FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Ready to go! Cody Joe - 6th Grade Zach - 3rd Grade Tia - 1st Grade

Krista - Kindergarten

Yeah! The first day of school has come at last! The kids are always so excited to go back to school, this year was no exception. Cody Joe, Zach and Tia started on Wednesday August 19th; then Krista started on August 26th. I got a call from the principal the day before Krista started school "inviting Krista to attend extended day Kindergarten", so she goes to school all day as well. All of the kids have fabulous teachers so everyone is very happy Zachary got the 3rd grade teacher that he "prayed for all summer and had a dream that he got her for his teacher", too cute! Cody Joe had the same 3rd grade teacher as well so we know how wonderful she is. Zachary was diagnosed with ADD during the summer, after having all of the evaluations done at the end of last school year. He has started on medication and is doing really well! His Dr. put him on an ADD med that is not a "stimulant" (i.e.- Ritalin, Adderall...). Zach is doing very well, because he is so much less overwhelmed with everything. The year is off to a great start for everyone except poor Tia, who quite possibly has the worst bus driver in the school district. One day, Tia was left at school (her teacher was nice enough to bring her home) because the driver told her teacher that I would be picking her up for a Dr.'s appointment after school (Which was not the case, and I definitely didn't tell the driver that). Today, she didn't bother to even pick Tia up for school! She has forgotten to pick Tia up several times over the past 2 years and when we don't come running out to get her from the bus in the afternoon (because we don't hear it right away or I am changing a diaper or something). She has left Tia on the walkway in front of our steps once and left her on the driveway after banging her fist on our garage door the other time. Neither time did she even bother to set Tia's wheelchair brakes, she just left her at the top of the driveway and was getting in the bus to drive away when I got outside. This woman definitely needs a new job! Transporting severely disabled children is obviously not "her cup of tea". I addressed the issue with the principal last year, he told her that I "complained" about her and she refused to speak or look at me for almost 2 months. Sigh, the situation makes me tired.

Hailey's "Photo Shoot"

Miss Attitude

Hailey is, quite begrudgingly, saying "cheese" for me again

Peek-a-Boo!

I took Hailey up to the Provo Temple to take her 3 year old pictures...whew! It is hard to get her to stay still long enough for the slight delay on a digital camera. "Miss Busy" smiles and says "cheese" then it is instantly over, if you didn't catch it then "too bad for you" :0)

I did manage to get some cute pictures, of course she is a very cute subject :0).

Hailey Boop turns 3!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! Hailey's personalized plate (she is saying "cute!":0)

So Fancy! "Inchworm... Inchworm..."

"Loo-Loo-Lee who is 3!"

Ready to party!

Hailey celebrated her 3rd birthday on August 14th.

I can't believe how fast time flies!

Happy Birthday to Miss "Loo-Loo who is no longer 2!"

Ahhh, Sweet Clarity!

OK, So here is the whole scoop about Andrew. He was having health problems in the MTC, it was making it impossible to get anything accomplished. The MTC doesn't have a "full-time" medical staff that can come in and run tests and do exams and so forth. So... He has been "released" on medical leave. The minimum time period (when they don't know exactly what the illness is) is 6 months. Andrew will see his regular Dr. here at home, have all the tests and stuff done that he may need (which is easier to do at home with your own Dr and insurance), then he can return to full-time Missionary Service in February. Whether or not he serves in the Dominican Republic depends on what the problem is (we really have no idea yet). If he needs to take medication of any kind, on a long term basis, then he may have to be reassigned to a mission here in the states. (They said it depends on what kind of medication and how readily available it is in another country). If not, then he will continue on to the Dominican Republic Mission. The Stake President was kept informed all last week about Andrew being in the "sick bay" numerous times and being taken to the ER once. The MTC did not notify me of this. The call that I got on Friday, telling me that I had to come and get him, was quite a shock, I thought that he was being "kicked out" or something (I know, I'm dramatic). All that was said before that was that Andrew was feeling "homesick" (this was the first few days that he was there). One of the District Presidents said that they were going to let him call home a couple of times a week until he left for the DR on the 3rd. Well, when I got this call on Friday, I thought that they were sending him home because he was too "homesick" to leave us. Well... needless to say, I was a little ticked. I wanted to just tell Andrew to "snap out of it!" or "get over it". I didn't realize that he wasn't so much "homesick" as ACTUALLY sick.(Oops) The bottom line is, we don't know what exactly is going on with his health. I DO now know that he wasn't "kicked out". :0) I am still trying to figure out how this whole Mission thing works. So, as far as his "Missionary status", he is still a Missionary. He is on "Temporary medical leave", kind of like the military. As soon as he sees the Dr, gets whatever treatment is needed and feels better, then he will start serving as a "local service missionary" until February. After that, all it takes is a call from the Stake president saying that he's ready, he is set apart again as a full-time missionary then he goes right back into the MTC. He doesn't have to start the whole submission process over again, which is what I originally thought. The only paperwork that would need to be done is if they decide that it would be better if he stayed in the country. Then they send his info up to the Mission office and they change where he serves. I feel so much better now that things have been made more clear, I thought that he was having a "worthiness issue" (sorry Andrew :0) or he had beat the snot out of his companion or something :0). I know, again with the drama. I guess there was another Missionary sent home, on medical leave, that went in the same day as Andrew. Of course, he slid down a big, long banister and broke his leg... Ouch. Maybe Andrew felt "left out" because was the only person in the whole house without some type of medical condition - ha ha. Andrew is in good spirits and is maintaining a positive attitude about this whole thing (although, at first he was upset too). He is anxious to "get on with it" so that he can get back "out there". What a trooper. The positive side to this is that he will be home when Josh is sealed to us, when Cody Joe is ordained a Deacon and for Christmas. Oh yeah, and he may have sensed telepathically that I was planning to take Cody Joe and Zach to Disneyland in October for a couple of days and wanted to go to :0) hee hee.

Andrew's "Farewell"

Elder Larsen The Provo Temple

"Ta-Da!"---MTC Cody and Julie

~The Larsen Men~

Andrew with Grandma and Grandpa Larsen

Andrew with the Eldredge's

The boys!

Andrew, Grandpa (Julie's Dad) and Mom

Andrew with mom and dad

The Larsen Fam!

The Larsen Fam with Grandpa

Everybody!

Andrew spoke in Sacrament meeting on Sunday, the 9th. He gave a very nice talk and it sounds like he is well on his way to "Missionary greatness" :0). I sang a solo "Lord, I Would Follow Thee", with Andrew accompanying me on the piano (I'm going to miss our little "jam sessions"). Andrew makes up the most amazing piano arrangements just looking at the hymn book, he just makes it up as he goes along. (for those of you that were there on Sunday, all he had in front of him was the page from the hymn book printed from the church website, cool huh? (I have to brag a little, I feel very lucky to be his mom). Andrew is so talented and has a great capacity for loving unconditionally and is very accepting of everyone. He has a strong testimony of the Savior and the incredible sacrifice that He made for us and I know that he is anxious to share it. I think that he will love serving the Lord and teaching the gospel to the people in the Dominican Republic.

Fiesta de despedida para Elder Larsen!

Cody Joe, Zachy and Andrew

Becca, Zach and Lillie

Zach, Jordan, Kalynne, Robyn and Andrew

Joy, Danielle, Kenzie and Maddie

Claire, Andrew and Zoe

Laura, Claire, Denise, Andrew, Lane, Merideth and Abby

Andrew and Grandpa (Julie's Dad)

Cristi (my sister in law) and Papa

We had Andrew's "farewell" party on Saturday night, it was so much fun. There was lots of great food and fabulous friends and family to visit with. We are so grateful for all of the love and support that has been shown for our family. Thank you to everybody that came to wish Andrew well, we feel lucky to have great family and so many wonderful friends that are just like family! Most of my friends have been so "tried and true" and I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for that. Our family life can be a little "sticky" at times (to say the least :0). I want to say a great big THANK YOU for my fabulous friends that are so understanding and always there for me in good times and in bad, (you know who you are :0). I am SO grateful for all of the "pep talks", advice, hugs, shoulders to cry on, ears that listen without judgement, and for just "being there" for me. (Even though most of you have moved!...rude :0). I live a life that can be somewhat isolated at times and those of you that go out of your way to come and spend time with us particularly during our families special events are absolutely invaluable to me. Lots of love to you!!