Snowbird 2013

This was our 3rd year attending the Octorberfest up at Snowbird Resort.  We had a good time, but it's a little bitter sweet for us.  We were expecting our third baby, and Snowbird is where we decided to tell the kids.  We came up with a fun treasure hunt of clues and the kids had a ball running around the hotel finding each one.  Sadly, we ended up miscarrying about a week later at 11 weeks. I was pretty sick with the pregnancy, so I couldn't do some of the rides that I normally do, but it was fun to watch the fam have a good time!  I am feeling a lot better now, have my appetite back, and am back into the swing of life.  Emotionally doing well, but have some hard days when I think about how far along I would be.  We were touched to have so many friends and family reach out in prayer and bringing meals through the couple months of me being sick and then through the recovery of losing the baby.  We feel so blessed to have such amazing family, friends, and church family!

Hailey on the trampolines..

 Carter and Dad riding the lift...

 Riding the Slide... Carter is old enough to go by himself, so Hailey took turns riding with myself and Dad

 The view for our hotel room was beautiful!

We tried to get a decent picture of all of us, but didn't do so well!!

 We just gave up and got a little silly!

The pool was right below our room, so I snagged a picture of the boys swimming.  Hailey and I hung out in the room since Mama wasn't feeling so good.  

 The ropes course...

 This is the first year that we have gone up, and there has been snow on the ground!  Most of it was melted, but the kids had fun throwing some snow balls!

 The balloon man was there as always and made Hailey a dog on a leash, and Carter a Bazuka

Carter/Cello

So Carter came home from school this year, and told us that he wanted to learn how to play the cello.  He started a few weeks ago, and has been picking it up pretty well!

Our family has a goal that someday we would all like to participate on our worship team at church.  Carter playing cello, Bryan playing guitar, Hailey playing piano, and me playing the drums.  Wouldn't that be so cool??!!  I am teaching Hailey piano now, but I need to get drum lessons. I have always been fascinated with drums and think it would be so fun to learn!

Hailey's First Parade

Daddy cheering his girl on...

 Hailey's dance class had the opportunity to be in Utah States Homecoming Parade last month.  She was so excited when she found out!  Her friend Payge came over to play and Hailey told her that she wanted her to come watch her in the parade.  She told her "Look for the girl with dark hair, brown eyes, and the purple shirt... that's me!"  I thought it was so cute!

Grammy, Dad, Quinton, Jillian and Stephen

Hailey is the top row, 2nd from the left

She did all the actions to the music and looked so cute and big up there!  When she got of the trailer she said "Mom, I had to sit there the WHOLE time, I couldn't even stand up."  All in all she had a good time, and she was happy that Dad and I snagged some candy for her!

Back to School 2013

 The Backpack Fairy did not disappoint again this year!  The kids got some needed clothes, lunchbox, snacks and supplies!

 Carter is in the 4th grade this year and has Mrs. Cazier.  He was a little nervous about his teacher because some kids had told him that she was mean :(  Turns out she is strict, but not mean!  Carter does well with very structured teachers since he has ADD.  He needs a very structured schedule and a teacher that tells it like it is!  He actually loves her, and so do I!  He's doing pretty well in school and I'm happy to say that we haven't had to medicate him this year!  He's struggles to get all of his work done in class, but he is testing well, and that's all that matters to me.  As long as he is testing well, I will stay as far away from medication as I can!

 Carter got his cast off in time for school, but still had a walking boot for the first week or two.  At least he was able to take off the boot to shower, so his classmates didn't have to put up with his smell!  I don't know if you've ever had a boy in a cast, but it gets really stinky, really fast, no matter how clean you try to keep it:)

Hailey is in Kindergarten this year and was sooooo ready!  She loves school and is doing really well!  She has Mrs. Searle, the same teacher that Carter had.  She loves her teacher and loves making friends with her classmates!

 

Larsen Family Reunion 2013

We had our annual Larsen Reunion up in Eden again this year.  We stay in a condo that fits ALL of us, and play for a couple days.

 All the kids had matching shirts, and got to decorate them to their liking.  This is Carter and Kai, can you believe they are only 7 months apart in age???

 Girlies making their shirts...

 12 year old boys....need I say more....

 The gang, minus my brother Bryan...

 Moms, "Family Council" meeting.  I told her she needs to change the name of this, it sounds serious hahaha!  She does a few short meetings telling about one of our ancestors and then has something fun for the kids afterwards...

Hailey, Bryan, Meili

 Playing with Bryans really fast remote control car...

 Izzy...

 Climbing a huge mountain of rocks...

Livvy...

 We played several fun little games...

The rest of the time was spent watching "shark week" and swimming.  Carter couldn't swim since he still had his cast on, so Carter and I went over to the clubhouse and played air hockey and basketball!

Egg Dropping & Tony Grove Lake

 After Carter broke his ankle we had to be creative to find things that he could do since swimming, hiking, biking, etc. were out!  One day we thought it would be fun to do an "egg drop" out of our treehouse.  Each family member got an egg, and had to "pack" it however they wanted.  They were then dropped and then we checked to see whose had made it without breaking!  

 Moms made it!

 Bryan had the brilliant idea to use Carter's G.I. Joe parachute on his, so of course his didn't break!

 Hailey's made it!

 ...And Carter's made it!  Whew, every single one made it!!

We headed to Tony's Grove one day with Barbara and John.  We have lived in Cache Valley for 6 years now, and I can't believe this was our first time discovering Tony Grove.  It was gorgeous!

 Barb and Hailey

 Luckily there was a trail that went around the lake and was easy to access since Carter had to use crutches.  He was a trooper, and went quite a ways on them!  The kids tried to do a little fishing.  We knew they wouldn't catch anything because we were in a very public area since Carter was on crutches, but they still had fun!

 Carter found a little chipmunk friend.  Its right in front of his feet if you can't see it!

 Dad and Hailey

Carter watching his chipmunk friend

 Carter left a trail of Pringles and the chipmunk really liked them!

So glad we were able to discover such a beautiful piece of nature in Logan Canyon!

Summer comes to a screeching halt...

 Carter decided he wanted to get out of chores for the rest of the summer and fractured his ankle jumping on the trampoline.  Luckily we got some fun things in this summer, but the rest will have to be put on hold!  He will have to stay off his ankle as much as possible while it heals.  He gets his cast in a couple days when the swelling goes down.  He already did swimming lessons and a couple of week long camps, but he won't be doing karate any time soon :(

He was getting after me for taking pictures of him on his crutches, but I think he looks so cute on them!  I know, I'm a horrible mother!

The first day he was layed up I set him up on the trampoline to get some fresh air.  He said the butterflies were flying overhead like crazy because they were mocking him, since they knew he couldn't catch them!  He is already going stir crazy not being able to run around.  I let him buy a new game called Minecraft for the ipad which he was excited about.  I have a few more ideas for things to do, but I have a feeling it will be a long 6 weeks!