Day trip

This week we took a day trip an hour or so south of us to see the tongue oil trees. They are beautiful trees with white blossoms, and if you look at them from a distance they look like snow. Here they are referred to as "April Snow". We used the opportunity to get a lot of pictures of the kids. Here are a few of the fun shots.

Summer's back!

As of this morning, the Larsen summer has officially begun. Monday we bought the kids a new pool (a whole $6) and Ike hasn't stopped talking about it since. So, this morning, they "dove" in. Ike had a blast, while Elle thought the water was still a little too cold.

Nummy!

This morning for breakfast, Noelle had a rare treat...a cream filled roll. As you can see, she enjoyed it very much!

Happy Birthday!

When I (AC) was in 4th grade, I decided to become a master chef. Since today is my wife's BD, I thought I would showcase my skills.

Apparently technology has not advanced rapidly enough to save my homemade brownies from looking like an unpleasant pie.

I discovered ovens (even in this hemisphere) are unable to recognize when food is properly baked and just stop. Also, it is surprisingly easy to cut through silicon pans.

After much deliberation, I have decided not to light 30 tea light candles on this mess (I'm pretty sure we don't have enough normal BD candles). Since I've ruined the cake and the pan, I thought I would at least leave the FD out of the fun.

Lattes anyone???

Kris decided to train the kids to make lattes at a very young age. Ike isn't even 3 yet and he is already helping her. So, if you're looking for an excellent mocha, just ask Ike. The drinks he made for Mom and Dad were WONDERFUL!

Happy Easter!!

He is risen. He is risen indeed! We had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord!

Here are a few shots of the kids checking out the goodies that the Easter bunny left for them.

Hey Mom, where are the bottoms for this dress?

I got Elle dressed 10 min before leaving for church. Needless to say, I didn't look that closely when I pulled tags off her new dress and threw it on her. Poor girl, she went to church, and even the nursery, with the bottoms still attached to the inside of the dress and her diaper "exposed" for everyone to see. Sorry Elle!!!

Ike wants to be like Grandpa

As Isaak was waiting for his supper, Kris taught him a new trick to keep him occupied. Now Ike can hang a spoon on his nose just like Grandpa K and many of his other crazy relatives. This wasn't a good picture, but the best I got (the video showed him actually doing it). Way to go Ike!

Yummy!!!

Elle got to lick the beaters for the first time! Yummy!! She loved the Dream Whip that Grandma B sent us. Thanks Grandma!

Relaxing Together

Coppertone Baby???

Sunday we had temps in the 80's, so the kids were in tank tops and shorts. Elle has so much hair that she was just sweating. I decided to try pigtails. Well, with the pigtails and outfit, we thought she looked a lot like the coppertone baby.

What a day!!

Ike had quite the Sunday! When Ike and I returned from the market on Sunday morning, we found our neighbor building him a tree house. Ike stuck around and "helped". Now we can't get him to stop talking about it! He loves his tree house. Plus, he got to go horseback riding again in the afternoon. Busy day for him and our neighbor!

Party Time

It's been almost a week, but last Sunday we invited a few friends and family over to celebrate Elle being a year. This picture was taken as she was about to dive into her bunny cupcake for the 2nd time (check out the frosting on her nose).

Elle's 1st Birthday

For Elle's birthday supper we had pizza made on tortillas, one of her new favorites! She ate more than her brother did!

Cake time! Ike helped Noelle blow out her candles, and then it was time to eat. It was her first piece of cake (at least that we have given her). She loved it (of course)!

She ended the day by opening gifts sent by family from home. She was pretty tired though, so wasn't completely interested.

What a difference a year makes!

Here are a couple pictures of Noelle from when she was just a couple days old.

Noelle's 1st Birthday

Tomorrow is Noelle's 1st birthday. It is crazy how quickly the year has gone! So, in typical Andy and Kris fashion, we gave Noelle her gift a day early (not that she knows). She loved racing with her brother around our courtyard!
After Noelle went to bed, Ike and I made her a birthday cake. We'll post pictures of her actual birthday tomorrow.

Looking sweet and innocent

Saturday we got home from church and Andy went to work taping what will be Ike and Joe's room so that he could paint it today. Ike slept, so Elle and I spent time playing together. I couldn't resist posting these cute pics of her. Check out the curls....they only get tighter as the day goes on!

Ike's 1st "professional" haircut

As you can tell by the last pic, Ike really needed a haircut. He hates when I do it (so do I), so today we both went to get our hair cut. He actually sat still the whole time! He's never done that for me!!

Side note- Yes, that big black ball looking thing in the background is "Little Joe"

Ike can ride!

Last year Ike got a bike for his birthday. It has taken about 9 months or so, but he finally figured out how to pedal the thing. Before he would pedal half way around, which made for a slow ride. Now, well, watch out. He's FAST!

PS-Uncle Kaare, check out his new Addidas!

Ike's favorite breakfast

Ike loves yogurt. It has become his new favorite breakfast.

My how she's changed!

Noelle turns "1" in two weeks. I recently developed a roll of film (yes, a roll) that I had in the camera for 20 months. These were two shots on the film. The diaper shot is from when she was 6 weeks old, the other was taken a couple weeks ago.

New addition

Here are a couple pics (of course you have to somewhat use your imagination) of our newest addition due the end of May. One is of his hand and the other is a view of his skull with his hand to the left of it.

Yummy, whipped cream!

Need we say more?!?!

We're in trouble!

Noelle has recently discovered how to open cupboards and drawers. Oh what fun lies ahead!