BYU Basketball

We had a great time as a family attending the BYU / CSU basketball game on Saturday. We made the trek up to Fort Collins and cheered Jimmer and the Cougars on. We were able to sit with three other families of our Cougar friends which was fun too. It was a loud sellout crowd, but we Cougar fans made our presence known. It is so fun to watch BYU play this year when they are so good. The boys enjoyed their hot dogs, pretzels, soda pop, and candy. That is still the highlight for them, especially for Tanner and McKay. Colorado State tried to make a run for it at the end of the game to catch BYU, but BYU was able to hold on and ended the game: BYU- 94 CSU- 85. Jimmer tore it up with 42 points; he really is amazing! It will be so fun to see just how far the Cougars can go this year. GO COUGARS!

Celebrating Christmas

We had a great month of December preparing for Christmas. We were able to take in some zoo lights with cousins, and hit up the Bass Pro Shop's Winter Wonderland with some friends. This made for two Santa visits. I was surprised how much Tanner loved Santa and was not scared of him at all, even with his stranger anxiety. Every man that has a long white beard is Santa to Tanner. He even called a man in the grocery store the other day Santa because his beard fit the profile.

On Christmas eve we were lucky to go enjoy a wonderful Christmas program at our friends, the Yorks. All the boys dressed up in nativity clothes and put on a program with music and scripture. Even Tanner got into the all dressing up and was the fourth wise man. I am not sure exactly what Carter is doing in the picture, but I guess he thought that is what a wise face would look like.

Christmas morning was spent on our own. The boys hid from Santa early Christmas morning and were able to watch him deliver their gifts. They were so excited for what he brought them. Below are the boys enjoying some of their gifts. It was a really nice and relaxing family day.



It was good to have a relaxing Christmas because the early next morning we were off on a 8 hour drive to Utah. The drive was not too bad and the weather, for once, cooperated. Even though some illness plagued our week, we still had a great time. Below my Dad, Lamont, Carter, and McKay are enjoying building up their coin collections.

Tanner enjoyed playing blocks with cousin Cameron.

The three boys enjoying Toy Story 3 with Grandma.

Merry Christmas from the Larsens

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Larsen Family Reunion - 2010 Breckenridge, CO

Over Thanksgiving we helped plan and carry out the second Larsen reunion. It was fun to have it during the holiday season, snow and all! It was also great to have Grandpa Packard join us and was so wonderful to all be able to spend some quality time together! (We missed Bennett and Jenna!) We had a busy week full of cooking, crafts, sledding, and game playing. The pictures can tell some of the highlights better than I can...

Tanner came down with Croup the first evening there and our night was spent in the ER. Luckily, he recovered quickly.
Cousins Tanner and Grant enjoying dinner together.
One morning we went ice skating, which was a blast. The boys pushed carts around the ice and did a good job staying up.
We had LOTS of great sledding at a nearby park.
Even Tanner took in some of the sledding fun!
The kids and Mom's were able to do some fun holiday crafts.
Games, games, and more games. Lamont playing Mickey Mouse Yahtzee with the kids.
Preparing to eat our Thanksgiving feast.
The kids put on a Thanksgiving play which was absolutely adorable!
My cute little indians and pilgrim.
Delicious pies were in abundance after the pie contest.

What a wonderful week with family!!!

Soccer - Fall 2010

It was another great season for both boys!
Carter and his friend Luke
Lamont coached McKay's team

Halloween Treat!

This year was a real treat because we got to spend Halloween in Utah with family. Carter and McKay were on fall break, so it was the perfect time to go. They were excited to go to my Mom's school and march in her Halloween parade and enjoy the festivities. In fact, we all decided to get in the Halloween spirit and dress up (thanks to my friend Carmen whose awesome costume I wore). I was surprised how much even Tanner got into it. He knew once the camera's came out that it was time to put on the batman mask. The boys loved parading around and decorating cupcakes. It was also fun having my kids trick-or-treat in my old stomping grounds. They enjoyed running from house to house with endless energy. As Carter told me, "This was the trip of the century! We went to two ice cream shops, a candy shop, and saw all the great-grandparents!...Does a century happen very often, Mom?"

The big dress up! Can you guess who we all are?

"Bat-baby Tanner"
"Captain McKay"
"Detective Carter Holmes"

Carter, McKay, and Tanner with cousin Cameron

Time Out in Phoenix

For my birthday Lamont gave me a plane ticket to Phoenix to see Time Out For Women. I was extremely excited because I was able to go stay with my good friend and former roommate Denise. We met up with my other friend/former roommate Melanie to attend the conference. We were able to hear our former Bishop from BYU, Brad Wilcox, speak. It was an awesome conference and a much needed break. Bishop Wilcox got us some seats right on the front row by all the presenters and we were able to sit by and meet many of them. I told Lamont that it felt like EFY for Women. I left the conference feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It was also some great girl time to just shop and talk. Thanks Lamont for taking care of the boys so I could have some "time out"!

WORLD SERIES HERE WE COME

Going Private

We have finally decided to make our blog private. We will be sending out an email invitation shortly. If you would like to continue to have access to our blog (and you do not think we have your current email address) please email us at lmcmlarsen@gmail.com.

McKay turns 5!

Yesterday McKay turned 5 years old. It was an exciting day for him. He enjoyed having his friend Jude over to the house and to get some ice cream. Later that night the party began...Little Caesars pizza for dinner, presents, and chocolate mint cake and ice cream. All at his request, of course. When I asked him what he would like for his birthday he told me 3D sidewalk chalk and shoes that light up. McKay is such an important part of our family. He is a very thoughtful little boy and you can't help but smile when you are around him. Happy Birthday McKay - we love you!

Fall Fun!

Last weekend if finally felt like fall had arrived. After a busy morning of soccer games, we attended the Pumpkin Festival down at the Chatfield Botanic Gardens. We were happy to have my sister Melanie join us for the weekend. The boys had fun dressing up for the occasion. We had a great time picking out our own pumpkins right off the vine. We found some good looking pumpkins. There were several games and blow up jumping houses for Carter and McKay to enjoy. Carter even got to ride a pony. Then it was off on a hay ride. That was a big hit for everyone. Tanner really got into it and made tractor noises the whole ride. I think this will be a must next year as well.

Tonsils Out!

Two weeks ago McKay had his tonsils out. Today we just received clearance from his doctor that he is healing well and can get back to normal activities. The decision to have his tonsils out was made after four episodes of fever and throat infection in the past two months. Each episode lasted for about 5 days. It seems like he was sick half of the summer.

He was so brave the morning of surgery, looking so cute and innocent in his little hospital gown. He was happy that Beary was able to join him the day of surgery. It's hard to see your child go through this knowing all that it entails. The night before we discussed with him what to expect the day of surgery and he received a priesthood blessing. He was quite calm until the doctor came in to finalize everything, then he started to cry and get a little nervous. The anesthesiologist let him pick his scent to smell when he fell asleep. He chose marshmallow. I went with him into the operating room until he fell asleep. He was very cooperative in breathing in the gas, or blowing up the balloon as they told him.

They came and got me as soon as he was waking up after surgery. He was a little disoriented at first, but then noticed the pain in his throat. As soon as the pain meds were in him he did very well; he did not even throw-up. In fact, in the four hours in recovery he ate four Popsicles and drank some apple juice. He continued to recovery quickly and had macaroni and cheese and part of a bagel that night. He hardly needed his pain meds during the day and by the end of the week he started getting his energy back and even played a little soccer. We are hoping the this is the end of all the illness and are proud of him for being such a trooper!