sad but true

I'm obsessed.

my life has been completely consumed for the last week.

 BESOTTED.

New Years in Times Square

a lifelong dream and bucket list item was fulfilled this New Years Eve.

the Larsens and Doxfords braved the crowd of 1 million people to be apart of the Rockin' New Years Eve bash in Times Square!

I can't even begin to explain the craziness that is
"New Years Eve in Times Square"

we showed up around 3pm to wait for the festivities and headed to Bubby's for breakfast around 1am.

there were performances by Lady Gaga, Drake, and Justin Bieber and my heart was so happy.

Mr. Larsen and the Doxfords were so great to go with the flow and stick it out in the sea of people.

we had a great time and got to see the TINY ball drop at midnight.

all my dreams came true.

Christmas 2011

Christmas this year was lovely.

we were able to soak in the magic of Christmastime in the city and spend time with our families.

we couldn't have asked for more.

 Christmas lights on all the light posts line the city streets.

 Mr. Larsen works here.  these are beautiful lights hanging in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Building.

 

 Our little Christmas tree in our new home.

 

a shot of the Manhattan Bridge early one Saturday in December.

 

the New York Stock Exchange in our neighborhood.

 

peppermint hot chocolate and a ginger bread house.

 the final product!

 in Idaho my mom taught me all her tricks of the trade. we made candy all week!

 loved spending time with all of my grandparents while home.

 me and my mama. she taught me how to make our family favorite Christmas Bread.

 mom and dad's Christmas tree.  I made C.J. stand next to it to show how tall it is.

 while home I got to see two of my favorite people in the whole world. xoxo

we spent Christmas Eve with my parents and Christmas Day with the Mr.'s parents. We are so glad they live fairly close to one another so we can spend time with both of them.  Mr. Larsen snapped photos of our Christmas with his family on his phone, so I will have to get those from him. 

The day after Christmas Mr. Larsen's little brother Logan had his Court of Honor.  we are so proud of him for earning his Eagle Scout award and we were glad we could be there for it. My in-laws have a tradition of having someone bring in a real Golden Eagle!

Logan with the great cake my wonderful mother in-law made for the event.

we had such a magical Christmas season, and hope that you all did too!

MOVING.

don't you worry. we aren't moving. this is a quick post about our move right after Thanksgiving.

tricked you.

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we moved...

3 blocks north of our old apartment.

and went from a studio to a one bedroom.

625 square feet to 675 square feet.

from a new building to an old historical building.

next door to ground zero.

and now have a kitchen island.

it has made all the difference in the world!

we are so happy in our new little home.

our beautiful lobby.

 we live in the building in the center of this picture. (the crane on the far left sits on ground zero)

 our lovely floorplan. I know what you're thinking..."I hope that I can someday live in such a spacious and palatial mansion."....and to that I say...all in good time. we can't all live so extravagantly. :)

this is our furniture wrapped up and waiting to leave in our old building.

p.s. I have vowed to never move again within the city. moving companies cannot be trusted.

I was alone while dealing with the movers and it is quite possibly one of my top 5 worst life experiences to date.

BUT- I am not the silly blonde the movers thought I was.. 

and this lady prevailed. 

that is all.

we love our new home!

brother-in-law to be.

right before Thanksgiving my darling little sister Alexa became engaged to her sweetheart Mr. Stewart.

we could not be more thrilled for them and their future together.

he is so great to Alexa and she is smitten.

wedding plans are in progress and the big day is April 27th.

PARTY!

a trip to Idaho in November

since I wasn't able to go home for Thanksgiving this year, I took a quick little trip home in early November.

there were many reasons for this trip.

I missed my family.

I wanted to visit my grandparents.

I wanted to kayak in the canyon with my daddy.

I needed to see my darling Angela and her new baby Colten. (who auntie erica loves by the way)

I missed my girls.

and BSU was playing TCU. (I hate TCU)

I love New York....but I really LOVE going home.

(below are a few pictures from the trip home)

Point Pleasant, New Jersey

last summer we ventured to Point Pleasant, New Jersey with some dear friends for a birthday weekend extravaganza!

we stayed at a teenie little motel

we ate yummy food

we explored the boardwalk

Mr. Larsen and Mr. Doxford made the best purchase of their lives, and then they went on to use said purchases in the ocean.

it was such a great trip to celebrate with some wonderful people!

Giving Thanks.

we spent Thanksgiving in the Bahamas this year with Mr. Larsen's Aunt and Uncle.

they were so great to involve us in their family Thanksgiving festivities.

we played at Atlantis.

laid on the beach.

snorkled.

spear fished.

and ate AMAZING food.

Mr. Larsen even caught a Harvard/Utah basketball game as they were playing in the Atlantis Tournament while we were there.

we have so much to be grateful for and feel very blessed.