Hockey and Spanish

Here are a few video's of Torin one doing hockey and one of him at his Spanish fiesta. It's been fun to see him improve and now he is actually able to get most of his equipment on and off without the help of Mom and Dad. Of course him and Bjorn still have their small little battles on getting the equipment on and off but it's only because they are two peas in a pod...Hope you enjoy the little hockey dude's video...

Torin has been taking a Spanish class one hour, one day a week. I feel bad that we don't really practice with him but Bjorn and I both took french so we are a little clueless on pronounciation. Well Torin surprised us at his fiesta in singing head, shoulders, knees and Toes. Along with some of the words that he was able to pronounce. The teacher told us that if he practiced at home he would probably be further along...I think that was a shot at us...she also informed us that there is class for adults. We'll get right on that ;)

Baby Stories start to unfold....

Well in the hopes that I get better about keeping my blog up here are a few cute stories that could only come from the boys about the baby....

Torin's Logic....

He asked me what size the baby was and remembering something that I had read at 3 months stated that the baby is a size of a lemon. So I told him that it was the size of a lemon. Pretty much every day after that I was asked the question "How big is the baby now?". I kept telling him a lemon for him to try and understand that it's not going to change so quickly just day by day....About two weeks later and many times hearing "How big is the baby now?" I figured that I should give him a different response. I told him that the baby was probably the size of an apple. He looked at me with an odd look and quickly fired back, "Mom, an apple and lemon are the same size." Seriously, how many 5 year olds debate the size of a fruit. I told I meant a very big apple one that is bigger than a lemon. Little stinker...

Vaughn's stories...

Honestly, we never really give Vaughn enough credit. When people would ask me what Vaughn thought of the baby I would reply with that he probably didn't even know that there was a baby in my belly. So I decided to ask him where the baby was and he got a huge smile and said "In your belly mama." I guess the little guy knows what is going on :)

When we asked Vaughn if he wanted to talk to the baby and to tell the baby his name, he got real close to my belly and said "Hi baby, me Jungle Man." Bjorn and I obviously started to laugh as Vaughn thinks that he is Mowgli from The Jungle Book and actually runs around saying he's jungle man.

Then last but not least the other day totally unprompted he came up to me and said "Me, talk to your baby mama." When I lifted up my shirt he said real sweet "Me, missed you baby." and gave my belly a kiss. When I told him that was so nice of him he said "You bring baby to work with you so me missed baby." I guess he really does get much more than we thought...

Easter News

I am very excited to be posting that we are expecting a new addition to the Larson Family. It's an exciting time and we have been very excited to tell everyone but have kept it on the down low due to various reasons. We are at a point though where if we didn't start telling people they would think that I was just getting fat :) Really I'm still not showing, which is crazy for #3 and that I am 16 weeks pregnant! I'll take it though...

We found out in early February and I will say that we were both a little surprised. We had been "not trying to prevent it" for about 8 months and were thinking that maybe it just wouldn't happen. Obviously, even though surprised we are excited!!!

I think the one that is the most excited is Torin! We took him to our 3 month appointment to hear the heartbeat. We told him that we were going to the doctor to see if she could tell us why I wasn't feeling good. When our doctor found the heartbeat Torin asked if that was my heartbeat and the doctor said "No, that's too fast to be your Mommy's heartbeat. I think your Mommy has a baby in her belly." A little surprised he asked "You're pregnant!" and when we told him yes he literally began to jump up and down with excitement. He really wants a little sister but said that he would love a little brother too :) We are hoping for healthy...

I've attached a few pictures of our Easter hope you enjoy!

The boys Easter morning before church...

Family picture on our deck...

Yes, I'm actually posting something...

I was just emailing my cousin and sent her a link to this blog realizing that it has been a few months since I have posted here. I'm going to try and get better about that. It's been a long few months through the holidays and well I could give more excuses but instead of that I'll try and explain the pictures that I am going to post.

They were taken back in October but I just had to post them. The photographer that took them Pamela Rawn is SO talented and I am always amazed with what she captures of our family. And the fact that she is so over-whelmingly patient with our boys. I would recommend Pam to anyone!!! She's patient during the session, so creative yet always excited to hear about your ideas, awesome about getting in different backgrounds/scenery and has an eye for getting that special moment when you're not looking :) Not to mention that the quality of her photos come out amazing!!! Okay I could brag about her all day long here are a couple of the pictures that came out of the photo shoot. Here is one that she took and then actually did a gallery wrap of it. Meaning that it's canvas.

I love this one as it looks like I am the one being patient...

Now if Bjorn and Vaughn could get with the program we would be in business...

Okay to bump it up a few months here are a few from Christmas....

Torin and Vaughn got golf clubs from my Grandma for Christmas. For those of you that don't know golf kind of runs on that side of the family. My Grandpa played on the PGA and was a golf pro at various courses. He also played in the very first Master's tournament. So Grandma Paletti was very happy that we spent the money she gave us for the boys on golf clubs.

I think that Vaughn was hoping for a hockey stick....Notice the MN wild Jersey and hat :)

The little Larson cousins. Torin, Cooper, William, Callie, Vaughn and Alaina. They were being bribed with Chocolate to hold still for the picture :)

The big Larson cousins. Lana, Ryan, Jamie, John, Nicole, Me and Bjorn peeking out along with the flying foot of crazy Coops..

Well I hope you all enjoyed a little update. I'll do my best to get more out and on a more frequent basis.

Jen

Banning State Park Family Hike

It was a beautiful Fall Day and we decided to pack a lunch and try out a new State Park for hiking. In the rush of getting out the door we forgot to grab the pack for Vaughn which we found out the hard way that he is still really needing the pack as 1) he gets tired too quick and wants to be carried and 2) he is still lacking a little bit of the self persevation as he was about to walk off cliffs multiple times. Crazy little guy! The leaves were goregous and it was a short walk with some interesting adventures. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

A cute picture of the boys

Mommy and Vaughn sharing a giggle

An interesting wall and fun photo opp

Not sure about sitting up that high

Jen having some fun with the scenery

Color amongst the b&w


Two little cuties

Capturing a quick self couple portrait

First Day of Kindergarten

Well I can't believe that we are here that our oldest is going to Kindergarten. The first day was pretty interesting. Torin was so excited to go to school. He was all smiles and love you's to Mom and Dad UNTIL....we got to the bus stop where there were other children. Then it was very apparent that he was embarrassed of Mom and Dad. He actually said at one point while I was taking pictures that he was embarrassed of us being there. Oh well for that not happening until High School. Honestly, I would have been okay with Middle School but here it is. The bus came, he grabbed his backpack threw it over his shoulder and marched up the bus stairs, went to the middle of the bus, sat on the opposite side of us and the bus drove off. No waves good-bye's, not a kiss for goodness sake..nothing. For a split moment I felt like my Mother in wanting to say I've given you five years of life and not even a wave good-bye of course I didn't. My lip bleed just a little bit :) I then reflected on this time to see what an independent little man that we have raised. One who is confident in who he is to not need us to carry on in his life. I will say that my prayers have increased in that I have given and will continue to give him what he needs to make the right choices in life. Yes, I know he is only in Kindergarten but I think that the first steps that your children take away from you are the hardest. Torin of course is LOVING school telling us what he learns everyday and when he gets to bring the share bag home. All the exciting things that come along with school. Here are a few pictures of the big first day.

The beginning of the front porch pictures the first day of school

The boys act so much alike that they even walk alike

Feeling embarrassed being with Mom

See ya later Mom and Dad...

Mom and Dad I had the best time at Kindergarten...

A few more pictures....

Vaughn in a big boy bed


Like father, like son...




The three amigos


A long day of on the river canoeing



Vaughn at his happiest

Torin in our backyard, hot summer day