This has been a year of changes for the Larsens with lots of ends and new beginnings. Matt completed a bachelor's degree in Spanish at Weber State University this past spring. He worked various jobs while completing his degree including being a janitor at a movie theater, tutoring elementary students and delivering pizzas. He gladly accepted a job with the State of Utah as an eligibility specialist for the Department of Workforce Services in August. That means he takes a lot of phone calls from people who are applying or having trouble with various government welfare programs. He does a lot of tedious paperwork as well at his job, and he's content with it. He says he likes it a lot better than going to school.
With his new job, we moved from our home of 5 years in Ogden to Ephraim, a small town in central Utah about 2 hours away from Salt Lake City. Matt actually commutes from Ephraim to Manti (7 minutes away). We are currently renting an apartment but are hoping to be closing on a home a few blocks away within the next month.
Brigham is now 4 ½ and proudly writes his name on every piece of paper he can find around the apartment. He has started preschool and loves learning new things. He loves to collect pebbles, sticks, shells, leaves, etc. and puts them in a box for his “collection”. He has wanted to be a mailman, “a boy who cuts hair”, and currently wants to be a guy who fixes cars when he grows up. He is very helpful and kind to his sister Sarah Jane (most of the time).
Sarah Jane just turned 2. She loves talking on Erin's cell phone to imaginary and real people, intentionally and unintentionally. Sarah loves playing with her dolls, dancing, singing, and to say “Me too!” after everything Brigham says. She loves the color pink, which is the only color she knows and dislikes things that are not that color. Milk lids are switched on the milk in our household so that her milk has the pink lid. She is that picky!
Erin is still staying at home with the kids. She has discovered with Matt's new job she finally has some much needed free time! So she resolved this year to find a new thrilling hobby for herself... she'll give you an update on whatever she decides it will be next year, but she swears it won't be cooking or cleaning!
We hope that your family will have a merry Christmas this year filled with peace and joy! We are excited to start our new life down here in Sanpete County! Best Wishes!
Love,
Matt, Erin, Brigham and Sarah Jane