GO UTES!

We finally went to a U of U football game again! Will was in heaven! Camden really loved it too. Will even called his good friend Steve during the game...they always call each other at the strangest times, especially if either of them are at a U of U game of any kind. Ahh the good memories at the U.

We started our whole night by riding Trax from Sandy to the U. It took us 40 minutes to ride the train, but no game traffic or parking fees. The boys loved "surfing" on the train-Will showed them how they would ride the public transportation in the Czech Republic while on his mission. It was fun to travel to the game that way.

The boys love 'snowies' (snow cones). When buying a snowie at the game, you have a choice of a 'snowie' or hot chocolate! Of course, our kiddos still wanted the snowie even though it was pretty cold out! I would have preferred the hot chocolate!

The giant stadium-much was added after we graduated 10 years ago and after the Olympics in 2002! There were 48,000 people at this game. (I hear it seats 50,000) They played New Mexico...and won! (I guess New Mexico isn't that great this year, so it was a given that they would win.) It's so fun going to a game rather than just watching on TV!

Blake with every ones beanies on.

Daddy and silly Camden

Me and my little Utes!

Soccer Time!

Camden started soccer again. He has really enjoyed it so far this season. His coach is in our Bishopric and 4 of them are in the same primary class. It was nice to get on a team where he knew people right away!

In this game, he got his first 'header'! It was a perfect line up and tada! He hit the ball with his head! He was almost in shock that he did it, and was soooo excited! He is great at defense and is quick on his feet! He has been playing soccer at school every day and has decided this is his favorite sport!

We went to a U of U and Utah State Soccer game the other day. He loved it! After watching that game he really tried to keep in his position more. It's fun to watch him play. I love that he has so much fun doing it!

Camden: "In the Zone"

Here is one of Camden's biggest fans! Blake was lounging in his chair with his spiderman umbrella as a sun shade. He has fun watching the game and plays with some friends there too. We decided to wait until next year to let Blake play. We know he'd love it, but thought after baseball where we were busier babysitting everyone else's kids rather than being able to watch our own, we could wait a year!

First Day of School Pictures

Here is our handsome Camden on his first day of school. He has really done well considering moving to a new state and changing schools 2 times within 7 months! He makes friends so easily. Although, he still misses his friends from California and his buddy Drew who he used to walk to school with every day at our last school. He has finally started a new recess activity by playing soccer at every recess! (Surprisingly, he doesn't play Star Wars at recess anymore!) We are so blessed to have Camden! He is a great boy!!!

Blake started preschool! What a grown up boy! He finally is able to separate from us without crying. He has a great time at preschool every time he goes. He is excited to have 'homework' like Camden. He gets to investigate a letter each week and cut out the letter from magazines and newspapers! We also practice writing his name which he can do all by himself now! What a happy boy he is. We are so blessed to have Blake in our family.

Utah Skies

Camping - Labor Day Weekend

We had a great time camping this weekend. I love to be in the mountains for Labor Day...it brings back great memories of Labor Day at the cabin!! We went to a great campground only about 40 minutes away from home. Here are some of our pictures from our trip....

Blake learned how to ride his bike without training wheels the day before we left! He picked it up so quickly!

It rained a little on our first day. Camden found a dry spot outside under our trailer to play army guys.

Speedy Blake

Oh the fun you can have with clothes pins!

Our favorite climbing rocks. We love this picture of our cute boys!!

Blake on his scooter.

The boys loved flying down this hill with their scooters! They were so fast! Helmets were a necessity!!

This is the cozy little spot on our site surrounded by trees.

We visited Snowbird Ski Resort and rode this tram to the top of the mountain!!

The boys were a tad bit nervous at first but had a great time on the tram!

We made it to the top! Next time we'll bring sweaters!! Burr it was cold up there!

We hiked down to this tunnel that has a moving walkway for skiers and snow boarders to stand on as they go to the other side of the mountain! The moving walkway was off, so we got to walk through it. We looked at pictures inside about how they made it!

After the tunnel we took this lift all the way back down the mountain!

The boys were extra brave on this adventure! We were pretty high up!

What a view!!

Back at the campground we were introduced to the coolest adventure ever! Geocaching! You can search for treasures all over the U.S. using a GPS. Coordinates lead you to hidden boxes usually full of trinkets to trade...the hunt is on! We went on a few geocaching adventures to find some great treasures!

You can't camp without S'mores!

Checking the iphone with Daddy for more geocaching spots!

Our new pet! "Cat-e-pillar"!

Another geocaching endeavor!

Tada! The hidden treasure!!

If you take something out, you have to put something back in. Always a tough decision.

What a find!

We hiked up to this little lake with more great views! Once at the top there was a huge rock high above with another hidden treasure. Camden became a mountain goat and ran all the way up to find the box. Blake was our sherpa and Camden was the mountain goat. What a team!

Finally, a post by the Larsons! I have a lot of catching up to do once again!!!!! (At least this is a start, and a current one at that!!)

Summer Storms

Utah has some great summer storms from rain to lightening and thunder to hail.  When we went to school at the U we had some of the best storms we've ever seen.  This was a hail storm from a few weeks ago that was amazing.  Blake and I were about to go to the store when it started raining and then pouring and then hailing.  We waited it out and loved the scenery.

The streets and roofs were so white it looked like it had snowed! (In JUNE!)

We've had some great lightening storms too that have reminded me of great storms at the cabin (from growing up) where we would count between lightening and thunder to see how far away the lightening is.  So, we too have counted to see how far away it is.  Angel Moroni even got struck by lightening at the new Oquirrh Mountain temple!  We have heard of quite a few lightening strikes.  I guess we won't jump on the trampoline in the lightening storms!

Temple Open House

We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House.  What a great experience!  It's amazing being so close to so many temples!  The city of South Jordan is the first city ever having two temples in it!  We can see three temples at one time!  Draper, Jordan River, and Oquirrh Mountain.  We have loved taking our kids to the open houses.  The spirit is so strong in the temple, even though it hasn't been dedicated yet.  The kids said it felt cozy in the temple.  They both really liked the baptismal font and the brightness in the celestial room.  We went a few weeks ago with some of Will's family and my cousin and her family.

We started with a short video.

 

After touring the inside we walked around the temple to take some pictures.  Here is the spot that the Prophet, Pres. Monson will complete when the temple is dedicated.  The kids loved touching the temple walls.  Here is Blake tracing the numbers.

My cute boys

Sharonda's cute kids

This was a 'secret' door that Camden found on the outside...no door knob! 

(I'm sure it's a fire door from inside)

Our Family

The group: Grandpa Larson, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Carrie, Daddy, Mommy, Grandma Larson, Sharonda, Zaron, Jill, Kevin, Dalton, Blake, Camden, Jill, and Megan.

Danica and Carrie came a week later and Blake and I went again with them.  We hope to take the kids a few more times before August when it is dedicated-what a great opportunity.  It is so amazing that temples are just everywhere around here.  We are used to driving 1-1/2 hours to get to the temple. Now there are 3 within 5-15 minutes!!!  4 within 25 minutes!!!  WOW!