This is MINE!!!!!!!

That's Right!! I finally got my Margarator...courtesy of Mom and Dad:) I am SO excited about it. I have a feeling that this little machine and I have some great times ahead of us! I'll be entertainer of the year:) Thanks Mom! Here's something of a recap via a few pictures of the celebration of my birth!

Me with Gramps and Gram at my party. The taking of this picture was a really great memory. I was being difficult and Grandpa actually laughed at me...

RENT closed on September 9th (I believe) and in honor of it they recorded RENT live on Broadway and they played it at local theatres at four different times! Mom, Misty, and I went to the first showing which was the day after my birthday. It was amazing! I cannot get over it. In fact you should check out this montage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDuHQm1WVhg

It was seriously phenomenal. I'm so sad I missed it on Braodway. I was so moved. I actually went by myself on Saturday to the last performance and I cried lots. It was the best birthday present (maybe tied with the Margarator)

Special Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate--either in person, via a card, or even a text/phone call. I love you all!!! :) You helped make it a great day! Hopefully this the best year yet:)

23 Highlights of my 23rd Year!

That's right. Unfortunately, I must bid farewell to this wonderful "golden" year of my life. Such a sad reality. I must now embrace the new year, new age, new chapter of my life. Over the past few years---for a number of reasons--each birthday has become a personal victory for me. To those that are the cause/reason for celebration--thank you! :) I thought you may like some insight to this wonderful year...so I'm posting the 23 highlights of a very bright year in my life!

Before I begin the picture above is me with Jonnie (and Rob off to the side) playing a Friday night game of poker. This was my life last fall and my saving grace through student teaching (Jonnie was student teaching simultaneously so it was nice) I kicked of my year with a poker game so I found the picture fitting!! ::

23 Highlights

(in no particular order)

• Celebrating the B-Day in Jackpot with Jonnie, Jessica, and Josh...Cactus Pete's :)
• Placing 9th and cashing out in a poker tournament that weekend, winning over $100 on a $1 game of Keno, and winning big in blackjack...and thus buying myself a digital camera for my birthday! :)
• Kicking off the b-day with the St. Luke's Women's fitness celebration 5k Run/Walk
• The Race for the cure and our "Breast Homies" t-shirts
• Graduating from BSU
• 1st real job interview
• 1st teaching job
• Moving into my VERY OWN 5th grade classroom!!
• Making some real Mormon girlfriends...real ones to hang out with and call with issues...:)
• Shaking hands with Randy Travis after watching him perform live outside in the summer evening.
• Seeing the Spill Canvas...again!
• Visiting Sarah and seeing Jonathan for the first time.
• Going to the rodeo...for all sorts of reasons. Next year WILL be SOOOOO much better!
• Sending my brother on a mission. Watching and letting him go was the hardest thing I've ever had to do but being a part of all of it has been amazing!
• Laughing with Misty and Ken in their new house...(laughing with Misty period throughout our many excursions this year. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 to name one episode)
• Army Wives
• Student teaching for Deb and becoming friends with Deb, Joe, and Cindy! Another saving grace!
• Working for the Idaho Food bank and reclaiming some of my heart in that work!
• Getting a killer tan:)
• Becoming a ward missionary
• I have to account for movie nights with Bryan
• Game nights
• Having Misty (and now Ken) over for Sunday dinners! :)
• Elder Holloman
  

Yes! One pretty amazing, GOLDEN year! Bring on the next!

My longest relationship...

Today I'd like to talk about the longest lasting relationship of my life. It is not with a boy, of that we all know, it's not even with a friend or family member. My longest relationship is, in fact, my history with country music. Allow me...the other day Ken comments on my love of country and explained that I can't say that I love all music but I love one type more. "It doesn't make sense." This is all according to Ken:) Nonetheless, I feel I do love all different kinds of music but I honestly have a history with country. It's different. It's so very different. Allow me to explain. I was raised on country via my mom. My very first tape was Trisha Yearwood, featuring "She's in Love with the Boy." The first concert I attended was Neil McCoy. For quite a long time the only concerts I attended were country. My first job was in a western wear store. Country music blared through the speakers all day long while I spoke with bull riders and calf ropers about our jeans, boots, and hats. I wanted to marry a cowboy. I wanted to be a cowgirl. Sometime later I changed my mind. I began taking in other musical genres and falling in love with them as well. I listened to really mellow music during sad or emotional times; sometimes during happy times, too. When I fell in love, though, we spent the summer listening to country stations, he loved country and I loved country and somehow that was symbolic to me. We went on a date to the rodeo. I had country songs woven throughout every single memory. When I got my heart broken I took a break from country. I reset all my stations in my car. Only listening to hip-hop music for six months. Yes...SIX! My heart was far from mended but I ached for my music. I remember the day I turned the station to one that felt like going home. A weight seemed to lift from my shoulders. Country had been waiting for me. I have never abandoned it since. It seems so corny or even ridiculous. It's so hard to explain how much I hurt. How much I associated everything country to everything that my life was lacking. You can't know how it hurt me just to hear it...because it seems so trite. Similarly, you can't know how much I missed Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Clay Walker, Doug Stone, Tracy Lawrence, and the list goes on. You could never understand how I had been missing such a piece of what once was my life. When I finally turned the radio back on I was forcing myself to move forward. I discovered one thing missing and I brought it back. It was my first step toward moving on. I could never explain how liberating that was and how incredibly helpful. I now find that I am ridiculously "hick-ish" in the summer and that's when my real "inner cowgirl" shows! I have my station on country the second the sun starts heating us up for those lovely months. And I am so proud of that! You see...it's been with me through everything and it's always been a love of mine. My relationship with country will last forever! :)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

So...it's my mom's birthday. I thought I'd dedicate a blog to her today:) I chose to include the picture above because I love it. Not because of how I look in the picture (that much is clear--I look AWFUL) however, it's the way it perfectly captures my mom and who she is. It's the way Shane's leaning into her and laughing and she's laughing. How many mom's truly have real relationships like that with their daughters and sons?! Not many. My mom is truly the most amazing person I will ever know. If I could do anything right in my lifetime, it would be to become more like her. Everyday, I thank Heavenly Father for her. No joke! She is amazing folks! I may be proud of my Larson traits but it's my mom that taught me to be proud of myself and have respect for myself. She should celebrate. What a life she's lived thus far. She has two children to be proud of (I only say that as--honestly, come on:) I'm a good girl. Shane's a good boy. We owe it to mom). She has a family that loves her. She's been married for 27 years! She's a hard working and extremely giving individual. Gunnar and Grayson adore her. The primary kids love her. And she makes everyone laugh. Let me share some things my mom does:

*She makes my dad sandwiches any time she leaves the house if he doesn't have something to eat

*She has ALWAYS given random gifts to her kids. First day of school, last day of school, first day of summer, last day of summer, etc...

*The night I got my heart broken I came home to a bed with freshly washed sheets, a dozen roses, and a poem from my mom...she had cleaned my sheets for a fresh start but still invited me to come sleep with her.

*Poems for every event that mom considers a milestone:)

*She knows every single person I talk about to the very detail.

*She mows my Grandparents' lawn once a week in conjunction with our own lawn.

*She wakes up in time to drive to my Grandma's and curl her hair for her every Sunday morning.

*She loved Shane and I enough. She always told us. We always knew it. She even made up each of us our own song, "I love my Sharlee, my Sharlee Rose..." and she sang to us at night.

*She cleans our house and cleans up after our cats.

*She always puts the packages together and sends them to Shane.

*This summer when I was stressed out with "too many things to do" I stopped by her work for a quick visit and she handed me my renewed vehicle registration--which she purchased for me online so I wouldn't have to go to the DMV

*She does her visiting teaching.

*She substitute teaches primary just about every Sunday even though she really wants to go to

Sunday school.

The list goes on. I would like to post the lyrics to a song that I once heard that reminds me SO much of my mom it's not even funny. I tried to find a video but no such luck. Read on...I'm so blessed because of my mom...Heavenly Father even told me so...:)

She(Cherie Call)
She is not the picture on the magazine

She's the woman just behind you at the checkout stand

She may appear to be common but she mystifies

In all the ways the wisest men and children understand

'Cause she has eyes that sparkle with her love

And she has a smile that's as gentle as a dove

And no woman from a movie or an ad could ever hope to be

As beautiful as she
She is not a highly honored diplomat

Held responsible to lead the world to peace

But what she does is every bit as serious

Amidst the turmoil everywhere that will never cease

'Cause she has hands that wipe the tears away

And she has a voice that makes everything O.K.

And no woman from the papers or T.V. could ever hope to be

As indispensable as she
And it breaks my heart every time I see her wonder

If she means anything in this world that pulls her under

And she doesn't always see the way that Heaven smiles above her

That's the reason I try to always tell her that I love her
'Cause she may not be known for giving millions

To the charities and auctions on the news

But I believe she's given more than anyoneIn all the times she's ever had to chooseTo give up sleep to rock her children every night

And give her heart to always hold their dreams so tight

And the best that you or I could ever hope to beIs as wonderful as she

And the best that you or I could ever hope to beIs as wonderful as she

You are indespensable, beautiful, charitable, funny, amazing, and the list goes on, Mom! I love you! Happy Birthday!

Larson Pride...

Let's rewind to a few weeks ago at the Sunday dinner table...Misty's joining us for dinner and we're visiting. My mom mentions that she had attempted to purchase a book about body image issues for me. She shares this with Misty--she also shares my reaction, "No. I like my body image issue." Misty and I both laughed remarking at how incredibly proud we are of everything about us. EVERYTHING! It's the coolest thing and the most bizarre thing, especially since I can turn on myself in a split second. Last night while playing games on a couch, in something of a "blind date" situation with a young man, I found this so true again. I am more competitive than anything. But as we were playing Scategories he commented on my left-handedness and I proceeded to start whispering about how proud I am of being left-handed. In short, our conversation cost us precious points and for what?! To talk about my being left-handed? How absurd. But it's true. I'm just so proud. Funnily enough, most of the things I'm proud of come from my father (who, most of the time, drives me absolutely crazy). For your reading pleasure...a few things maybe some wouldn't think of that I am OH SO PROUD OF:

*my height

*being a brunette

*the fact that I'm proud of being a brunette:)

*being left-handed

*my tan:)

*my sense of humor

*my first name

*my last name

*my testimony

*my sense of humor

*talents

*lack of domestic talents

*my relationship with my brother!

*****Trivia******Which traits come from dad and which come from mom?! Try to figure it out?!

Testimony

Wow. Twice in one day...isn't that like ridiculous, sinful, illegal?! :) Sorry can't help it. You probably wouldn't know it but the me in this picture was not in the least bit happy this day. That picture was taken about 3 years ago during one of the most difficult trials I ever faced (luckily I had a best friend that stood by me and helped me through it)nonetheless I wasn't happy. The year following this difficult time in my life was a year in which I constantly hurt. I was able to remember to the very date when certain events took place and I would torture myself with those memories. Constantly feeling I never measured up or somehow it was all about me and what I was lacking that brought this on. As I read through my journal entries of days long passed last night, I realized how much my Father in Heaven loves me. Prior to such a trial I think I never did feel I was quite who I was supposed to be spiritually. I never felt good enough. When I look back on the past three years I can't be anything but blessed. I do not feel angry, bitter, sad, none of those. I feel blessed, happy, and so thankful. As a result of the life I currently live I have been able to serve in numerous church callings that have taken me where I am today. I see where my talents are--and now I know that although they need improvement, I am not lacking. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church. I know that now. I don't feel that or believe it, I know it. I know who I am and what I believe more than I ever thought I could. When people say the Lord really does know what's best, it may sound cliche but it is SO incredibly true. Today I am happy...happier than I've ever been. I remember what it meant to hurt so much and sometimes when I hear a song now or see something that takes me back I don't hurt and I recognize that I don't hurt. It's the most bizarre thing. It's not just about this one thing that happened a few years ago. It's what it all represented and it's who I was then verses who I am now. I am constantly aware of my Heavenly Father's hand in my life and the opportunity to move forward that my Savior has given me. I see where I fit into His plan and that's an incredible gift. I apologize for the mushy religious stuff, but I have a testimony. I had the opportunity to share it today and now I don't want to stop sharing it! :) What a blessed life I lead!

Love is in the air....

That's Right!
I am absolutely and completely in love with my job! I am really reluctant to say so much already. I pray that it stays this way, I truly do. I have never been happier. There's so much that I love about 5th grade. Wow! I am truly in heaven. They're funny, they're compassionate, they're amazing! I am loving teaching. There's no way to even compare my 3rd grade experience to this. It's so completely different. I'm not sure what it is...the staff, the principal, the kids, having my own lesson plans and structure? It hasn't been easy. My students are already struggling with math (we've been learning about the Distributive Property) and it's difficult for me and they're already so discouraged. I'm incredibly ill-prepared. I have no idea what I'm doing. But I don't leave wishing the day was over. I don't ache for 4:00. I like seeing my class every morning. It's like on the episode of Friends where Rachel has her baby. Emma is sleeping when she first brings her home from the hospital and Rachel goes, "I miss her right now." Rachel proceeds to wake her up. When the kids first get to class I ask them to silently read (that's the only time I can fit in silent reading time and it works well) and I have a hard time waiting for the time period. Actually, I don't think I've given them the full 20 minutes yet...I just can't wait to start talking to them :) Sometimes I wonder if I'm not really meant to teach--however, because there's still SO much kid in me. Let me tell you about Friday afternoon:

So...I'm supposed to be teaching the states and capitals. The thing is...I don't see a purpose in this. It's not being tested and while I feel geography is a very important subject matter...I don't think memorization is the key. It's just one of those things I don't believe in. There's no need or crucial reason to teach the states and capitals. I was taught this very thing...in 5th grade as a matter of fact--and I still can't locate MOST states and certainly most capitals. Anyway, I have to teach it and I don't even know how. Teaching students how to memorize things like this was NOT something I got a degree in. There wasn't a single class on that (and I wonder why?!) So...I decide that I'll teach them the "Fifty Nifty United States" song and go from there. We'll locate the states on a map and move forward. I mention this to Deb (another 5th grade teacher...I student taught for her and I LOVE her) and she sends one of her students down with a CD which she thinks she has the music for that song. Well...I try it out WITH the kids in the room and it's NOT "Fifty Nifty United States" it's something SO much better. It's a publication called Twin Sisters (I'm assuming that the two ladies are actually twin sisters which is what makes it all the better) and it's a country-twangy and very catch song and my class LOVED it! They laughed and got a tiny bit out of control...some told me they wanted to add it to their IPOD and wanted copies. It's brilliant and SO SO great. I laughed and got a little out of control with them...I worry that I'm not always the grown-up I need to be. But I must say...I'm sure having fun!

Follow this link for a clip of the song...you have to click forward about half way..some random song plays to introduce the listing of the states. It's so great...please listen and be a kid again...

http://www.twinsisters.com/uploads/file-6266.mp3

This whole experience just reminds me of this little obsession Shane and I had. Mom took us to see a similar guy--he sang kids songs for a living...and we LOVED his tape. We listened to it over and over again!! Here's a link to something of his that we loved...listen in celebration of my brother and I and our incredible mom:) Seriously...look at us...he loved me so much! Thanks mom! I love my life!!!

http://www.songsforteaching.com/tomchapin/uhohaccident.htm

go here and click listen. You can find more of his music at

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,413784,00.html

Alright. I'm done being obsessive. Kids are great. Being a kid is great! Enjoy!!