B A B Y P A R T Y !!!

We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful neighborhood and even more so, to belong to such a great ward.  Some of our sweet friends from our ward threw us a couple's baby shower.  It was actually more of a "last night out before having a baby" party.  It was amazing.  We knew about the shower (when and where), but everything that was going to happen was a complete surprise.  Everything about the night was about our favorite things!  For dinner, we had a variety of mexican food (my favorite).  On the tables were peanuts (Eldon's fav) and m&ms( my fav).   We played some great baby games such as who can drink the juice from the bottle first, the clothes pin game of who can not cross their legs the longest (p.s. eldon won that one!), who can dress a baby blind folded the fastest, which candy bar (poopy diaper) is which melted.  We also had a DANCE PARTY!!!  yep, its true.  A full on disco lights, balloon floor filled, dj music'ed dance party.  It was awesome!!!  And again, my fav!  And the best part was, our friends totally rocked out with us, and even Eldon danced!  It was a blast!  We truly had such an amazing time with our dear friends, and they were all so very generous that we got some amazing gifts for our sweet little Xander.  Lets just say that he will be rollin in style for quite some time thanks to the generosity of our friends!





One of the major highlights of the evening was the parenting advice we received from our friends.  I hope you enjoy as much as we did.  It was some amazing advice!!

We just wanted to thank all those that came and played with us and especially give a big THANKS to those who organized the night so that we could party and feel so very loved by those around us!!!!  We know we are so very lucky and we know that Xander will be all the more lucky to grow up surrounded by such amazing people!  We love you all!

Moonlight Madness

 This year for the ward trunk or treat, we went dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the big bad Wolverine!  We thought it was pretty funny!  And Eldon looked beyond amazing!  And it only took him 2 weeks to grow out his beard to look like that!  The best part was that Eldon's little girlfriend (Rylee) showed up dressed as little red riding hood as well, so everyone teased that he traded me in for a younger model.  Ha!  She was adorable!  So were some of our friends from the ward.  I was pretty impressed with the costumes and creativity of the ward.  It was a great night and so much fun!

 Captain Jax Sparrow and the Minions!  hehe

Terje was the cutest little pirate princess.  And to the right are two of my lovely young women.  They helped pass out the candy for our car.  Made my job easier!~

 I thought this family was awesome all dressed up as the toy story crew!

 We inherited some children for the evening since their parents were out at a football game.  So for the night, this was the Larson family photo!

And because we can... the Larson Family Funny Foto!

Such a Special Service Project

During Girls Camp, We had the amazing opportunity to work on a service project that has very special significance for us.  All the young women (about 300 plus)  helped to create bereavement boxes to donate to the hospital.  This was not necessarily done in our boys' name, but it was their memory and our birthday project that promoted and gave the example for these special gifts.  We were so very honored to have our sons' memory be the example to promote such love and service for many others who will suffer so greatly. 

 Each of the young women took part in the project.  Some made the scrapbooks.  These books hold very sweet poems that brought peace and love to my heart when it was the most broken.

 My young women were especially sensitive and sweet during this project.  Each came and gave me hugs and showed their love, affection and support and cried sweet tears right along with me.  I have to be honest, I bawled with every hug.  Of course I was sad, I will always be sad and miss my babies, but there was an incredibly sweet spirit there as these Young Women worked to serve others that will have such a difficult road, and it just meant so much that the feelings simply could not be contained.

 They each put so much love into their projects and I am forever grateful for their service.  Even though none of these boxes were for me, I truly felt their love and service towards me as they worked to serve others.

 While some worked on the sweet memory books, Others sewed tiny blankets to wrap those most precious babes for their families to hold and cherish.

 I wish that there was not a need for any of this.  I wish a mother never had to know the pain and heart ache of losing a child.  But because this sadness and tragedy does happen, I am so grateful for people such as these beautiful young women who can give the gift of memories to women who will have only that... memories.

 Other Young Women worked on creating homemade bath salts to help those mothers find some comfort and relax after such a tragic experience.  These gifts, no matter how big or small, truly mean so much!

 Our oldest young women at the camp worked to put together all the items into beautiful boxes.  Within the boxes were the scrapbooks, the blankets, the bath salts, home made beanies (which some girls also worked on sewing) as well as a journal, pen, candy and a sweet, small stuffed animal. 

Together, the Young Women created 48 boxes!  It was amazing the power they held.  In just 2 hours, these amazing young ladies created one of the most memorable gifts that could be given to a grieving mother, and they created enough to touch 48 lives.  What a truly precious blessing.  I am so very grateful for my experiences at camp and this tender experience will forever engrave these wonderful young women to my heart.  Thank you ladies for your love, for your service and for your care.  You are amazing and you have no idea how much of a difference you have just made to so many women, and to so many families.  

I am also grateful that the camp leaders are allowing me to join them when we deliver these boxes to the hospital and that they have chosen to donate these gifts to the same hospital that took such good care of me after losing our sweet babes.  I am still constantly afraid that it will be as if my sweet boys never existed because their time was so short, but I am forever grateful for those that allows us to use their precious memory to serve and show love to others.  We will always remember you Ethan and Tommy and will work to be worthy to be your parents.  All our love to you and these sweet young women.  Such a blessed experience.

Girls Camp Fun

This year, I was privileged to attend Girls Camp with some amazing young women.  For those that do not know, Girls camp is a week long (4 days) church retreat for young women ages 12-18.  It is full of giggles, fun, spiritual experiences, life changing lessons, and dear friendships.  I went as one of the leaders.  Our group had 27 amazing young women.  I learned so much and hopefully taught some things as well.  We played silly games like "Big Booty" and "little Sally Walker" and I learned a new game called Ninja.  Yep, pretty much like it sounds.  You pretend to be a ninja and chop each others arms off.  Even the Bishop played!  lol.  He was actually pretty good at it.  We also went on a long and tough hike, completed the "enchanted race" challenges as a team, told scary stories, went on a snipe hunt, had many spiritual devotionals, shared stories and laughs and learned about our Divine Nature as children of a Heavenly King.  There is just something amazing about being in the woods, away from technology and the distractions of the world, and being surrounded with amazing bright and brilliant young ladies that helps to bring perspective to life, and brings about such a profound feeling of divine love.  I am grateful for the opportunity I had to go and to serve and learn to love these young women.  We had such a great time and I am glad for the new friendships and sweet memories that were made.

Trunk or Treat

We went to our Ward's Trunk or Treat.  It was a lot of fun.  They sure know how to throw a party!!! Some people decorated the trunk of their cars, and we even had Snow White's magic mirror which told fortunes to the kiddos.  They really enjoyed it!    

 We have a wonderful bishop who is so much fun!  His wife too!  I thought their costumes were hilarious.  Especially because he really is a very young bishop. Karen's costume was just awesome! The butt pad was the best!

There were so many great costumes.  The whoopee cushion was hilarious.  And I absolutely adored this little lady bug.  Amara, was so good the whole time, and just so stinkin cute!!!

 This little girl, Riley, absolutely loves Eldon!  It is so stinkin cute!  At church she will run up to him as if she hasnt seen him in forever.  She snuggles and giggles and flirts. Its so funny.  Her mom text us after the trunk or treat to tell us that she said she had "fun wid Edon".  So cute.  I was rolling because we even brought Zeus to the party, but she had fun with Eldon!  ha.  We might have to fight because i am a jealous girl, but it just goes to show that Eldon is going to be a wonderful father!!!  Next to Riley is her big brother Jaxon. 

 My good friend Nicole and her hubby came along for the ride.  It was alot of fun.  Eldon and I went as ourselves.... nerds!  And Zeus was a pirate.  The kiddos thought it was really cute to get a treat and pet the puppy.  He always does so good with kids, especially crazy scenes like this one.

 Bobbi made a great pregnant nun.  She really is pregnant.  It made it even better that her hubby Kyle went as a priest.  Hilarious!  And our good friends little girl, Sophie made a beautiful queen of Hearts, especially when liking icing off her lips from the yummy Halloween cupcakes.

We had a wonderful time with our dear ward friends and are excited for the rest of the holiday.  Happy Halloween!!!