Visiting Snowflake

Xander got to experience quite a few firsts this weekend.  To start off, this was his very first trip to Snowflake!  He did pretty well on the 3 hour drive but was definitely done being in his carseat by the time we arrived.  This was also his first experience with snow.  He really didnt experience very much of it besides being bundled up and snuggled by a fire, but still.... a first.  

 Another big first was meeting some family members for the first time.  Everyone was so excited that we were coming up!  We have never received such a grand welcome! (we are already chopped liver compared to our cutie pie baby).  He was definitely quite popular with the Larson crew, including the young ones. There were even more people that loved and snuggled on Xander but unfortunately we were having so much fun with family ourselves that we forgot to pull out the camera for a few. 

Hanging with Uncle Nolan

Loving the snuggle from cousin Katie

Starring contest with Uncle Justin

Lovin on Aunt Angela

Love, Love, Love cousin Jessica

Oh Grandpa!  Im so comfy I could just sleep!

Cousin Shelby is so snuggly

One of the major highlights was to meet Great Grandpa Webb!  He is 95 years old and just as sharp as ever!  He has been very hopeful for our adoption to be smooth and successful and was thrilled that he got to meet Xander.

Grandpa thought Xander had a tummy bubble , so he was using his tricks to  help him out, but  I think it looks like he was giving Xander his first spankings. hehehe, for being so stinkin cute, Its naughty!

Shelby liked Xander so much, she came back for more snuggles.

Xander loved Cousin Abbie too!

Xander was so popular, I had to steal him and make sure mama got her loving in as well!  Me and my snuggle boys in a comfy rocker by the fire = Heaven!

The Xander Zone

Welcome to the Xander Zone!  Pretty much, our blog is going to be taken over by this sweet little guy, but we realize that everyone would definitely prefer to see his adorable face, rather than ours.  And its ok, we understand, and we totally agree!!!!  So since Xander has been home, we have had quite a few visitors!  There are still so many people that we would love for him to meet, but he is still very small, so we have only had visitors in small doses.  Soon enough (because time is absolutely flying) we will introduce him to church and to my work friends and the public.  In the mean time, we have had fun with those who have come to visit.  Everyone thinks he is just perfect (which he is) and they love his chubby cheeks and his triple chin (yep, he has one).  He is so sweet and just adorable.

Family Baby Shower

My mom and her sweet friends through a baby shower for my family members and family friends.  One of my favorite people in the world, Cherilyn offered her beautiful home for the shower and the food was beyond amazing!!!  Our family and friends were wonderful and beyond generous.  This little boy is going to be so pampered and loved!  I am so very grateful to all those who love and support us and our sweet little boy.  So much fun!

Christmas 2011

 For Christmas this year, we spent Christmas Eve with Eldon's Family.  As is tradition, the kiddos made "spud nuts".  They are homemade donuts that taste just like Krispy Kreme donuts only better!  This kiddos love to put the frosting on!         

 Eldon was testing out our new camera for Christmas.  So here is our cute puppy Zeus!!!  He is a very happy puppy, who smiles all the time, but not for the camera.  He was not so thrilled with his puzzle toy on Christmas.  He couldnt figure it out.  A few days later, he was a pro and gets every treat out of the puzzle every time!

 Our niece Shelly may hurt me for posting a pic of her just out of bed without any make up on (even though she is gorgeous anyway) but I couldnt resist because of her face.  She was so stinkin excited for this gift.... it was a Justin Beiber singing toothbrush.  Ive never seen anyone so excited for a toothbrush for Christmas, but she was in Heaven! hahaha!


 My Christmas morning was awesome!  Watched my lovely niece and nephew open their gifts while enjoying a very relaxing massage in this chair!  Lets just say that I was greatly coveting this chair.  Zeus enjoyed the view of the gifts from the safety of mommy's lap in the chair too.

Our little nephews helped to bring the Christmas spirit to the morning.  They were very cute opening gifts.  Our nephew Dax is 2.  He really liked the gifts but wasnt too sure about the wrapping paper.  This little boy is all BOY!  He got a gift of a toy car.  One button made the car make noises from the "radio".  He made the funniest frowny face.  He didnt like it at all.  The next button made a "vroom vroom" noise.  Man, did his face light up to hear the car noises!  So cute!  And just because he is adorable, I included a picture of our newest little nephew Ryker.  We think he looks alot like Eldon.  So cute!  It was a very Merry Christmas!  We were grateful to spend it with our family.

With our Gratitude

 To our Dear Friends and Family;

First, we must apologize for the delay in this letter.  While our gratitude is abundant for the love, support, and generosity of those around us, we still find it very difficult to bring ourselves to finish projects related to our sweet babies.  Second, we must give a huge THANK YOU to our family, friends, and co-workers, whose generosity has allowed the memory of our sweet little boys to help and uplift so many others.

It is so amazing to us how quickly time goes by.  It seems like just yesterday we were entangled in the stress and sorrow of the loss of Ethan and Tommy and yet, it has already been two years!  During the past two years we have become ever so grateful for the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father who leads and guides our lives.  We have come to learn that while we do not know the meaning of all things, (especially related to this loss); we do know and feel our Heavenly Father’s love helping us through each day.  Just as with their 1^st birthday, it was very important to us to make Ethan and Tommy’s birthday a memorable one full of love and celebration for the joy they brought to our lives.  December 3^rd was actually a very dreary one.  It was raining off and on frequently throughout the day and we were incredibly concerned that the weather would ruin our plans at the cemetery.  Thankfully, the clouds parted from the exact minute we entered the cemetery to the exact minute we drove away and not a single drop of rain fell.  It was a sweet thought to think that the Heaven’s could pause for just a short time to allow us to honor our sweet little boys on their birthday and “send our love to Heaven” with a balloon release.  Following the balloon release, friends and family joined us back at our home for a birthday dinner.  It truly is so comforting to be surrounded by those we love during difficult days. We are very grateful for those who were there in person and were able to share in this special day and for those that were there in spirit and thought as well.

As part of the tradition for Ethan and Tommy’s birthday, we prepared bereavement boxes, similar to the gifts Stefani received during her time in the hospital.  These boxes were created through the love, time and talents of our sweet friends along with the generosity of so many who gave the needed items to fill the bereavement boxes.  These boxes were donated to the hospital that took such good care of Ethan and Tommy and will be distributed to other women and families who will suffer the tragic loss of a child.  We desperately wish gifts like these boxes were not necessary, and that there wasn’t a need, but unfortunately there is.  We are again, so grateful for the blessing to be able to take such a difficult trial in our lives and turn it around into an opportunity to help others who will experience our grief and know our pain. 

We know with a doubt that we have been beyond blessed during our struggles and trials, and with this specific one, this fact has been abundantly clear.  Words cannot accurately express our gratitude for the love and support we have felt and continue to feel on a regular basis.  We are grateful for the role each of you play in our lives and for your help in ensuring that Ethan and Tommy’s memory will be preserved and will help to make a difference to others.

Thank you for all that you do for us and our sweet little boys! All our love!

Eldon and Stefani Larson

Happy 2nd Birthday Ethan and Tommy

 It is crazy how quickly time goes by.  It seems like only yesterday that we were wrapped up in the heartache of losing the boys, and now we are remembering what would have been their second birthday.  It is our tradition to have a gathering of our friends and family to remember the love our sweet babies brought into our lives.   This year it was pouring rain.  I was so worried that our plans for the cemetery would be ruined by the rain.  It stormed off and on all day.  The entire drive to the cemetery it was sprinkling.  The second we pulled into the cemetery grounds, the rain stopped.  It was still cold, but thankfully, it wasnt wet.

 We were surprised and honored by the many people who showed up to show their love and remember Ethan and Tommy.  There were quite a bit more people than we expected which was a wonderful surprise!!

I love to see the balloons fly.  Sending our love to our sweet babies in Heaven.  Amazingly, the rain stayed away until the very minute that we drove away from the cemetery.  Our sweet babies held off the rain so they could have their balloon release.  It was very special and it touched my heart greatly!  Ethan and Tommy, we love and miss you so very much!  You have brought so much love to our hearts and to our family.  Just your memory makes us strive to be better people each and every day.  We are grateful for the lessons we learned from being your parents and strive to make you proud of us.  We love you babies!!  Families are Forever!

Planes, Planes & More Planes

 Eldon like airplanes (to put it mildly).  So he simply couldnt resist the opportunity to visit both the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport "Aviation Day" and the Luke AFB "Luke Days Air Show".  He was in heaven to say the least.  It was pretty cool to see all the different airplanes and helicopters.  Eldon could name each one by sight practically.  We got some pretty cool pics as well.  The best part (other than Eldon's pleasure of course) was the Luke Thunderbirds and their jet show.  It was pretty neat, and amazing to think how fast they were flying. 

 

Christmas Time Fun

We were able to go up to Snowflake for Christmas Eve and enjoy some of the fun traditions of the Larson Family Christmas.  It was a lot of fun and we were really glad to spend time with our loved ones. Check out these super cute family pics.

We drove back home Christmas morning to spend time with the Seals side of the family for the remainder of the day.  My little brother surprised our family for his gifts, he gave us all matching outfits so we could take a new family photo.  Our last family photo was at his mission farewell (more than 4 years ago).  We went out to the park by my parents house and took some super cute family pics, if I do say so myself

Larson Family Reunion 2010

It was time again, for the Larson crew to get together for the annual RH Larson family reunion.  As always, it was alot fun.  This year, Mack and Valerie were in charge, and our reunion fell days before their baby boy Dax's 1st birthday.  So it was only right that we throw him a birthday party.  The morning started out with fun games of capture the flag and then an interesting game that included shaving cream and cheeto puff balls.  The kids had an absolute blast. 

 

After a tasty lunch, it was time for Dax to have fun with his cake, as is tradition with the first birthday.

It took him a bit, but he finally dug into the cake and made an absolute mess all over.  It was adorable.  We all got to join in on the yumminess (a different cake).  After a tasty treat, the kiddos all had a blast on the slip n slide.  I couldnt resist taking pictures of them.  It looks like i only have a few pictures, but really there are over 30.  They were just too cute, so i couldnt resist their different poses as slipped and slid.  

Following that fun, we all went to watch our older nephews (Garett and Caden) play a pre-season football game against Red Mountain.  They totally won!  It was wonderful!  We had a blast and created wonderful family memories.  That is what good family reunion does.