Surprise in St. George

Even with all of the holidays and family time, Jason and I were both feeling the desire for a vacation when we found out that my cousin Alicia was going to be in St. George visiting our grandparents (who snowbird there each year) over the weekend.  We were able to get a cheap hotel room, so we decided to go surprise everyone with a visit.  I am so glad we did!  We hung around Grandma and Grandpa's condo, fed the ducks with her two girls, and drove to Zion's National Park. It was a quick trip, but well worth the effort!

Grandma Janae and the girls feeding the ducks while Mommy Alicia documents

Hard at work with baby #3!

Great Grandma Larsen and Leila

Happy feeding the ducks

Aubrey found Leila's carseat

Leila's Baby Blessing

We blessed Leila yesterday in my aunt and uncle's ward up in Bountiful.  My cousin Scott recently returned home from his mission and was giving is homecoming talk, so we decided to kill two birds with one meeting.  The day couldn't have gone better!

Great Grandma Larsen, the seamstress behind the dress

My Grandma Larsen made her beautiful blessing dress and Jason gave her an equally beautiful blessing.  My uncles Bryan and Garth, Grandpa Larsen, Dad, Daddy Z, and cousin Ryan were all able to be in the circle (and more were on standby if there had been enough room!).  Some bullet points I pulled from the blessing were these:

*  She will bring joy to those around her
*  She will be able to overcome the trials of an evermore troubling world.
*  She will be bless as she strives to become like the Savior.
*  She will lead her family.

We've certainly got one special girl in our family!  I am also grateful for all of the family that was there to support us and for those who wished they could have been there.

Ringing in 2012

Jason's family was in town for New Year's Eve (okay, so they were in town to see Leila and it just HAPPENED to be over New Year's Eve), so we spent the evening over at his Aunt Tami's.  We ate yummy food, snacked, watched the little kids play, and, for some of us, drifted off in front of their fireplace before midnight.  What fun!

Ryan enjoying the shrimp cocktail

Jason reunited with his iPad

Entertaining the baby

Happy New Year!