Seriously slacking...

Ok, I know...it's been like.....6 months. Oops. lol Majorly and seriously been slacking at this whole blogging deal. A lot has been going on in the past few months, and it feels like things have been really hectic but finally starting to slow. Marley turned TWO at the end of September. It was bittersweet, I definitely found myself pouting like a big baby wondering where the time had gone. I feel like it was just yesterday we buckled her in her car seat for the first time, was driving home and yelling at Bruce to be careful. I got over it after a few days. LOL. Her personality is out of this world, who knew so much attitude could fit into such a small body. Her laugh is so contagious and she's always going out of her way to mess with her dad. We can't get her to stand still for nothing. I take her to the stores and it suddenly becomes survival of the fittest. Marley VS Mommy. She wins. Every. Single. Time. Poor me I know. LOL.

It's so much fun watching her grow everyday, learning and seeing things for the first time. The world is so big in her eyes and things are exciting and overwhelming. I love the way she lives life. I love her to the death of me. A mother and child bond is the most severe, unconditional, and REAL love there is. Being a mommy has absolutely been the best thing to ever happen to me in my 25 years of life. I adore her. (understatement) Ok, end of emotional mommy rant as I keep looking over at her while shes drooling all over the pillow with one shoe on and one shoe off. LOL.

Bruce finally finished his senior season of football and they ended up 2nd in conference. We were both happy that it was over to somewhat get back to a normal schedule where he's not gone all day long and traveling on the weekends. He's come a long way in the past couple of years since we've had Marley and his injuries. And this past week he just registered for his last semester til graduation! YAY. 

#1 Fans :)

This was his senior game--his sister Chrissy was able to come and visit and finally meet Marley :)

I'm so excited to see where this next year will take us--but one thing I'm grateful for is all the opportunities and accomplishments we've had as a family these past few years. It hasn't always been the easiest but we've been able to make things work and hope for the best. I know God has some great things in store for us...and we couldn't be more blessed. Love you all, Larissa

Just had to share..

Happy Memorial Day!!! Wanted to post this--my beautiful grandmother entered heaven years ago but not a day goes by I don't think of her. Miss her everyday--but I sleep a little better at night knowing whose watching over Marley as her angel. I love you grandma.

Yosemite!

I've somewhat been slacking on updating this lol oops! Well, this past week we went on our very first family vacation to Yosemite National Park in Northern Cali! It was about a 13 hour trip for us as it was our first road trip as well! I was nervous about how Marley was going to react about being tied down for that long since we can never get that girl to sit down for even 30 seconds lol. Surprisingly she did ok! We drove through the night so she slept almost the whole way. (Thank you Lord lol)

I'm so happy that Bruce and I made this vacation work because I know that we would never go camping on our own and if my Aunt Lorelei would've never invited us we probably would've never had the chance to experience such a beautiful place & make great memories! 

Our campsite was near a river that we were able to raft on! It was both Bruce and my first time rafting. 

The river was so slow and relaxing that Marley was even able to go with!

Excuse her super fabulous hair in this picture lol and by fabulous I mean super messy. LOL We were constantly chasing Marley around as she would sneak her meals to squirrels and birds and chase after them trying to catch them. Dirt was put in her shirt, hair, diaper, shoes daily lol there was not a spot on her body that was safe. I think once Bruce even caught her trying to eat the dirt. YUM. lol She must get that from her father.

My least favorite part of the trip was

Probably when I saw a bear in our camping site. YES a real life giant BEAR. It was about 4 am and I was about to use the restroom--pitch dark and had my little flashlight pointed it in one direction and saw it on all fours moving in the opposite direction. THANK YOU JESUS HALLELUJAH can I get an Amen. Lol I don't remember the last time I ran that fast...woke everyone up in camp LOL made Bruce walk me to the bathroom...I was still scared super speed walking and looking over my shoulder every .5 seconds lol but Ohhhh not Big Bruce he was walking ever so confidently like there  had not been a bear just fifty feet from our camp LOL Bruce vs Bear...all I know is that if the bear came toward us I just would have had to make sure that I can run faster than Bruce--not the bear LOL 

We also did a five mile hike up to a waterfall--Marley did it with us by the way!! Everyone was so amazed with her--she's our strong little nature girl :)

My pictures honestly do not give Yosemite justice!

After this trip Bruce and I vowed to try to visit places where we have never been at least once a year. There is so much beauty out in the world we leave unseen because we let life's daily routine get in the way & don't allow ourselves time to see Gods beauty he left for us here on earth. Seeing such a place left me thinking how mighty & great our Lord is for creating such a beautiful and breathtaking place...

Ill post more pictures once I upload them :) Love you all & pray for you Happiness, joy, and LOVE! Xoxo

Smile?

These are the faces I get when I tell her to smile lol quite the personality :)

My very 1st post!!!

Our family currently lives here in Oregon, sonwe are pretty far from both of our families and don't get the opportunity to see them as often as we'd like. That is basically the reason for me starting this blog. Hopefully our family and friends can get a small glimpse into our lives and most importantly how Marley is growing (and all the trouble she causes! lol)

Bruce has been keeping SO busy between going to school full time, football, and working. Marley and I are blessed to have such a hard working man in our lives! He is at the homestretch as far as getting his degree so he has really buckled down and has been doing great in all of his classes and football. I am so proud of him. Some days he'll come home from practice and weights SO sore, and Marley of course always wants to play as soon as he walks in the door (she can't get enough of her daddy) She always wants him to throw her up in the air--but some days Bruce can't manage to lift his arm haha. So Marley's 28 lb self will pout and fake cry. It's quite the talent she's got there. But now that Bruce and I have caught on to her little act it doesn't work as well.

Her newest found talent--rolling her eyes!! It cracks us up and we try not to let her see that we think its funny because by all means we don't want to encourage her one year old ATTITUDE. (hm wonder where she got it from? LOL) She is growing SO fast, it seems like weekly she is in need of something new because it no longer fits her. Which of course I don't mind because I love shopping! (not so much Bruce.) Potty training has been a bit of a struggle so far, but mainly because we are so busy. Marley's latest obsession is Spongebob. No matter the time of day she is ALWAYS down to watch Spongebob, or as she calls it "Ponbob" lol.

All in all we are doing great, we are all healthy and happy. Really, what more can you ask for? I am so proud of how much we have accomplished as a family the last few years...there have been the ups and downs but that all part of the growing and learning process, right? We love you all :) GOD BLESS.

Shopping with mommy :)

 



Last week we took Marley to her first movie at the theaters! We saw The Croods which she seemed to love! Both Bruce and I were suprised she kept the troublemaking to a minimum.

 

Bruce & Marley when we went to his cousin Sano's baby shower :) I know he is a hunk right?