Climbing trees

Aidan wanted to climb one of the trees in Suzie's backyard. He is still too little to climb by himself, but I was nice enough to put him on a branch and walk away. I walked away just enough to take a picture. Silly boy! He didn't want to get down. So he stayed there for a while.

ATK Rocket Garden

After we visited Golden Spike Nat'l Monument we drove down the street a little bit to see the ATK rocket garden. This was a cool site. Sadly, the wind had picked up and we decided not to walk around the grounds, but looking about the window it was awesome all the same.

Golden Spike Nat'l Monument/ Promitory Point

We decided to go and visit Golden Spike Nat'l Monument yesterday. We woke up and ran some errands, ate lunch, and then went and picked up Bob and Virgie. All of us piled into the van (Grandpa driving, Virgie navigating, Aidan and Grandpa Mike in the middle and myself and Brian in the back) and then we headed out. We arrived out there about 330PM. The trip went pretty smoothly until Aidan threw up his lunch. Grandpa Mike did so well in handling the situation(he was sitting right next to him). Grandpa cleaned him up and even remained calm. I am so proud of my dad!

Aidan is in love with trains so I thought it would be fun for all of us to go out there and see the 119 and the Jupiter. These are the two trains that met as the last spike was driven to connect the Union Pacific railway and the Central Pacific railway. Sadly, the trains were not out for display. They are stored away for the winter and then on May 1st through Labor day they have daily re-enactments. We will be going back out there to see the trains and the re-enactment later this summer. It is pretty cool to watch the trains come from both directions ( I have seen it before).

It was a fun little trip to Northern Utah and I am so happy that everyone was able to go with us. Nothing says fun like ROAD TRIPS!


Upon arriving at the Nat'l monument Aidan needed a diaper change. He noticed this beautiful woodwork on the sink of the bathroom. He even asked for a picture of it. The one on the left is the Jupiter, the other is the 119.

The wind was blowing a lot when we arrived. But that didn't stop us from going outside and exploring. Aidan loved running along these old tracks.

Aidan decided to sit right down next to the "last laid tie" of the railroad. Notice the plaque.

Aidan enjoyed standing by this sign. As the wind would blow, the metal would clank.


And this is a picture, courtesy of Google pictures, of the scene that we DID NOT EXPERIENCE. Next time, next time.

Hubble 3-D and Space!

Today we decided to go down to the Clark Planetarium. I woke up and made brunch. French toast, hash browns, bacon and scrabbled eggs. After breakfast we left for SPACE! Aidan can't get enough of this place. It is so cute to see his little eyes get big with excitement when we get in the car to go and when we are actually there. Today was super special because Grandpa Mike was able to come with us. I was a nerd and only took one picture. And it isn't of Aidan with Grandpa. We went down specifically to see Hubble 3-D.

I don't do well with 3-D movies; I tend to get nauseated. But I wanted to see it bad enough that I was willing to fight through the nausea (I also found out that it was only 45 minutes long). Aidan did so well in the movie I was surprised. He did get restless but the things he did I found entertaining. He would watch the movie and notice the stars and then say "Space, cool." Not real loud, but loud enough for me to hear. He had a hard time keeping the glasses on, but then so did I. :)
Aidan wearing his special glasses. Thanks to all for a good time!

Antelope Island

Spaceships!

I love Sprout online. This website has saved me more than once. The other day I was perusing the site looking just to look when I found this crafty activity. A soda bottle spaceship. So this weekend Aidan and I decided to make a couple. I only got pictures of the one, sorry. Aidan played with this thing for hours, he actually is holding it as we speak. It is just a soda bottle and construction paper, and imaginations run wild.

This is the AidanShip. Sorry they are blurry.

Here is Aidan playing with it.

We made two. I didn't even realize what I had done until Brian pointed it out. I had made the AidanShip and a DaddyShip. After getting the joke, I refused to make the MotherShip.
LOL!

Boys Game Night

Last week Brian was able to get together with his brother Matt and cousin Aaron. When these boys get together it can only mean a couple of things. But you can count on one thing...the XBOX is usually involved. On this particular night Aidan wanted in on the fun. Brian gave him is controller and he played with the guys for about two and half hours. He just watched them play and got excited with them when they did and mad when they did. It was pretty entertaining and cute. I am glad that Aidan is at the age where he and Brian can have boys nights and do boy things.

That being said, it does make me a little sad. First, I am the only girl in the house. Guess we should start hoping for a baby. And second, that means that my "baby" is growing up. He is playing video games! Oh my goodness. Where did the time go!

The coolest park ever!

Aidan and I went with Z Kay, Linc and Meg and played at this super fun park
in Fruit Heights. It was so cool!

Its nicknamed Castle Park...can you guess why?
Everything is centered around a castle.
They had a tower for princesses, a dungeon,
a ship, a plank, etc. So cool!

Check out this little guy! Linc loved hanging from these.

It has been a very long time since Aidan has been on a swing.
He loved it! He even enjoyed "racing" Z Kay (who was in the other swing).

Thanks McFadden's for showing us this super cool, fun park!

Lagoon!

Yesterday we were able to go to Lagoon with the McFadden's courtesy of Grandma Pat and her employee discount. Adult tickets are $50 a person! Toddlers are $25! Thanks to Pat we each got in for $11 each. What a relief! Those prices are ridiculous!

I digress...

We had so much fun. Aidan enjoyed being able to ride with his bestest friend Zoe Kay. I think that they successfully rode all the little kid rides. They both really enjoyed the Carousel and the Cars. I wasn't doing a very good job of taking pictures because Steven had his awesome camera and said he would share his pictures. So when we get copies we will share them with you. I am amazed at how much more enjoyable Lagoon is with a child. I have never been a lover of the roller coaster or amusement parks but Aidan makes everything so much fun. Brian and I have already started talking about maybe in the future doing Disneyland. That is a HUGE step for me. Because I hated my experience in Disneyland. So negotiations are underway.

Yesterday was a perfect day for Lagoon. We arrived at 3PM. Temperature low 60s. Sunny but not BRIGHT sunny. Crowds...next to none! This was the second weekend Lagoon was open and most people didn't even realize it was open (because it is limited hours and on the weekend only. Park closed at 7PM). Divine I say! Divine!

One of Aidan's favorite parts was the hand stamp. He would periodically check to make sure that everyone had their hand stamped. When I scrubbed it off in the shower Aidan became very concerned. "No Mom, again. Again! Please!!" With that kind of response...we will be going again, and sooner than later.

I don't know if you can see the anxious best friends waiting in line (Zoe's feet are through the rails and Aidan is right behind her), but they were so excited! And the great part was that most the rides had hardly any lines (Puff was a different story, but the wait wasn't horrible),
Aidan posing for the camera while everyone gets strapped in. Megan is putting Zoe in her elephant car behind Aidan.
Aidan LOVED the carousel. He giggled loudly the entire ride. He wanted to go on it again, but we had so many other rides to check out. Next time Aidan, next time.


Thanks again to McFadden's for coming with us. We had a blast. And I am happy to say that Lincoln let me hold him lots. Normally he just wants his mommy and daddy but yesterday he let me play with him. Thanks Lincoln!

Rose Bushes versus the Larson Clan

Snow Day

Easter and the night before

On Saturday, after all the day time activities, we decided to go over to the McFadden's house and play. Aidan and I made bunny ears for Zoe and Aidan. He had so much fun wearing it.


When we got to their house Megan and Zoe dyed some eggs and Aidan helped them decorate them with stickers and stuff. I stayed away from the stickers. Sorry guys, yucky! Megan is such a good mom, letting Zoe Kay play with stickers like that. Not me I can't do it. I have made leaps and bounds in relaxing with the stuff that creeps me out, but still not stickers. Double yuck!


Aidan with his eggs. He thought they were so cool looking. We let the McFadden's keep the eggs, they were planning on making egg salad sandwiches for Sunday lunch. None of us at the Larson household will eat the eggs hard boiled (okay I will sometimes but not very often my body doesn't like to digest them).



Easter morning was so fun. The Easter bunny decided not to hide plastic eggs at our house. We had plenty of hunts throughout the week, instead the bunny left Aidan with a scavenger hunt. Aidan loves these things. The Bunny cut out construction paper eggs and drew pictures of clues on the eggs. Aidan is a natural at these now. The final clue took him to his "hidden basket." The Easter bunny put it underneath his crib and covered it with a T-shirt. :) Aidan had a good Easter basket. It looked like the Easter Bunny had been "collecting" the goods for months. Next year the Easter Bunny will be on a budget. Promise!

A good view of the Easter Basket and all the goods. It had bendable bunnies, books, a car, a squishy ball, sidewalk chalk, some mini frisbies, some stencils, some plastic eggs, some egg toys, a mini Big Bird toy, a mini generic magna doodle, and Aidan's all time favorite thing...glow in the dark bracelets. And lots of chocolate (courtesy of Grandma Virgie), a chocolate bunny, and peeps.


Aidan was such a good boy during the first session of conference. He just played with his new toys on the couch. Wait...what the?

Aidan devoured his chocolate bunny for breakfast dessert. No wonder he was so quiet. He didn't want mom to find out. Sneaky sneaky Choco-holic!


We made it through a good portion of the conference talks. The second session Aidan was flying high from his sugar rush. Overall we enjoyed the spirit in our home this weekend. So refreshing.

Easter Egg Hunt Day

Today was the first time Aidan was going to participate in a real Easter Egg hunt, not just practice ones at home. We woke up bright and early and headed to the Clearfield Park not too far from our house. Here we waited for the McFadden's to join us. At 10AM sharp the announcer said "GO" and all the little kids were off. Aidan managed to score himself ONE egg. Sweet! Go Aidan. This hunt was a little disappointing to me. They separated out the children according to age groups and for the two and younger group a parent could help locate eggs. There was a lot of kids and a lot of eggs. Sadly thought some parents are crazy. One dad was mad because HE and HIS SON only got ten eggs. What? Another mother was trying to console her children because they got none. What? It is experiences like this that make me realize that some people are not courteous at all. I had Aidan find his one egg and we walked away. Was that father not aware of the other 300 children wanting eggs? Did he not realize it was a egg hunt for his son and not him? I digress. Aidan had a fun time. He always loves being around his best friends, Zoe Kay and Lincoln. And to me that is all that truly matter.

After we finished this egg hunt, we decided to go and visit with our favorite Bob and Virgie. Their apartment complex was having a hunt at 11AM so we decided to go and check it out. They a lot of eggs and only about 10 kids. Aidan and Grandpa had a blast! Grandpa walked around with the bucket we brought and Aidan scurried around picking up the eggs. He managed to get about 10 eggs (I asked around when it was all done and all the kids had about that many or more, so Aidan was allowed to keep all of his eggs).

After the hunt Grandma and Grandpa suggested we go and have breakfast at the Star Cafe. So off we went to eat. I ordered a half plate of biscuits and gravy. Aidan was so hungry he ate all my food! Then I ordered some more and he hate most of that too. My boy was a hungry guy! After lunch we came home and Aidan walked directly into his room and requested a movie, a drink of milk and his blanket; he totally put himself down for a nap! Sweet!

Aidan waiting to find an egg at the Clearfield Hunt.

Grandpa and Aidan going to the starting line at the
hunt at the apartment complex.

Grandpa and Aidan make a fantastic egg finding team.

Poor Grandma! It was so cold...and then the wind would pick up.
Yuck!

Waiting for breakfast at the Star Cafe!

Back Ribs Night

This month for our special dinner we decided to make back ribs. Brian usually orders ribs when we go out to eat, so he loves them. I have enjoyed them but have been afraid to cook them because we didn't have a BBQ grill until just recently. We saw some on sale the other day so we bought them and decided to give them a whirl last night. YUM! Brian did such a good job...especially with it being his first time. We did critique the method of cooking them and the basting method; next time the will be even more delicious.

Brian enjoying the first taste.

Ribs done and ready to be devoured.

My plate all fixed up. Ribs, potato salad, and
two kinds of potato chips. Delicious!

Thank you Brian for a yummy dinner!