Josh, Emily & Olivia

Time is flying by!

2011-12-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

It has been so nice being back in Utah during the holidays. Olivia has loved it here. She is attached to my Dad's side at all times. She really loves all the decorations and Christmas lights that are all around. She is going to be sad when every house we drive by is not lit up or has Santa out front. She is so full of life I just love this little girl. We are excited for Christmas because I know she is going to be so much fun in the morning. We are missing Josh a lot lately but we have been sending him lots of packages filled with love. Olivia loves talking to Daddy on Skype, she especially loves dancing for him. We are so blessed to be around family during this season. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since our last post, but a lot has happened and we have been so busy. Olivia and I are in Utah now for a couple months to help the time pass while Josh is gone. It has been so nice to have all the extra help, especially because I have been feeling so crappy. Oh ya and we have one big announcement Olivia is going to be a BIG SISTER. We are excited, and our new addition is due June 4th. Olivia was Cinderella this year, or in her words Cindereellllllelllllla. She loved wearing her princess costume and she especially loved Trick or Treating with her cousins. She was so polite and always said "Thank you" at the door. She also loved looking at all the pumkins and decorations at the porches. I think we have far past exceeded candy overload, but we do have some good memories. We missed Daddy so much but we look forward to next year's Halloween.

Goodbye Daddy!!

2011-10-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

Olivia and I spent every minute we could with Josh before he left, even if it meant hanging out in the garage while he fixed the cars. We miss him so much, but we are so thankful for modern technology, and Skype.

Our Trip to Disney World

2011-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

We wanted to have one last big trip before Josh deployed, and since we are so close to Florida off to Disney World we went. Josh's brother and his wife flew from Utah to met us there. It was such a great trip. The weather was perfect, the lines were short and Olivia LOVED it. It was so wonderful to see her face light up when she saw princesses, the castle, Mickey, Minnie, parades, fireworks and so on. She loved the rides and was not scared or nervous of anything. She truly made our trip worth it. We loved spending quality time with Josh before he left. On the way down we spent a night at St. Augustine. This was such a cute little beach town. It was so fun having Jordan and Chari with us. Josh and I were able to go on so many rides together, and we just loved having the extra company. Now that Josh is away Olivia and I will cherish the memories and wait for his return back.

Date Night at Millpond

2011-09-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

One of our really good friends is PCS's to Las Vegas. It is so sad to leave because in the few weeks of knowing her we got really close. Olivia had a big crush on her little boy. She loved playing with Micah. Looks like we will be taking a few trips out to see her in Vegas. Good Luck Kimber, Brad, and Micah!!!

Fun summer nights

2011-08-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

It has been so nice having Josh back home. We have been having a lot of fun the past couple of weeks. Olivia loves swimming so we have done a lot of it. Last weekend we went to Riverbanks Zoo. Olivia really enjoys Zoo's and Aquariums. She is so happy to have Daddy back that she really has become a Daddy's girl. Gives me a break!!! We are sad to see the summer go by so quickly but we are getting excited for our trip to Disney World in September.

Olivia is 18 months

2011-08-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

Wow the time has flown and finally I get to sit through church peacefully again. My little bug is finally 18 months. She is so full of life. Olivia is talking a whole bunch, her favorite words are mine, no no no, cookie, cheese, dada, mama, banana, mouse(Mickey), please, thank you, love you, fish, moo, doggie, and pretty much whatever else she hears you say. We are very blessed because she eats whatever we put on her plate, and she usually always asks us for more. She truly is the light of our lives and we are so thankful for her each and every day.

Visit from My Dad and Evie

2011-07-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

I have been looking forward to this visit for some time. My Dad and Evelyn flew out last week for 10 days. We had so much fun and it was so great to have them here. My Dad did so many projects inside and outside, I loved it. They were the biggest help and lifesavers this month, since Josh is in Alaska. We stayed in Charleston for a few days. We rode a carriage through old towne, went to the beach, ate delicious seafood, went to Fort Sumter, shopped and much much more. Olivia were very sad to see them go, because it was back to just the two of us. Hopefully Josh will be home in 3 days. Thanks again Dad and Evelyn for coming out to see us, we loved every minute.

4th of July

2011-07-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July was a bit different around here. There was no parade to go to, and Josh had to go into work for a few hours. Needless to say it was not the best day ever. We had a few people from our ward over for a barbeque and some REAL fireworks. Lets just say nothing is illegal so we had quite the show. Olivia really enjoyed them and was not scared one bit. I really missed being home but it was fun getting to know new friends.

Our getaway to North Myrtle Beach

2011-07-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

Will Josh leaving to Alaska soon, we decided to take a little weekend trip to Myrtle Beach. It was so fun, we stayed in The Embassy Suites right on the beach, 10th floor. The view was absolutely gorgeous. They had a fun kid waterpark, nice pools, and of course a great beach. Olivia loves the water, sand, and waves splashing in her face. She definitely takes after me. Being away from home on the 4th of July is hard, so it was nice to getaway and make some memories of our own.

Washington DC

2011-05-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

Josh and I decided to take off to Washington DC over Memorial weekend. We all had a blast, even Miss Olivia. We stayed in Old Town Alexandria, and took the Metro into DC each day. It was so amazing to be there over Memorial Weekend, especially our visit to Arlington Cemetery. We were able to see almost everything in 4 days. Each day was packed , but we also made time for relaxing as well. I was really excited to see everything in person, including all of the Smithsonian Museums. Living on the East coast has its advantages, we definitely will need to go back, maybe next Memorial Day...........

First Day of Many at the Beach

2011-05-31T18:58:00.000-07:00

We took off to Charleston, for our first official beach trip a few weekends ago. Olivia loved the beach, just like her Mama. She loved playing in the sand, not without a few tears when she rubbed her eyes. She is still learning about things, but she always does everything with a smile. I love the fact that we are less than two hours from the ocean.

Columbus Zoo

2011-05-31T18:48:00.000-07:00

We made our first trip to the Zoo out here with my some of our new friends. Olivia loved it, and it was a beautiful Zoo. They also had a gorgeous Bontanical Gardens, we definitely will be getting a Zoo pass.

Playing Outside

2011-05-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing we live somewhere warm, because Olivia just loves playing outside, especially with her new golf clubs. We spend a lot of our days outside or at the park. Just love warm weather.

Jake's Commissioning

2011-05-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Josh was able to come to Utah for a few days around Easter for his brothers commissioning to the Army. His brother Jake asked him a while back, so it was an honor for us to be there and support his wish. Josh was able to commission him in, so it was pretty neat to watch. Good luck Jake!!

Easter

2011-05-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

We were so happy that we were able to be in Utah for Easter. Josh was TDY to Las Vegas, so I stayed with my Dad for 15 days. It was so nice to be home and around family and friends once again. Olivia loved hunting for eggs and she especially loved eating the candy. Our trip ended far too quickly and it was back to South Carolina for us. We already miss our family soooo much. Olivia picks up the phone and says "Grandpa." It makes me so sad to be so far away.

Anniversary

2011-05-03T10:45:00.001-07:00

Our Anniversary was a bit different this year. We had only been here for 3 days, and we knew nobody. So it was all 3 of us off to dinner and shopping. Not a good idea, Josh was sick from a tetnus shot and Olivia was really on one that night. How I miss the joys of having family around to help out. Happy 4 year anniversary to my love.

Our Week in TLF's

2011-05-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

We had to stay in temporary housing on base for a week until our household goods arrived. This was definitely a long week in a one bedroom apartment. The kitchen had only a few pots and pans, and Olivia was going a bit crazy with the same toys over and over. We were so happy to finally get into our home, even if unpacking is so time consuming.

Our trip across the US to South Carolina

2011-05-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

I was not looking forward to driving for 6 days, but this trip turned out not too bad. We started our journey driving 6 hours to Cheyenne, Wy were we stayed at The Little America. It was a nice little break, and a fun hotel. Early the next morning we were on our wau to Council Bluffs, Iowa to visit Josh's brother and his wife. We stayed 2 nights there (another break for Olivia), and while we were there we visited the most amazing zoo. I highly recommend visiting the Omaha Zoo. I can see why it is rated one of the best zoo's. The next drive was the LONGEST of all, 12 hours to Columbus, OH. Josh and I were going a bit crazy, meanwhile Olivia was just happy to eat snacks and watch Signing Time over and over and over. About 30 minutes from our destination Josh was feeling very nauseous. Not fun for him, we ended pullling over for a few minutes. Thankfully we were close to our ending point, so I drove quickly to my best friend Brooklynn's home. It was so nice to see her and her family. I just love her kiddos, they are so precious. We went to another amazing zoo, and ate lots of yummy food. I was so sad to leave after 2 nights, but Josh needed to get to work shortly. We had one more stop, Josh's friend from pilot training in Knoxsville, TN. That night Olivia started really walking, of course we had to grab the video camera. It was fun sharing this moment with friends. And finally........... a quick 4 hour drive and we were here. It is a lot different from Utah, but very beautiful. We are still trying to settle in, but here are a few pics along the way.

Girl's Night

2011-04-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

By best friends put together a girls night before I left. It was perfect, we had pedicures, shopped at Gateway, went to dinner at Spaghetti Factory, and talked forever in the car. I love my friend so much. I am so thankful to have them in my life, and I am going to miss them. Thanks again girls.

Josh's fini flight

2011-04-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Josh has his fini flight at Hill a few days before we left. It was on a Saturday so not many guys were there. He was just happy to have one. The bad thing about the flight was his landing gear was stuck so he had to fly around in circles and burn off some gas before he could land. Doesn't sound like too much fun, for a last flight in Utah. After he landed, it's tradition to squirt the pilot down with champagne, but since we don't drink we used water and sparkling cider. A bit stickier than champagne, but it was still fun. Olivia was a little nervous when she saw what we were doing to Daddy. We are so proud of you Josh and all your accomplishments!

Our last week in Utah.

2011-04-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

We decided to move in with my Dad and Evelyn for our last week in Utah, since our house was on its way to South Carolina. It was so nice for Olivia to be with Grandpa everyday. I'm sure my Dad was happy to finally have some peace and quiet, but we really enjoyed staying there with them. Chester and Olivia became good friends. Everyday Olivia signs dog, asking for Chester. It's so sad to be so far away from our families. We know this is where we are supposed to be, it just takes a while to feel like its home.

Our trip to Disneyland!

2011-04-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to Disneyland with my family. We rented a house 2 blocks away from Disneyland. We would just walk there because it was so close. This house was perfect, it had a swimming pool, hotub, playhouse, pool table, swingset and so much more. We went to Disneyland 3 days, and Sea World for 1. Olivia loved both places. Her favorite ride at Disneyland by far was "It's a Small World." At Sea World she loved the Orca whales (Shamu). It was so nice to be together as a family before we left to South Carolina. I will treasure our memories, especially now that we are so far away.

Our little TDY to Phoenix

2011-02-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

Josh had a traing in Phoenix for the past three weeks so Olivia and I decided to join him. Why not, right..... the weather is always fantastic down there. We had a great time between shopping, eating, visiting old friends, and daily walks life was not too bad. We had a clean two bedroom house so we didn't go too stir crazy. Here a few pics from our little adventure.

Olivia's 1yr Birthday Party

2011-02-25T19:08:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful birthday party for Olivia. All of our family's were able to be there. Olivia had fun eating her cake even thought she didn't make too much of a mess. Our families are so generous Olivia received soooooo many wonderful gifts. We just love our little girl. She makes us laugh each and everday. Some of Olivia's favorite things to do are dance to everything, eat, walk with Mommy of Daddy, be the center of attention, play with toys, cousins, and friends, and of course give big hugs and kisses. She is always smiling and I just love that about her. We can't wait to find out what the next year brings.

My little girl

2011-01-30T20:27:00.001-08:00

Miss Olivia is just too cute. Today while eating lunch she decided she would like to wear her sunglasses. I just had to post pictures because it was so cute. I guess she is like her Mom, we love our sunglasses.

Our trip to Alabama

2011-01-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

Olivia and I took a trip out to Alabama to visit Josh while he out there for some training. This was Olivia's first commercial plane ride and she did pretty well. She slept part of the way both times and played on the empty seat the rest of the flights. She did really well with landing and take-off. We had a lot of fun visiting Josh. Olivia was so excited to see her Daddy. I met a lot of new friends while I was there. We went to the zoo, an aquarium, on walks, shopping, and lots of good eating places. The weather was just slightly warmer than here, but of course the day we left it was 70 degrees. We were so thankful we were able to go see Josh, it would have been a long 5 weeks without him. Only 1 more week to go and we will all be together again.

Olivia's Rash

2011-01-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

So these last few weeks have been pretty interesting to say the least. Olivia started with a high fever, cough, and a runny nose on Dec. 23rd. I was a little worried because her fever was so high, but Josh said lets just wait a couple days. She was pretty miserable Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day but she still managed to smile and play a bit with her toys. Sunday the 26th her fever was so high that we decided first thing Monday morning it was time to take her in. Well bad Mom of the year right here Olivia had a double ear infection and the left one had ruptured. Ouch. The Doctor put her on Amoxicillin (not my drug of choice) and 4 days later she was still having high fevers. We went to an insta-care New Years Eve and the Dr. there told us her ears looked like they were healing. Ya right not sure what he was looking at. Two days later Josh left for a 5 week long training in Alabama. The next morning Olivia woke up covered head to toe with hives. Back to her regular Dr. we go and................. ear infection was still there, along with an allergy to Amoxicillin, and a nasty cold virus. Today she is much improved after 5 days on a Zpack an we finall we have our little Olivia back.

Olivia's First Christmas

2011-01-02T18:24:00.000-08:00

We had an exciting first Christmas with Olivia. She did better opening presents than we thought. She would tear open the packages and get really excited for what was inside. Christmas Eve we went to Josh's parents house. In the morning we went shooting ( my first time ever) and I actually hit 2 clay pigeons out of 20. I would say not bad for my first time. That night we of course played BINGO with everyone and opened presents. We decided to stay there overnight so Grandpa and Grandma could see Olivia's first Christmas morning. We then came home after presents were opened, showered, and headed off to my Dad's for the day. We had a really yummy dinner and then the kids just played forever. It was so nice to be with family. We really take advantage of having them around us. Next year we won't be living here but hopefully we can come home for the holidays.

My beautiful girl

2010-12-21T21:12:00.001-08:00

Olivia is now 10 months old and cute as ever. She is getting so big. She has not touched our Christmas tree since the first day we put it up. She crawls like a crazy baby all over. She is very close to walking and we hope one day shortly she will.

Olivia loves to hear herself talk, sometimes a little too much. She smiles at EVERYONE, and I love that about her. She laughs whenever anybody else laughs, and she is always willing to give Mom a big wet kiss. I just love her.

Christmas Lights

2010-12-21T21:06:00.000-08:00

Miss Olivia has loved going to look at Christmas lights. One of our favorite places was the zoo. She was so excited to see the animals and the lights. She is such a trooper and never made a fuss. We took her on the carosel for the first time as well. I loved watching her face, because she just smiled the whole time. We also went to Temple Square. Their lights were as beautiful as ever. It wasn't too cold that evening so we could enjoy walking around without freezing. I love Christmastime and all that comes along with it.

Little Miss is 9 months

2010-11-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

Olivia is 9 months and growing up way too fast. She is crawling all over and getting into everything. She has learned to crawl up the stairs, but down is not so smooth. She is pulling herself up to furniture and she has started cruising a little bit. She has such a cute personality and we are so blessed to have her in our lives. I love being a Mom, even though somedays are a bit hard.

Halloween

2010-11-13T18:04:00.000-08:00

This year was Miss Olivia's first Halloween. She was the cutest little butterfly. Josh and I agree that she loved her costume, because she was a little upset when we took it off that night. Even thought it was rainy we still had a fun time trick-or-treating. I can't wait until Olivia is old enough to walk and talk at Halloween. We had a great Halloween we managed to see both sets of Grandparents and attend our annual ward trunk-or-treat, and I was able to get Josh to dress-up.

Birthday Getaway

2010-10-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

Josh pampered me with a little getaway for my birthday. We went down to The Little America, had dinner at Settebello's, saw a movie, had an absolutely delicious breakfast at their cafe, and walked around Temple Square. It was so nice to have a night all to ourselves. My family was so great to watch our little one for the night. Thank you Josh I had a fabulous birthday!!!!

8 months and counting

2010-10-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Miss Olivia is 8 1/2 months old. She is getting so big. She is army crawling all over the house. She even learned how to crawl up the stairs. She is starting to get into everything. She has such a cute and fun personality, and she is hardly ever fussy. We are truly blessed to have such a special little girl.

Trying a Lemon

2010-10-05T20:30:00.000-07:00

Miss Olivia is getting so big she is 8 months old now. She is eating food so well. She is very good at picking up finger foods with her hands. Her new favorite things is to lick lemons and limes. Every time we are out we let her try our lemons. At first she was a little unsure, but she really seems to like the taste. She is such a joy and she is always happy. She is the fastest "army" crawler out there. I turn my back for one second and she is across the room. I just love my little girl.

Visiting Daddy at Work

2010-10-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

Miss Olivia loves going to Josh's work and watching the jets fly. We have had a lot of opportunity's in the last little while to watch a lot of friends take their "fini" flight in the F-16. She looks so cute in her earmuffs and she always keeps them on. We love every opportunity we can get to spend time with Josh at work.

Trip to Wendover

2010-08-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today Josh and I flew to Wendover with his brothers and their wives. It was really fun to getaway for the day. It was fun to be with family and fly across the beautiful mountains. Having a husband that fly's has its perks.

Weekend getaway to Snowbird

2010-08-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago my brother and his wife invited us to go up to Snowbird resort for the weekend. It was absolutely gorgeous up there. We went down the alpine slides, hiked, ate good food, and swam a lot. Josh wowed me with his bull riding abilities. It was so nice to getaway for the weekend after Josh had a long work week. I love spending time with my little family.

Olivia is 6 months old

2010-08-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

My little girl turned 6 months old on Saturday. How time flies. I cannot believe she is that old. She is sleeping through the night, sitting up on her own, and she loves eating. She is such a happy baby. We are so blessed to have her in our lives.

Olivia's First Haircut

2010-07-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago Miss Olivia had her first haircut by Kamie. She wasn't so sure but she did really good and sat pretty still. Kamie did a great job evening out all the fly aways. Now her hair is growing much faster and it looks not so white trash with the mullet gone.

Lagoon and Cabin trip

2010-07-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

For our summer vacation this year we decided to lay low and go to the cabin. On our way we went to lagoon for the day, then off to the cabin for a 4 days. It was so fun to go up there with just our little family and spend quality time together. We swam, golfed and of course ate lots of good food. It was nice to get Josh away from work and have him to myself.

4th of July

2010-07-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

We had a fun 4th of July weekend. Saturday we went to the annual Kaysville parade. Later that evening Josh had the chance to participate in the Stadium of Fire flyover. He surprised me because he had a camera in his jet and was talking to the crowd as he flew over. It was so amazing to see him on the jumbo-tron in front of all these people. What an experience to see him, once in a lifetime chance. Sunday we had a squadron BBQ at our house followed by some lame fireworks. Fireworks that you buy in the store are just not as fun as the ones that are illegal. Monday we went mini golfing with my family. What a fun weekend. I love the 4th of July.

Rice cereal

2010-06-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

Miss Olivia has started eating rice cereal, veggies, and fruit. At first it was a struggle, but she is really starting to get it. She always looks so cute,and of course by the end she is soooo messy. She is five months old and she is rolling over like crazy. I just love this little girl!

My pilot

2010-06-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

Josh promised my family he would take them flying. So he finally had a free weekend and we went. It was so fun, I think everyone had a great time. It was extra special because Olivia had her first flight. Of course she slept, but I guess that's why we have pictures. Brock loved i so much that he wants an airplane cake for his 3rd birthday. Josh is such a great sport, love you Babe!

Family Photos

2010-06-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we got our first set of family photos with Olivia. The best part was they were in front of Josh's jet. It was a beautiful day, a little overcast so it made for great lighting. Olivia was perfect, we even got a few smiles out of her. We are so blessed, she is such a happy baby.

Memorial Weekend

2010-06-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

We had a great Memorial weekend. We went and spent the weekend up at our cabin in Bear Lake. It was a bit cold, but still nice to getaway. We rode the four-wheelers and went to Minnetoka Cave. Of course we ate lots of good food, and had a lack of sleep with all the kids around. It was so fun to go up there again, we haven't been up since Olivia was born. Monday Josh was able to participate in a Memorial Day flyover. It was so neat to see him in the air and realize that was MY husband. He did a great job and had lots of fun doing it. I am so thankful for Josh and the sacrifices he makes for our freedom. I love you Babe!

Enjoying the Sun

2010-05-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

We are all trying to get out and enjoy the sun this weekend. Saturday Josh and I planted flowers out in our yard. Today after we went on a walk and introduced Olivia to her new sun hat. I love this time of year because the flowers are starting to bloom and the weather is just right.

Mother's Day

2010-05-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

We had a great Mothers day. Josh made me breakfast in bed. It was super yummy. I got to go to Relief Society instead of teaching in Primary and we went to my Dad's to spend time with the family. Afterwards we visited my Mom's grave. I am so thankful that I had such an amazing example to follow in my journey of being a mother. I Love You and Miss You Mom! I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be a Mom. My only hope is to half as good as job as my Mom.

Anniversary Weekend

2010-04-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Josh surprised me this weekend with a little getaway to Park City. We had such an amazing time. He took work off on Friday and we went shopping at the outlets all day. Our room was great as well. It had a 8 person hot tub in our room. Olivia came along with us as well but she was a perfect baby the entire time. I always love going up to Park City and shopping around. Saturday afternoon we went to the Manti temple to attend the sealing of our good friends from
Arizona. It was a great weekend, Thanks Josh for a wonderful anniversary.

Olivia's Blessing

2010-04-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

Olivia was blessed the last week of March. It was a perfect day. We had so many family and friends attend. Josh counted 45 people in our house and that was not including children. Thank you to everyone for making it a great day. Josh did an amazing job blessing our precious little one. She is growing so big, it's making me a little sad. Time goes by far too quickly.

5 weeks and growing

2010-03-11T16:57:00.000-08:00

Our little Olivia is growing so big. She is right close to 9lbs. I already had to pack away her newborn clothes and wash all of the 3 month clothes. It's amazing how quickly they grow. She is doing so well and we love being parents. I am finally starting to get a little more sleep now that she is a little older. The past two nights I have slept for 6 hours in a row. Let's hope she keeps it up.

Miss Olivia

2010-02-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

On Sunday Josh and I welcomed Olivia Marsha Larsen into our lives at 1700 exactly. She weighs 7lbs 2 oz and she is 19 inches long. She is the most beautiful little girl we have ever seen. We may be a little bias :) We are so happy to have her in our lives. Now that we are home, we are just trying to get adjusted to being new parents. Thanks everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Baby Shower's

2010-01-21T17:03:00.000-08:00

I have been so fortunate to have so many amazing showers. It has been so fun getting ready for Olivia to come. I love baby showers because everything is so cute and little. So many people are so creative and make the most amazing things. I really need to learn to sew, I think. Our last Dr.s visit last night Olivia was weighing in over 7 lbs, and getting bigger every day. Time is coming soon for us to see our little bundle of joy and we are so excited.

31 weeks and growing.....

2009-12-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

I am finally in my last trimester. I am at 31 weeks this week. Olivia is growing like crazy. Our last visit she was 3 lbs, but that was almost 3 weeks ago. It has been a fun journey, but I am starting to be really uncomfortable and its getting harder and harder to do my everyday tasks. Josh and I are a little behind on setting up the nursery, but hopefully the long break over Christmas will help us get a little more organized.

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

2009-11-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

Josh and I went on a little getaway to Mexico last week. It was so much fun. It was beautiful, warm and just nice to be together alone. We did get stuck in the middle of hurricane Ida, but we still had a great time despite the winds and rain. We stayed at an all inclusive resort which was perfect. The resort was gorgeous and the food was amazing. Josh loved Mexico especially, because he was able to speak spanish for an entire week. It was good for him to freshen up on his skills.

Welcome Home Josh!

2009-11-11T20:46:00.001-08:00

Well Josh finally made it home a few weeks ago. It was the best homecoming anyone could have asked for. It really felt like Christmas morning, but much better of course. Josh came home on the main body, so he got to sit in first class for 24 hours. Lets just say he was nice and rested by the time he got home. It is so great to have my husband back in town. He is so wonderful.

It's a .................

2009-09-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

So we are having a little girl. Josh and I are so excited. Sorry I have been a little behind on my posts, but I thought I would let everyone in on our good news. Time to start buying all the cute girly stuff I can find. Watch out Josh :)

Our Busy Life

2009-07-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Josh and I have been so busy the last month preparing for him to leave. We do have some good news, we are expecting and the baby is due February 7th. We are so excited. This summer has been filled with lots of trips and just spending time together. Here are a few pictures from our fun adventures this summer. Hopefully we will find out the gender of the baby in the next couple of weeks. I think I am going to email Josh the picture and let him guess. Just something fun for him since he can't be here for it.

Thunderbird Reception

2009-06-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

Josh and I also had the opportunity to go to a reception put on by the church for the Thunderbirds. It was an amazing experience. We got to meet Elder L. Tom Perry, Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder Robert D. Hales, and Elder Richard G. Scott. They have such a spirit about them. Afterwards the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang a tribute concert for the Air Force. They always give me the chills when they sing.

The Air Show

2009-06-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

Josh and I had the opportunity to help with the Air Sow last weekend. We sold gear from the squadron . It was so much fun to be right in the middle of everything. Although I have to admit that by Sunday I was ready to be done. The Thunderbirds put on an amazing show this year, and I was so excited my family came to watch. The weather was great on Saturday, a little rainy and cold on Sunday. Whats up with the weather this week? I feel like we live in Seattle or something.

Mother's Day

2009-05-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

So Mother's Day is always a little harder for me. I managed to make it through Sunday with only a few tears. Saturday we had a huge birthday party for my dad. It was really fun to get together with only the adults. My dad's wife made chinese food which was sooooo delicious. Afterward all of us went down to my mom' s grave and gave her some flowers and talked about how wonderful she is. Sunday Josh and I had his family over for dinner. We grilled and played games. It was really nice to have all of them over, and for once Josh's mom got to rest and didn't have to worry about cooking.
I just wanted to say how thankful I am for my mother and all she taught me throughout the years. You never realize how important someone is to you until they are gone. I wish everyday I could tell her how wonderful she is, but all I can do is cherish the memories and try to be like her with my children.

A few more pics

2009-04-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

And here is a few more pictures.

Easter Celebration

2009-04-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today was our annual easter egg hunt at my dad's house. Its always fun to get together with family especially on the holidays. Easter egg hunts are fun around my family because most of the eggs are filled with money. The kids love it, because two dollars feels like a million dollars to them. The sad part about today was Josh is still in Lousiana and it's always hard to celebrate holidays without your spouse.

Two Years

2009-04-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

Josh and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on April 6th. Josh is in Lousiana for a couple weeks with work so I flew out there for a week so we could be together. It was so nice to be together on our anniversary even if it was spent in Shreveport, Lousiana. We managed to find an awesome steakhouse for dinner. I can't believe we have been married for 2 years. I love being married and I feel so blessed to have found such a wonderful man.

Mustache March

2009-03-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

So I know it looks a little creepy and old manish, but I had to share Josh's great mustache with everyone. Every March all the guys in the squadron decide to grow a mustache cause why else not its March right????? So Josh has been growing this crazy mustache all month long, and yes I am excited that this month is almost over. I have to admit I am getting a little used to it because I see it every day, but its about time for it to go.

Out Little Getaway to Kauai

2009-03-05T18:24:00.000-08:00

Last week Josh and I and my family all went to Kauai. This is on of our favorite places to vacation. We went there on our honeymoon 2 years ago, so it was so nice to go back again. The island is so beautiful and green this time of year. We did a lot of fun things including zip-lining 80 feet up in the trees, a sunset whale watching cruise, kayaking to a waterfall, and of course laying on the beach. I must say I love the beach. Dustin and Melanie's had a rough time when Brock came down with bronchiolitis and a double ear infection. Not fun when you are away from home. But I think it was nice for all of us to get away and enjoy the ocean breeze. While we were on our sunset cruise a huge whale jumped out of the water about 50 feet in front of our boat. It was a pretty amazing experience. I think Josh and I have convinced ourselves that we need to move to Kauai. Wouldn't that be the life!

Josh is 30!!!

2009-02-08T18:12:00.001-08:00

So Josh really doesn't like parties but it was his 30th birthday how could I not throw him a party. I tried to make it a suprise but I think he figured it out earlier on Saturday, I guess its the thought that counts. It was a great success both families were there along with some friends. I made Cafe Rio pulled pork burritos which is Josh's favorite meal. My husband is so great and he does so much for me, I just wanted him to know how special he is. He said that was the best party he has ever had. He married the right girl for good parties.

A quick trip

2009-02-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

I went to Denver for the first part of the week to visit one my dear friend Sarah Cross. She was living with her parents while her husband in in Iraq. I really envy her because she was making the long trip back to Misawa Japan alone with her 7 month old. Plus he was sick with RSV for the trip back. It was so good to see her, Josh and I met them in Arizona and it was so sad to part ways when we moved. Maybe one day we will live in the same state for 3 years.

A little late

2009-01-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

So I totally spaced posting me and Josh's fun adventure of getting our Christmas card picures taken. I am adding them now so everyone can see them. We went up on base and Dustin and Melanie came with. Josh had a lot of fun explaining about the F-16 and bombs. He is just like a little kid on Christmas when he gets to talk about it to people.

Family Night at the Lights

2008-12-29T21:36:00.000-08:00

Tonight for family night we decided to go to dinner at The Spaghetti Factory, and to Temple Square to see the lights. We went with Emma's favorite little cousins Brock and India. It wasn't too cold which was nice. The lights were beautiful and it was just so nice to be there during this season. The Temple is always so breathtaking at night, and it reminds me of my wedding.

Our Busy Christmas

2008-12-29T21:13:00.000-08:00

I am so happy and sad at the same time that Christmas is over. It has been crazy the last couple of weeks. I kept forgetting important things, some might of thought I was pregnant..... but I am not, no worries. Josh, Emma and I had a great Christmas. We were able to have Emma all of Christmas Eve, and then we got her the 26th morning, because I had to work Christmas night. It was kind of nice to have her the day after Christmas because then she didn't get so overwhelmed with so may presents at once. Christmas Eve was spent at the Larsen home eating soup and playing bingo, Christmas day was at the Jackson household eating, playing in the snow, and just enjoying the family. It is sad to see the season go but I am excited to see what next year brings, hopefully a new edition.

Our First Christmas Tree

2008-12-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

Well this is me and Josh's first year to have a Christmas tree, because last year we were in an apartment. There was not much room for anything. We are very proud of our tree. We spent about two hours at Tai Pan trying to figure out what colors to do. Josh was a good sport. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Josh's parents house. The food was delicious, and of course I ate too much. We also went up to my Dad's cabin in Bear Lake with Dustin, Mel, and the twins to cut down Christmas trees. It was pretty nice because there was no snow. Emma was not really a fan, I think she might have just been a little cold. We are so Thankful for our families and all the time we get to spend with them!

2008-11-15T12:01:00.001-08:00

Well life around here has been prettty busy. The last thing we need to do in our home is paint, and I am not looking forward to it. I think I will be doing this one by myself. We had a great Halloween, we carved pumkins, went to a pumkin patch with the twins, and took Emma trick-or-treating. She is a typical little girl who was scared of everthing. Its starting to get really cold here in Utah and I am so not excited. I wish we could go back to the lovely warm weather of Arizona. But I guess thats the price you pay when you live in Utah. Josh has been flying a lot of nights which is not so much fun, but he is flying tons which is great for him. He loves his squadron and is happy to be part of the Black Widows. We also managed to make it to Grandma Jacksons 96rh birthday this month. She is so special and we are all so lucky to have her with us.

Our Summer Fun

2008-09-18T20:42:00.001-07:00

Josh and I took went to Newport Beach with my family. We were so excited that we were able to take Emma with us. She loved every minute of our trip. We went to Disneyland and we played on the beach. Emma loved all of it, she can't quit talking about our experience. It was so nice to have Dustin, Melanie and the twins, and also Dad and Evelyn all with us. We all had a great time. Here are some pictures from our adventure.