Ben & Nathans Blog

Nathan's Birthday Cupcakes

2012-01-08T23:50:00.000-08:00

I brought cupcakes to Nathan's class for his birthday since his birthdays during Christmas break.

Hanging Out

2012-01-02T01:36:00.001-08:00

Grandma taking a nap with Ben and Nathan

Nathan hanging on Dad.

Primary Christmas Party

2012-01-02T01:34:00.001-08:00

Charlotte had a Christmas/bi-yearly party for her Primary Class with games treats, crafts and Nintendo Wii.

Christmas Eve 2011

2012-01-02T00:45:00.000-08:00

For Christmas Eve we acted out the Nativity and got Grandma Sally to help out.

I read Twas the Night Before Christmas.

We opened pajamas a gift from cousin McKay the night before. Also the boys opened a gift from Grandma Larsen with small cruse ships to supprise all of the cousins that we were planning on going on a cruise ship this Summer.

Nathan made sure that Baby Jesus was protected by the spys from Cars 2.

2012-01-02T00:24:00.001-08:00

We woke up and looked into our stockings to see what Santa had brought us

Ben recieved Lord Garmadon's Fortress for Lego Ninjago.

Nathan recieved Sensei Wu's Dojo.

They both recieve Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure which puts your action figures into a video game when you place it on a portal of power.

With an extra figure in each stocking.

Ben got Nathan a Thundercats figure.

Nathan got Ben a Lego Hero factory set/figure.

Grandma Sally opening a present.

More Legos

Playing Wii with Dad, I got Super Mario 3DS Land for the Nintendo 3DS and The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword for the Nintendo Wii.

Before Christmas Nathan would go to sleep every night with a Santa hat on, since Christmas he sent a week going to sleep every night with this fleece snow hat and gloves.

Ben's Lord Garmadon's Fortress and Star Wars Lego set from cousin McKay.

Ben's sets along with Nathan's Sensei Wu's Dojo along with Space Shuttle set from cousin McKay

Nathan's Birthday Party

2012-01-02T00:15:00.001-08:00

Nathan's Birthday was December 30th, he invited his friends Bryant and Freddy from our apartment complex and Dillian from church.

He at first wanted a Thundercats party since he's big into the new series, but theres no real games or even decorations for that yet. So he agreed to a Lego party. We started with free play.

Then they raced their creations on a card table track.

He decorated the cake with some of his Lego mini figures

Posing with G-ma

2012-01-02T00:07:00.000-08:00

The boys like to call my Mom G-Ma since thats what Heather and Logan would call them.

Ben's Class Christmas Party

2011-12-26T00:08:00.001-08:00

Ben's annual class Christmas Party

Ben's teacher Mrs. Anderson

Nathan's Class Christmas Party

2011-12-26T00:03:00.001-08:00

Nathan's class had a Christmas Party like usual. This is the roudy group that I enjoy when volunteer teaching Cartooning in Nathan's class. Thats his friends Fredy in green and Caroline in pink and white.

His teacher Mrs. Berg

Ward Christmas Party 2011

2011-12-25T23:59:00.001-08:00

Every year our Ward (Church) has a Christmas Party/Dinner with Santa Claus, its our cheap way off getting free Santa Pictures.

Ben's Birthday

2011-12-11T22:26:00.000-08:00

Ben opened presents in the morning, he recieved a Lego Ninjago set, a bike and Nathan got him a Wii game.

Ben had two friends from school over for Pizza, Cake, Building Legos, Playing Lego Board Games and Playing Nintendo Wii.

Ben's Birthday Party

2011-12-11T22:18:00.001-08:00

Playing Wii

Blowing out candles

Ben opening presents afterwards

Ben's Pack Meeting

2011-12-11T22:15:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2011

2011-11-20T22:07:00.001-08:00

Nathan loves book series called Elephant and Piggie, Charlotte got him an Elephant hat.

Ben was a Ninja this year

So was Nathan

Ward (church) Halloween Party, I was doing face painting the whole time.

This is the Pumpkin that I carved, the boys did pumpkins earlyer, but we forgot to take pictures.

I won two awards

Halloween 2011

2011-11-20T22:03:00.001-08:00

Every year Acacia has a Halloween Costume Parade, Ban & Nathan were Ninjas.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-20T21:45:00.001-08:00

Nathan's Teacher Mrs. Berg was a Starbucks Cup which even though I don't drink coffee I thought that it was quite cleaver.

Nathan and his friend Freddy

Class party, Charlotte volunteered to help

I toke Ban and Nathan Trick or Treating at the Mall and then to a few select church members homes.

2011-11-20T21:39:00.001-08:00

Charlotte and the boys surprised me with Breakfast in bed on my Birthday, it was a really nice day until I realized in the evening that I had left my Flashdrive with the whole semesters assignments at school and was stupid enough to not back it up to my computer. Luckily even though I never found it I was able to recover all of the projects since I had already turned in most of them to the teacher. One of the assignments even got into the school display case. The did have to redo one though, but even that I was able to do it in time to turn it in. And yes I have backed everything up on my computer now.

Ben and Nathan watching Saturday Morning Cartoons

Primary Temple Trip 2011

2011-11-20T21:34:00.001-08:00

On November 11th our Primary (Church Youth Group) went to the Temple to walk around the grounds and to go to the visitors center. Charlotte and I went since we had the day off of work and school. (I've gone back to school) After wards a friend took the boys and we went into the Temple and out for a nice dinner in the Beverly Hills area. It was a nice day.
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Nathan was a little punk, he kept on making faces every time that we tried to take his picture.

Primary Temple Trip 2011

2011-11-20T21:32:00.001-08:00

Primary Temple Trip 2011

2011-11-20T21:27:00.001-08:00

Nathan's Lego Creation

2011-11-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

School Pictures

2011-10-23T22:45:00.001-07:00

Make $50 checks payable to: "Paul's Wii/3DS Video Game Fund" for signed prints of Ben and Nathan's school photos. They had bad weather on photoshoot day so Group Photos are rescheduled for this week. We need to work with Ben on a more natural photo smile.

CHuck E Cheese

2011-10-23T22:35:00.001-07:00

The Acacia Elementary PTA has monthly restaurant fundraisers, this month was Chuck E Cheese so the boys had fun running around playing games, Charlotte was all to glad that she had to work and not have to bare that place, I don't mind it though.

Chuck E Cheese

2011-10-23T22:33:00.001-07:00

Trader Joes, Lego Temple, Friends

2011-10-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

On the way home from a Mommy Nathan date to Traeder Joes, looks like Nathan's already gotten use of his free stickers.

About a month ago we were sleeping in on a Sunday and Ben came bounding upstairs to tell us that he had just made a (Mormon) Temple out of Legos all on his own. We were quite impressed.

Ben, Fredy, Bryant (their friends from the apartment complex) and Nathan watching TV.

Nathan's T-Ball Practice

2011-09-04T23:45:00.000-07:00

They throw the ball to them 3 times and then they get to use the stand to hit the ball.

2011-09-04T23:37:00.000-07:00

Ben and Nathan started 1st and 3rd grade and they really love it. Nathan has Ben's 1st Grade teacher Mrs. Birg who was and is great and Ben got Mrs. Anderson who is also great. Both teachers seem to really be committed to making this year a great experience. I've started volunteer teaching cartooning again.

Ben and Nathan's First Day of School

2011-09-04T23:34:00.001-07:00

Nathan's Desk

Ben's Desk

Scouts Den Meeting

2011-09-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

Ben had Den Meeting and recieved some awards.

Nathan's Last T-Ball Game

2011-09-04T23:28:00.000-07:00

This was Nathan's last T-Ball game, his friend Bryant from our apartments was on his team also.

Nathan's Last T-Ball Game

2011-09-04T23:24:00.001-07:00

Nathan's Last T-Ball Game

2011-09-04T23:21:00.001-07:00

Ben getting his cast off

2011-08-29T00:54:00.001-07:00

This is Ben getting his arm.... I mean cast cut off.

and the doctor teaching us the exercises that he has to do to get the mobility back in his arm.

Spokane Trip: Castle

2011-08-29T00:49:00.001-07:00

This is a house that the owner made to look like a castle that my Mom wanted us to see on Thursday. We went to visit a couple of Aunts in the nursing Home after that. Friday I hung out with my friend Mark and his friend Brian.

Spokane Trip: Visit with Jim and Bobby

2011-08-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

We were able to visit my Brother Jim for the first time in awile. We went out to The Hotrod Cafe.

My Brother Jim (in blue), his wife Bobby and son-in-law Aaron.

Spokane Trip: Lake Couer D Alene

2011-08-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to Lake Couer D Alene in Couer D Alene Idaho.

Charlotte

I really love Lake Couer D Alene. Its way more enjoyable then swimming in the ocean for me. Theres a section without trees thats more like a beach, but we prefer the shade.

Spokane Trip: Lake Couer D Alene and Mudgy & Millie Statue

2011-08-29T00:25:00.000-07:00

Lake Couer D Alene in CDA, Idaho

Afterwards was walked around downtown looking in shops and looking for Mudgy Moose and Millie Mouse statues from a book about a Moose and Mouse who play hide and seek and the mouse hides in Mudgys antlers while he walks around a number of CDA locations. I went to Elementary School with the authors daughter.

Spokane Trip: Cabelas

2011-08-29T00:22:00.001-07:00

On the way home we went to Cabelas outdoors super store which had an awesome mountain display of taxidermy stuffed wild animals.

Spokane Trip: Spokane Temple

2011-08-29T00:16:00.000-07:00

Mom's church is in the same parking lot as the Spokane Temple. I remember playing in the baseball field in the park that part of it was dug out for the building of the temple. So grateful that my Mom has a Temple to go to that's so close! I remember as a youth we would have to take a bus 5 hours to the Seattle Temple.

Spokane Trip: Riverfront Park

2011-08-29T00:06:00.001-07:00

Monday Michelle, Charlotte and Mom went to River Park Square in Spokane Washington to see the movie The Help while the boys and I ran around. Afterwards Michelle treated the boys and I to ride bracelets for Riverfront Park.

This blond kid pushed Ben and Nathan out of the way to get ahead in line for the mini dragon roller coaster and the parents didn't do anything so Michelle nicknamed him "The Nazi" and was wishing that she could trip him on the way out. Funny thing is that on the way out he ran and tripped and fell smack on his face. Karma can be a strong force sometimes.

Spokane Trip: Riverfront Park

2011-08-29T00:01:00.001-07:00

Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington

Spokane Trip: Riverfront Park

2011-08-28T23:58:00.001-07:00

Spokane Trip: Tubs Hill

2011-08-28T23:49:00.001-07:00

Tuesday we went on a hike on Tubbs Hill. We thought that by taking the biggest trail that it was the calm on that went by the water around the hill. Little did we know that it took us up the center and then down this steep rocky small trail. But Charlotte was surprisingly quite a trooper and there were some great views.

Spokane Trip: Library, Tubs Hill

2011-08-28T23:40:00.000-07:00

Tubbs Hill hike

Of course we couldn't go by a library without Charlotte checking out it out. Actually we went in to refill out water bottles and Charlotte wanted to see how they were implementing their Summer Reading Program.

Spokane Trip: Library, Mudgy Moose & Tubs Hill

2011-08-28T23:32:00.001-07:00

Mudgy Moose by the Library

Mudgy Moose by Tubs Hill

Spokane Trip: Lake Couer D Alene with Michelle and Logan

2011-08-28T23:25:00.001-07:00

Michelle's son Logan

A left over sand castle from an art festival (Art on the Green) a few weeks ago. it was taller then me!

Spokane Trip: Lake Couer D Alene

2011-08-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

Ben and Nathan having fun in the water.

Spokane Trip: Couer D Alene following the trail of Mudgy Moose

2011-08-28T23:16:00.001-07:00

This one Nathan tried to climb up into the antlers and slipped and bashed his head on the antlers. He's OK though........ at least we think.

Spokane Trip: Out on Dave's boat on Hayden Lake

2011-08-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

My Brother Dave took us out on his boat on the last night of the trip. It was really fun for them going fast and for the adults being able to see Bing Crosby's castle from a distance, but one of the best parts for Ben and Nathan was being able to pee off the back of the boat!

Natural History Museum

2011-08-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday we went to the Natural History Museum since the Dinosaur Exibit reopened after a huge remodel. I was very inmpressed.

I you look closely Ben's evil twin Bossk is also in the picture.

Library Reptile Program

2011-08-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

Charlotte had some reptile people come to give a program at the library and Nathan was able to pet a Pacman Toad.

My Pie

2011-08-07T19:01:00.001-07:00

This is the Pie that I made. I do it in the middle of the Night because Charlotte always trys to take over when I do things in the kitchen.

Scout Trip to the La Brea Tar Pits

2011-07-11T01:45:00.000-07:00

The Scouts were able to go on a day Trip to the La Brea Tar Pits before we went to Utah and so Nathan I came along and I helped herd the kids.

Having fun at Aunt Ann's

2011-07-11T01:31:00.000-07:00

Dinner at Tucanos

2011-07-11T01:27:00.000-07:00

Tucanos is this great Brazilian restaurant where the servers bring kabobs of meat fruits and vegitables to your table every few minutes and you can take whatever you want.

Bar-B-Que at Grandmas

2011-07-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

4th of July Parade

2011-07-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

In order to get a good place for the parade in Provo you have to camp out from the afternoon/day before the parade and I was part of the group that had to stay overnight. I've done it 7 years now while there's others who have done it far less and are done for good. Anyways I got there and the kids were running around and causing problems without much being said about it. Luckily the 5, 6 and 7 year olds didn't get to stay because none of them were listening to anybody and really weren't ready to stay overnight. Everyone who stayed behind agreed with those feelings. I didn't really sleep at all, but it was fun.

4th of July Parade

2011-07-10T23:34:00.000-07:00

Swimming and Bar-B-Que at Paul and Shelly's Home

2011-07-10T23:17:00.001-07:00

We had fun swimming and eatting at Paul and Shelly's home in the Afternoon. Plus we got a Family Photo taken.

Nathan's Summer Baseball Class

2011-07-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

We signed Nathan up for a Baseball Tiny Tots league where the focus is more on fun and letting everybody hit and do all of the other things.

Library Program

2011-07-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

I toke Ben and Nathan to see a Summer Reading Program Performer at the Library this week.

Fathers Day Candy Bar Message

2011-06-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and the boys made me an awesome candy bar message for Fathers Day.

Cub Scout Day Camp

2011-06-26T23:04:00.001-07:00

Ben was able to attend Cub Scout Day Camp this week and had tons of fun with archery, rubber band riffles, a rock climbing wall, and many other fun activities. The theme this year was Hawaii.

Nathan Daddy Camp

2011-06-26T22:50:00.001-07:00

While Ben was at Camp Nathan and I had Nathan/Daddy Camp. We went to a Krispy Krime Donuts and watched them make them, a Comicbook store to but reading material for next weeks Utah trip and to an electronic store called Frys, this one was themed to be an Alien attack. I heard theres another Frys in the valley that has a Fairytale theme.

Cub Scout Day Camp

2011-06-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

Charlotte volunteered on Friday and so Nathan was able to join the Siblings group that day.

Cub Scout Day Camp

2011-06-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

Ben and Jackson from his Den

Since is was a Hawaiian theme the last day there was Hula and other Hawaiian dances for entertainment and near the end they had the kids take part.

Primary Spotlight

2011-06-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

Today Ben was spotlighted in Primary. They said different things about him and people would sit down until he was the last kid standing. He go to sit on a throne with a crown and received a plastic M&M container character full of M&M's.

Back to School Night

2011-06-13T00:07:00.000-07:00

Ben in front of his desk

Ben with his teacher Mrs Cozad and Student Teacher Mrs McGatchy

Nathan and himself

Nathan his teacher Mrs Luster

Utah Trip

2011-06-12T23:56:00.000-07:00

Charlotte toke the boys to Utah a few weeks ago

Utah Trip

2011-06-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

May Scout Den Meeting

2011-06-12T23:43:00.001-07:00

This month the theme was Healthy activities and snacks so there was an obsticale course and tug-a-war.

Ben's Play

2011-06-12T23:37:00.000-07:00

Ben was in a play last week, the play itself was kind of silly, but Ben had fun.

Primary Talent Show/Family History Night

2011-06-12T23:20:00.000-07:00

Our ward had a Primary Talent Show/Family Hisory Themed Ward Dinner
The second part being right up my alley, Ben and Nathan had a Lego display, but like an idiot I forgot to tak a picture of that. But for the displays everyone was given the opportunity to make some sort of display of their family so I bought some nice colored drawing paper and made a display that showed some of our tree with little parts taken from Family Histories and Photos

Charlotte and I

My Parents Zernas Abram Burrows and Sally Jo Shafer

My Dad's Parents John William Burrows and Mary Magdalena Albrecht

Primary Talent Show/Family History Night

2011-06-12T23:14:00.000-07:00

My Mom's Parents John Dewey Shafer and Leona Grimm Shafer

Charlotte's Parents Dean Larsen and Jean Maycock

Charlotte's Mother's Parents Lawrence S Maycock and Lorna Bird Booth Maycock

Charlotte's Father's Parents Ariel Ellis Larsen and Vera Alice Austin

Ben's Thinking Award

2011-06-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

Nathan and Class Friends

Twice a year Acacia honors kids with awards

Ben and his Thinking Award

In-N-Out Truck

2011-06-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not really a big fan of the restaurant In-N-Out and their horrible hamburgers, but it was really fun spending time with my boys on the second to last day of school during the yearly field day and In-N-Out truck activity.

In-N-Out

2011-06-12T22:53:00.001-07:00

Freddie, Parker and Nathan (Nathan's best friends at school)

Ben and his best school friend Georgy

Last Day of School

2011-06-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

Fathers and Sons Campout

2011-05-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

Our tent

All of the kids played baseball until they got to 100 points. My boys were in and out and running around with their friends through the forest.

The ward kids after the game

Hollywood

2011-05-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

Before my Mom and I went to the taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live we walked around the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theater. My Mom told me stories about when she was younger and was trying to break into the movie business, but wasn't worldly enough to make it. Jimmy Kimmel was very fun, it was the first time that ether of us had done something like that.

This is Spiderman hanging around, there was lots of individuals dressed up allowing pictures for money.

HollyWood

2011-05-01T23:13:00.000-07:00

Bing Crosby's hand and feet prints

Original Actors and Creator of Star Trek

Harrison Ford's Star

Santa Monica

2011-05-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica

2011-05-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica

2011-05-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica

2011-05-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

Easter 2011

2011-05-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Dying eggs

Easter Egg Hunt

Easter 2011

2011-05-01T22:27:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg Hunt

Legoland

2011-04-25T01:20:00.000-07:00

These were a lot like the Disneyland Teacups

Legoland

2011-04-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

This was a lot like the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyland where you ride around in a car shooting targets. But this one seemed like less care had gone into it.

Legoland

2011-04-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

Legoland

2011-04-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

Nathan went jousting ....

While Ben and I went on these robotic arms that flipped us around.

Legoland

2011-04-25T00:48:00.000-07:00

Pirate displays made of Legos.

Race Cars, These were actually kind of boring, but Nathan liked them.

Legoland

2011-04-25T00:41:00.000-07:00

Phantom Menace

Legoland

2011-04-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

Attack of the Clones

Legoland

2011-04-25T00:25:00.000-07:00

Attack of the Clones

Revenge of the Sith

Legoland

2011-04-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

A New Hope

Legoland

2011-04-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Empire Strikes Back

Legoland

2011-04-24T23:39:00.001-07:00

Return of the Jedi

The Clone Wars (TV Show)

Legoland

2011-04-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

This was made of legos.

Legoland was fun. Its kinds of a poor mans Disneyland, but still very fun.

All I want for Easter is my Two Front Teeth

2011-04-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

Ben lost his baby front teeth recently.