New year, new resolutions

Hey there. I'm not really sure how to start this post, so I'll just get right into it. Anyone have any New Years resolutions? Sometimes I feel like New Years resolutions are kind of dumb, especially if you have no intention of keeping them! I think a lot of the time our intentions are good- we want to be healthier, better, more organized, etc. I just get so overwhelmed! I want to do so many things that I just can't do them all, and then I get discouraged and never follow through with any of them! Well, this year I hope will be different. And if you're reading this, I think you'll be able to figure out what one of my resolutions is...

Last week in sacrament meeting (which also happened to be New Year's Eve) I was giving a talk on "renewing our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ" and I gave 5 ways that we could do that in the coming new year:

1. Commit to have more meaningful personal/family prayer

2. Commit to hold Family Home Evening each week

3. Commit to do your home teaching/visiting teaching every month

4. Commit to honor your covenants

5. Commit to accept and serve faithfully in callings extended to us

These are just the five things I felt needed to talk about on Sunday. So what are your New Years resolutions? Mine are some of the above, plus eating healthier/exercising more (duh) and also updating the blog more than once a year. Along with that, taking and posting more pictures of us and our day-to-day activities. I feel like we are really boring, but sometimes we do fun things! I was just thinking about how I have no pictures or anything from about my middle-school years to now and it's sad how I can't look back and remember all the things I did and I don't want it to be that way for my kids. 

So here's to the new year! Here's to being healthier and making memories! 

Benson's Birth Story

In May 2016, we found out that we were pregnant with our second child, another boy! Due date was set for February 3, 2017 and we anxiously awaited his arrival. On January 26, I had my weekly doctor's appointment and found out that I was 80% effaced and 4 cm dilated. I went home expecting him to come in the next few days. At 2 am that next morning, January 27, I felt a sharp pang in my abdomen which woke me up, and a little fluid leaking from...down there. Thinking I had just peed myself a little (because, you know, pregnancy) I ran to the bathroom to empty my bladder for the hundredth time that night. It was when I couldn't stop peeing I realized that my was broken and I was actually leaking amniotic fluid, not urine. Brennen and I headed to the hospital around 2:45 am, where they confirmed that my water had, in fact, broken and I wasn't leaving the hospital without our little guy in tow. About 3am, the contractions started coming, and soon I got my epidural. When the nurse checked me, I was at 8 cm dilation. Two hours later, when she checked me again, I was practically crowning and the doctor came in. After only three pushes, little Benson Crew was placed in my arms and the whole world stopped for a minute. He was born January 27, 3017 at 5:43 am weighing 6 lbs, 3 oz, and 19 inches long. He had a little blood blister on his had that the nurses said was there from sucking on his hand in utero. He didn't cry for very long, just enough to let us know his lungs were perfect. He was perfect.

Hello Everyone

It's that time of the year again..

The time when I randomly decide to write a blog post

to let you all know we are all still alive and well.

If you follow me on Instagram, 

you pretty much know what we've been up to lately.

Nothing.

We've been preparing for a summer full of travel, 

that's all.

In March I turned 26 (welcome to your late twenties!)

In April, Brennen and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary by 

doing a session in the Phoenix, AZ Temple

and then dinner afterwards while my mom

(who was in town visiting) watched Tanner.

I also got to throw my sister-in-law a baby shower!

I had only been planning it since December, haha.

It was a lot of fun.

The theme was, "You Are My Sunshine"

and we had a yogurt bar.

and look at that clean carpet under the table :)

On May 4th, Cole Marshall Blunck finally came!

I have been so excited to meet this little guy.

And Meaghan looks freaking amazing for having just given birth!

We were also lucky to have all of the Larsen grandkids together 

for a picture with Grandma and Grandpa

Unfortunately this blurry picture was the best one because

wouldn't you know it, my kid was the only one that freaked out

as soon as we sat them down.

Next week I get to go to Dallas, TX to visit one of my besties from high school.

I haven't seen her since right after Tanner was born.

and we are going to see

WICKED!!!

This will be my 4th time.  I'm pretty lucky.

Oh, did I mention I've been trying to learn my camera more?

We got a DSLR for Brennen's graduation and I've been trying to 

learn how to use it and edit photos.

As you can see I mostly take pictures of buildings....and flowers...and animals at the zoo.

BUT! I did take some family pictures for a friend of mine before she left to visit her parents in China!

You can follow my IG account @g.l.photo

and if you want some free family pictures,

I'll be in Idaho the last week in July! :)

Also, I got a Fitbit for Mother's Day! 

So, if you wanna be my friend, leave your email 

in the comments (comments are moderated and email wont be published)

A Day at the Park

Tanner LOVES going outside.

And since it's that time of the year where the weather is just right,

we like to go to the park a lot.

There's a nature preserve near our home you can find us at frequently.

There's a place for the kids to play,

a lake with fish and ducks, and short, easy, walking trails.

Also, this guy actually stood still long enough to let me snap a few pictures of him last night!