Big Bear Snow Trip

Sometimes the monotony of 70 degree sunny weather gets old and you want to play in the snow during the winter months. Luckily for us, there is a ski resort town in the San Bernadino mountains called Big Bear. So we borrowed some snow clothes from some friends for Rett, and Heather went to work on craigslist looking for snow clothes for the rest of us. As always, she found all the clothes we needed very quickly for a steal of a deal and we were ready to brave the snow. Because of my flexible school schedule, we were able to take a trip up the mountain (about 3 hours away) on a Thursday afternoon and stay overnight (cheaper hotels on Thursday, don't you know?). We played in the snow on Thursday and Friday (Did I mention this was the first time Rett had ever seen snow and the last time Coby saw it was when he was 3 months old?) Then when we were tired of the snow and cold weather, we drove down the mountain to return to sunny 70 degree weather, which turns out isn't so bad after all.

The only thing better than playing in the snow is eating doughnuts for breakfast!

Heather's Birthday

This year Heather wanted a nice dinner with friends for her birthday. Everyone was gracious enough to get babysitters and we spent a night out without any kids. First dinner, then bowling and the free arcade. We all had a great time.

I don't think I need to say who won bowling, but just in case I do need to say it, I won.

Heather Taking a turn on the arcade motorcycle game.

Larson Reunion 2008

We had a Larson Reunion in San Diego over New Years. All of my family stayed in a nice hostel in Point Loma that had plenty of room for all 28 of us. When they weren't at the hostel, they were staying with us in our small 800 sq ft 2-bedroom apartment. This was the first time my whole family has been completely together since before Heather and I were married.

Christmas Pictures

Our gingerbread house tradition. My brother Golden was visiting from Indonesia.

So we leave 4 cookies for Santa and the next morning after Coby has opened his present loot, all we kept hearing from him was "Why did Santa get four cookies and coby only gets one?" My son, Mr. gratitude.

Work Holiday Party

Every year Heather and I have to pay big bucks to go to my work holiday party. It would be illegal for my work to throw us a party by themselves: the joys of working for the government. At least everyone reading this feels better knowing that I'm not having the time of my life on their tax-paying dime. Anyway, the parties are always a fancy dinner and dancing kind of thing. Heather and I really like to show our moves on the dance floor, and sadly, this sometimes is the only chance during the year we get to. It is always better with good friends too. Like Jacoby would ever go to a dance without doing the robot, and quite well I should add.

Halloween Superheros

Every year, Heather makes us all matching costumes, spending hours and hours of work (usually at the last minute). Everyone always asks us where we got our matching costumes, and everyone is so impressed that Heather made them. She is quite handy, I have to say. This year she was quite sick with her pregnancy and still was able to pull it off: although at crunch time the kids just got the fake buy-it-off-ebay deal.

Christmas Card

Heather is so talented. She wrote up this poem to include with our Christmas card. It really is a gift she has. Hopefully she only uses it for good (not evil).

What a year this has been full of joys to remember
One that kept us busy from January to December.

Coby at 4 is energetic as ever but even more fun
He learns things so quickly and is always on the run.
Holding my hand he’ll look up and say
Best buddies right mom? It sure makes my day.

Our funny little Rett-ster has grown up a lot
Doing things on his own he’s no longer a tot.
He still is a sweet boy and mischievous too
Everything is “I do it”, you can tell that he’s two!

At UCSD Jacoby took schooling under his wing
Earning a Masters in electrical engineering.
He’s ever so busy with work, family, and school
With very little sleep, he’s still mister cool.

Heather turned 30 and is now in her prime
Crafting, & baking & writing silly rhymes.
She’s pregnant again and is sick as can be
June 2009 will bring baby number three.

Two weeks in Europe on an adventure we went
Our kids watched by friends who were heaven sent.
First stop was Venice, a maze of beautiful sites
Glass blowing, gondolas, so much to see in only two nights.

Ancient history came alive as we toured around Rome
Eating Italian food for a week sure made us miss home.
Paris was da bomb (Jacoby’s helping here) and the food was divine
Spending this trip together was a fabulous time.

By London our poor little feet were exhausted
We were missing our boys and our noses were frosted.
So after a little sight seeing it was off to the shows
Les Mis & Wicked brought our trip to a close.

Summer was full of the joys that are found
When you live only a mile from a beach year-round.
A student apartment is our new zone
Saving our pennies for a house of our own.

Up to Lake Hume for a family vacation
For camping, and swimming it was the perfect location.
Next on to Sequoia to see the worlds biggest trees
The boys loved to make s’mores and do as they pleased.

We have so many blessings, too many to tell
We hope this letter finds those we love as happy as well.
We are grateful this season for all that joy that can be found
In family, in friendship, in God’s love all around.

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Jacoby, Heather, Coby & Rett Larson



Here were a few of the lines that I nixed:

First to Venice, so beautiful and serene
Some say that Jacoby is really mean

First stop was Venice, a maze of beautiful sights
The gondolas were very romantic at night (but we didn’t really go on one since Jacoby said they were too expensive. See other poem about Jacoby).

He’s a busy guy with family, school, and work
Sometimes we think he acts like a jerk.

Family, school, and work keep him busy
With too little sleep he gets in a tizzy.

This is using her powers for evil.