Fun Party!

Pre-Halloween Fun and Festivities!

Misty asked a while back if I was interested in having/hosting a Halloween party. I was tempted, but knew life for the beginning of Oct would be crazy so I opted for the "You plan it and I'll help in anyway you need" reply. My only real assigned tasked was to have the party at my house and help decorated (the fun and easy things!). So, I honestly feel like this was the best party I've been to in a while. (It was fantastic not to be in charge and just get to watch the kids all having fun!) Misty did a fantastic job with games and goodies! The kids loved "making mummies" and performing their "tricks for treats." The costumes were great and there were lots of laughs! Hope this becomes another fall tradition!

We also did the standard pumpkin carving this weekend, but it was a bit lonely. We usually carve 1 or 2 with the Larson clan and then always have the Woods family over for night of Pumpkin Carving fun too(which is perfect 'cuz the kids go play and return when the pumpkins are finished!) But this year, we were on our own. Reagan loved helping clean out the pumpkin insides and Travis just loved emptying all the cabinets as we watched helplessly with pumpkin hands. The pumpkins turned out cute (even if Jason thinks they are dumb).

We also made it to Jack's baby blessing in Vail on Sunday. It was early, but worth it. He is a precious little guy. Seems like Travis was just that big yesterday!

Sister Lutz--a neighbor of ours--decided to have a "block" party on Monday night. There were tons of games and good. I was glad I had gotten permission to go to work late because Jason was in charge of grilling (his favorite!). The kids got dressed up again and Travis is finally getting use to his dog ear hat! And Reagan now thinks she should just wear her "new hair" all the time! Oh, the Halloween Fun!

One Year Check Up

I took Travis in on Monday for his one year check up with Dr. Monteirth. I always think of him as being big--at 2 months he was in the 90% for his ht and weight and by 4 mo. already weighed a whopping 16 lbs. (Not startling for all, but Reagan only weighed 19 lbs. at year so he was huge to me!) Now, Travis weighs 20 lbs 15 oz (after having just drank an entire 8oz bottle)! He's still in the 90% for his height, but is down to 25th in wt. Guess my chubby little guy is actually a skinny little guy now! Chubby or skinny he is still cute!

Parent Teacher Conference

I met with Reagan's teacher for PTC. She is a really nice lady who truly loves her job and it shows. We talked about Reagan's progress--she is doing great and meeting all requirements (and exceeding most, but they don't grade like that yet.) After telling me all the good things Reagan does, MS. Stone smiled broadly and said, "But she is quite a talker!" I laughed. No surprise there. A game like the quiet game just about kills her and I'm not sure she can even last 30 sec. without blurting something out. Wonder where she gets this from??????

Pumpkin Patch '08

Life just wouldn't be complete without a trip to Apple Annie's Pumpkin Patch each fall. I think Jason and I have been almost every year since we've been married. Jason always says, "You know, we could just do this at home." It's true--we have tractors and trailers to ride on and even grow our own pumpkins. But it wouldn't be as much fun as making the treck to Wilcox (and taking the funnest fall pics!)
This year, we debated long and hard about going because it was raining off and on. Finally we gave in to Reagan's pleas of "we just have to go!" and headed down. It was just a bit wet and muddy, but nothing to complain about. We rode out on the tractor trailer and picked a perfect pumpkin, played in the feed corn, took pics, and laughed lots. We made it back into the car just before another down pour of rain, thus missing the Apple Annie Orchard (where we love to go eat apple burgers and homemade apple pie!) Instead, we drove in to Wilcox and ate at the famous Carter's Diner! ((The Wright family had the right idea--their burgers and rootbeer are the best!)) Pumpkin Patches and family outings are what memories are made of!

October 13, 2008 Happy 1st Birthday Travis!

Through The Eyes of a One Year Old

What is all the fuss about? Why is everyone at my house at the same time? Did mom comb my hair 'cuz everyone is looking at me. Dad--DO NOT put me down! I smiled once already and I'm done smiling now. No, I'm not looking that direction no matter. This is cool--I get to eat all the cake I want without being dressed?! I love black frosting! Give me back that toy--I want to play with it, not open another present! My Aunt Tanya is having a baby? Good. I love cousins!

What does a one year old think? I have no idea--Travis only says "Hi Dad, Mama, Uhoh, and Wow" so that doesn't tell me much. I can only imagine what goes on inside that cute little head. His eyes are the window to his soul though. They tell you if he is happy, sad, hungry, or just plain mad. But really, Travis is the most content little guy you'll meet--he puts up with a lot and just goes with the flow. He absolutely adores Reagan and loves any bit of attention he gets from her. He is a Daddy's boy and cries the second Jason walks out of the room. (I contend that this one isn't fair--Reagan was/is a Daddy's girl--what about mom?!) He loves being outside--swinging, crawling around the back yard chasing the dogs, or just trying to eat dirt. It breaks my heart a bit to think that he is already one. Our baby is growing up so fast! I wish he could stay my baby forever.

For Travis's party--we built on his passion for wheels! We had a construction party. The big kids got to play a few games and Travis was happy to open presents, but didn't like to move on to the next of course. He loved eating his own tire cake and dug in without any coaching. What a sight he was after he had gotten his fill. It was a good night and and a nice little party and we even managed it without any baby melt downs! Success!

"I Got A Ribbon!" and Other Fair Folleys

The Graham County fair was on its way so Jason convinced me that it would be fun for Reagan to enter something. I suggested the chickens, but that wasn't what Jason had in mind. It didn't take much encouragement and Reagan sat down and drew, colored, and painted pictures. Then, her and I spent an evening doing one of our favorite past times-making cookies! Reagan entered several. My sister was the first to make it out to the fair and she called and reported lots of ribbons. I was excited, but decided to wait for Reagan to see them herself so I didn't say anything.

We made it out to the Fair on Friday and Reagan discovered her hard work had paid off. She ran over and quickly found some of her cookies in the cases and shrieked over and over "I got a ribbon!" This was exciting stuff to a five year old! Reagan even made Grandmother Ford proud by getting a "best of show and special merit" on Grams famous Oh Henry bars! Then while looking at her artwork, Jason mentioned she got $3 for each blue ribbon, $2 for the red, and so forth. Another shriek! "I am going to be rich!" We laughed pretty hard at that!

Reagan loves animals and so of course we had to go see all the fair had to show. Reagan admired the steers, lambs, and goats up close and then it was in to see the chickens. As we walked by, a small white rooster began to "cockle doodle doo". Reagan turned and "cockle doodle dooed" right back at him. The rooster must not have appreciated this as he suddenly reached forward and bit her on the lip! Oh, the tears! And the stifling of laughter! It was almost too much to bare! Reagan had a nice little scratch on her top lip for the next few days and loved telling anyone who would listen how a "chicken bit me!"

Travis even tried to take part in the fair festivities--I was sure he was a shoe in for the Diaper Derby Championship. He has been crawling for months and is super fast. But alas, the derby was rained out and we appeared to be possibly the only crazy people who showed up. The nice lady behind the counter took our entry form and said she would mail him a check! An undisputed win I suppose!

Bonita Creek

October 4, 2008

After a normal busy week, the weekend was a reprieve. A fun morning at soccer, where Reagan (along with the help of 2 girls on the other team) scored a goal brought some laughter. Then, after watching "Reagan's boys" play pop warner football in the heat (which was quite exciting I will say!) we took a drive with my parents. It was good to be "couped up" in the truck as afternoon Conference was in full swing. We got to relax and just listen. It was so nice to be able to just focus on listening and retaining.

Our drive led us to Bonita Creek. It truly is one of the most beautiful places in this little valley. My favorite is when the leaves are change and you can "see fall," but since it is still so warm, everything was still green. Even the water! (It was a bit of shock, but we found out that they were testing the drift rates with dye. Very interesting!)

Our trip was my Dad's idea--he knew there had been some excavating/construction going on there and wanted to find the gold in the soil that had been over turned. The "dam" was completed and there was lots of dark soil which my dad said was perfect for gold panning. (My parents went on a cruise of Alaska a few years ago and has had "gold fever" ever since.) What an adventure! Jason, Dad, and Reagan panned for gold, I wrestled, danced and played in the water with Travis, and Mom took pics...wishing I had a few of those right now! Reagan found 1 spec of gold and boy is she proud of it! Travis enjoyed drinking out the gold pan like a puppy. It was hilarious!

We also drove up the canyon and showed my parents the petrogliffs in the cave. They have faded a lot--just in the last few years it seems. Reagan was very impressed by them and you guessed it...some rocks!

Gold panning was cool! We'll have to do it again some time! Maybe another Bonita Creek trip in the fall. Now if only Reagan or my Dad can find enough gold to make us rich....

Living Life...

Ever feel like you are too busy living life to stop and write about your life? Well, that is the story of my life! And its the excuse I've been giving since college and have let my journal keeping slide by the way side....and now its beginning to take a tole on my blogging! Shame on me. My current excuse is TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) which I have been spending any "free time" the last few weeks studying for. I hadn't taken it since I was fresh out of nursing school and was a bit nervous about the whole thing. As a new grad, I aced their written test and passed the skill stations (where you act out and verbalize absolutely everything you can think of) with flying colors. This time after the written test, I was sure I failed and was thinking I should have REALLY studied, not just read through the book. To my relief, I passed (sigh...yeah--prayers are answered!) and am certified for the next 4 years...at least in trauma! I always say that if I ever go back to school, it will be to an accountant--'cuz all the studying and testing ER nursing requires is for the birds! Anyways, now I am spending my "free time" catching up on my favorite things--laundry, ironing, cleaning, and sleeping (ha ha!). But now on to lots of catching up on Larson life...