Family Pictures

Here are our latest family pictures. They were taken while we were in Lava Hot Springs this summer, and I'm just getting around to sizing them and hanging them up. What handsome boys I have!

BACK TO SCHOOL!

I was so happy as my children returned to school this year! Last year, they were each attending new schools and it was super stressful! But this year, they were all excited about their teachers and ready to return! YAY!

Neighborhood BBQ and Movie Night!

Every year we host a summer neighborhood BBQ and movie night. Jud sets up our huge movie screen and projector in the back yard, we throw hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, and we have a great time! The boys hosted a food contest this year, and gave out prizes for the best side dishes and desserts. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and the how can you fail with a movie like Princess Bride!?! We're so grateful for a good neighborhood to raise our children in! We're surrounded by AMAZING people!

Bear Lake 2010

Ask my kids what their favorite thing about summer is, and inevitably you'll get the answer "BEAR LAKE!" This has been a Larson family tradition for as long as I can remember. We beach all day and game all night! Nothing could ever replace the fun Bear Lake memories I had at Grandma and Grandpa's cabin when I was young, and it's so awesome that my kids are making their own Bear Lake memories with their cousins! This year, we bought my parents a "couch" to pull behind the boat, and it was definitely the hit of the trip!



Landon loves the beach! He's not even remotely interested in the boat yet, hopefully that will change!

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSbtQvKPmA-sj6zcUET1AuZiIP2dxaRoRTnV0nnyX4NIMYM3SXLeMBQ_DlwijxCxSf-97WWph4qAoFFG6nYkCHzrrxSjN0CciP1OWB3n_rygsm5wQFuDEM6ZLHuYOEd52jJLSVxvFRMc/s1600/IMG_5639.JPG">

Here are the boys on the couch! I actually think it might be more fun to watch hysterically from the boat as they hang on for their lives!



For some reason, whenever Jen and I got on that tube, everyone wanted to "dump" us. Perhaps because we're the only ones who really know how to scream! We BEGGED for a relaxing, sunbathing ride, and finally, on our very last tube ride of the trip, we got our wish! Marci thought us a bit boring, but after having been thrown 6 to 8 feet in the air before being dumped, we were HAPPY!



I wish I would have gotten some good still shots of Jud on the tube. I got some great video, though. He was dubbed the most fun to ride with because of his giddy laugh the whole ride! What a fun trip!

Summer Swimming Lessons

I have four, make that five little fish in my family. I guess the fifth fish (Judson), isn't so little! Anyhow, swimming lessons was great this year! Keaton has surpassed the lesson stage, but the other three took at a neighbor's pool down the street. I saw some real improvement this year, and was happy to even see little Landon dog paddling!

GIRLS CAMP 2010!!!!

I love all of my GIRLS!!! We had so much fun at camp this year! We went to Piuta (a blast from the past--it's where I went every year for camp as a young woman). It rained and it poured, it hailed and we froze, but we couldn't have been any happier! We had many hours of games and bonding in our cozy cabin, and came away from camp better friends than ever! And it was so awesome that the stake took care of all of the food, that meant I just got to play with the girls! My third girls camp as YW Pres, who knows how many more I'll have....

Just because...

Just because I thought it was so classic, I have to share this...

Last night I was reading Keaton's autobiography he wrote for his English class. I love that he completed the entire process by himself, proof reading and all. So, I get to chapter four talking about his accomplishments. Come to find out, he had been "Valid Victorian" for the sixth grade, and he had been given a really nice "plague" for his work on the Student Council. What a guy! I'd always thought he'd been valedictorian, and I didn't realize the plaque was so infectious! But in all seriousness, the autobiography was fantastic, and so fun and entertaining to read!

There were many happy reunions this morning...

It's a bit hard to explain my emotions this morning. One part of me grieves, while the other part rejoices. I'm so grateful to my grandma for the amazing legacy she has left her family.

You know, as I think about my memories with Grandma, the most vivid ones are not from the recent years when her strength was weakening. My vivid memories span my lifetime. I remember waking up on Conference morning to Grandma and Lucky Charms; her laugh as we waved her bright burgandy swimsuit from a stick as our "boat flag", Grandma and Linda giggling and up to another one of their practical jokes; many scoops of ice cream; sitting on Rendezvous Beach, Grandma with a baby on her lap, under the big shade tree; a game of Rook (no, hundreds of games of Rook!); my second grade "trip" to grandma's class where I just knew I had the BEST grandma on the planet; Grandma mouthing the words to every song at the Spencer family Christmas party; rounding the corner to the cabin and seeing first thing, Grandma on the deck awaiting our arrival; Grandma's face at my baptism; taking a hike with Grandma at the Lake, amazed at all the "deer" she would see; Lorna Doones; Grandma and Grandpa pulling into the driveway in the big silver car with a straw hat in the rear window; sharing peas from her garden; her complete honesty (especially as she told me she didn't like what I had done with my hair!); her spunk, her fun personality, her complete devotion to her family and her inclusion of anyone who needed a family! Truly an amazing woman! Grandma glued our family together, and I'm so grateful that some of my best friends growing up were my cousins and my family!

I've felt over the past couple of months that our time was short with Grandma. Jud and I took the kids up last month to spend a Friday night date with Grandma at the care center. We really had fun! We pulled out the card table and set up the Dominoes. Even though Grandma didn't have complete use of her right hand, she played a mean game of chicken foot. Keaton was so sweet as he would reach over and help her with her pieces. And Chase and Brooks just beamed as she praised them. Landon has since named her "chicken foot Grandma". And then, on Saturday evening, my parents picked up Grandma and she attended Brooks' baptism. I know it was a sacrifice for her to come. I could tell she really did not feel well. But she wanted to be there! And I couldn't be more grateful, because I had one more time to put my arms around her and tell her that I loved her!

Time out for...ME!

Last month I took a trip to Arizona to attend a Dental Alliance Conference. I decided to start my "vacation" a day early and visit my good friend who lives in the area. We had a wonderful visit, eating authentic Mexican food, enjoying girl talk, and SHOPPING!

Then I headed to conference where I had a super fun roommate. In between classes we loved hanging out at the pool, eating yummy food, and making new friends. We relaxed with late night hot tubbing, a spa session and we couldn't get enough of the Arizona sunshine!



Many thanks to my fantastic husband for giving me a "Time out!"

Student of the Month!

Keaton was selected as student of the month for April at his Junior High! He is an exceptional kid! Keep up the good work, buddy!

Sports, Sports and more Sports!

So, I grew up in a family quite devoted to their sports. Everyone, except me! It seemed to me like there was always some type of sport being watched or played in my home, and I was simply not interested. So, I think it funny that I have been blessed with four boys! I have now changed my attitude! I love sports, as long as my child is the one playing them! Brooks has become quite the soccer player, reveling in his prowess at goalie! If he's not blocking the goals, he's making them. I've thought about putting him into competition soccer, but I'm not sure if I'm up for all the driving to the far away games. Chase started Lacrosse this season and seriously loves it! He has a great build for the game, and with his natural athleticism, he's really catching on. Lacrosse is very fun to watch, fast paced and intense. With all the stick hitting going on, I'm certainly glad my son is one of the bigger kids on the field!

My longest birthday celebration....ever!

So, I must say I felt quite spoiled this year when it came to my birthday! It started on Saturday, when I opened my door to four darling friends carrying a huge Birthday cake and singing happy birthday! I loved it!. That evening, Jud wanted to take me out to a favorite restaurant and shopping for my present--a new sectional for the family room. We had a great time, and I felt like my birthday was complete (but wait, it wasn't even my birthday yet! Sunday was the big day!) So Sunday morning came, and I was greeted with breakfast in bed and all sorts of hugs and kisses from the boys. I was showered with more presents--each boy gave me a part of a new easter outfit, and Jud gave me...tickets to the Michael Buble concert (and my sectional we found the night before)! It was a great day, complete with my favorite German Chocolate cake! I thought my birthday was complete! But, girlfriends are wonderful--and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I had 3 different birthday lunches with 3 of my great friends! So much fun! But wait, that's not all! The next Sunday came, and my brothers and their wives and my parents held yet another birthday party! Yummy food and fun games and gifts! And my sister-in-law Caroline made the most fantastic chocolate cake! Yum! Then last night, I completed my birthday celebration! Jud and I partied at the Michael Buble concert! We had a great time! He sang my 3 favorite songs of his and I reveled in what a fantastic birthday I had this year. Thank you so much to my great family and friends! I love you!

Winter has come...and gone!

It's so fun to have the sun shining outside lately! But as excited as I am for the beautiful spring weather, we really had a fun winter! I think my favorite thing about the snow this year, was our own FANTASTIC sledding/snowboarding/skiing hill right in our own backyard! Even though the snow was in full force, the kids loved to be outside! They made themselves a jump for their sleds, and a rail for their snowboards. So much fun! Now, I didn't say that I took advantage of that great hill...but I sure loved watching the kids. Last summer we excavated the back yard, had a rock retaining wall built and in the process, put in the neighborhood sledding hill!