McCord is 27

Time flies when you are having fun. I'm SO lucky to have a wonderful man like McCord in my life.

Tuition paid for

Thanks for all the prayers that have been said for us concerning McCord's financial aid. It's been a HUGE long process and we've been on pins and needles for 2 months. His tuition has been entirely paid for with a grants! We are so grateful and so blessed. We are indeed so happy.

End of summer and what we've done in Aug-Sept

This post is long, but it will cover all the weeks that I've missed posting something.

I'm very proud. I've always wanted to get into canning fruit and vegtables, just like my mom and grandma's have. I've always known how, because I have an awesome mom who taught me and still helps me from day to day. I'm proud to announce that I now have 12 quarts of peaches, 6 pints of peach jam, 6 pints of peach-orang marmalade, and 20 pints of salsa. I'll be doing 12-20 quarts of tomato juice in the next 2 days.

I'm always amazed at how fast my summers go by. We had a great summer and McCord got a ton of great film/commercial jobs and he worked really hard. We are now focusing of school and working and saving money. Our lease for our apartment ends next May and we are considering building some equity and getting a small townhouse in Salt Lake, but we'll see.

McCord did some more shooting for Cloak and Dagger and he could end the shooting for this project as it is here. He may decide to shoot one last fight scene. That is all pending. It's great news that pretty much all the shooting is done.

Our biggest news is that we are going to LA this weekend for a "pitch summit". Movie companies from all over are coming to hear pitches of movie and television scripts and ideas. Huge companiese like Lionsgate, Summit, Warner Brothers, Disney and Marvel Studios. McCord and I have been working and working hard to get everything ready to go. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post from LA next week. We have no camera, but we'll be staying with a friend and I might get some pictures. We ask all to say prayers for us that perhaps, if it be right, that one of the small or large companies will want to buy McCord's ideas/scripts. It would give a ton of money and we'd be able to buy a house, and get us out of debt.

McCord has been working for the Republican party going door to door passing out fliers for voting early and voting at home to registered republican voters. He's been able to bring in a little extra money and he's supporting the party. He's been pretty happy with this temporary job.

He's been working 20 hours a week + 20 credits at SLCC + getting scripts and pitch packets ready for the LA pitch summit. It's just been so much. McCord had too much on his plate and we ended up dropping his math class, so our plans have been pushed back one semester. It was just a little too much for us to handle. So, as always, nothing ever turns out as you planned. We'll still be doing school throughout the rest of this year, but it's better than wasting money in tuition on classes that are just going to be unsuccessful in.

We are doing great! Loving Salt Lake, jobs, the education, our ward, etc. We've got great friends and we love our little apartment. Wish us luck in LA!

5 years ago...our first date

A blind date, 5 years ago, was when we met each other for the first time. We went seing dancing and karaoke and went out for icecrem at Charly's icecream parlor in Logan. It was a great night full of fun and getting to know each other. No kiss followed, sorry for all you who were hoping for the DSA (Door Step Action) story. We've come so far and experienced so much together. As we look back on the last 5 years, we are happy.

Fall Semester Plans

I've realized that not many people in the family have been told of our fall plans. We were originally going to apply McCord into the University of Utah film program, but after doing his evaluation, he would have missed the GPA requirements by around 0.4. =( Sad, we know. On top of that, we were working so hard last winter semester to get him through the math class, and we were not told that it was Math 1050 that he needed to get his Associates with Utah State. So, yes, we have to, yet again, go through another Math class for him to finish up that degree with Utah State.

Plans never turn out the way you think they will. This is a life lesson that we've learned to accept. So, this semester (fall), we are going to continue at SLCC with some film classes and the Math 1050 class. Then we will transfer the Math 1050 class over to USU and get his diploma for the Associates. We will also work hard to raise the GPA up higher so he can either 1) get into the U, or 2) go through to a Bachelors in General Education through SLCC.

We love the little community that we live in and the ward is great. We are happy in Salt Lake and McCord has had so many great job opportunities here. We are so blessed.

McCord's Joseph Smith Movie shoot wrapped last week and was successful, from what I understand. They may do a few more days of shooting in September, but we'll see. We are now excited for the future. McCord is going to be on a movie set that has a budget of 5-10 million dollar budget and we are hoping that he gets pulled on as the Associate Producer. This would be so ideal for us. And then, in the last week of August, he'll be the first AD on a new web television series. A small project, but he's excited to do that also. We have a big month of August ahead of us, full of work. The end of July, we are just going to enjoy the sun, friends and family, and each other. It's been much needed.

New Joseph Smith Movie Shoot

Well they flew McCord out to Boston last week and he'll be there being the 1st/2nd AD (Assistant Director) from Jun 23rd - July 3rd. I decided, after being home alone for a week now, that it's not good my health to be away from my honey this long. I've officially eaten two small store bought pizzas, and 2 full bags of chips. My house is also a mess because I start all sorts of projects while he's away. I'm ready for my heart to just over-activate and blow up. ha ha ha.

No, really it hasn't been all that bad. Well, the statement above are all very true, but it's been nice to have some time to myself and to get some projects completed. This new project that I'm working on making room for some food storage. We've felt really strongly about getting some and getting a supply up and going. So, I'm cleaning and rearranging our 2nd bedroom. All the boxes in the 2nd bedroom need to go into our small storage unit, so I need to arrange that also. And finally, I may have to bring in my food bookshelf into the second room, which will require me to rearrange my whole kitchen to fit all the food that's on my shelf. Oh ya, it's gonna be a huge project. So my house looks like a tornado hit it. =) Perhaps I'll post pictures later, but we'll see. Wish me luck on this grand new project. Don't know if I can finish it in time for McCord's arrival, but here's to hopin.

JULY 7, 2010

Update on Joseph Smith movie shoot. McCord is back here in Salt Lake from Boston and I'm happy to have him back. He's shooting from 4pm-4am for the next 10 days. I still won't see him much, but we are grateful that he's getting so many opportunities. I'm also glad that he's here in the state, and here in the city. They are shooting at This Is The Place Heritage Park, and apparently it's coming along quite well. I thought that I'd post the teaser trailer to the movie. Enjoy:

"This is the best father's day ever." - Craig Day

My dad simply LOVED our presents that we gave him this year for father's day. I made him a little scrapbook of ALL of our past family vacations, with captions of all the people in it. Took a little bit of my time, but holy hanna was it ever with it. Also, all of us kids came up with lists of things that my dad has taught us over the years. I was able to come up with a list of 100. My siblings also made their lists, I don't know how long. Jared even emailed some things from Chile. We all took the time to make some special things that he's taught us, including famous sayings. Angie put them into a nice book also, and he was more than happy with that one. "This is the best father's day ever." he said. The best thing about it was how he laughed at some of them and truly enjoyed the sincere ones. But I applauded out loud when he climbed on the counter acting like a monkey, eating bananas, and digging in mom's hair for imaginary bugs to eat. I haven't seen that since I was about 8 years old. He also got nice shirts from the boys, pants from mom, and a tie from Angie. We love you, dad. No words can describe how much you've taught me, and what a wonderful childhood I had. We are all so lucky to have your influence in our lives.

The island of misfit electronics

If anyone wants to see more pictures in the future, buy me a new camera. If you want to talk to me, buy me a new phone. =)

Yes, sadly, my phone is continually turning off. I can send the occasional text message, but it will always turn off. =(

And yes, after over 4 loyal years to us, our camera was laid to rest. So, the next couple posts may be just my wonderful spelling (not), and my spectacular creative writing. wink wink

Cloak and Dagger pictures, commercials

Cloak and Dagger shoot pictures - Finally.

(Shoot: March 2010)

COMMERICALS
Can't say much about the commercials, but they are going to be awesome. Continue to watch the World Cup commercials, and when the Bing commercials come up, you can think of McCord. He was a PA on set for them.

Four score and 7 weeks ago...

...(or more than 7 weeks ago)...was Easter/Conference Weekend 2010. I never posted pictures because I just got my memory card reader back from one of McCord's movie shoots. So, we're going to back track a little to 7 weeks ago...ish. I guess it's more than 7 weeks ago, now that I think about it.
My mom is awesome at sewing, crocheting, and being domestic in general. She taught me a little about crocheting. We didn't get too far, but hopefully I'll get to a point where I'm as awesomely domestic as she is. She used to make me easter dresses every year when I was a little girl. She altered and enhanced ALL of my prom dresses and my wedding dress. She's simply amazing and more.

My mom is awesome at sewing, crocheting, and being domestic in general. She taught me a little about crocheting. We didn't get too far, but hopefully I'll get to a point where I'm as awesomely domestic as she is. She used to make me easter dresses every year when I was a little girl. She altered and enhanced ALL of my prom dresses and my wedding dress. She's simply amazing and more.
Obviously Nate was paying sooooo much attention to conference in this picture. He was making tongue tatoos with the fruit roll ups. He always makes me laugh.

Obviously Nate was paying sooooo much attention to conference in this picture. He was making tongue tatoos with the fruit roll ups. He always makes me laugh.

Joe and I decided to blow eggs for easter. I totally thought that it would be easier than it really was. After blowing one, my sense of accomplishment was at it's peak and I was SO not going to do 5 or 6 more. Joe went on to do more and one exploded in his mouth and hands. I just happened to get a picture.

The Larsen home tradition is that we make danish hotcakes. McCord made the hotcakes this year for my family for the first time. Mmm, so good. This tradition will live on hopefully for a very long time.

Yep! That's my hubby being a chef. Every wife's dream: not have to make breakfast every once in a while. =) Easter was awesome. It's always so much fun. It was extra special to have it on conference weekend. One of our best.

SKY VIEW HIGH SCHOOL - Guiness Book of World Records Cereal Art
My high school alma-mater (sp?) the humanities department made the largest cereal art in the world in the big basketball gym. I was told that it attracted "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" and will be in 2010 Guiness Book of World Records for the largest cereal art in the world. I'm so proud to say that I went there. Woo Hoo! They based it off of Silent Night by Vincent Van gogh. I think they did amazing.


These are the huge boxes of cold cereal that were donated. There were over 15 of these huge boxes. Insane!


McCord and me. You can't see us very well, sorry.

Here's a video. It was so hard to get the size perportion in the picture. Notice how small the people are.


More cooking stories from Lisa:
Apparently I will find anyway possible to blow up cookware. After shattering my casserole dishes on the stove, burning something at least once in every apartment we've lived in, and melting plastic gadgets, I came home to a smoke filled apartment and my baking poor poor baking stone:

Bridgestone commercial

McCord got a call this week to be an on set PA for a Bridgestone commercial that they are shooting in Park City. He'll only work for them for a day, but we're hopin that they like him and that he gets called back to help with future days. He's an awesome awesome worker though. They are lucky to have him. Great job, babe. This summer is going to go by so fast with all the film opportunities that he's been getting.

Memorial Day

We are very patriotic at our house and we really have no words to describe how we love our veterans and our soldiers.
A poem for veteran's day:

It is the
VETERAN,
Not the preacher,
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is
The VETERAN,
Not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
The VETERAN,
Not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
The VETERAN,
Not the campus organizer,
Who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
The VETERAN,
Not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is
The VETERAN,
Not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the
VETERAN who
Salutes the Flag,

It is
The VETERAN who
Who serves under the flag.

4th year Anniversary!

Has it been 4 years already?!? WOW! We've had such a great 4 years of being married. We've been so blessed and just fall in love with each other over and over again. A wise someone told me "If it goes by fast, then you know you are happy." I thought about that and since my last 4 years of marriage have gone by so fast...we are happy. How true that statement is.

Since it was sunday, to celebrate, we packed a lunch and went out for a picnic in Sugarhouse park. The weather was perfect, sunny with a slight breeze. We sat by the big pond, watched the birds and the clouds, talked and just enjoyed life. It was so nice. One of our best.

Just for fun, I thought I'd put down the top 10 things that have happened to us this last year (the good and bad):

1- McCord PASSED his math class! This was such a BIG thing for us, and it has opened up so many options for us and our family.
2- McCord got accepted to SLCC film school while we were in Germany, and he's been attending school here in SLC.
3- I got a job at the U of U, part-time and then got promoted to full-time in the Admissions office.
4- Movie opportunities that we've had this year.
My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
Immortality Bites
I Live at the House with the Blue Door
Endless song of Night
She's My Daughter (music video)
...and many more small projects McCord's done.
5- We moved to our new 2 bed apartment. We love it. It's bigger and better than we've ever had before.
5- Rushed McCord to the ER with kidney stones. =( That was an awful day!
6- Made great new friends here in Salt Lake
7- Family is growing up: Angie had her baby, Jared got called on his mission
8- WE LOVE SALT LAKE! We've been to 4 Jazz games, and 2 concerts. We love the little "ma and pa" places to eat, and love the city.
9- Enjoying watching our families grow: Angie had her baby. Jared is on his mission (6 months out now). Mauri and Courtni are both pregnant with #3. And many more things.
10- Our car is still surviving for us. YAY!

HE PASSED!

MCCORD PASSED HIS MATH CLASS! The letter C has never sounded so good after 4 times of taking this class. =) Words can not describe how wonderful we both feel to get this math class over. We have completely altered our lives around this math class, so he could have the time needed to study and pass. He's studied 4 hours a day, and around 6 hours a day closer to finals. The last week for the final he was studying more than 10 hours a day. We are just so so HAPPY to have this math class over. That C is now our new best friend.

My 24th birthday

Can't believe that I'm 24 years old. I remember being in high school and thinking that 24 sounded so old and I would never reach that old...and yet, here I am. =) I'm feeling good and feeling blessed. I have the best hubby in the world. He treated me to a great birthday.

First he was so so nice and brought me huge gerber daisies that he picked out and hand delivered them to my office at exactly 9:00am and said "you were born at 9 o'clock, right?", with a huge grin on his face. Got tears in my eyes because I am just so lucky to have a man like him.

Then he came and picked me up from work right at 5 and took me to Cafe Rio for pork salads. Oh, how I love that place. He then told me that he got me a massage. The sweet friend of ours that does massages is 9 months pregnant though, so that became a rain check. So he took me home and walked me into a CLEAN house with CLEAN dishes and floors. May I add that it truly looked like a tornado buzzed around my house before, and HE CLEANED IT ALL. He made me a jello pudding cake and invited all my friends over for a game night. It was SO much fun. We played games until midnight and had a blast!

For my present...like I needed one after all this... he bought me the new book by Dieter F. Ukdorf:


Icing on this wonderful birthday cake was that he also arranged a family birthday party for me up in logan on May 2nd. I got so many nice gifts for my new job. I loved all of my gifts. I have the best family ever.

What a lucky woman I am to have such a wonderful husband who appreciates me. He's so great and I love him so much. Thanks to him for everything!

My Girlfriends boyfriend trailor

For those of you who don't know or maybe forgot. McCord was a PA for My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, filmed in Salt Lake. I was Alissa Milano's stand in and we were both extras in this movie. Comes out April 22nd to theatres. Everyone go see it and let me know if you can see us in the background. Should be a great chick flick to go see.
Here's the trailor. Cheers.

Promotion!

I GOT THE JOB! Hoowaa and Yippee!
I am so excited to announce that I received the full time job position at the U of U Admissions front desk. We are so so blessed to be going to bigger and better places in this economy. I am so excited to work at the front desk and to meet and greet new people. I know I will do a great job and help with the emense volume of papers and phone calls that they receive. Since this is a full time job, yes, we will have full benefits. We are thrilled to death about that, especially after we rushed McCord to the ER last month for the kidney stones. The best news of all is that I got a huge raise in my hourly rate and I will be receiving the highest amount/hr for the position that I received because of my education and experience. I officially start on April 1st.

We are more than thrilled and we are so so blessed.

I will miss working so closely with all the graduate and residency staff. They were all such good sports and let me take a picture. As I always said "VIVA GRADS!

Being Aunt and Uncle

Announcing!:
Dayton Taylor Chandler
8 lbs. 8 oz. 20.5 inches
Born March 6, 2009 @ 11:45pm (ish)

Mom, Dad, and baby are home and doing fine. I am a proud aunt. So happy for Angie and Adam! So so happy! I don't feel much different than I did 2 days ago before the he was born, but I sure love being an aunt. Here are some pictures of the little guy with all the family:
I've been waiting so long, and here he is. He's the cutest little thing, and such a good baby. He never cries. Angie is a lucky mom. He melted all of our hearts in one second.

This is our proud momma. Yay! She is beaming and is now "Grandma Trudy". She stayed up all night to hold this little guy. I love Dayton's smile in this picture.
Other pictures with the family.





We are so happy to have little Dayton in our family and we love being Aunt Lisa and Uncle McCord/Mac.

More good things about being uncle and aunt is that we get to babysit sometimes. We had the privilege of watching all 4 of Justin and Alesa's kids for a whole weekend. Here are some experiences that we had and some pictures.
(will add later)

4 years ago by the Logan Temple...

Today marks the day that McCord proposed to me! 4 years ago McCord took me up to the hill next to the Logan temple over looking Logan city. We had a picnic lunch and he told me over and over how much he loved me. He was so nervous and the ring box got stuck in his pocket as his shaking hand tried to wiggle it out. He told me the sweetest things and asked if I would marry him. Without looking at the ring at all, I said yes and gave him the biggest hug in the world. He started crying and I was started crying. We were so in love and so happy.
Just retelling the story intesifies all the love that we have for each other. We love each other more now than we did that day. Could life get any better than this? It would be pretty hard to beat.

Valentine's Day 2009

For Valentine's Day this year, McCord surprised me by taking me to Red Lobster. We both LOVE seafood and it's one thing that I can not make at home. =) It was so nice to get out, and Red Lobster has some good prices with some of the choices that they have. It was so nice. I surprised McCord with some movie tickets to Persey Jackson and the Lightning Thief. He's been so into reading the books lately and I just knew that he wanted to go to the movie so bad. We went to the movie with our good friends Jeremy and Raine. It was so so much fun! Great movie. Nothing like the books, but a great movie.