Another Busy Week

This last week, like every other lately, was extremely busy for us. Since Peyton got home from New Mexico she has wanted to ride her horse every night which has been good because she had a Junior Rodeo on Saturday that she needed to practice for. So between riding at nights in our pasture and riding club, the horses definately got their excercise last week.


Peyton's favorite event is the Poles. She will run through them about 15 times every night. (my batteries were going dead on my camera so the pictures turned out blurry)


Houston isn't going to let us get away with not letting him ride too. He loves it and when he sees us saddle Rummy he gets so excited.

On Friday I had my last physical therapy appointment. Yeah! I am not quite 100% yet but definately on the mend thanks to Larry and his staff. My sister in-law Haylee watched the kids for me and then after my appointment we met our friend Tana and her's and Kallie's kids at the Herriman Beach for Hallie's birthday.


All the kids in the pond


Houston


Colter


Peyton, Hallie and Preslie

Friday night Bradyn was up at the Santaquin rodeo, but unfortunately didn't do any good. After the rodeo we drove to Delta for the Millard County Fair Junior Rodeo which started Saturday morning so he we had a little sleepover in our horse trailer. Peyton competed in the Dummy Roping, Flag Race, Poles, Barrels and Goat Tail Pull.

I could not believe the competition and how tough the 8 & under group was especially the girls. There was a lot of good little riders.Peyton did really good too. I was so proud of her. She did it all by herself, had control of her horse, knew what she was doing, had a lot of fun, and it was such a good experience for her. It was such a good rodeo and definately one we want to hit every year.

I was sad I didn't get any pictures of Peyton on her horse. When she was doing the events I was recording and Bradyn was leading her into the arena.


Hallie and Peyton in the dummy roping


Houston


Bridger, Hazen and Peyton


Houston

While we were at the rodeo we walked over to see the animals at the fair.


Houston loved the pigs until a girl pulled one out for him to hold and it started squilling. Then he didn't want anything to do with them.


The kids loved the big horse.


And Houston loved this horse that was more his size.


Houston almost got his finger taken by a goat but kept going back.


And Peyton loved holding all the animals

After we got back in town from Delta we had a sitter for all the kids at Jake and Tana's and all the adults went to couple's bunco at Josh and Amber's. It's always such a good time and it is so funny to see the guys all get so into the game.

Yesterday we went to Hallie's birthday party and enjoyed pizza, cake and ice cream and the kids all had fun swimming and playing in the sand. Thanks Jake and Tana for having us over!


Houston. The kids all loved this slide.


Peyton was on the run so I only caught half her head. I would love to be this skinny again and be able to run around in a bikini with no worries.


Houston and Colter in the gator

Life Since Peyton's Return

It has been nice having Peyton home and we have kept pretty busy since she got back a week ago which is good since she is used to having something going on all the time after spending a month with my family.

My mom and Peyton got into town last Monday night, they went and picked up Houston from my Grandma Pat's since she watched him for us while I worked and went to Physical Therapy, and we met them, my Grandma, Uncle Wade, cousin Kellee and Uncle Kim at yummy Italian Village for dinner . When we got home we lit some fireworks that we had saved for Peyton. This time Houston wasn't scared and was chearing them on. I guess he needed his big sister there to protect him.


Houston, Peyton and Grandma Jill


Houston and Peyton watching the firworks

On Tuesday we spent the day shopping and then Peyton wanted her training wheels off her bike so Grandma Jill took them off and was teaching her to ride without them.


Grandma Jill and Peyton


Peyton riding without training wheels


Houston on the princess scooter

Wednesday more shopping and Houston had his 2 year check up, which by the way if you were not already aware, he is a big boy. He weighs 33 1/2 lbs, which is in between the 90% - 95%, and he is 38.4 inches tall, which is above the 97%. I had another Therapy appointment that day so my mom took the kids to visit my Grandma Pat. That afternoon my mom and Peyton got glitter toes done and then we went watched our riding club practice.

My mom had to go back Thursday morning and Peyton was so sad to see her leave. She cried and cried. I wish we lived closer to them. Our busy schedule continued on into Friday. My friend Tana helped me out with the kids and they played in the water while I went to Therapy. That night Peyton wanted to ride her horse in our pasture. So Bradyn saddled up Rummy and she did so good. Had him galloping and trotting all over the place


Houston loves to brush Rummy

Saturday Peyton went to a swimming party for Preslie's birthday and Houston rode around with his dad in the trackhoe while I got my hair done. That night we went to a wedding and the kids all had a blast dancing. And then Yesterday we had the Carlson family reunion (my Grandma Pat's cousins) at Grant Park in Midvale and the kids had fun playing games and on the playground. The food was good too. Thanks Grandma for inviting us!


Bradyn building Houston's tractor


Peyton painting her bird house


Everybody doing their crafts


Houston


my Grandma Pat

Today, another Therapy appointment so my friend Tiffanie was nice enough to help me out and the kids played at her house for a few hours. Riding Club will be Wednesday night, Friday another therapy appointment so the kids are going to play at Aunt Haylee's, Friday night Bradyn is up at the Santaquin rodeo, then we will drive to Delta that night because Peyton is going to compete in the Millard County Fair Junior Rodeo on Saturday morning in Delta. Peyton wants to practice on her horse a few nights this week so we will fit that in and a little work I guess. Oh and Couples Bunco on Saturday night.

And the cycle will start all over again on Sunday. Welcome to our crazy busy life but we love it!

Next week Peyton is going to start swimming lessons, the end of the month she will start tumbling, Kindergarten on September 1st, and dance a week from Labor Day. And then Bradyn and I have our District Riding Club Show on August 20th and 21st, and if we qualify the Region Show is August 27th and 28th and the State Show is September 10th and 11th. Summer may almost be over but we are going to take advantage of everyday that is left of it.

Peyton's New Mexico Trip

Like the last 3 years, Peyton went down for an extended stay with my mom, dad and brother Jason in New Mexico. This year she hitched a ride down with my cousin Katee and Grandma Pat on June 24th and my mom brought her back on July 26th so she was down there for just a little over a month and loved every minute of it. If it was up to her she would still be down there, getting ready to go to school there, and we would be living down there too.

While in New Mexico she stayed in 4 different towns, Farmington, Albuquerque, near El Paso and Ruidoso. She did so much while she was there. She went swimming, roller skating, to the splash park, to kids club, went and seen Toy Story 3, camping, to the horse races, got a pedicure, went shopping, played hop scotch, went and looked at elk and my dad taught her how to bugle to them, rode the golf cart, went to museums, went to the play Oklahoma, made lots of friends, and on and on and on.

People would ask me all the time if I missed Peyton and asked how I could let her go for that long. Well of course I missed her. I guess I have gotten used to it and know that she is in good hands and loves going to spend time with them. I guess that's what you do for your kids. When I was a kid I had sleepovers all the time at both sets of my grandparent's houses. Not because my parents needed a babysitter but because I wanted to and because my grandparents wanted to have me over just as much. I would also go and spend weekends with my Grandpa Mont and Grandma Pat at their cabin and would spend the summer with my Grandpa Ed and Grandma Carolyn at the track. I loved it!!! I have a lot of great memories of spending time with them like that. I am so happy that my kids have the same opportunity and will have these great memories that they will never forget. I also think it is healthy for kids to have a break from their parents from time to time. Bradyn and I do a lot with our kids and we deserve a little break now and again.

I would talk to Peyton everyday on the phone and my mom would send me pictures of her almost every singe day. Here is a slideshow of the pictures she took.

Pioneer Day Weekend

This year was the first in a long time that we didn't have any camping or rodeo plans over the Pioneer Day weekend, which ended up being a good thing since I had an accident on my horse the Wednesday before and was laid up.

The only thing we really did for the long weekend besides Physical Therapy was had a BBQ and lit fireworks at our house on Saturday night. Hadley, Haylee, Preslie and Colter and then Chip and Alayna came over so it was nice to have some company since I didn't get out much. And then on Sunday we went to a birthday party for our niece Preslie who just turned 5 on July 19th. Happy Birthday Preslie!


Houston watching his Dad getting ready to light fireworks


Preslie, Houston and Chip. Houston was still not a fan of the fireworks.


Haylee and Colter


Bradyn lighting the fireworks


Hadley, Chip and Alayna


See the fear in his face

Larsen Family Reunion '10

This last weekend was the Larsen Family Reunion and this year we went camping again up by Fish Lake. We usually go camping with the Bennett's so it was fun to go camping with Bradyn's other side of the family since we don't get to see them as often. We had a full campground with just a few families missing. Hopefully one of these years everybody will be able to attend.

We had fun riding 4-wheelers, playing cards, we had Ladderball tournaments, we went to a lake and watched some crazies drive their snowmobiles accrossed it, we ate good food, enjoyed yummy drinks thanks to Holley, did fun craft projects thanks to Jayme, the kids all played hard, shared some new and old stories around the campfire, and even got glitter toes done thanks to Ashlee.

Thanks everybody for the good time! Can't wait to go again next year.


Bradyn and Houston. This is Houston's favorite part about camping.


Jayme, Jaycee and McKara making flip flops


Raylee and Mandy making flip flops


Grandpa Brent and Houston going on another ride


Houston loves his Uncle Shayne and wanted to help him work on his truck.


Bradyn, Cooter and Shayne


Alicia, Kashlee, Amanda, Holley, Cooter and Bradyn


Alicia, Kashlee and Cooter


Me and Bradyn


Elma, Amanda, Jayme, Holley, Ashlee and Tallon


Raylee and Mandy


Houston, Me and Bradyn


Shawn and Jayme


ReNae, Houston and Brent


Holley and Paul


Shayne, Raylee and Mandy


Steve and Elma


Cheyenne and Tallon


Mandy (double fisting), Me (my favorite part about camping is the yummy drinks, in this case it was a margarita) and Cheyenne


Amanda, Tallon, Mandy, Me and Cheyenne

Bradyn's 32nd Birthday

On July 10th Bradyn turned 32. For his birthday he opened some presents in the morning and then we went to the horse races in South Jordan to watch the trials for the late great Blane Schvaneveldt Futurity and the Silver Dollar Futurity. That night Bradyn was entered up in the Draper Rodeo so Houston and I tagged along to cheer him on. Unfortunately he didn't have good luck on his birthday because he drew a bad steer that come out of the chute and cut him right off so he didn't have a chance to get off.

Happy Birthday Bradyn! We hope you and had a good one and we love you!




Bradyn wasn't going to get without a little help from Houston. Houston had been eying those presents all week.