The Larkin 3

The Larkin 3

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The WONDERFUL world of Roran.

Roran has been doing VERY well lately!!! He is growing up so fast! He is ALMOST 2 years old!!! I am working on planning 2 parties for him. We will be having 1 party on the 10th down in Highland with family, and one up here on the 17th with friends. I am really looking forward to celebrating Roran's birth!!!!! I don't know what I would do without him. As with ALL children, he drives his mommy nuts but the second he looks at me with those beautiful eyes and wraps his arms around me giving me that sweet wonderful hug, I melt!!!! I love that little guy so much!!!

I am working on trying to figure out for sure what cake to have for each party. I might do the same one depending on how it turns out and if we like it. The choices are, a TRAIN cake that we will try to make look like Thomas the Train, a Rubber Duck, a Car that we will make look like Lightning McQueen, or Big blocks.. We are leaning more towards the Train because it is REALLY cute!!!

He has been talking a ton. He is saying full sentences!! He says some of the funniest things. The other night he was laying face up on clay's chest and he couldn't get up. He all of a sudden says "STUCK". clay and I were laughing so hard because of the way he said it. SO cute!!! Last week sometime he said "I will do it" .....

He has learned how to open the fridge. He will bring us his cup, then he will come back with the juice! lol Anyway, here a a couple pics and a few videos... I'll try to get more loaded on the computer... Enjoy!





Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I am the WORST at remembering to blog lol

Ok So it has been 7 months since I posted last.... I know... Bad..... So lets try to go from there....
JANUARY
I can't remember much about Jan LOL!!!!
FEB
We got an email telling us that we had to move out of our apartment because the lady who owned it had lost her job in Cali and wanted to move back to UT. We then started looking for a place to go, a job for Clay, and packing.... Clay was still working hard on taking down Christmas lights so he was extremely busy but he managed to find a job working at Texas Roadhouse in the kitchen!!
MARCH
Clay heard from a great company that he had worked for in the past called MARKETSTAR.
They offered him a great position in their OGDEN office. We then started looking for apartments to rent in the Ogden area so he would be close to work. We found a great place in Clearfield that has a pool, hot tub, kiddie pool and a great playground. We really like it here and Roran LOVES the pools and playground!!!
We also were lucky to get to see Jay and Mo Larkin!!! They came back from China for Clay's brother Pete's wedding it was WONDERFUL seeing them again!
APRIL
Life in Clearfield is great! We really like it here and we have some great friends in the area who also have children.
MAY *yeah I know I am kind of zooming through the months lol*
I can't remember anything really worth writing about for May... Sry
June
Ah the lovely expensive month of June.....
SO When I went to renew my license before my birthday I found out that there had been a ticket in the state of WA that I had forgotten about..... WA put my UT DL on hold saying that I could not renew it until I paid the ticket.... $500 and about 2 weeks later I finally had my license back!!! A few weeks later, the Honda's breaks decided they wanted to go... LOL! SO I did some pricing and I found an AWESOME mechanic who only charged us 360 for parts and labor (everything had to be replaced) We had shops wanting to charge us around $490!!!! So THANK YOU JHB AUTO REPAIR!!!! Shortly after that, Clay's van got a FLAT tire. All of his tires need to be replaced and from what I remember I think Clay said it would be around $600.... JOY OF JOYS! We sill have yet to replace them so Clay has been driving my car to work so I am having to walk everywhere. (getting some great exercise)
JULY
RORAN *PART OF THIS WAS SENT TO JAY ON JULY 11th so it is a little out dated*
SO as many of you know, we have had some very unpleasant health problems for my lil monster. *VERY SAD FACE* ...
4 weeks ago he had a REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD diaper rash. We did everything we could think of but it was not getting any better so I found a Dr up here and took him in. She said he had a fungal infection and gave us a bunch of creams to use. I took him back few days later because there was no change and I had seen some weird thing on his lip. When she looked in his mouth she said very loudly, "WOW THAT IS THRUSH" so, we then started treating him for the thrush, fungal infection, and diaper rash..... Since then, we have done EVERYTHING they told us and he is still having that problem. We have come to think that it must be some kind of food allergy as it ONLY happens when he poops. If he pees he is fine. If he poops his bum gets bright red, he gets blisters, and his skin opens and bleeds. It is like he is pooping acid. I took him in AGAIN because it was REALLY bad and the Dr said she wanted to test his blood to see if he indeed has a food allergy. (She doesn't know what else to try) So When the girls came in to get some blood, it was one of the worst things I have EVER had to do as a mother so far. I had to hold him down as he cried and screamed. They tried TWICE and couldn't get ANY blood. He was so upset his veins were sinking down in his arm and they couldn't get anything. So they cause all that pain for nothing..... We ended up seeing a dermatologist, and an allergist. NO ONE could figure out what was going on. Finally after a MONTH of this, he started getting cleared up. *we had changed his diet several times but nothing changed* We went to stay at the awesome in-laws and on Sat his bum started getting a little red.... The only thing that was different is that he had, had some of Carole's health tea..... We all figured it out at the same time... THE TEA IS WHAT WAS WRONG! He unfortunately is allergic to that tea.... THANK GOODNESS WE FIGURED IT OUT!!!!!!!!!! I am SO grateful that we found the problem. He is doing SO much better!!!!
AUG
So far Roran is looking and doing much better! Every so often his bum will get a little red but it is fine within a few hours! THANK GOODNESS!
Clay has been playing soccer every Friday for a few months and had 2 weeks off. He then had a double header and in one of the games he got pretty banged up. His knee was VERY swollen. It was so bad he couldn't really walk for about a week! It is getting better but I had him go to a Dr today (sadly he dr was very unhelpful)He is going to have to see a specialist.
As for me, I have been having some really bad neck and back problems. So bad that this last weekend I was in bed almost the whole time. My neck is pretty messed up today and I in a lot of pain. I am trying to reach a chiropractor to see if he can fix me :)
I also went to see a Dr last week for a check up and she did some blood work because she thinks I am having some thyroid problems because I can't seem to loose any weight *I weigh more now than I did when I was prego* and I am ALWAYS hungry. If I eat I feel great but about 20 min later I am starving again and feel like I am going to vomit... still waiting to hear back from the Dr.....

Other than that... We are all doing well and are VERY VERY happy!!! Clay and I are pretty excited because in a few days, we will be celebrating our 1st Anniv!!!


LOVE YOU ALL! And I WILL TRY to do better!!! :) XOXOXOXO

Monday, January 10, 2011

Sept/Honeymoon/Open house in Sequim

So Now we are on to the month of Sept....

We started out on Aug 26th and drove to Cali. We stopped in Reno for the night then went through Tahoe (a place I had never been) We decided to pick up a magnet from every place we stopped on our MONTH LONG honeymoon lol. Needless to say we have a full fridge. Anyway, we drove all the way around the lake then on to Portolla Valley to see Clay's grandmother. We spend a few days at her house and went to San Fran. We went to Alcatraz, went to the Aquarium at peir 49, saw the Golden Gate bridge, went to the Exploratorium, and the Academy of science. (we spent about 5 days doing all of that)
We then went down to Carmel/Monterey and spent a few days with Clay's awesome Aunt Mary and her husband Jim (WAY COOL PPL) Then we headed up the PCH! We took that all the way up to OR. It took us 3 days. So since we needed a place to stay, we took advantage of the AMAZINGLY HUGE tent we got from Clay's uncle Rick and Aunt Holly at the bridal shower! It is an 8 man tent! It is so big we could fit out queen size air mattress, Roran's pan-n-play and all of our other stuff and still had a TON of room!!! IT IS AN AWESOME TENT!
We spend a few days with Drew and Aly, and a day with Clay's Aunt Kris (another way cool lady!) Then we headed up to WA!! We went to my sister Heather's house and spend a few days with them. It was great to see them since I had not seen them in over a year. Sadly they had planned to go to Disneyland for 11 days right after we got there but we were able to spend a few days together. On the 10th we made our way up to Sequim to see my ma and pa! Sadly during this whole time (starting right after we got to Drew's place) I got sick. So I wasn't really able to enjoy much. BUT because of that, Clay drove all the way back down to Tacoma (about a 2 hour drive) to get me some meds!! He was such a wonderful husband!!!
Anyway, after I got the meds I started getting better. On the 13th (a day early) we decided to celebrate Roran's 1st birthday!!! We got him a cute Thomas the Train cake and some balloons and obviously toys lol. It was so much fun seeing him try to figure out what to do with that cake!!! In the end, like all babies, the cake was attacked lol. On Roran's birthday we drove out to Forks, La Push, and most NW part of the continental US. (Can't remember the name) but it was beautiful! We then hung out around Sequim for a few days then on the 18th We had an open house. We had everyone in my family that lives in WA there!!! It was so great to see them all!! We also had 2 of my wonderful friends show up. Jane and her mom, and Stephanie and her sweetheart. (sad to say out of all my friends in WA and in the area, I only had 2 show up) BUT They were there!!! It was SOOOOOO good to see them!!!! I love you girls!

The next morning I got a text friend my friend Jen. She was freaking out because she got the day's mixed up. She was about to leave to come to the open house when she discovered it had been the day before. But it turned out to be a good thing (more about that later) A few hours later Clay and I went off on our honeymoon without Roran. We stayed at Heather and Tony's house so we didn't have to drive so far and didn't have to pay for a hotel. We went to Seattle (a place Clay had never been) and spent several days playing around. We went to the Space Needle, the Aquarium, Pike Place Market, Gas Works Park, IVARS, (we ate there every day lol Clay wasn't expecting it to taste so good lol) the EMP/Science fiction museum, the troll, and the Tacoma museum of Glass. On Thurs the the 23rd we headed back to Sequim. The next morning we all said goodbye to mom and dad and headed back to Seattle. We took a ferry ride (Roran's first ever) and went to the Woodland Park Zoo where we met up with Jen and her cute little guy! We spend the whole day at the Zoo then went back to Jen's house where I met her now husband Joe! We had dinner then Jen, Jes and I went out dancing while the men watched the babies and played Xbox lol The next morning we loaded everything up in our little car again (this time with a TON more stuff Toys and Clothes) Jen is such a wonderful giving person! She has given us SO much and saved us with Roran!! She has given us Clothing, toys, and bedding!!! When we left her house she even gave us a gift to Target and a gift visa gift card on top of everything else!! She is AMAZING! I don't know what I would do with out her!!
ANYWAY, after we left her place we went back to Seattle and went to the Science center then went on a harbor cruise around the sound, then back up to the Science center where we saw The Legend Of The Guardians in IMAX. After that we went drove back to Tacoma to see Heather and Tony again. We hung out with them that night then

Sunday morning we headed back to OR. Sadly we had gotten news that Clay's uncle had died so we were heading back to his home for the wake. The "plus side" to going back was I was able to meet more of Clay's family! We also were able to unload a TON of stuff, Clay's father and uncle drove over and we were able to put a bunch of stuff in their car. After that, we went back to Drew's for a day or so then headed home. We got back on Sept 29th. We had been on the road for just over a month!

More to come later! (including pics)

Wonderful August/WEDDING

So August hits and that means we have to pack everything and come back to Utah. It was bittersweet. I was very sad to leave Cali but excited for what was coming. We got back to Utah around the 10th or so and right away started getting wedding stuff going!!!
The weekend before the wedding we spent time with Jay and Mo. (Clay's AWESOME dad and his AMAZING wife) While we were there Mo was SO sweet and helped pick out flowers for the wedding (which they paid for!!) And they helped me pick a cake and find the cake baker. (they also paid for the cake!!!) I LOVE the way it turned out! So pretty!! (pics will be posted when I get them)
On the Monday before the wedding Clay's grandma Sharon drove into town with my dress!! She had it made in China and by the time it was done it had 3 skirts... She gave them the fabric and they SWAPPED IT!! They made the dress with cheaper fabric! She knew right away cuz she is awesome like that and made them redo it. When she went back the skirt was shorter than before and she had to take it as it was. When she got to town I tried it on and it was to big!!! I had lost 4 inches!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME!! So she had to take it in and Clay and I had to go pick up some fabric so she could redo the skirt to make it long enough. She then spent countless hours beading the dress!!! She did an AMAZING job!!! I could not have asked for a more BEAUTIFUL dress!!

On the 18th my mom and dad got into town! I was so excited I was almost in tears lol! That night mom and I ran some wedding errands and picked up a few last things. We went to walmart and she bought me a cute outfit for the bridal shower :oD I LOVE that shirt btw mom!!
The next day my WONDERFUL and AMAZING friend Lizzie drove up from St George and was the BEST M.O.H. (Maid Of Honor) any girl could ask for!!! She met us (My mom, Aly, Cassie, Carole, Grandma Sharon, Eileen, and I) at a nail salon. Carole paid for several of us to get pedicures!!!! It was HEAVEN!!! After that Lizzie and I went back to Carole's house and Lizzie jumped right in the planning!!! She planned my bridal shower and the bachelorete party (sry I have not idea how to spell that lol) We hung out at the house for a while, Lizzie tried on her dress and they had to do some adjustments because the top didn't fit right. While the dress was being fixed Lizzie started doing my hair and I was doing some last min things on my laptop since all my music was on there I needed to make sure the play lists were the way I wanted. While I was doing that it freaked out then shut down. My computer had crashed!!! I was pretty stressed but I knew that Clay had a lot of the music on his computer but I didn't have time to redo it all. So I had to just worry about it later....
The Bridal shower was beautiful! It was in Carole's beautiful back yard. The sun came out just in time (it had been raining cats and dogs all morning) Between all of the wonderful women the bridal shower was fabulous. It was so great getting to see all those wonderful women! I felt SO loved!!! The next day Lizzie paid for me to get eye lash extensions (again AMAZING MOH!) After that we met up with Drew and Aly in bountiful and they took my bridals! They turned out beautiful! The only problem was it was so bright I couldn't keep my eyes open lol Drew would have to count to 3 then I'd open my eyes for the shot and close them again lol
After bridals Lizzie and I headed back down to UT county. We met up with Carole at Costco and picked up the last min food items. Then went back to Carole's. I was exhaused and had so much to do that Lizzie left and went to pick up all the flowers. (AGAIN AMAZING MOH!) After that Lizzie, Cassie, Aly and I left for the Bachelorette party. We went to Classic Skating! It was so fun!! We got to rollerblade/skate for a few hours. While I was doing that Clay was having fun at his bachelor party. They went paintballing, to braxtons football game, flowriding and then out to eat at Denny's. After my party Lizzie and I drove up to Park City to the AMAZING house where the wedding would take place. Thanks to Rick and Holly Alden I was blessed to have the wedding in the most beautiful place!!!
Lizzie and I spent the night up there and the next morning I got up, showered and relaxed while everyone else ran around like chickens with their heads cut off lol I didn't see how ANYTHING was decorated or set up till I walked down the isle. While everyone was doing all of that, like I said, I relaxed in my AMAZING room and got onto Clay's computer and remade the play lists. I spent several hours laying on the floor listening to music :) At around 12 we started getting ready. Lizzie did my hair and my make up!! She did such a wonderful job!!
The wedding was beautiful, the weather was perfect!! It was sunny and warm. My brother Joe read a poem and Clay's step sister and her husband sang a beautiful song. It was so wonderful looking into Clay's eyes as we said our I DO's. I felt (feel) like the luckiest woman in the world! After the ceremony we visited with everyone and I saw several ppl who I had not seen in many years. We cut the cake then had our first dance as husband and wife. Then Clay and his mother danced then it was my turn to dance with my dad but sadly, his feet were hurting him so I got to dance with Jay :o)
After the dances we started with all the pics. After that we changed and headed off to dinner with some of my family who couldn't make it to the wedding. THEN off to the AMAZING hotel......

Thank you to everyone who helped make my wedding the most wonderful day of my life (ok second most since Roran will hold the #1 spot forever) :o) I love you all!!!
Pics will be posted when I get them from Drew :o)

Yes I know I have been neglecting my blog.....






OK So I know it has been MONTHS but we finally have the net at home AND my computer is UP AND RUNNING!
SO Since June we have left California, gotten married, had 2 dogs, gotten rid of 2 dogs, gone on a month long honeymoon and moved into a WONDERFUL apartment in American Fork! SO, with that said, I will try to break it down... :o)
Some of these months and events will be really long so they will get there own post lol

Crazy stressful July
Clay's Honda bites the dust so on the 4th of July Clay flies back to UT to drive my car back. My car needed a little bit of work done so we took it to a shop that was 2 miles from out apartment. I got a call saying it was done and that they were closing in 40 min... I had NO car to drive so I had to run/walk there with Roran. About half way there my phone JUMPS out of the stroller and the screen shatters! LAME! We manage to get there in time and I got the car. YIPPY I HAVE MY CAR BACK or so I thought... I got less than a mile down the road and it dies at an intersection. Needless to say I was NOT happy. When we took the car in it was running.... SO I'm not stuck on the side of the road at 5:15 pm on a FRIDAY. A few guys helped push the car out of the road since I couldn't do it by my self. They then go off on there way. Sitting there with Roran I call Clay crying. Several other cars pull over worried because they saw a woman on the side of the road with a baby. A few nice ppl pushed the car into a parking lot for me. Clay calls back and said he contacted Dan and said he would come pick us up. I said it was ok that we could just walk home (I was only a mile away and on the same street) The next morning we contact the shop and they have a tow truck pick up the car.... The tow company said I had to be there to give them the keys and sign something.... SO I have to walk all the way back the next morning (SIDE NOTE- I ended up loosing nearly 10 lbs this summer from all the car problems lol)
By the end of all the car issues we had taken the car in 4 times (1 of those times was to a new shop here in AF)
That was the craziness that was JULY.... Here are a few pics