Pumpkin Patch 2010

What would October be without a trip to the pumpkin patch? Our little family wouldn't know...this has been a tradition since before the kiddos even came along. (I love it...and Jason humors me--what a nice hubby I have!)
It was a warm day and hard work looking for the perfect pumpkins, but I think we found them!

Travis loves being big like his Daddy!

Check out this one Mom!

Travis even cut his own pumpkin! Too cool!

Check out the hay ride to the pumpkin patch!

Reagan and Mom loved the beautiful big sunflowers, so we had to take one home. Travis wasn't so sure about them--he hates the bees that come along with the flowers!

Nice Bees!

SMILE?!

Help!

Look! We buried Reagan!

Playing in the corn is probably one the kids favorite thing to do. The funnest part is when they get home...and find corn in nearly every place imaginable and are excited by it! Crazy kids!

Graham County Fair

Fair time always brings lots of fun to the Larson house. Reagan always looks forward to riding in the parade...this year she chose to ride on the gymnastics float for the first time. (Usually is the dance one.) She had fun hanging out with her friends and waving to the town!

We also managed to enter a few things...wish I would have thought to take a pic of Reagan and all her ribbons. She put in lots of art projects and even a few of her favorite cookies. Total she managed to clear $20 in ribbon money! Not bad for a 7 year old!

The highlight for Travis was of course seeing the animals and riding some rides with his big sister. Reagan was not too impressed with the baby rides and managed to meet up with her friends and ride "the scary fun ones." Daddy drooled over a new Arctic Cat and Mommy loved the cotton candy. Some fair day I will remember my camera...

Travis's Heroes

Can you guess who Travis idolizes right now besides his daddy?

Yep, Sheriff Woody...or is that Travis?!

Travis absolutely loves his Buzz costume and wears it as often as possible. Cute how boys like to dress up too!

"To infinity and beyond" says Buzz/Travis!

I so love this age! What a cutie!

Flagstaff Marathon

September 25, 2010
Thinking and writing about Flagstaff is bitter sweet...
I trained for months and was in the best shape of my life I'm sure....I sacrificed lots of sleep and ran and trained in the wee hours of the morning while my family slept. Luckily, I had a great running partner who talks almost as much as me and the hours we would run always flew by. Running became my love and outlet.
In May, I ran my first 20 miler and felt ready for a marathon. Unfortunately there were none nearby anytime close. So, we picked the earliest and closest marathon in AZ--the Flagstaff Marathon in September.
The few reviews said it was crazy--a rough trail run with high altitude gains. (And it was exactly that! ) But we weren't scared...it just made us train harder--like runs up Mt. Graham and lots of bleachers (yuck!). We were ready...
Then, I got a wonderful surprise! I found out I was expecting! After months of trying and no luck, I had just gone to my OB doc and got the latest and greatest fertility pills. That month we didn't stress too much I guess and tada--I was pregnant without even starting the pills. Crazy how life happens huh?!
Then, the delima...to run or not to run in the marathon. I was almost 8 weeks... I guess it would seem like a no brainer to some people, but it was probably purely selfish, but it was important to me. I wanted to complete my goal so badly, but I wanted my baby to be safe. I was torn and uncertain--I had gotten pregnant running a million miles so I knew my body was used to the stress, but I was nervous with my history. SO....after many prayers, counseling with my Dr. and my sweet hubby, it was agreed I could easily handle running the half, but not the full marathon. (With my OB Dr. not giving me the official ok till 2 days before the race...he was as nervous as I was I think!)
So, off to Flag we went. It was fun, relaxing weekend! It was beautiful--the trees, the cool air, the smells. But, the race was tough and more like a trench run than a trail run through some long miles. It was crazy, but fun.

At the half way mark, I still felt great and wanted to do another loop with Mila. ( The race is basically 2 loops which you run twice for the full marathon.) That would put me at about 20 miles which I knew I could handle,but was more than I had agreed to do. So, we set off after a few "energy" boosters--gel, oranges, and gatorade. It didn't sit well and the nausea was horrible and within the next 2 miles I had to stop and puke. I planned to just catch up to Mila who I sent ahead, but then twisted my ankle for the 3rd time and I knew it was time to stop. So, my marathon was cut short. Even though I knew going in I wasn't going to run the full marathon, I still felt pretty defeated. I called Jason in tears and watched the rest of the racers come in.

It was over....Mila finished the whole thing and I was so proud! She ROCKS and I couldn't have asked for a better running partner! We were the cool yellow team and got tons of compliments on our neon shirts. Cute aren't we?!

I was grateful I had my family there to support me. I love them so much!

Overall, it was a great experience--but I can't wait till my next (full) marathon! I made Jason promise to take me some place cool next fall for it...I'll need a few months after the baby is born to get back into shape and then its off to a marathon for me....but maybe the next one will be at sea level and on a paved road! Can't wait!

Ps-my baby rocks too! Any baby that can make it through that run can make it through anything!

Just Crazy Fun!

As I looked through our recent pictures, I realized we have been busy...but we have still had time for some crazy fun!
We trade off carpooling with a few of Reagan's friends, including Denim. This means sometimes I get the pleasure of having 2 girls around to torture Travis. Funny, most of the time he likes it! Travis was "so sick" in this pic.
Then, they decided he should be their baby:

In Reagan's spare time, she is still catching any creature she can get her hands on, including this huge horny toad! Crazy girl!

Travis keeps busy, making messes and just being his naughty self. What a little dare devil! This is his new favorite way to ride his car:

Football games were fun for the family, especially Reagan who even got to cheer with the cheerleaders at one game. Cheer camp paid off! And Reagan loved every minute of it!

Roxy is growing and thinks she is a house dog. She does come in sometimes to visit... and sometimes we forget she is a puppy. She can be so mellow and just sit down beside you and watch the world go by.

Dove Hunting With Daddy

I wasn't there, so I can't be too descriptive here. Story goes something like this: Family Home Evening Night and Mom is at work so Dad is in charge. Dad has great and grand plans--dove hunting! The kids agreed--it was great and grand! They loved every minute of it! Travis still is talking about "dove huntin' with Daddy."
Actually, I think I may be a bit glad to have missed out on the fun, but luckily Dad thought to capture the moment for me. Kind of gross, but kind of cute pics I must admit:

Cheese! Travis is so good at pics--Ha! Ha!

Reagan even learned to clean them! Yuck! What a girl?! Someday some boy will think she is really cool 'cuz she just isn't afraid of anything!

Labor Day 2010

Catching up means one step at time--right? Well, here goes...

Labor Day this year meant a trip to the cabin with some overnight stays. We crashed with Joy and Papa and had lots of fun. The kids had lots of fun riding bikes, exploring, and getting dirty as usual. Reagan and Travis both met some friends and hung out at the Mack cabin when their cousins weren't around. (Travis even crossed the road himself to go play with his Mack friends. He was "lost" for a few minutes and then found there, almost giving his parents a heart attack. I'm not sure which is scarier--that he crossed the busy road himself or that he felt confident enough to just traipse on over to hang out with folks he doesn't really know. He is just t00 brave and grown up sometimes!)

Reagan mastered ramping and skidding on her bike, although managed one big crash that even bent her handle bars. Luckily, she had Dad around to fix them!

Travis played hard and just sat down next to Joy and fell asleep eating his grapes. Too funny! I am glad we have someplace cool off on these warm holidays! We just need to get up to the cabin more often!

We're Having A Baby!

Okay, I used to think of myself as very dedicated to this...keeping track-journalizing-and recording family memories. Yes, I fell off the wagon and was hit hard, very hard. But, I do have an excuse, as most people do....

WE ARE HAVING A BABY!

I am 12 weeks! We are so excited. Babies don't come easy at our house and we are so excited to be getting an addition to our family!! Travis is convinced there are two babies coming--a boy for him and a girl for Reagan. No, we are sure it isn't twins...we've had lots of ultrasounds already and only one little one there! Reagan is sure she is getting a sister because she "needs one!" of course. Jason and I are just hoping for healthy....we'll take boy or girl.

Things are going well. I am not really sick, just nausea off and on (which is remedied by Zofran ODTs luckily). I saw Dr. Tran yesterday and get to stop my Progesterone now, which I am thrilled about since he promises this might be why I am beyond exhausted! (I was starting to think it was just 'cuz I'm getting too old for this stuff--"they" say its harder on you in your 30's!) I will continue with my Heparin injections until we talk to the specialist at 20wks or so and make some adjustments/changes then.
We are so excited! So, our new little Larson should arrive in May--the official day right now is May 9th! Fun! (NO summer pregnancy--I am so thrilled!)