Triathletes Rock!

Triathletes Rock! And I am not just saying that since I just did a triathlon. Okay, maybe I am. It was tough, and anyone who says its easy is crazy! You have to be in pretty good shape or just have an awesome mental ability to drive yourself to do one. I think I had a little of each so that was helpful to me, but it was still hard. I really enjoyed it though. Minus the swimming--which was torture for me because I don't swim (I just did the back stroke and made it okay, but I'm sure people were laughing because it took me twice the time it took most people to swim--but who cares?! I was just out to have fun and use this as just another training day for our marathon that is coming up in a few weeks.)---I loved the biking and running. Maybe someday I'll get a fast bike or at least slick tires so I can be good a that part. And by the time I got to the running portion, my legs felt pretty dead (like I had already ran 18 or so miles), but I made it and even past a few people on the way! I'm not sure of my time and I'm not even sure I want to know...a little over 2 hours I think though. I finished and that is all that matters to me! (because I really thought about quitting after the first lap of swimming!) I am glad my running buddy MC talked me into doing it though. It was a cool experience!

Triathlon:

$50 entry

$20 helmet

Jason less sleep (had to get Reagan to cheer camp)

625 yards of swimming (one training swim)--YUCK!

15 miles of biking (one training ride)--Fun!

3.1 miles of running (lots of this training!)--felt good!

missing college friend lunch reuinion (such a bummer!!!)

But,

FINISHING:

Priceless!

Ps--Looked at my time--2 hrs. 4 mins....not to bad for my first time ( 32nd overall)! My friend MC was awesome--she came in 14 overall! Too fun!

"Seven is SO Cool!"-- Reagan's 7th Birthday

My little girl is growing up....and she is so excited to be getting older! All her friends are already seven and some have even turned eight, so "catching" up to them was thrilling to Reagan! I am a bit sad though...she isn't my little baby any more...and that is becoming more and more evident each day.

Reagan had a great 7th birthday. In fact, she got to celebrate her birthday a little bit every day for a few days so this made it even better. (Just worked out this way...but never ending birthdays are fun when you are 7!
On Reagan's actual birthday, she woke up to a few gifts from Mom, Dad, and Travis. Among the favorites was her new CTR ring, 2 American Girl Books, and a new necklace and earrings from Hawaii. She also had the Ford/Larson tradition of getting sang to by Nana. Reagan thought it was so funny that her Nana would call and sing "Happy Birthday" all by herself.

Since Reagan's birthday was a school day, we took cupcakes to her class that she had decorated. That night-- as promised by her daddy--she got to go out to dinner. Reagan picked Casa and had a cheese enchilada, her favorite! She also got ice cream before bed...such a good day!
Reagan also got to have a sleepover with her cousins (and the Woods boys) on the Friday before her birthday. The kids had a blast playing and just being their silly selves. They stayed up till 2 am (which I didn't mind) and were promptly up by 5:30am (which I did not care for at all!!) Jason got out of the fun as he had to work, so it was just me and 10 little munchkins! Oh, the fun they had and memories they made! Its fun to be a kid!

Snack time!

Game time--Twister is the favorite!

Play time-- too much fun!

(After dropping the kids all off, Reagan sighed and said, "I am so glad to finally be 7." I broke her bubble and said her real birthday wasn't for 2 more days--then she would be 7. She was heartbroke, but just for a second--then she realized 2 days wasn't very far away!)

Reagan decided she wanted a "girl party" with her friends for her party this year. She is loving gymnastics lately, so we set it up with Heidi at DeKeuster's and a gymnastics party is what we had (on the Friday afternoon before her birthday)! It was a complete hit! The girls loved being at gymnastics and just having fun...ie--chaotic fun! Reagan's favorite coach Sam was there and also Anthony. They kept things pretty organized and helped the girls build towers and do flips. Reagan said, "This is the best party ever!" several times throughout the party--success! Cute girls! Love them all!

They played parachute/ball games which was hysterical to the girls!

Even Travis had a blast!...

And got in the way lots....

Help with a flips! (We sent the girls home with flipflops and a note that said, "Thanks for flipping with us!" Hope they all had as much fun as Reagan did!)

Reagan got a special fondant birthday cake I made. I'm far from a pro, but it turned out pretty cute for my first try. It was fun to make and tasted awesome. The girls even ate the fondant!

There was lots of cake left over though--so Dad enjoyed it and we even tried to share at Nana's that Sunday. (Next time we will go for smaller!)

Reagan's real gift from Mom and Dad came 2 days after her birthday, but she didn't seem to mind at all! Kirsten Larson, an American Doll who is a pioneer girl from Sweden became Reagan's new side kick right away. (Jason's Larson family is from Sweden so I thought Kirsten wa the perfect choice.) We are enjoying reading her "story" together.

Reagan is a special girl and we so blessed to have her in our family. We love you Reagan and are so proud of you!

"Like A Second Grader"

I think I have heard Reagan say that phrase a million times this summer...

How do you want your hair? "Like a second grader's." "Can we re do my room--like a second grader's?" "Lets get this backpack--it looks like a second grader's." And the comments go on....so for second grade to finally get here was like a dream come true for Reagan.

She was bummed not to get the teacher she really wanted, but after meeting her teacher at the 'meet and greet' last night, she was impressed and excited to go to school today! "She's going to be fun Mom!" was her comment after she found out that her teacher loves music and incorporating that into their day; she plays the guitar and the piano...so exciting!

I got her up and ready--in her favorite outfit (which she even chose at the mall) and Daddy and Travis took her to school. Cute isn't she? Her hair...yes, "like a second graders." And so, my second grader went to school today...and loved it! "She played her guitar and no homework!" Gotta love it!

Travis missed her...and I think I'm already missing summer!

Attention Tooth Fairy: "It Finally Happened! I Lost A Tooth!"

Poor Reagan....all school year last year Reagan was obsessed with teeth...who lost them, how, when, and all the interesting details of the Tooth Fairy. But, as luck or fate would have it, she just couldn't lose a tooth! (Actually, I think it is genetic--Jason was almost 8 when he lost a tooth and it was even 'knocked' out!) She was bummed..."everyone" had lost not just a tooth, but lots of teeth and Reagan hadn't even broken into the toothless club at all!

But it finally happened! Sunday night while eating an ear of corn at Nana's, Reagan began to complain that her tooth was hurting. She showed it to me and there was a lot of wiggle in it. She was so excited, she wiggled it free in a matter of minutes! She was so proud of her tooth! She even called Daddy right away (as he was working!).

Then, home to put it under her pillow. "Will the Tooth Fairy really come?" Reagan wasn't sure....

Reagan woke up to find a $2 bill and a gold $1 coin under her pillow. She was elated! "Rich!" and "This is the coolest money ever!" Needless to say, she can't wait to eat corn at Nana's again!

Check this tooth out!Ready for the Tooth Fairy!

Close to Home Fun: Catwalk and Mt. Graham

Sometimes....no I guess a lot of times..... we take for granted where we live and the beauty that surrounds us. In just a short drive any direction, we can be in some of the most amazing places. We took a few days off this last week to do just this...relax and enjoy our surroundings.
First--a day at the Catwalk...just up the road from Glenwood, NM. Jason had taken his scouts there recently and was reminded of how cool it is and suggested we make the trek. The kids were excited to go on a "hike".

Catwalk is a narrow canyon with suspended walkways and trails and bridges up into the heart of the canyon. Normally, there is a small amount of water running through the canyon, but with all the rain that we have been having, water is in abundance and the "creek" was more of a little white water river. The kids thought the water was cool---literally. They wanted to swim in it, but the water was frigid and really rapid at the "swimming pool" near the end of the hike so they just got their feet wet. The hike itself is pretty easy, but long if you are 2 so Travis took to riding on Daddy's shoulders most of the way and Reagan and Roxy led us through the beautiful terrain.

This bridge was fun to bounce on...mind you it is about 20 ft above the mildly roaring rapid river!

"Cheese! We made it to the end!"

Travis was convinced there was a snake under the rocks some where....we never saw it. Bummer!

Resting after the hike up....

This is fun!

Some of the hiking is up and down narrow staircases...the kids loved this.

The swimming hole that was a bit too full of water right now....

"I see the water Mom! Can I throw this stick in?.....No more pictures!" Oh, to be Travis!

Roxy is enjoying our hike too!

Reagan and Travis couldn't resist, freezing cold water or not--they had to swim! Travis waded in, fell and got wet and cried of course. Reagan made her way all the way across the stream on a dare from Dad--which meant he had to buy ice cream in Glenwood! I love how the simple things amaze these two. I also love how they are friends and play together lately. Its so cute! (Like Reagan's goggles? Found them on the hike! So cool!)

Next, was a few days up on Mt. Graham staying in the Larson cabin. We so should come here more often we always say...and we really should. The kids love being up there in the dirt and Jason and I just enjoy being cool in the mountain air. We shelled pecans, rode bikes (Reagan even rode around the whole cabin circle--she was so proud!), and just hung out. It was beautiful cool weather.

We hiked up to the bear cave. The kids are getting to be pros at hiking. We really enjoy doing this together! The trail was a bit over run by stray logs and sticks and fallen trees this time...looks like the mountain has gotten lots of rain too! We also stopped on the way up and back to pick and eat wild raspberries. They were everywhere along the trail! And so yummy! When we got to the bear cave, Daddy showed the kids how to make a dam and stop the water flow...they were so impressed!

This is looking down from the bear cave:

"No gold-- just water Mom!"

During our stay on the Mountain, we also took a day and went to Riggs Lake to go fishing. This was the highlight of the trip for Daddy of course. He even managed to catch 3 fish...unfortunately they were all on the small side so we had to throw them back despite the kids begging to keep them so they could eat them for dinner.

There were several "waterfalls" on the sides of the mountain as we drove up to Riggs:

Reagan and Dad hiked up to this one.

Check out the whopper! Travis is telling a fish story...telling me how big the fish is! Little does he know Dad is giving him away right behind his back!

Reagan reeled in this fish...she is quite the fisherwoman!

Yep--Guilty! Caught going through Dad's tackle--fishing gets a bit boring after a while, especially to Mom (who just takes a book to pass the time) and to Travis (who just gets more mischievous!).

Reagan takes breaks from fishing (and catching smelly snails) too! She just climbs trees...and not just a little ways, I think she was up 30 or more feet in this tree! Crazy girl!

Roxy is learning to just hang out. She really is a good mellow puppy and fits in well!

Yes-- we are still fishing!

We really had a great time up the mountain. (Especially since the kids were getting over strep throat and Mom was feeling a bit under the weather too.) It was nice to just relax and let life go by. We really do need to get up there more often!

And a thought:

If you don't place your roots deep enough, you will still fall --no matter how old you are.

(Ginormous old tree we saw at Mule Creek that had fallen down...)