Christmas 2010

This year we headed up to Oregon for Christmas. Nathan's sister, Ashley, (who is also my cousin Justin's wife...for those who don't already know that) just moved into a new house. Let me just say that we seriously felt like we were living in a resort for a week and a half. This place was amazing and Ashley & Justin did such a fantastic job with every detail of the new house. Nathan was in heaven with a personal gym (1/2 size court), a theater room, and dual shower heads/steam spouts in each shower. I was pretty excited to have a little exercise room to myself everyday. And Sawyer was happy as a clam running around and playing with his four cute cousins. Everyone in Nathan's family was there besides Brooke and her family (we missed you guys!). We had such a great time and can't wait to go back for another visit! Thanks for having us all there only 3 weeks after moving in, Ashley! You were wonderful hosts! Here are a few of the MILLIONS of pictures that were taken throughout the week.

Our attempt at a family picture after church on Sunday.

A rare moment...Sawyer sitting still for more than a minute.

Opening 'woof woof' (aka Snoopy) on Christmas morning. Nate and I had so much fun with Christmas this year because Sawyer was so much more excited about everything. He totally got the hang of opening gifts and loved everything. I never understood when I was younger--but I can see now why parents love Christmas too!

Sawyer finishing off Santa's cookies.

The tree on Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve Dinner

After church on Sunday

Another rare moment--Sawyer and Taryn getting along :) (they are only 9 days apart so you can imagine how it usually went with these two)

..this was more typical behavior between the two

They have these awesome 'plasma cars' in their gym...Sawyer had a great time riding them

We hung a parachute on the ceiling above the rope swing...just for fun

Went to see a giant 'Christmas Village Display' in someone's dining room...pretty cool.

On Macie's birthday we went to downtown Portland to this really odd donut shop called 'Voodoo Donuts'. This was seriously the weirdest place ever. Worth the 20 minute wait in the rain to see the inside of this place! Go to their website to see all the crazy donuts they sell. We brought home like 2 dozen donuts and ate like kings all day. :)

Sawyer with his aunt Andrea

bringing home all the donuts...everyone is hanging around like vultures, waiting for the donuts to be cut and deciding which one to try first!

We went to Claim Jumper for dinner a couple days after Christmas...always nice to be out without the kiddos every now and then :)

This was New Year's Eve with my side of the family (Nathan's family had left already). Because Ashley is married to my cousin...it's always kind of nice for me to visit cause I get to see all of my cousins and aunt and uncle as well! We had such a fun night...went to dinner, Comedy Sportz, and then back to Ashley's to ring in the New Year. I love this group! Glad I got a chance to see everyone...even if it was just for one night!

We took it on a timer...thus Nathan's head is cut off

We also made sure to squeeze in a visit to my grandma while in Oregon. We love you, Mutti!

A Wonka Christmas

For Family Home Evening this week we took Sawyer to the JW Marriott Resort & Spa at Desert Ridge to see the AMAZING Willy Wonka Gingerbread display in the lobby. It was seriously the most impressive gingerbread display that I have EVER seen! It was created by their very own 'World Pastry Chef Champions'. We were so fascinated by it that I had to post some of the pictures. Sawyer didn't seem to care as much...although he really liked the 'choo-choo' driving around it! We missed the real-life Oompa Loompas that were there by about 30 minutes so we may have to go back another day to get a picture with them!

Just thought I'd let you all know...

And we are super excited! To tell the truth we have known the gender since our 13 wk ultrasound (pretty amazing, huh?). The tech at the time said she was 95% sure so we took her word for it. But I still didn't feel like making it 'official' and posting it on the blog until we had a second look. Some of you already know, as I've told those who have asked me, but for the rest of you...it's official now...Baby Girl Larson is doing well and still due to arrive in April! I'm feeling great at 19.3 wks now and with the holidays just around the corner life couldn't be better! I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!

Sawyer & Jake in Utah

I figured the title of this post was appropriate because that's what you are about to get--a gazillion pictures of Sawyer and Jake in Utah :). Sawyer and I hitched a ride up to Utah with some friends about mid-October. We spent a week there and stayed with Kristie in their new apartment in Pleasant Grove. It was such a fun trip and we were glad to get away from the warmth and wear some long pants for a bit! We packed our days with plenty of adventures--somewhere in between naps, lunches, baths, and lots of ransacking the apartment (or at least Sawyer engaged in that last activity quite a bit). The boys got along great, as long as Sawyer wasn't mindlessly taking any of Jake's favorite toys. They are really starting to interact like little friends and it was so fun to watch! And as for me, I got a good fill of all my favorite 'Provo eats'. I'll go ahead and post all the pictures now and let them tell the details of our visit!

Sawyer thought Jake's 'big boy bed' was pretty cool...maybe that helped with his transition into a 'big boy bed' a few weeks later (which I'm happy to report has gone VERY well!)

Eating snacks in the pantry

We went to Macey's one day to grab some groceries. They had the cutest little pumpkin display out front and we thought it was the perfect picture opportunity!

Macey's is also a cool place for little boys to drive in a car shopping cart together! (nevermind that Sawyer already wanted out after about 3 minutes...that kid just can't sit still!)

We stopped by my old stomping grounds one afternoon for me to say hi and for Kristie to show Jake where his baby sister would be born in a couple months! I miss you Orem Community!

That same day we hit up Kneaders for some lunch. Sawyer pretty much got some chips and a chocolate chip cookie out of the deal. I got a scrumptious Turkey Artichoke Panini...mmmm mmm...

Kristie has this awesome place called the 'Kangaroo Zoo' about 5 minutes from her house. Super cheap and full of bouncy toys and slides for the kiddos...what a blast!

We also discovered a Sub-Zero Ice Cream in American Fork (not far from her house, either). It was a cute little 2-story brick building that looked like an old remodeled fire house. The upstairs had a mini-arcade, couches, love sac, and a TV. And it wasn't even packed with students on a Friday night! The boys seriously loved having the run of the place. And they were sporting their new Halloween jammies (thanks mom!). So cute.

Of course one night we went to Corn-Bellies and enjoyed all of the fall festivities that it has to offer. It was so much fun!! It made me miss Utah so much. Our good friends the Stott's met us down there with their daughter, Kaitlin, who is a few months older than Sawyer. The kids seriously loved it. And Syd and Mitch were able to join us too! Good memories...

Sydney was super busy with school that week but she managed to hang out with us quite a bit, still. Thanks for sacrificing your time, Syd! We love you! And Mitch is either working or going to school as well so it was awesome of him to join us that night! The boys love them.

Sawyer is often looking up and noticing airplanes in the sky, much like he is doing in this picture. That night he pointed up at an airplane excitedly and followed it with his head as it flew over...all the way back...until he fell over backwards. It was pretty cute. He's a funny kid.

So that's it. I think. I know I'm missing a couple pictures of Sawyer & Jake on the playground at Kristie's house. But I needed to get this post out of the way so that I wouldn't feel overwhelmed about it anymore :). We had such a great time in Utah and we can't wait to go back again! Hopefully that trip won't be too far away!