Happy 6th Birthday Reagan!

When Reagan got a phone call this morning, I had to laugh. She shouted in the phone at her Nana "I AM FINALLY 6!!!" It must have been a long time time coming for this little girl--she is always playing catch up-- as most kids are older and of course she wants to be like them! She was so excited for today to come--to finally be six years old! Me...well, I wasn't as excited I guess. My little girl is growing up and that makes a mom a bit sad, but it is FUN!

Turning 6 of course meant a Horse Party with "just girls"! So, yesterday we had a fun little party with some girl friends and the guest of honor was of course--A HORSE! Her name is Angel and she is a miniature horse. (No, we didn't give in to Reagan's pleading of wanting a horse--she is a friend's from work who just wanted a day on the town!!) The girls got to pet, kiss, and feed Angel. I think Angel loved the excitement as much as the girls did! It was cute--some girls were brave, others a bit skiddish--but everyone loved her by the end!

We did girly things like make bracelets, learn to rope cows, have pony races, and break the horsey pinata. Then--a horseshoe cake with ice cream and lots of presents. After everyone left, Daddy and Mommy gave her our presents--a stable and a basketball goal. Reagan's reply was "This is the best birthday ever!" which of course melted our hearts!

Tonight, Reagan got to celebrate with family and her cousins and enjoy tacos, and a chocolate cake and ice cream at Nana's house....and this Friday, the boys will come over for a sleep over! (Yes, I think this maybe the birthday that never ends, but Reagan is loving it and I really don't mind--kids this age are pretty fun and easy going!)

Reagan truly is a blessing in our lives. She is kind and caring, messy and crazy, silly and giggly...what a girl! Her teacher Ms. Moore said that she is "enthusiastic" and "very helpful". Too funny-- I think if only given a few words, that is how I would describe her too! We love you Reagan Kalea Larson!

Reagan's A First Grader!

School started Wednesday and Reagan is glad to be a big First Grader! She has Ms. Moore and is so exicited to go back to school! I worked the night before and when I got home at 6:25 am, Reagan was standing outside waiting for me! She had woke up early on her own and was ready to get to school right away! Silly girl...I hope this enthusiasm for school lasts forever!
Her day was "GREAT!" she said....except the playground wasn't near as fun as should thought it should have been! Oh, the worries of a 1st grader!

Crazy how they are growing up so fast....its exciting but sad! I miss my baby girl, but she loves being an independent "big kid"!

Road Trip 2009-- Colorado--- Part II

The story continues...and so do the pictures!

August, 4-Tuesday

I woke up early (which was easily done because of the train whistles going by) and caught some cool pics of the train coming through our RV park.

On the way up to Durango Mountain/Purgatory, we also got some cool shots. This hot spring juts up on the side of the rode on the way too.

We had lots of fun at Durango Mountain. It's a huge ski resort that has cool summer activities. There we dared the alpine slides which were fast and furious. (Okay, so I went "SLOW!!!" compared to Daddy per Reagan, but she still loved it!) Reagan also got to bunji/trampoline jump. It looks wild and crazy and it was, but Reagan wasn't scared at all and within seconds was a pro at doing flips! She also got to climb a huge rock tower. Sometimes her bravery surprises even me! Travis enjoyed lots of time in a bounce house and trying to feed the ever so tame chipmunks that littered the place!Next was me full filling a promise....Reagan got to ride a horse at Buck's Livery Stables just a cross the road from Durango Mountain. She was in heaven...even though we couldn't all go on a long ride since Travis is so small. She didn't mind her "pony ride" around the stable on Zorro at all! She even convinced the cowboy to also let her ride a "small pony" or a mule...she chose Totsie and met Roll too! Too funny! She loved every minute of it! Travis even got to join in the fun and just sit on a horse for a while. He thought he was so big! It was cute!

Then, it was off to satisfy Jason's need to fish...with all the ponds, lakes, and streams around--he couldn't resist. So we went to Haviland lake...and no luck and then we took a drive to Vallecito lake which was big...and still no luck.

Aug. 5th--Wednesday

Finally...the day we had been waiting for--the day we got to ride the train! Trains are just cool and the kids had been seeing them every day. They were so excited to get up and go ride the train! We actually rode the bus up to Silverton which turned out to be great. Both kids took a nap and Jason and I just enjoyed the scenery and listened to our driver give us a great verbal "tour" of the area. We ate a fantastic lunch at some Silverton "saloon" and just walked around a bit before it was already time to ride the train back to Durango.

The ride was amazing--each scene more breathtaking than the last. You wind through canyon after canyon following the Animas River. We were grateful for inside seats because it got cool and even rained. The kids loved riding --just sticking their heads out and enjoying the passing scenery. It was cool to imagine this was how people used to travel all the time...it was so slow to us--a 3 1/2 hr. ride to be exact! All in all--it was definitely worth the ride! (and the $$!)

August 6th--Thursday

We drove up to Silverton (which was so much faster than our train or bus the day before!) and went to the Old Hundred Gold Mine. We went on their tour...down into the mountain side we rode a little train and got see how mining used to be done. Jason and Reagan enjoyed it, but Travis wasn't a fan. I spent most of the time trying to keep him quiet and from running down the old mine shafts! What a kid!

Afterwards, they had "free" gold panning and everyone loved that. We found lots of speks and fleks!

Then, it was off to Ourray "The Switzerland of America". It was a twisty drive up to a small town high in the mountains. Just outside of the town was Box Canyon Falls. It was cool-- a waterfall coming out of this rocky gorge...which during the winter is frozen and icy. It was really loud inside it and the water was cold--Travis figured this out first hand as he stuck his foot in at the bottom!

From Ourray, we decided to try another 4X4 trail called Yankee Boy Basin Trail. It wasn't the roughest road ever, but still "bouncy bouncy" as the kids would say. You drive and drive up these mountain passes. Along the way are lots of abandoned mines and homesteads. We stopped and looked at a few. There also was the Twin waterfalls or Coors Falls. It was beautiful and so majestic. At the end of the trail, we were above the "alpine" level--there were no trees, just beautiful wildflowers...and some snow in spots. I think we were just under 13,000 feet in most the pics.

August 7, Friday

We started the long ride home, but decided to change things up a bit and came home through New Mexico. We drove to Albuquerque and ate at Rudy's BBQ and then kept on driving. Jason was grateful to finally see some elk on the drive....we had seen lots of deer but no elk in Colorado.

August 8th--Saturday

We looped around through Silver City to see my Grandma Mayrice. She had fallen while we were gone and broke her wrist and hurt her knee pretty bad and is now staying in a care center there. She came home for the day and we got to spend some time with her. It was nice...but soon enough it was time to get home!

Saturday 4:33 pm--We made it home! It was a fantastic vacation, but everyone was ready to be out of the truck. (Per Jason's truck, we drove about 2, 000 miles and spent 55 hrs. in it! Crazy!) It was great and I can't wait to do something like this again next summer!

We are glad to be home though...minus the millions of loads of laundry and the 105 degree + weather!

Ps-Both Jason and I have decided our camera just doesn't do Colorado justice--the colors aren't as vivid and amazing in our pics as they are in real life! Oh, well-------till next time!