Disneyland!!

My darling cousin Ali turned 21 on March 29th and decided to take a little road trip from Salt Lake to San Diego to visit some of her favorite cousins! We all headed to Disneyland and had the most fun day! Last time we were at Disneyland, Harrison was too little to even be aware of where we were so it was so fun to discover it anew through his fascinated eyes!

Besides one little incident where he had to take a "time out" for deliberately putting his hands ALL OVER the TOILET SEAT...after I told him "honey, don't touch the seat, okay? It's really dirty and germy and just please don't touch it or your germaphobe momma might have a panic attack, etc. etc." he inched his little paw towards the seat to see my reaction and I did the wrong thing, (picture in slow motion a crazy woman reaching for her child's hand saying "Nooooooooo!") because he just gave me his stinker little grin and covered as much surface area as he could before I could restrain him. Yeah, he got a time out. He's really into testing me right now and if I didn't think he was so dang cute and smart and clever and funny, I would be really annoyed : )

The rest of the day went off without a hitch and was filled with family, sun, parades, junk food and wonder...oh and LIGHTNING MCQUEEN!!! Here are a few (lots) of pictures that I love:

Happy Birthday Al, I love you!!

Toy Story Ride at California Adventure, we went twice...
not so much because Harrison loved it but because Ryan needed to improve his score!

I love these girls!

Harrison drying off after some fun at the Bugs Life splash park

Harrison and his cousin Jackson...such cute buddies!

high fiven'
Harrison needs a little space...
now Jackson needs a little space...
They both LOVE Cars the Movie so this was definitely a highlight!

Parade Time!! (who's more excited?!)

Ryan took this one and I love it!

Cuddling with his best buddy Garrett after a long day...

Disneyland is a whole different experience with a toddler, for example, lots more potty breaks, fewer rides, actually watching the parades and much more casual meandering. I much prefer it... Harrison was asleep before we left the parking structure! Magical Day!

Happy Birthday Sweet Ryan!

On a recent hike, training for his Everest Base Camp trip in May

Today is Ryan's birthday and I feel so blessed to have him in my life. I can't imagine experiencing the Joy in my life with anyone else. I am so grateful for the way he takes care of our little family and always strives to put our needs first despite all the other responsibilities he has. I prayed and hoped for a man who would love me and cherish me and a man who would be my best friend and a wonderful father and I was blessed with exactly that.

Happy Birthday honey, I love you!!

Party Pictures!

I know these pictures are a month old now but sometimes I feel like if it's not documented on my blog, it didn't happen : ) Just kidding, but I did want to record a few pictures from the little family gathering we had on Harrison's birthday! We decided to just embrace the theme "CARS" since Harrison is still in love with everything that has to do with the movie "Cars."

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the night:

Harrison loves his Grandmas!

Kitchen Crew:


We opted for "chocolate tires" from Luigi's Casa de la Tires with ice cream instead of cake : )

Present Time!

First Harrison got to hand out party favors to his cousins!

Maybe my favorite shot of the night:

Stand By Me...

Sweet Lex,

I'm struggling today. Every anniversary is different and today is an especially emotional one for some reason. My chest keeps involuntarily tightening and my vision is constantly blurred from the tears that threaten to spill over. I just miss you so much.

The thing that is difficult for me to comprehend is that you have been gone now for longer than you were here on this earth...15 years. It doesn't seem to compute, it doesn't feel possible that you have been gone for so long. I know the reason it feels that way is because you are still such a huge part of my life. I still share your story and weave it in with my own as I reflect on the intricate, elaborate tapestry that chronicles this journey I am on. I still feel you watching over us and sometimes in very quiet, sacred moments I feel prompted to look down at my hand and am reminded how our hands were forever connected here and know you are letting me know that you are still holding my hand.

Memories are like precious gifts that are wrapped and waiting to be opened carefully and with an acute awareness to the details that are forthcoming. They are always welcome even though sometimes they leave a tinge of sadness. The sadness is overcompensated by the joy of the reclaimed moment. Today one of those unexpected but welcomed gifts came to me, comforting me as I lay on my bed shedding a few warm, salty tears. I saw us lacing up our Lightening Rollerblades. Yours were fluorescent pink and mine were bright purple. We were a little timid on the roads but loved to skate circles around our 3 car garage. I can't remember whose idea it was to put the cassette player in the garage but the brilliance of being able to listen to "hey jude" and the soundtrack of "Stand by Me" over and over while we went round and round allowed us a short respite. Despite the ache I was feeling in my heart, I had to smile and be grateful for the gift of the memory.

Thank you for continuing to "Stand by Me." I feel you and I am obeying your admonition not to doubt your presence in my life. I see and feel you everyday in all the love I am surrounded in. Stay close.

Love, Shar-bar

More posts about Lexi:

"I love you more"
Golden Birthday
A Lesson Learned

My baby is THREE!!

I honestly can't believe my baby is three. There are many days I just want to press the pause button so I won't come to that day when he's too heavy for me to hold, when it will be inappropriate for me to kiss his adorable little bum bum : ), when I will understand every word he is saying and not have the thrill of decoding his funny language, when he doesn't want to hold my hand while we walk to the playground anymore, etc. etc.

Although there are definitely those days that I want to press the pause button, I am enjoying all these precious moments and growing milestones with Harrison. He is growing into the most adorable, determined little boy and it is a joy to experience things through his eyes and quirky personality.

A trip down memory lane...

Harrison's BIRTH day! Feb. 12, 2007 (seven weeks early)

First Birthday...

Second Birthday...

And Birthday number Three!!!

I wrote all about the day Harrison was born on his first birthday. If you want to read about that miraculous day revisit this post: Happy Birthday Angel

It is the greatest blessing in my life to be Harrison's mom and experience this journey with him. It is a humbling privilege that I never take for granted. His life is truly a manifestation of my deepest dreams and hopes! Happy Birthday my sweet Angel!

Holiday Recap...a bit late!

Here is another post full of pictures. The holidays really crept up on us this year as we were at Sanoviv right before Thanksgiving and on the Larsen Family cruise right before Christmas. Although it was kinda crazy, the holidays always are and we just went with the flow and had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families.

Part I: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with the Kaltenbachs

tired after a long day!

The day after Thanksgiving with my fam. at Double Peak Park

Part II: Christmas!

Being in our own home made this Christmas super special!

Our Nativity

Harrison's Nativity!
Harrison picked out this Santa Fire Engine!
A fun new tradition...Elf on the Shelf. Harrison named his Elf Andrea Bocelli

Christmas Eve in our home with both our families!

Christmas Day!

Santa came!

He went right for the garbage truck!

At Grammy and Grandpa's

Harrison's number one activity this Christmas season was to watch Andrea Bocelli's Christmas program on PBS. He would sit mesmerized for the entire program which was over an hour!

On the Sunday after Christmas I was asked to speak to our Church Congregation on "Renewing our Faith, Dedication and Covenants." Both our parents came to listen and it was a wonderful day. Ryan's Dad snapped this picture of us after church!

I LOVE everything about the holidays...the hustle and bustle, the craziness, the decorating, the gift buying and anticipating, the FOOD, the traditions, the reconnecting with friends and loved ones, etc. etc. But the thing I absolutely love most is the reflection on our blessings, what is truly important in our lives, and on our Savior and his gift to all of us. His birth, his life, his death and his glorious resurrection are the ultimate gifts and what can bring us true joy. I am overwhelmed by the blessings the Lord continues to bestow upon my family and can only hope that my appreciation to Him is reflected in the way I love others and the kind of woman I am striving to be.