Brenda and Dave Larsen stuff

1 A partridge in a pear tree…no but we did have our lovely German Foreign exchange student this year that we enjoyed as we did all our exchange students! They keep Brenda busy so Dave can have a peaceful life…ha ha ! Thanks Anne Marie for being a good sport and making our year fun! We also enjoyed her family coming to visit in June and while they were here we all took a once in a lifetime small engine airplane ride to the grand canyon, then a helicopter ride down into the grand canyon, then rode a pontoon boat down the river, then back out on the helicopter and home in the airplane . The highlight was her sister throwing up when we got off the bumpy riding airplane…I was just glad it wasn’t me…. ha ha

2 Turtle Doves - Well let’s call this our Missionary Amber( with her testimony doubled!) She came home from serving an honorable mission to Washington. And what a joy it was to have her back! With Dave’s frequent flyer miles and a new credit card that gave a free flight if you joined we have the least expensive most wonderful trip ever back to her mission to meet all the people Amber grew to love on her mission. The people took us in and fed us like royalty and gave lots of hugs for free. They were the most wonderful people. Some I know that if we lived there we would be “best friends”. We saw the sights and were spiritually fed as well with their “Life of Christ “presentation that we got to feel and enjoy.

3 French Hens …ok not French but OUR 3 hens, (KATE, STACIE and JANAY) were all pregnant this year! Faith was born to Kate and Zach with heart complications and the miracle of heart surgery has made her a healthy little bundle of joy! Little Henri is hoping to arrive any day to The Miner Clan ( they keep praying for him to come out and play)~ Matt and Janay are trying their best to keep baby Bradley David in till the new year so Matt will be able to add to his mini basketball team! Our family keeps growing and we love them all so much!

4 Calling Birds …let’s see, this reminds me of my new cell phone. I moved up in technology by swiping Sams’ out of date cell phone and moving to touch phone. It almost killed me but I finally learned to make a call and get a text and even take a picture. Annemarie really helped me figure it all out…. bless her! lol

5 Golden Rings - I’m going to say this was TREK. Dave and I spent 5 golden days in the Mountains of Kolob reenacting the Willy and Martian handcart pioneer trek. We worked day and night for 2 years and through many days in tears and many days in absolute “ahhh” of the inspiration we received somehow we pulled off an incredible Trek for the youth of our stake. The Young women presidency and a few special friends got me through this calling that scared me more than any calling I have ever had. For some reason I felt the pressure that I have never felt! In the end “All is well” and even though a good friend passed away on the trail hours before we came home I feel peace and I know that the church is true and that the pioneers sacrifice wasn’t for nothing. Christ lives and Baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate this season IS my savior and I love him! Many lives were changed including my own!

6 Geese A-laying - reminds me of our family reunion this year! We had Larsen relatives lying all over the house! We had people at all the kid’s homes too! We decided to have our annual Campout as VEGAS Vacation and it was so much fun! We went out to eat at a ton of places and went to shows and made jewelry and played games till all hours of the night! We have so much fun with the Larsen extended family! I’m so thankful we are such a close family~ I hope we do it again sometime but I really missed our camping time too so maybe we can do both …ha ha . Eric and Janes family have really been taking care of Amber while she has been away at college. They really have a special place in our hearts~

7 Swans A-swimming …seriously we (me and Stacie and several of the grandkids) hit a swimming pool every week this summer! Henderson has some great water parks and that is a highlight of our summers. Also the Stokes family always throws a fun “end of the year “swimming party for the dancers and I love them for it! Wow I have great dancer families!

!
8 Maids A-milking … ok this is funny…We threw a PROM this year and everyone we invited had to dress up in prom dresses( I got mine at the salvation army) It was fun planning it and I did milk the whole thing and was voted prom Queen! Yes I was lovely and yes I still wear my crown every chance I get! I just wanted to thank you all again for your votes! We danced to the tune of “Up Up and Away”, made corsages and got special dinner reservations to the buffet. We all went to Vegas to see the Bellagio waters and flower gardens and simply had an elegant time. I even got a grandbaby out of it! Good job Janay

9 Ladies Dancing …I guess that would be me. I’m still teaching a ton of dancers and still enjoying it! I’m hoping Amber gets her degree and comes home to take over but who knows what will happen in the future. Right now I’m still loving it most days! Dad and Ann still come every year to the dance review and they will never know how much it means to have them still take an interest in my dancing! Did I ever tell you how much we love them>? We have been so grateful to have them in our lives! What a blessing it is to have goodly parents!

10 Lords A-leaping …we were all leaping for joy this year when Dave was honored for his scouting by receiving a Silver Beaver Award. Zach and Kate lead the team in getting the paperwork ready and Stacie helped get his info by asking for it so John could be a better scout from his example. All in all it was a big surprise to him and we were so happy that he could be recognized for all the countless hours he has given to scouts. He is now back in scouts in our ward as the scoutmaster with Sam as his assistant. Learn fast Sam! Dad is getting old! Lol Aaron was key in getting all the kids together to go to the banquet and we were all there to see Dave shine. Aaron is also working in the scouts! All my eagles are doing great! ‘Mason will be a scout soon too!

12 Drummers Drumming …a big drum roll for ME, for thinking of all this stuff to write. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing about it. It was a great year full of fun and family. I can’t ask for anything better than this~
HUGS to all and have a Merry Christmas~
Love Dave and Brenda

The 12 Days of Christmas….Brenda’s’ yearly memoirs
1 A partridge in a pear tree…no but we did have our lovely German Foreign exchange student this year that we enjoyed as we did all our exchange students! They keep Brenda busy so Dave can have a peaceful life…ha ha ! Thanks Anne Marie for being a good sport and making our year fun! We also enjoyed her family coming to visit in June and while they were here we all took a once in a lifetime small engine airplane ride to the grand canyon, then a helicopter ride down into the grand canyon, then rode a pontoon boat down the river, then back out on the helicopter and home in the airplane . The highlight was her sister throwing up when we got off the bumpy riding airplane…I was just glad it wasn’t me…. ha ha
2 Turtle Doves - Well let’s call this our Missionary Amber( with her testimony doubled!) She came home from serving an honorable mission to Washington. And what a joy it was to have her back! With Dave’s frequent flyer miles and a new credit card that gave a free flight if you joined we have the least expensive most wonderful trip ever back to her mission to meet all the people Amber grew to love on her mission. The people took us in and fed us like royalty and gave lots of hugs for free. They were the most wonderful people. Some I know that if we lived there we would be “best friends”. We saw the sights and were spiritually fed as well with their “Life of Christ “presentation that we got to feel and enjoy.
3 French Hens …ok not French but OUR 3 hens, (KATE, STACIE and JANAY) were all pregnant this year! Faith was born to Kate and Zach with heart complications and the miracle of heart surgery has made her a healthy little bundle of joy! Little Henri is hoping to arrive any day to The Miner Clan ( they keep praying for him to come out and play)~ Matt and Janay are trying their best to keep baby Bradley David in till the new year so Matt will be able to add to his mini basketball team! Our family keeps growing and we love them all so much!
4 Calling Birds …let’s see, this reminds me of my new cell phone. I moved up in technology by swiping Sams’ out of date cell phone and moving to touch phone. It almost killed me but I finally learned to make a call and get a text and even take a picture. Annemarie really helped me figure it all out…. bless her! lol
5 Golden Rings - I’m going to say this was TREK. Dave and I spent 5 golden days in the Mountains of Kolob reenacting the Willy and Martian handcart pioneer trek. We worked day and night for 2 years and through many days in tears and many days in absolute “ahhh” of the inspiration we received somehow we pulled off an incredible Trek for the youth of our stake. The Young women presidency and a few special friends got me through this calling that scared me more than any calling I have ever had. For some reason I felt the pressure that I have never felt! In the end “All is well” and even though a good friend passed away on the trail hours before we came home I feel peace and I know that the church is true and that the pioneers sacrifice wasn’t for nothing. Christ lives and Baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate this season IS my savior and I love him! Many lives were changed including my own!
6 Geese A-laying - reminds me of our family reunion this year! We had Larsen relatives lying all over the house! We had people at all the kid’s homes too! We decided to have our annual Campout as VEGAS Vacation and it was so much fun! We went out to eat at a ton of places and went to shows and made jewelry and played games till all hours of the night! We have so much fun with the Larsen extended family! I’m so thankful we are such a close family~ I hope we do it again sometime but I really missed our camping time too so maybe we can do both …ha ha Eric and Janes family have really been taking care of Amber while she has been away at college. They really have a special place in our hearts~
7 Swans A-swimming …seriously we (me and Stacie and several of the grandkids) hit a swimming pool every week this summer! Henderson has some great water parks and that is a highlight of our summers. Also the Stokes family always throws a fun “end of the year “swimming party for the dancers and I love them for it! Wow I have great dancer families!
8 Maids A-milking … ok this is funny…We threw a PROM this year and everyone we invited had to dress up in prom dresses( I got mine at the salvation army) It was fun planning it and I did milk the whole thing and was voted prom Queen! Yes I was lovely and yes I still wear my crown every chance I get! I just wanted to thank you all again for your votes! We danced to the tune of “Up Up and Away”, made corsages and got special dinner reservations to the buffet. We all went to Vegas to see the Bellagio waters and flower gardens and simply had an elegant time. I even got a grandbaby out of it! Good job Janay!
9 Ladies Dancing …I guess that would be me. I’m still teaching a ton of dancers and still enjoying it! I’m hoping amber gets her degree and comes home to take over but who knows what will happen in the future. Right now I’m still loving it most days! Dad and Ann still come every year to the dance review and they will never know how much it means to have them still take an interest in my dancing! Did I ever tell you how much we love them>? We have been so grateful to have them in our lives! What a blessing it is to have goodly parents!
10 Lords A-leaping …we were all leaping for joy this year when Dave was honored for his scouting by receiving a Silver Beaver Award. Zach and Kate lead the team in getting the paperwork ready and Stacie helped get his info by asking for it so John could be a better scout from his example. All in all it was a big surprise to him and we were so happy that he could be recognized for all the countless hours he has given to scouts. He is now back in scouts in our ward as the scoutmaster with Sam as his assistant. Learn fast Sam! Dad is getting old! Lol Aaron was key in getting all the kids together to go to the banquet and we were all there to see Dave shine. Aaron is also working in the scouts! All my eagles are doing great! ‘Mason will be a scout soon too!
11 Pipers Piping …well I don’t know but pipes remind me of fire and this year Erin, my daughter in law, tested for the fire department and was chosen 1 out of 5 from the 1000 or so that applied. We are so proud of her! She will shave her head and start the academy soon! Go Erin!
12 Drummers Drumming …a big drum roll for ME, for thinking of all this stuff to write. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing about it. It was a great year full of fun and family. I can’t ask for anything better than this~
HUGS to all and have a Merry Christmas~
Love Dave and Brenda