Off to San Fran with Sister Tiet and family

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Sister!!!!!!

This is my sister Michelle Marie Larson looking like the angel she is with the sun hallowing her head!

Chelle is turning 30 this year. What a gift to the world she has been. I know some really good people in my life, but I have to be honest and say that none can top my sister. Since I can remember, which is really far back,she has always been a great example and friend to me. When we would get in fights she was always the one to try and make it right first, when she learned something cool at school she couldn't wait to share it with me, even if it meant keeping me up all night till I really understood what ever concept it was she was trying to help me understand. You know, really important things like how to round numbers, how to read novels and how to wear floral print. (sorry that the floral print never stuck Chelle, you did your best!)

Chelle has always been someone who I really look up to and try to emulate in my life. I know this can be a lot of pressure on a person, but she is a constant, not just for me but for all those who know her. People are drawn to her compassion, intellect and the genuine interest she has in everyone she meets.

She traveled the world way before I had a chance to and ever since I have been trying to catch up with her. She served a mission in Korea and while she was still on her mission, every Korean I met from near where she served had heard of her legend and let me know how amazing as a sister she was and how special she made them feel. She has beautiful, loving, FUN kids, who are that way because of the great people her and Brig (her husband) are.

Although Chelle is very busy with family and business she genuinely cares about what is happening in the world and how it is affecting people. She seeks to understand how best to approach new ideas and is very slow to take a position on something that will affect people, even if she doesn't know them personally, because she cares that deeply about humanity.



Chelle is a peacemaker and has and will continue to create a feeling of peace, comfort and strength where ever she goes and what ever she is involved in. The world is a better place because of my sister and I could never express how thankful I am for her and how much she means to me, and the influence she has had over who I have become.

Chelle, I wish you the best 30th birthday you could ever ask for. If I were there I would throw you a huge party!!!! With dancing, and music, and a few good board games and puzzles! Since I can't be there we will have to settle for that kind of party over Thanksgiving.

I love your guts!

New Baby Edmond!!!!!!!

Yes, my newest nephew is here!!!!!!!!! I am sooo excited. Chelle had Edmond at 7:30 this morning. I was on a flight back from DR Congo but called as soon as I got off the plan and heard the good news. Chelle was a rock star as usual. She really held it together well as Edmond took his time to decide when to come out.
Man I am so proud of my sister and her whole little family!

Fair Time with Tutu's Hawaiian Shave Ice

Hailey and I having a heart to heart in the booth. That red top canopy really cast a deep shadow on us!
Mom, Nathan, Caitlyn and Tucker working hard at the booth. We had some pretty slow moments, but over all it wasn't a bad year.
Thuey and Hoa helped out on Sunday. Thuey was a super fast learner on the cash register, which was great for me cause I was done with it at that point.
We had about 12 different flavors to choose from. I think Tigers Blood was one of the most popular. What is Tigers Blood, you ask? Funny you should ask, cause so did everyone else who ordered from us who hadn't before. Tiger's blood is cherry and coconut mix, one of my favorites, though I think my all time favorite this year was the root beer flavor with the ice cream in the bottom, tasted like a root beer float.

Every year my family has a booth selling shave ice at the county fair. I missed it last year as I was traveling and so made a special trip out this year not to miss it. I ended up being there everyday for about a week. We had a really good time. We didn't even get in any arguments. I love it when the family can have fun without drama!

Grama's Sunday Dinner

Whose got the coolest Grama in the world? I do!!!!!!!
She looks better in these shades than me.

Every Sunday Grama organizes a dinner for what ever family is in town. The Stewarts are almost always around and I make it once in a while. We also have some other cousins in the area who are doing school here off and on. This is a shot of Grama, Aunt Heather and I at the Stewarts house. We have been having the dinner there cause they have a BBQ grill and Grama is dedicated to having BBQ every Sunday. mmmm, yum, I don't mind it at all.

Oh ya, and Whitney my Cousin always makes an amazingly delicious desert.

Nieces Dance

I made it back to Oregon in June to see my nieces perform in their recital. CC is the second from the left. The twinkies, Ava and Bri are the two little blonds in pink on the front row. I somehow missed Kennedy, but she was a pretty damn cute sailor girl. The whole recital was a blast. Too bad I didn't get any sleep the night before because of the garage sale.

Cousin Ashley's Words on Hair and Monks

Most Monks of all religions, as well as Nuns of the Buddhist faith, shave their head as a symbol of releasing the vanities of the material life. The fact that the vanity involved in hair is so embedded in the human mind is definitely a factor in these vows. Simplicity means having no hair to be vain about, the Buddhist Monks and Nuns say. The unsaid current is, of course, how powerful and strong and beautiful our hair can make us feel, and how deeply we are attached to it.

Here is a picture of Asheley and her kid Cannon on the right, along with Heatherlee and Miles, and Cheralie and Averi. Three of my favorite cousins. Acutally, I don't really have favorite cousins cause I think they are all fantastic people.
Thanks for the comments Ashley!

Christian is Married!

Christian got married last weekend! It was great to be with the family.

Ninja Turtles and Princes

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Little Princes. The middle guy is my cute nephew Anders. The other two are his cousins. Cool kids. We spent a good hour getting the best actions shoots possible.

Christmas Fun

Debbie K. and Josh K. at Mt. Hood. They invited Philip and I to go with them, we had a blast!
Philip and I at Mt. Hood
Lucy at Cannon beach
Tara, Nathan and I at Bald Peak
Up at bald peak playing with Lucy on Christmas day
Lucy loves the snow! This was while we were snowshoeing, I think she dug herself into a snow bank or something.

So I went to the only Icebreaker store in the U.S. in Portland. I was in heaven and a bit overwhelmed by all the prospects of the greatest outdoor clothing I could possibly buy. So while I was shopping for a present for Philip, Mom couldn't help but be drawn to the children's section where she found the greatest sweaters for Anders and Maddie!
Anders looking like the Rock Star he is!
Cici rocking out on the Drums!! This was at James and Jenn's place.

Beautiful Maddie

Me and Maddie,

Okay, so this is not the best picture of Maddie, the sun was a little bright

March 26 - April 1

Monday
Got called on in Class right after Ms. Clayson my roomate was called on, neither of us could anwer. Embarasing yes, unexpected maybe, but not really at this point in the semester.
After not being able to anwer, the teacher stopped mid sentance and asked if everyone thought it smelled like somone had been burning incense. I sunk in my seat, my petchouili was a little strong I guessed.

Tuesday
After Class while Nikki, Ms. Clayson (Glad) and I sat finishing up our notes, Glad thought it was important that she help our teacher solve the mystery of the incense. We were the only ones left in the room. Professor Gordon, was walking out when she shooted, Professor Gordon, you know how you though it smelled like incense yesterday? Well that was my hippie roomate, Ms. Vial. I turned a little red!
That night I competed in the quarterfinal's for Moot court and rocked it, to go on to the Semi- Finals

Wednesday
Got called on by Constitutional law professor Gedicks while in a combined class with all of the 1st years. I knew the anwers, and what I didn't know, Glad knew. And lets just say I was a little proud of my self.
Prom!!!! We had a lot of fun getting dressed up and meeting at Nikki's house, where we took some more photos. Ty and I had a blast dancing all night. It was just a continuity of the wave, just riding the wave.

Thursday
I was just a little distracted from my good time at Prom. Got my carrel seat, I was 94th pick and got a carrel a little far away from all my peeps.
Study group, 3 hours, Prep for the new oral argument 3 hours. Had to switch sides and was a little flustered. Missed the case name while arguing. Didn't move on!
Fell off the wave.

Friday
Had a letter on my desk inviting me to be a senior editor for the Education Law Journal, started paddling again.
Went climbing with a crush, went to mission reunion. Told stories around a bonfire. Saw good friends I have missed and ended in a cuddlefest with good friends.

Saturday
Was so tired I wanted to die. Studied till late.

Sunday
Mom and Dad were in town. Slept in spent all morning cleaning the house. Watched the last session of conference with the family. Got a blessing from Dad and Chris, I think I will now make it through finals. Came home and heard some good music from Jess, and Nathaniel. Hung up a Hammock on the porch. Maybe someday I will get to use it!

Happy Madeline!!!

Beautiful Girls

Here is my Sister Chelle and Madeline. What a perfect shot!

Maddie found her thumb!

Ya boys!! This is my Niece, talk about beautiful baby genes. I am pretty sure they run in the family!

Jess, Luz and I Snowshowing

What a beautiful day at Big Spring Hallow! We went snowshoing for a couple hours, our hair, mouths and nose hairs were all frozen half way through.

Luz and I

This is my New Dog Luz. She is so smart!!! She is a lab Pit Bull mix and is really sweet. As you can see here, she helps me study really hard! Actually not really, but at least she provides a good pillow for me when I can't go any longer!

Anders and I on his first hike, IN THE MOUNTAINS!!!!

Our Family Portrait