my beautiful grandmother

I love my family and know that we can be together forever someday. It's been a pretty sad couple of days--tomorrow is the funeral--hopefully everything will go well.


Loa Jean Shumway
Loa Jean Shumway 1/22/1925 ~ 6/24/2009 Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 24, 2009. She was born in Blackfoot, Idaho to Delbert and Cleo Taylor. She married Lafe K. Shumway in the Logan, UT LDS Temple on March 19, 1947. She is survived by her husband of 62 years; her five children, Cynthia (Donnie) Olson, Rebecca (Brian) Burgess, Jeffrey (Diane) Shumway, Larry (Mary) Shumway, and Daniel (Maggie) Shumway; 29 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and one sister Darlene Green. She was preceded in death by a sister Gloria Baer and brother Keith Taylor. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 27, 2009, 11 a.m. in the Sunset Ridge 1st Ward, 8137 South Echo View Drive (6400 West), West Jordan, Utah. The family will receive friends and family following the services. A private interment will occur at a later date.

larsen kids at their best

MEGS LOVES ANNIE
TAYLOR LOVES HIS BEST FRIEND (himself...)
A TWO-WHEELING, BIKE-RIDING MANIAC!!
ANNIE LOVES THE COMPUTER
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!!

cameron's wedding

yesterday my little brother cameron got married to a sweet girl named rachel. they were married in the salt lake temple and the sealing was beautiful! we had such a fun day together as a family--i love them all so much. we're excited for the youngest baby in the family, collin, to get married in august. he and carrie are a perfect match and then all 8 of us kids will be married. what a great blessing we have in this church to be married for time and all eternity! i get my family FOREVER!!!! love all you guys!!!

a post FULL of pictures!!!

We've had a fun summer so far! Here are a few of the things we've done--Hill Air Force Base air show (we loved having Jonah with us), Orem Summerfest, and running a little ways with Lindsey in her Marathon (SHE DID SO AWESOME...and how cute is she still at mile 23?!?!) Enjoy the pics!

BERT...WHERE ARE YA BERT???

Oh Alex....how the time has flown! Today you turn 15 and although I was expecting it, it still makes me a little sad to see my cute little boy growing up. WOW---that did NOT come out right, I mean, you're still cute and now a cute big boy. I'll stop now---
We're so proud of you and who you are today. You have done so well in school and are working hard to get your Eagle. You treat your brothers and sisters kindly (even when they bite you, Taylor...) and make your mom and dad feel like your buddies.
You are exactly what I ordered from the Doctor 15 years ago. I am a happy mom to have you and hope you have a great birthday today!

Much love Alexander, Alberto, Albuerzo, Albuerzistan, Albert, Al, Bert, Bertie, Bert the Fert......whatev!

stop growing up!!!

it's time to wax nostalgic again....annie graduated from 6th grade last friday. steve and i were able to attend the program and she was showered with awards. steve gave her a beautiful rose and she got lots of other presents from her friends. she said it was the day she'd been dreading since kindergarten---since she will now join jordan district and go to her assigned school, not granite district where she was able to attend the school her grandpa taught at. she will definitely miss her friends, but will hopefully make some more new ones at sunset ridge this september. she will have lots of fun with megan and already feels like she knows a lot about the school since megan and alex have both gone there. my babies are all growing up so fast!!!

he's still my "baby"

today was "technically" alex's last day of 9th grade. we don't count tomorrow's lagoon day and friday's yearbook day as anything important. they had the 9th grade awards ceremony today to honor outstanding students in different categories. when alex's language arts teacher called me last week to tell me that he had scored the highest on the crt tests they'd given, she also told me that they'd be honoring him this morning at the assembly. she said 2 other teachers wanted him to be honored in THEIR category, but she got him!!! we were supposed to keep it a surprise and actually did--steve and i went this morning and were so proud to see him up on stage. his teacher read such nice things about him and he got a huge LOUD cheer from his classmates. he is still my baby--even though he turns 15 next week--and i love him so much. we are proud of the young man he's become and look forward to seeing what great things he'll do in the future. YAY ALEX!!!