Season Over

Our Thatcher league baseball season ended this week. Reagan and the Rockies had their final two games. As coaches, Jason and I are both glad its over...but it was fun and interesting to see the growth and improvement in most of the kids. Some of the kids that hadn't hit a ball all season finally got hits this week. And some of the good ones got a few more home runs added to their tallies. Its also amazing to me the bond you feel with these kids after just a few short weeks. I cheered and yelled for each one like they were my own (as evidenced by one of the dad's of another kid asking me which was my kid...he actually thought one of the boys was mine! Too funny! Guess I should have yelled at Reagan more!!!) We had a little party for them on Thursday. It rained, but the kids had a blast and we enjoyed visiting with the parents. It wasn't easy, but all in all I'm glad for the experience!
Reagan's swim lessons at the Safford pool also ended last week, so this week filled our spare time with dance camp. Reagan started out at the princess camp with the little girls, but got asked to move up to the "Pop Star" camp with the big girls on the first day. She was so excited to be dancing to the "cool" songs with the other big girls. She looked so small--only 5 dancing with girls 7 and up, but she could really hang! She's a great little dancer when she puts her mind to it and wants to do good.
We also had some swim lessons with Bonnie (a neighbor down the street who does lessons in another neighbor's pool.) It was great for Reagan....at the end of her Safford lessons, she all of the sudden got timid and didn't want to jump in or swim across the pool without help, but with Bonnie, she was swimming like a fish and even jumping off the diving board and into the deep end without any help. I have quickly come to realize--THIS is how swim lessons are supposed to be. Bonnie does great and Reagan is loving it and begging to go everyday. Yeah for summer fun!

Cabin Fever

For Father's Day weekend, we made the trek up Mt. Graham to the Larson Cabin. The weather was beautiful and cool--we even got sprinkled on a few times. My parents (who had never been to the cabin before) came up for the weekend with us. Tanya and Bruce even brought 3 wk. old Kaela. We had a great time--just eating (my mom keeps us well fed), lounging, and hiking (Reagan's favorite by far...we hiked to the Bear Cave once and Cow Canyon several times.)
Reagan caught lots of blue beetle bugs and taught Travis how to be a bug lover, too. He would walk around showing off his collection--"Look! Bugs!" he said over and over again. What a good big sister Travis has! He does think he is as big as her though--he slept with her in a bed the 2 nights we spent at the cabin because I forgot his pack-n-play. Now, he refuses to sleep in his crib at home and hasn't slept a wink in it in over a week! What a mess this boy is!
PS--
Keeping Travis's hand clean while camping was no easy task, but it is healing well and he managed to have fun, bandaged hand or not. Pics to follow....

Some Days Are Just Not Good...

Some days are just not good...they are BAD! Yesterday was one of those days. Reagan crawled into my bed at 0615 and said, "I don't feel so good." I don't do mornings...especially that early so I tried to roll over and just pretend to be sleeping...."I don't feel good Mom." It was official--the day had started. Reagan had a fever and her tummy hurt. I medicated her and made an appointment for the afternoon to see the Dr. (I figured she had strep...all the symptoms and was exposed this weekend.) She felt better and wanted to go to swim and to her camp at Mrs. Norton's. Swimming didn't go that well, but thats another story.

Travis and I came home to hang out after we dropped on Reagan at camp. I turned on the curling iron and went in the office for a minute. I heard a door click and thought Jason had come home. I yelled for Travis and just then I heard a blood curdling scream. My little guy had somehow pulled down the curling iron and then tried to pick up (or at least that's what I'm guessing!). He burned his little hand--blistered his palm immediately. Poor kid...I'm a bad Mom! I left it on and within his reach! Travis was unconsolable...my tears flowed too. I medicated him with some old T3 and did everything I could to calm him and take away the pain. Jason came home and we bandaged his hand, called the Dr., and then Jason gave him a blessing. Poor kid...We saw the Dr. and he debreaded Travis's blisters a bit. Needless to say he's on T3 and got himself a bandaged hand...at least till Friday when we have a check up.

((I canceled Reagan's appointment for the day...but guess I shouldn't of. She woke up this morning throwing up. She missed her last day of swim and camp for the week and we made the trek to the Dr's office. She was heart broken. And sure enough-- +positive strep by assessment, but - test. She started her antibiotics. This week we are going to have been at the clinic 3 times---we are becoming regulars!!!)) This is not how summer is supposed to be...this is not how I planned to spinned my yesterday and today....so much for planning!

At least popcicles keep them happy!

Gila Box

What is summer without a trip to the river??? Boring Jason and I would vote. We both have fond memories of playing in the cool water, getting sun burned, eating junk food, and trying to catch fish. So, we tried to make a memory like this for our kids. We made a trip to Gila Box on Monday with Scott, Amy, and the boys. I know the kids had fun--Reagan said on the way home, "This was the best day ever!" Too cute! They floated down the river on "floaties, " dove into the river from a "diving board/dead tree," built castles in the mud and sand, played tractors, caught a catfish, some minnows, and some frogs, and just had fun in the sun! We love summer days!

Coach Pitch and Swim

Summer is in full swing and the Larson family is keeping busy. Reagan wanted to play baseball again, so Jason signed her up for coach pitch baseball...but they said she was too young and Jason would have to help coach if he wanted her to play. He agreed, thinking he would get to be someone's assistant. Nope--he got his own team (which means Travis and I get to be his assistants...lucky Daddy!) We are the Rockies. It is a good mix of a couple really talented kids, some kids who love to play, some kids who are there just 'cuz, and a couple kids who have never played even teeball....needless to say it is interesting! Luckily, Thatcher ball is really laid back. I think Jason and I are learning to be too...and are just enjoying the chaos. We were super busy with baseball last week with 4 games and only 2 this week. Reagan is having fun, but I think her hitting is actually getting worse...hope it's not the pitcher (aka Daddy!).

Reagan is also in swim lessons so we make a trip to the pool M-Th for 45mins. She is finally with a good teacher and in a class I think she can handle after 1 week of switching teachers and classes. What a mess, but she is loving it so I can't complain. Travis loves the water and tries to escape into it regularly...but if you aren't in swim, you aren't supposed to be in the water...he's a rebel and I spend my time trying to keep him out of trouble! Oh, summer days!

Our Own Chicks!

Jason is a farmer at heart so of course we have chickens. We have had baby chicks, but these were hatched by some friends using their incubator. This week though, we have hatched 2 on our own! (Okay, so not on our own completely--with the help of the motherly hen who kept sitting on her eggs and Jason finally gave in, marked some eggs, and let her keep them.) You can't imagine the excitement in Reagan's voice as she came in the house yelling, "A chick, a chick! WE HAVE A NEW BABY CHICK!" Mind you, she had already picked up the egg-- that the chick was pecking its way out of and brought it inside. What a girl! Travis loves the chicks too--he wants to hold them just like his sister! Our little farm is growing!

Ps-The little yellow chick died the next day. Reagan planned a funeral....oh, what a life!

Kaela Belle

I'm an Aunt again! My sister Tanya gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on June 2, 2009 at 6:57am. Kaela Belle was 7lbs 12oz and 19 in. She is beautiful and doing well...as is mom--despite Kaela taking her time getting here...18 or so hrs of labor later!

Reagan is so excited to have another girl cousin! And Travis just says "baby...baby" over and over. It's too cute! My mom and grandma are loving it...more babies to hold!

Ps--Jason's brother Tanner and his wife Amy are also expecting! Yeah for new cousins!

A Realization...Families Are Forever

Every year on our anniversary, Jason and I make a special attempt to get out of town alone...and make a trip to the temple. With busy days ahead and an opportunity to go through with an awesome friend who is a convert and going through for her first time, we decided to make our trip early (our Anniversary isn't till June23). I was fun to just be a couple--to talk, to go on a real date with dinner and all, and to just enjoy the quiet. The resort was really nice, the temple was busy, the shopping was good, and my kids were well taken care of by my in-laws back home (THANKS Rose and Kent!!!). All in all, a great get away!

This little trip made me realize how lucky I really am--to have the gospel, my husband, my children, and to have a forever family. Reagan and I went to Calob's service last week. (Calob was in Kindergarten in Thatcher and passed away recently.) Reagan and many of her classmates and church friends sang "I Am A Child of God" to a chapel full of non-members. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. My heart aches for a mother who lost her little boy. But I am grateful to know of Heavenly Father's plan...to know that a family can be forever...that all is not lost...that there can be peace in our hearts. What a realization...MY FAMILY IS FOREVER--and I wouldn't trade that for anything!

Some cute pics of fun at Nana and Poppa's:

Next time I'll have to remember my camera for some "just us" pics of me and Jason...