A Thousand Years

I first heard this song heading to the hospital to visit Ashton.  It brought me straight to tears.  I heard it almost every day at least once while I was heading there or coming home.  It is the perfect song for us and describes everything I'm feeling for this new little human in my life.

Heart beats fast, colors and promises
How to be brave?

How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still, beauty in all (he) is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away what's standing in front of me
Every breath, every hour has come to this

One step closer.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid 

I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer.  One step closer.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid,
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

-Christina Perri

RollerSkates

This commercial makes me happy.

Maybe it's because I love this song.



Or maybe I just love the baby...

Save The Date!

Dog Lake, Attempt 2

Dog Lake, via Big Cottonwood Canyon

I can do it this time.

Maybe

Yes!!!!!!!

Oh and did I mention it was Jason's Birthday? How else could he ever get me to attempt this again?

Topped it off with Pizza Hut and Blue Lemon Carrot Cake (soooo good!!!)

Diamond Rio.

Oh and Fireworks. Yeah, I know how to throw a good Birthday.

MGMT

I love being back in Salt Lake for many reasons.

The music scene is definitely one of them.

Marci is another.

and crazy weird people at concerts is too.

Oh and the fact that in the venue is now all non-smoking. Love that.

Twilight Concert series couldn't come fast enough.

Modest Mouse.

July 8th.

Yes.

2009, What a year!

2009 has been quite the year for us! We have had so many life changes this year.

New jobs, New family members, New states, New homes, New last names, New adventures.

and many more...

Eric came home from his Mission in Italy!

I got to take my endowments out at the Bountiful

Temple. We were sealed for all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Got married.

Welcomed in new life...

Kayson Todd Larson

and grieved the passing of old...

Grandma Beckstrand

Partied with MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.

Moved to Michigan. Returned to a Family Ward and to Primary.

Said Goodbye to good Friends...

and said Hello to NEW friends.

We "adopted" this little dude.

We explored Mexico, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and Canada.

We have had a very eventful and great year. I feel so blessed to have had so many wonderful things happen this past year and I am grateful for all of our family and friends continued support while we are on our journey here in Michigan. We are looking forward to a fantastic 2010!

Little Black (modest) Dress Party

Jason got us tickets to Detroit's 95.5 "Little Black Dress Party" this last friday. Jason loves the radio station 95.5 out here and I'll admit their morning show is by far the funniest and most entertaining morning show I've ever heard (sorry x96). They hosted the event at Sound Board inside the Motor City Casino Hotel. What an incredible venue! The Motor City is a place Jason and I have heard about and have been wanting to check out while we are here too. It was so much fun to dress up and get a private concert by IYAZ, Kristinia DeBarge, and Jason DeRulo. I didn't really know any of these artists prior to the concert, and I haven't been to many "Pop" concerts either. All I knew was Jason DeRulo's hit song "Whatcha Say" and the only reason I knew that song is because he "stole" the best parts from an Imogen Heap song, that I've been a big fan of for quite some time now. I was secretly hoping that Imogen Heap would randomly show up to perform the song with him. It didn't happen, but he still put on a great show. I picture him as an up and coming Usher. Jason tags along with me to all of my concerts so it was fun to go with him to something he was excited about. Plus I loved getting dressed up and having a night out on the town (a free one at that) with Jason!

The Avett Brothers

I fell in love with the Avett Brothers this last week. I first came across them a couple years ago when I first heard "If It's The Beaches".  I loved that song but didn't really ever get much more involved.  Until I found out that they would be doing a free show in Detroit as part of Comerica's City Fest.  I was so excited to go! I haven't been able to get out to nearly as many shows as I use to in Salt Lake. That has been one major thing I've missed this summer... All of the free shows at the Gallivan Center. Last summer you could find us there pretty much every Wednesday and Thursday night. We got to see some great bands (Nada Surf, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) all for free!  Friends, music, summer nights, all some of my favorite things.  However, now we are in Michigan with no friends, little music, and cold summer nights.  Jason is so great to go along with whatever it is I want to do here in Michigan.   He hardly complained as  I made him listen to The Avett Brothers all week long and take me to Detroit to see them.  Two songs into the concert though he fell in love with them too (maybe not as much as I did, but still!)   Jase walked away saying how great the show was and woke up the next morning singing their songs. Jason likes to make fun of me and my "weird" music so I was excited to come home and find him looking up The Avett Brothers the next day on YouTube trying to find his favorite song (the one they "rap" in... go figure) from the night before. 

They put on an incredibly entertaining show.  They had enough energy to dance and jump to and enough emotion to just listen and feel.  I love their "family" band lyrics. My favorite line from the night was: "Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name."

For one night Detroit won me over, as I had my best friend, great music, and a rainy summer night. No complaining here!

For any of you who were saddened by the news in February of 08 that The Format was no longer, I have good news! It's back! Just under a new name... FUN. I was pretty excited to hear that Nate Ruess, the lead singer of The Format, would be going on to create his own band and continue sharing his musical talents. I was even more excited when I heard they would be touring and even making a stop in Michigan! I love shows, doesn't really matter who's playing, but the news that my favorite bands, new band, would be coming to a location I could actually get to, I was more than excited! With only one online download released to the public I didn't really know what to expect from FUN, a more tripped out version of The Format maybe? I knew it would have a similar sound and style. That's usually what happens when you take a staple member of one band and and create another (e.g. Angels and Airwaves/Blink 182, The Color Fred/Taking Back Sunday). Even with the addition of a girl band member, FUN is The Format, with a little less energy. Nate came out ready to put on a show. I think the shock that The Format is no longer may not have set in all the way for him yet. They were not headlining so maybe that was the reason for the lower energy from fan appreciation. Or maybe the Bands aren't lying when they say that Utah is their favorite place to play. There were a few true Format fans there to cheer on Nate as he came onto the stage. I being one of them. I couldn't help but smile when I saw him come out front and center. It had been a while, and well come on its Nate!? I was excited to see what he had been up to and come up with. Nate is still as crazy and "weird" as he was before. His voice is still awesome. His songs are still fun. But two songs into the set he announces that since they are a new band they were going to do some covers. Covers are always good, but before I knew it I was at a Format concert. FUN covered The Format! Go figure. I don't know why this bothered me so much. I think I wanted to see more of FUN and hear what they can do, not how they can change the originals of great songs. I will admit that I got excited when I heard the intro to "The First Single" and couldn't help but sing and dance along. It took me back to high school, driving down main street, Farmington, in my best friends car dancing and singing our hearts out. Back in the day when there was just a handful of us who even knew what The Format was and were making our own Format T-Shirts. Back before it was the "cool thing" to listen to The Format. Fun will have an easy transition into the spot light though. All those previous Format fans will be sure to follow. Fun has talent I'll give them that, but if they are going to be a new band than I guess I just want them to BE a new band! As sad as I was to see The Format go, I think they need to let them go and do their own thing, as Format sounding as it may be. I couldn't help but notice how emotional filled Nate seemed to scream "I don't need anyone!" during The First Single. I don't know all the drama that went down when The Format decided to call it quits, but I almost felt for a second like that was a slap in Sam Means face. I'm sure FUN is singing about a lot of other things rather than The Formats break up but I couldn't help but notice that some of their songs are a little strong. "At least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To be"... I'm probably way off on this one since apparently a lot of these songs were written by Nate while The Format was still alive. Don't get me wrong, FUN put on a good show, I really did enjoy it. They have talent and as the fan base grows and more music is released and more people can sing and dance along, the energy will grow and the power of Nate Reuss will be back in full swing. In retrospect, I will support FUN and will wait to see what their CD holds this summer. But as far as a replacement band for The Format, I think not. You cannot replace the originals. Loved the show. Loved Nates voice, and the new girl rocked. She sounds like the girl from Straylight Run, but I'm not sure who she is... Anyways. Even though this may sound like I was disappointed in the show, I really wasn't! I enjoyed it. Overall my only disappointment was that Nate Reuss looks so much better in skinny jeans than I do.

Marriage... The Honeymoon

After the wedding we woke up bright and early and headed off to Cancun, Mexico!!! Neither of us had ever been before so we were both very excited.  I couldn't wait for some beach and sunshine!  The flight was long but well worth it.  We stayed at the Westin Resort and Spa. We had a great view from our room and could walk right out to the beach.  

We spent our first day exploring the Hotel and all of its pools and restaurants.  The next day we just hung out on the beach and played in the ocean.  Nothing beats laying out on the beach all day with your hubby! :)  That night we went to down town Cancun and ate at, my new favorite restaurant, Chocolate City.Our third day their we got up early and took a tour bus out to the Mayan ruins.  It was such a great experience and I'm so glad we decided to do it!  On the way out we stopped at a cenote, which is a large underground river.  It was about 75ft below the ground and so gorgeous.  It had vines coming down and looked like something straight out of a movie.  We went swimming and cliff jumping.  It took my about a 45 minutes and a lot of coercing from Jason but I finally jumped.  All the while Jason was doing back flips and showing everyone else up.  Our next stop was the Mayan Ruins.  They are so amazing and so beautiful. I couldn't believe the knowledge and architectural expertise these ancient people had.  I loved learning about their culture and lives back than.  The next day we took a ferry to Isla Mujeres.  We went snorkeling along the reefs and swam with sharks. I was so proud of Jason! He's not the biggest fan of ocean creatures but he knows how much I love them.  I even got him to touch a starfish.  :)   Back on the Island we rented a little scooter and went exploring.  Their were so many fun little shops and restaurants.  Not to mention the gorgeous views of the ocean.  Our last day there we hung out at the beach, did some body surfing, and soaked in every last bit of sunshine I could before heading back to freezing cold Utah!  

I loved this entire trip so much! It was so much fun and I loved having my best friend along with me the entire time! 

 We got back to Utah just in time for the Mc Hammer and Vanilla Ice concert.   He knows how big of fan I am of the 80's and surprised me with tickets for Valentines Day.  We went with a group of friends and it was an all night 80's dance party with the best performers around!!  I fell in love with Jason all over again that night. Not only did he put up with Vanilla Ice and MC all night long, but he dressed up and danced crazy with me the entire night! 

Ice Ice Baby...