:: petting zoo @ Thanksgiving Point ::

{goat, llahma, fat pig & horse}

What a fun place this is to take little ones.

Laura and Abigail invited us this morning, and we loved.

There was so many fun animals.

COWS

petting the baby cow

COWS & PONIES

TURKEYS, CHINESE GEESE & BUNNIES

{that's a brand new bunny in the bottom right corner}

ALPACA

{pronounced al-pak-ah}

This guy was my favorite! He was by far the ugliest animal there. He needed a bang trim so bad. He would throw his head back to move the hair out of his eyes. Smart dude.

We even got to go on a wagon ride pulled by pretty horses. The driver was a cute old cowboy, and the horses names were Hannah and Gloria.

{cohen "people watching" just like his parents do}

What a fun day!

I highly recommend taking your little ones there is you haven't already.

:: ducks on campus ::

Last weekend we took Cohen to see the ducks again on campus.

They were a big hit now that he's a little older.

He just wanted DOWN and to chase them all.

Good thing they are very nice and used to people poking at them.

We fed them break crumbs, and tried to imitate their noises.

At first Cohen wasn't too sure if they would hurt him, but that only lasted seconds.

He wanted they to play with him.

This little guy was taking a nap in a pretty tricky way...

on one leg all curled up in a ball.

First glance at the water, and he wanted IN.

Successful evening with the ducks.

:: my knight in shining armor ::

 MY KNIGHT is always blowing me away. Look at him -- He can handle two one year olds at the same time, and keep them interested in the same book. 

Magic.

We tended Abs last night.

My favorite thing that I saw happen while the babies played was when Abs yawned and Co copied her seconds later, opening his mouth as wide as he could and 
making an "ahh" whisper noise. Two little copy cats.

I laughed so hard my eyes watered. (guess you had to be there)

Two peas in a pod these two babes are.

:: 14 months and WALKING ::

 

As of yesterday, Cohen is walking! 

He is taking 10+ steps.

He will walk to you and stop and stand to grab a toy.

He is still a little wobbly.

This kid moves as fast as lightning these days.

Never stops to breathe.

And I must admit, I like it.

I LOVE my little/big baby boy FULL of energy.

Cohen still eats anything you give him, besides eggs.

He now LOVES whole milk.

He can say some new words: 

wa-wa (water), keys, vac-doom (vacuum, still his fav), aaah-i-mal (animal), bye-bye, hi.
He prays. He will fold his arms, bow his head, and whisper for 5 seconds.

Starting to take just one nap a day.

Still sleeps 10-12 hours a night.

As of now, has 1 one year old molar. (I see others coming)

He is my little bud, and we love to play trucks and trains.

I LOVE HIM. O, how I love him.

Happy 14 months Co!

::rainy bike rides::

Last night we went on a bike ride. We borrowed Laura and Ab's bike. {thanks so much Sommers} Co just couldn't get used to the helmet. He has never liked hats, weird boy. But needless to say, he LOVED it. Anything outside is in his element. He thought it was pretty cool that Daddy was riding next to him on his bike too.

We made it home just in time....before THE HUGE RAINSTORM came. We got a little wet.

And we loved it.

  CLASSIC.

::date night at the drive-in::

{my date is SO handsome}
Last night my honey took me on a date. We went to the drive-in at Rock Canyon Park and saw No Reservations. The drive-in on a hill was a first for us. We give it a rating of ***** {5 stars}. We had a wonderful time. Karaoke was the pre-show and it was a hoot. I'm going to sign up to do it next time.

This summer night was one of my favorites.

The temperature was just right, not too cold but enough to snuggle in a blanket. The sunset was gorgeous. My pictures don't do justice. It was very romantic and relaxing.

I love dating my husband.

:: MY LONI WEEKEND ::

Oh how I love this girl.

For those of you who don't know my friend Loni, you are missing out. We have been best friends for 12 years, and we get mistaken for sisters all the time. She was my other half until I married Brock. Now, we are more like twin sisters. While Brock was gone to his interview, Loni was nice enough to come have a girls weekend and stay with me. We had A BLAST! It was just like old times,which we both have been longing for. We ate Rio, watched a chick flick every night, shopped til our bodies ached, and we spent a day in Salt Lake City. We went downtown and took a tour of the Conference Center, roamed Temple Square, and ate at the Nauvoo Cafe {highly recommended} and went to the capitol building. We reminisced about old times, and we predicted our lives in ten years.

Loni is great. She is perfect in my eyes. She knows me like most people don't, and she knows ALL my secrets.

 This is a wall of a building where an artist sand blasted this portrait. All the white is raised like little bumps. I liked it.

 Our friend Jessie came and visited us.
{I am the shortest...always have been. Bummer}


When I think of how much I miss Loni it hurts. I went from seeing her everyday to now seeing her 5 times a year or so.

I don't like it. I keep dreaming...the same dream I always have...us living next door to each other with our sweet husbands and our houses full of babies that are best friends.

ONE DAY....

I LOVE YOU LON!

Thanks for being my best friend.

:: In loving Memory ::

of

Jon Todd Larson

 This past February my sweet uncle passed away unexpectedly. He is survived by his sweet wife Cathy, and two beautiful daughters, Chelsea and Emily, along with many other family members that will miss him dearly.

Uncle Todd was from Dallas, Texas. He and his family would come to Utah every now and then to visit and to go hunting with the boys. They would go to the very top of Manti each time to "their spot". A couple of weekends ago all my family did just that. We went and camped at the very tip top of Manti and had a lovely memorial for Uncle Todd. My heart was touched by the words that were said, but also hurt as I watched his family grieve so badly. I thought of my testimony of the plan of salvation. 

And that gave me peace.

 Brock and I went on a romantic four wheeling ride.

Cohen absolutely loved being on the wheelers. His eyes lit up immediately and his hands went wild, trying to touch every button as fast as he possibly could.

This was Cohen's 1st camping trip. It went fairly well. It poured rain so much that we had to head home a day early {broke my heart}. Cohen was a little stir crazy not being able to get down and run around like normally. Cohen went to sleep well, but woke very frightened and ended up in my sleeping bag, waking up every ten mins. We were tired the next day, but still LOVED being in the mountains with loved ones.

We had Chef Ricky {my dad} there to cook every meal for us. Out-of-this world food. He needs to open a dutch oven restaurant in my opinion.

 Everyone had mud from their toes to their noses.

It feels good to get dirty every now and then. Especially while in nature.

 After heading down the mountain early to beat the next storm, we had our final BBQ at a park and played Grandma Sheryl's games to win prizes. {pics above: playing Minute to Win It}

 

 Cohen tried his 1st OREO cookies. {Yes, he always eats cookies, I guess we just don't buy Oreo's that much}

 My Uncle Todd's parents are divorced. I was very impressed by them for being such great sports while stranded together for a weekend. These pics above are them and their kids and grandkids.

 Our drive home was peaceful. Cohen slept the whole 1.5 hours and Brock and I held hands and talked. We passed the energy windmills at the perfect time....sunset. 

It was beautiful.

The weekend was great. Somber, but filled with much love and laughter. I just LOVED seeing with my sweet family from Texas. I didn't want to go home. I guess we all have to go back to reality at some point. Bummer.

I LOVE YA'LL!

::CHECK THIS OUT!::

 Mrs. Tracy Layne is one of a kind.

She is an amazing photographer and I would 

LOVE for you to check out her new

 photography website out.

Just click HERE and enjoy!

 

::the man of my dreams::

That's right. I dream about this man.

He is so perfect for me, it's incredible.

He is Cohen's hero, and my lover.
He works however hard he needs to for our family. 

He watches Gilmore Girls with me.

He lets me snuggle as long as I want.

When I'm unhappy he knows it and he fixes it. ALWAYS.

I dropped him off at the airport this morning so he could 
fly to Texas for a med school interview. {Wow...is that day really here?}

I was tough and didn't cry. Miracle.
GOOD LUCK SWEETIE! 
Can't wait to see you in a few days.

::pull my finger::

 After we stuffed our bellies full with Ranch Chicken Bake on Rice for dinner {YUM!} Cohen and Daddy made me laugh til I cried. Brock is HILARIOUS for one, {the sounds and faces he makes can't be beat} and for two, my little boy's laugh is the best sound in this world. So very contagious and real. He even had tears in his eyes he was laughing so hard.

It was a great way to end a good day.