The Larson Family Ranch Trip

This post is way overdue. But better late than never, right?! Right. So pretty much every summer since I married Nathan we have spent a week at the Ercanbrack Ranch in Provo Canyon. This year we kind of meshed the event together with Sydney's wedding, because Nathan could not take off for more than a week. So when the wedding festivities were over (Thursday morning for me and Wednesday morning for Nathan), we headed up to the Ranch to meet the rest of the family up there. As usual, it was a blast! This was the first year that all 5 kids were married and everyone was there! Needless to say, it was a little crammed :). It's a good thing we all enjoy each other's company so much! Other than Sawyer coming down with a cold and teething while we were there, we had so much fun. Here are a few pictures of our adventures.

This was actually taken the morning that everyone went home, hence the pj's and such. A pretty classy bunch, eh? :)

One afternoon we all sat around and launched rockets...

This was Sawyer's reaction to the entertainment...actually I think this was his permanent facial expression the whole weekend...poor little guy :(

Nathan's dad brought up some huge pieces of industrial plastic to make a slip 'n' slide. I have to admit it was pretty awesome! They slid right into the pond!

This little duo enjoyed running around naked for most of the weekend. They got along pretty well this year, we'll see how it goes next year.

Sawyer totally figured out how to spray the hose. He loved it!

The first day that I went up the family had rented a boat on Deer Creek Reservoir for a few hours. Sawyer's first time out on a motor boat...being cuddled by his cousin, Marley.

He wasn't actually a huge fan of the experience. Probably cause he was just so tired. He actually fell asleep in my arms right here! That NEVER happens! Must have been the noise and motion of the boat. I was in heaven. Any chance to cuddle my little boy for longer than 2 seconds is so wonderful.

Nathan and I took him on the inter tube behind the boat. Don't worry, we were going super slow and there was no way we were falling out of that thing! He was doing fine until...

We hit a bump and he got splashed right in the face! This picture is so hilarious. And that was the end of that. (Click to enlarge--it's worth it to see his face a little closer)

There's a huge smudge on the lens right over Sawyer's face. He doesn't look so happy to be confined in that life vest.

Doing a little better with daddy...

His favorite part was just playing on land in this boat with his cousins.

Sawyer and Mar again...love this.

Justin and I decided to take Sawyer and Taryn back to the ranch for a nap. They were SOOO wiped out. I had to try so hard to keep them awake for that 20 min drive!

Sawyer is getting ready...

To be a...

And he's super excited! ;)

Taxes aren't the only thing due on April 15th next year! We are happy to announce that Baby Larson #2 will be making it's debut in about 7 months.

Growing Up

I realize that I have yet to post on our Larson Family Ranch trip this year...but all the pictures are on Nathan's computer and whenever I sit down to do it I realize it's at school with him. So in an effort to not get too far behind I'm going to go on with my regular posts and I'll be sure to go back and do the Ranch one later. Although not much has even happened since we got back from Utah, to be honest. We've just been hanging out and relaxing as much as possible while it's still 110 degrees outside (unfortunately we've still got 2-3 more months of heat to go). I took Sawyer in for his 15 month check-up a couple weeks late. He got sick the week after we got back and as a result experienced his first ear infection...so we waited until the antibiotics were finished to go back for his well-check. Either way, here are his stats...

weight: 25.6 lbs (63%)

height: 33.5 inches (97%) !!!

Head: 47.5 cm (61 %)

So there you have it...he's tall and skinny like his daddy.

Overall I have been so happy with Sawyer lately. Not that he doesn't always make me happy, but you definitely go through more trying periods here and there. I feel like one of the most difficult times for us was between 11 and 15 months. He's been mobile (and by mobile I mean, out of control!) forever already...and that combined with his lack of understanding and inability to follow directions or reason with us has made for an interesting time. But I feel like he is finally rounding a corner here. Within the past few weeks I've noticed that he's become a bit more obedient. Not that we still don't experience the temper tantrums and the independence struggles...because we do. But he's just been a little sweeter and a little happier playing on his own lately...and for that I've been so grateful. He gives the best hugs ever...and he gives them all the time! And he's obsessed with shoes right now. I can't tell you how many times a day he comes walking out of my closet with my shoes on looking so proud of himself. We haven't seen much in the way of words yet...but I can tell it's coming. Lots of babbling around here. He dances all the time! The second he hears any music, even from a commercial, he starts bobbing his head and bending his knees. He does this little 'dance walk' where he walks around all hunched over and bouncing...pretty hilarious actually. And he recently learned a new move-- 'spinning' in circles. He's just such a funny kid. We love him so much.

This was coming back from the pool one day...aren't the sunglasses awesome?! (Not to mention the tie-dye shirt that I made him at the ranch!)

These are daddy's sunglasses...just a little big.

This kid will climb into anything he can! My mom always told me I did the same thing.

We were at the local splash pad and Sawyer made a friend...I thought they were so cute together.

Two things to point out here...one, Sawyer's cheeks get super flushed within seconds of being in the heat here....two, this was at our park at 7 PM!! Still above 100 degrees... That's just wrong.

The Wedding

Sydney and Mitch are officially newlyweds. They are so cute and we couldn't be happier for them. I guess the wedding festivities kicked off with the meeting of the two families. A few day before the wedding we were able to get together with the Sherwoods for lunch one day. Aside from our seriously out of control toddlers, it was great to meet them and get to know them a bit. They are a really great family. The sealing was held in the Salt Lake Temple at 11 am on Tuesday, July 20th. It was such a wonderful sealing and so awesome to have our whole family in the temple together. After quite a few pictures in the sweltering heat the Sherwoods hosted a beautiful little luncheon for immediate family. It was held in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in the Roof restaurant. I had never been up there and it was so amazing! We did a traditional program of roasting and toasting the bride and groom and as always it was a perfect way to really get to know the other families. Thankfully, our good friends the Phelps took Jake and Sawyer during the luncheon so we were actually able to relax and enjoy ourselves! I still can't thank them enough for that! And apparently the boys did great (or at least that's what they told us!). Whew! The reception started at 6:30 pm. We held it at Le Jardin in Sandy. It's a greenhouse that's already beautifully set up so we didn't have to do a whole lot to it...but we still arrived an hour early to put our own finishing touches on everything. Table runners, vases, pictures...it all turned out beautifully and we had such a great time. Syd and Mitch took off a little after 9 and went to Mexico for a relaxing week at the beach. I can't believe the last wedding in our family is over! In both our families, actually! No more weddings for me or Nathan...at least not immediate family. It feels good to be done but it's a little sad at the same time...I do love a good wedding. Here are all of the pictures that I had from the big day. I'm sure we'll collect more over time so maybe I'll have to post some later on.

This first picture is a little preview to the professional pics Syd's friend, Caitlin Sheffer, took that day. She did a beautiful job.

Another of Caitlin's photos, above.

This is the 'generations' table...pictures of both sets of parents and grandparents on their wedding days.

I'm proud to say that I put the accents on that cake! (with some help from my aunt Marianne and cousin Janea! Thanks guys!) It came frosted and we added the details and flowers.

My Omi in Germany made hankerchiefs for everyone in the Temple. It was her way of being there when she couldn't...it brought tears several eyes :)

Mitch and his mom, LaReesa.

Daddy, Daughter Dance.

Of course my husband took on his usual role as MC at the reception. He did a great job, as always!

This is the only picture we have we Jerai! (and I took it from her blog!). We love you Jerai and it was so good to see you!

It was also so wonderful to finally see our good friends, the Stotts. Nathan hadn't seen Kaitlin since her baby blessing and we both think she is just the cutest thing ever! We're hoping to arrange a little marriage in the future. ;)

Sawyer trying to be helpful as we're getting ready for the reception.

It was sooooo hot while taking pictures...just trying to do a little 'sweat damage' control ;)