lunch, the dean of the middle school came out dressed as a wizard "sorted" them in to 4 homeroom classes. Savannah LOVES Harry Potter, so the whole sorting idea was a big hit with her. When she was put into Mrs. Mallet's class, her whole class whooped and hollered. She was in heaven. She came home tired and happy.

Wednesday Emma Grace started pre-school. I can't believe my baby is going to pre-school. I didn't want to send her until next year, but nobody wanted to do a "home" pre-school with me. She is goingto the same school Savannah and Alyssa went to. The Lawrenceville 1st Baptist Church has a great pre-school. I asked my Mom if she thought it was bad that I sent my kids to a Baptist pre-school. She just laughed, "We sent Steve to a Jewish Synigog for pre-school. At least the Baptists believe in the Bible." I actually do like that they teach them Bible stories. We have just had to explain to our girls that the "prayers" they say at lunch are cute poems, but when we pray we should talk to Heavenly Father. Anyway, Emma Grace went right into her class. She was especially happy when she saw Cozette. When I picked her up she got in the car and said, "Hi, I cried a little. I O.K. I hug my bug and It's O.K."

Logan has never had any time alone with his Mommy. I'm pretty excited to have him all to myself.