Aimee Larsen
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Captains Log: January = Basement Bathroom

1/9/2020

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Basement Guest Bathroom Under Construction
We have had a fully functioning bathroom in the basement for a long time.  We have made some updates to it and this months goal is to finish it out.  Let me just tell you how much I wanted to kiss my husband when the last piece of drywall was hung.  I actually asked for joint tape and mud for my birthday...I got a door bell instead...but the next step is joint tape and drywall mud....

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Captains Log: 15 Months From Camper to Home

12/2/2019

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15 Months from Camper to Basement
I had someone ask me the other day where we were living.  She didn't mean location.  She meant like in what where we living?  A camper?  A house?  A basement?  A cabin?  She was so confused by our situation.  So am I friend.  So am I.  

I started really thinking about this question and what prompted it.  She mentioned that most of the pictures I share are either outside or close up of the kids and sometimes in what looks like a camper.  I had this internal eye roll at myself kind of moment where I was annoyed with how I was presenting my life and why.  It doesn't really matter to you the reader about why I need some serious therapy.  Instead, if I would blog more, you could all be my therapists and life will be great.  

This morning I snapped a photo from where I am currently sitting and drinking in every blessing I see in that image.  I'm going to share them with you. I think that seeing what my world has been like verses what it is today not only brings greater appreciation for what we had then and have now, but what is about to come.  

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flight it out

8/1/2019

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Flight It Out, How Technology Hurting Our Kids
I had a conversation with my boys today that I really hope they heard.  I sat them both down and said "I'm going to tell you the truth".  Midway through the monologue I asked if they were receiving what I was saying because I needed to know they were hearing me.  No one enjoys a monologue from mom for long.  The reason for such a conversation was a fight between the two that made me jump and run and so, we had the fight or flight conversations.  It's one that we as parents should be having with each other and our kids on the regular.  

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Teepee Style Play House DIY

6/24/2019

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DIY Teepee Style Wooden Playhouse | Larsen, Party of 7
I have this theory that if I remove all the plastic out of the woods around our house and replace it with organic and natural materials to play with, the kids will stay there longer and take ownership of their space.  The transactional exchange they have with nature should be a positive one, much like the book The Giving Tree.  Except, let's try to save the tree and save the kids in the process. I made up my mind to build them a teepee style place to play in the woods to replace their little tykes playhouse.  I had the hardest time finding instructions, but I think it turned out pretty amazing and I'll try to walk you through the process.  

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DIY Mud Kitchen

6/13/2019

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DIY Mud Kitchen | Larsen Party of 7
My kids have been in so much trouble for the last few months because of the mess they make with mud.  They know how to take playing mud over the top.  It was everywhere all the time.  I decided to embrace it.  I have been thinking about it for awhile.  I've looked up ideas and then today, when the Bigs decided they wanted to help, we got busy.  We had so much fun that  while I'm not giving play by play instructions, I am showing you a bit of the process to inspire you. 

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5 Ways to Help with Sibling Separation Anxiety

6/11/2019

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5 WAYS TO HELP WITH SIBLING SEPARATION ANXIETY | Larsen Party of 7

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Routine

10/6/2018

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Larsen Party of 7 | Routine
Friday morning the kids bus ran early.
By early I mean earlier than usual which is still early...too early.
6:30 a.m. and I pass the bus as I'm coming back from working out.
A text from my neighbor.  Kids are missing the bus left and right.  
I end up taking 4 kids to school that morning.
If everyone would just stick to the routine life could keep moving at it's normal pace.

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Be Still

9/29/2018

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Larsen Party of 7 | Be Still

For the past 6 weeks I have spent a great deal of time talking about the construction of our home and how just laying the foundation has been such hard work.  The most important work actually.  Clearing and digging.  Blood sweat and tears.  My family, my husband, and my daddy are all working hard to build this dream.  A place of peace, to settle, to come home to, a place for my children to always find us, to find home.

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Enough

9/26/2018

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Larsen Party of 7 | Enough
Earlier this week this word, enough, just kept making its way into my vocabulary.

We have enough bottles of water.
I have enough laundry to do.
The fridge has enough food.
The kids have played enough.
I’ve had enough of that smell.
Did we celebrate enough?
There’s not enough concrete.
Is there enough fuel?
Is there enough time!

I could make this list go in for days. It is simply that “enough” has resonated on this piece of land over and over this past week...

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19​
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Forward

9/14/2018

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Larsen Party of 7 | FORWARD
Forward as an adverb, onward so as to make progress; toward a successful conclusion.

Forward as a verb, help to advance something; promote.

Forward seems to be the best word to describe this last week.

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Do Not Disturb

9/10/2018

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Larsen Party of 7 | Do Not Disturb
When I look outside one bedroom window in my camper the visibility is about 10 feet before all you see is a wall of green. You can make out that the side of the ridge dips and rises but the green foliage is thick and protective.

When I look outside my other bedroom window I see the boys bunk house porch with its handmade bench & rosemary plant. At night I can see the solar lights that point us to their door, otherwise it’s pitch black and I know they are sleeping. Just beyond where they rest and play, is what we now call the playground. With its gentle swing, tiny playhouse, and “pirates ship” deck with slide.

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Finding Peace

9/2/2018

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Larsen Party of 7 | Finding Peace
You may automatically assume that when you pack up 95% of your belongings, put it all in storage, and move to God’s country in a camper that you automatically find peace. You assume you’ll wake up in the mornings, step out into the fresh air and breathe deep while holding a hot cup of coffee and still have your hair up in a messy bun. You assume that the kids haven’t stirred from their beds and that for just a few moments you can just enjoy the sun on your face and a whisper to your soul from the One that created it all. That’s what you imagine right?

Okay, so, maybe that’s not what you imagine. Maybe I’m just a dreamer at heart and have a vision of how I WANT my mornings to start. Maybe, you’re more realistic than I am and you knew right from the start that our mornings would not be wrapped in such quite ambience.

Nope. I did not imagine correctly how these mornings this last week would feel, smell, sound, or look. My senses have given me quite a realistic awakening to camper life when life must go on.

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We Moved Again | Take 2

8/25/2018

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We Moved Again | Take 2
This week has been interesting. Of course, anytime you try to step into God’s will for your life, start seeking wisdom, or are on the right path our Enemy tries to steal our joy and throw us off. I’ll be the first to admit I forget to put on the FULL armor. Since the day I found out my book was ready for publication I have experienced “attacks” that are so far out in left field that the only explanation is spiritual warfare surrounding me. Kingdom work comes with a price.

Sunday evening I spent most of my time doing an obscene amount of laundry because the kids haven’t learned that they HAVE to keep their clean clothes put away. I spent Saturday organizing the Bigs clothing so hopefully it won’t be a problem again. It took 2-1/2 hours this time. Some of that time I used to write a blog post about praying with your husband, then when I returned home we ended up having an argument that was shameful. Granted we are under stress at the moment but it’s not like us to pit against each other in such a way. Of course, we saw it for what it was and rectified it with prayer. We are a team and we both are given the Royal Armor from the King, we just have to remember to wear it and stay obedient to the Spirit. Otherwise, the Enemy will rip us apart. So, our week started off with spiritual self checks.

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Survival Mode

8/17/2018

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Picture
A week ago today, we signed the papers on our house. We were exhausted and delirious, hopeful and excited. I cried only once that day, I had fallen asleep in the car on the ride back to our former home to get a few left overs and when I woke up I saw the sweetest little family moving happily into a house that had been our home for sixteen years. The next chapter of our lives officially began....

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Saying Goodbye

10/2/2017

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Saying Good Bye: Moving to the Woods

On August 10th, my husband and I closed on our house.  We had built this house while I was expecting my first baby.  We loved this place but we were being called to something different.  Something that most people wouldn't think to venture.  

​We sold our home after over 16 years of living here and raising our babies, bring home 5 little ones here, and packed up our things and moved to the woods.  I had great peace about the entire process.

Our new dreams are going to fruition.  


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    About Us:  Our adventure as a family of 7, building our dream home debt free in the wilderness of Georgia.
    Picture
    I'm Aimee, former Early Childhood Educator and Reading Specialist turned author, speaker, blogger, and mom of 5.  This website is meant to inspire & equip parents of little ones to promote early literacy & language development at home.  You will also find fun crafts, devotionals, and recipes to explore..  
    ​Learn more about me here.

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*Photos are reflective of a handmade or hand stamped design; including naturally occurring materials. It is not intended to represent the exact product you will receive. Variation in shape, color, size should be expected. Each pearl & stone is unique; each piece is unique.​
  • Home
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