This One's For You, Sis!

The kids waiting for Santa & "Buddy"

Even Zach sat on Santa's lap!

Aunt Eunice was able to come

Tyler is Joseph and this year, Kris was not the donkey, Brad was the lucky one!

Bryce, Kris and Hayley enjoying the party

Last night, we had the annual Back Family Christmas Party. Usually we have it at one of the aunt's & uncle's houses, but this year, my mom and dad were in charge and held it at their ward house. According to my calculations, I estimate there were about 60+ people there. I made the comment to my siblings and hubby that it was a lot like a ward Christmas party, and I don't like those either! But, this year, it seemed more manageable. Maybe it was the space, maybe it was the fact that you got to eat at a table, maybe it was having my own family including my brothers at the table, maybe it was the absence of the obnoxious songs using the chimes, maybe it was the absence of the individual family talent show. Or maybe all of the above! Needless to say, the program consisted of a guy from my uncle's work who sang several songs, the annual Nativity scene, and the visit from santa...so much better. During the Nativity, my dad came up to me and said, "I sure miss Missie and her family this time of year, " and I agreed. So, I just wanted to wish her and her family a great Christmas and a Happy New Year, and let her know that we were and are thinking about her at this time. Merry Christmas to everyone else as well!

This video is to help her relive some of the party, I know she just loves them!

Also, thanks to my mom and dad for probably the best and most enjoyable Back party ever!

Mystery Solved

Last night, Kris and I left the kids to attend Kris' annual ASPE (American Society of Professional Estimators) Christmas party, where Kris was awarded "Estimator of the Year", a surprise to both of us. Meanwhile, the kids back home were keeping themselves busy making movies. When I left, they were using Zach's friend's camera, but somehow our camera was pulled out. Let me preface this by saying, we bought this camera new in September. It was a Nikon $100 camera. Our cameras are getting cheaper, the more we have to buy. When I got home, I noticed the lens stuck on the camera. Upon interrogating the kids, we narrowed it down to the boys. All got a lecture, then Kris got the idea of checking the memory card. I think we found the guilty one. It looks like an accident, but gosh dangit, I am still mad! No camera, and Christmas is coming soon. Maybe someone will get a broken camera for Christmas!

Watch it here:

www.vimeo.com/7983081

FYI: Upon viewing this video, I heard Tyler say "Oh shiz" (one of his favorite words, that doesn't sound so great!) I apologize if it sounds like a curse, I've tried getting him to say other things. Just to prepare you for the almost profanity!

P.S. This was Justin and Tyler's attempt to make a video like their older brother likes to do with his friends. So good to know what goes on while mom and dad are away. It might be cheaper to start hiring a real babysitter!

A "Lost" Tooth

Justin lost a tooth the other day at school. He was so excited to show me after school what had happened. I was on the phone at the time, I looked at it and told him to go put it in a bag. Somewhere along the way, Justin dropped his tooth and lost it. After I got off the phone, I see Justin crying on his bed. He tells me that he lost his tooth and now the toothfairy won't come to visit him. We all told him that the toothfairy would still come if he just wrote a note. This was not enough, so I had to revacuum the whole house again and sift through the dirt and junk. Still no tooth. I finally got him to agree to write the toothfairy a note. This is what he wrote:

Which translated from bad picture, reads: "Dear toothfairy, I lost my tooth but I dropped my tooth and now I can't find it."

Fortunately for him, our toothfairy paid double the amount for not having a tooth! (I guess the toothfairy figured the agony over the lost tooth earned him twice the price!) I just hope the other kids don't try the same thing!

Halloween Fun

Here are the Halloween pictures in no particular order. Hayley was a dead bride (thanks to her 5th grade wax museum project. She was Molly Pitcher and I told her there was no way in you know what that I was going to make or buy 2 costumes for her, so we compromised). Justin and Tyler were of course, the same thing, a black ninja. Justin informed me that next year, he wants Tyler to pick out his costume first, then he will pick his (that way they won't be the same, I say, "Brilliant, son."). Can you tell who wants to be just like his older brother? And Zach of course, did not get a costume this year (he's 13, can you blame me?) But I wish I would have taken his picture, because about an hour after he had gone over to a friends for Halloween fun, four boys showed up on my doorstep, in hilarious costumes. Zach was Darth Vader, borrowed from his friends stash, one of them was a dog, one a nerd, and one a skeleton in a very tight, probably size 8 full body costume! It was pretty funny! Oh, and Kris will be so happy I added this picture in, but he thought about being Napoleon Dynamite for our ward trunk-or-treat, but chickened out. Good thing we got pictures first. Too bad Hayley was taking pictures and it turned out blurry, but you get the idea! Anyways, glad it's over, now on to the next holiday...

Look What We Did Today...

Meet Cody, the newest member of the Larson family. I know, I know. There goes my nights to a newborn puppy. He has taken to Hayley so I am hoping she lives up to her end of the bargain by mothering this little guy. We still need to get him to eat dog food (which then leads to poop), he left his mother this morning after his last nursing. I've never weaned a dog before, but if he's anything like Tyler...He's only 7 weeks old, so wish us luck, and let's hope this one works out! The things you do for your kids...:)

Super Six!

My baby turned six today. He has really grown and matured a lot in the last year, and now that he is in kindergarten, he has really flourished. He is such a good kid and fun to be around. Tyler has a zeal for life. Happy birthday Tyler!

Football 2009

Zach is #53

Well, Zach's football is officially over for the season. The Farmington Eagles played in the playoffs this weekend and lost miserably to Syracuse (I swear some kids were in high school), but they ended the season with 5 wins and 2 losses. Some highlights for Zach were an interception followed by a 15 yard run. An after-point catch in the endzone, a kick-off return (jump on the ball), and lots of tackles. There could have been many more catches (possibly touchdowns) if our quarterback was a little better, but I'm not bitter or anything! Just kidding! Zach had a great season and enjoyed himself, but we will all enjoy our weeknights back and Saturdays. Unfortunately, football was the only sport we had going on this fall, because I forgot to sign the little guys up for soccer on time. Justin will finally get to play basketball the end of October and he is so excited! Love the sports!

Happy Birthday Zach!

This guy is officially a teenager today! Happy 13th Zach!

Bad Break...

I don't know what it is about my two oldest kids, but they have both had the misfortune of breaking the same arm (the left on both), twice! Zach broke his when he was 5 and went a week before mom and dad realized that it really was broken, oops! The second time was two years ago right at the beginning of baseball season. Luckily, his coach talked him into trying to wear his mitt over the cast, and what do ya know, it worked! He was able to help his team out and be the pitcher for the season. That one was a doozy and was a 5 week cast.

(Broken arm #2 -sorry no picture of #1, wasn't in the mood to scan picture)

Hayley on the other hand, broke hers the first time 3 years ago while trying out her new Heely's. She was afraid of having a broken arm so she insisted it was not broken, and mom and dad were convinced until a few days later when we noticed she was still favoring it. A bright pink cast made her not so afraid. The second time happened last night when she flipped over the handle bars on her bike when little bro Ty, cut her off. She somewhat convinced us that it was okay again, until this morning when we were pretty sure she broke it again. So, after church, mom and dad took Hayley to our favorite Kids Instacare in Layton, whom I am sure almost recognize us, and spent two hours there, waiting to find out the same....broken. This time she sported a lime green with blue stripe cast! Can't miss her! I just hope Justin and Tyler don't repeat this tradition (they seem to lean towards the plastic surgery/stitches on the face). That's another tradition that needs to end!

(Broken arm #1)

(Broken arm #2)

Back to School

Notice how Tyler is standing next to the shortest kid in the class! (BTW, he had that backpack on since 7 this morning.)
Hair already kind of flat!

Just happy...

Moments before the chaos!

Only pic of the big junior high student (at least I got one!)

Today, we transitioned from sleeping in and hanging out, to getting up early and heading to school. This year, Zach started junior high (7th grade), Hayley started 5th grade, Justin started 2nd grade, and Tyler started Kindergarten. Mom got up at 6:30 and didn't stop running until everyone was home from school (about 3 pm). Unfortunately, Zach does not get bussed to junior high, so I had to run him to school, come home curl Hayley's hair (for about a half an hour), then rush the elementary kids over to school for the lovely flag ceremony that the principal insists on doing every year (what a waste!), then came home, ate breakfast, finished getting ready and had about an hour until Tyler had to be at school for kindergarten (on early-out day schedule, another total waste!) After dropping him off and getting the traditional pictures, (and not crying) I treated myself to lunch after running a couple of errands, then came home to relax for about half an hour before heading to the school, making sure the younger kids all made it on the right bus, then drove home and enjoyed my last 5 minutes of peace for the day. Zach's school got out around 3, so after that my day could slow down. Luckily, tomorrow everyone is riding the bus (except Zach, hopefully he is riding his bike) and they have full schedule day, except Tyler who has the rest of the week off for Kindergarten testing (once again, another waste!). I hope everyone else enjoyed their back to school day. Now off to go sign a gazillion papers for school (why must they give all the homework to the parents on the first day of school?)...

Be Careful What You Wish For!

I have had a really slow blogging summer. I have not had many posts, because, well, there wasn't anything to really post about. I remember thinking last week how cute some of my nephews and friends little boys were, and all the funny, cute things they do that make a mom want to share. I haven't had that in a while, because my kids are 12, 10, 7 and 5. They are kinda past that cute stage (sorry kids, but it's true). Sometimes I wish my kids would do or say something cute or funny, just so I could have something to blog.

Well, I wouldn't call it cute, but Tyler came in with Justin in tow, just as it was time to get ready for bed, and announced that he just got sprayed by a skunk. He was kind of laughing and so was Justin, so I said, "No you didn't", until the smell caught up to him in my living room, and both Kris and I smelled it at the same time! We quickly herded him back outside, Kris got armed with the hose and I had my camera. After squirting him off in his undies, Kris then took him in to the bath and I worked on the clothes scattered on the lawn. Two cans of tomato sauce, 5 cherry tomates and one hour later, we decided to call it good. He still smells, but the skunk got him right in the ear and face (he was only less than a foot away from the stinking thing!). Not areas that are easily scrubbed.

We found out that the boys went to visit their fort with two of the neighbor kids (an old olive tree in the open space by our house), and Tyler needed to use the bathroom. Instead of coming home, he went behind the fort and came face to rear with the skunk! The worst part of it all is we were really trying to have the kids go to bed early to get ready for school in two weeks. That didn't happen. Most of all, I think it was Tyler's destiny...

(Tyler and Justin, Halloween 2006)

Colorado Trip

We just got back from a trip to Colorado. Usually our trip consists of visiting relatives in Grand Junction, but this time we decided to make a vacation and visit some parts of Colorado that the kids have never been. We were able to still incorporate the visit with seeing grandpa and cousins and aunts and uncles. We journeyed to Ouray and Montrose, Colorado. In Ouray, we took the kids to Box Canon and enjoyed the hike to see the falls. We were supposed to visit the hot springs and go swimming, but our timing included lightning and rain, so the pool was closed. Instead, we headed to our hotel in Montrose and hit the pool there. The kids didn't miss out on anything! We took a boat tour in Morrow Point to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River. This was a 2 hour tour on a pontoon boat, and the kids seemed to enjoy themselves. We finished off the trip with seeing grandpa and family before heading home. Kris was excited to share a part of his childhood with his children and to share the beauty of the Colorado mountains with us. We are glad that he did!

End of Spring Sports Wrap-Up

Hayley just finished her Tumbling class for the year (but not really, cause she is still taking a class this summer along with her new competition dance class-we'll try it this year...). By the exhibition she was able to: do her back hand-spring by herself (although she preferred to have her tumbling coach there to catch her just-in-case), and almost perfect her ariel without hands. Not bad for a year of tumbling.

Zach led his Dodgers team as pitcher/1st baseman to the playoffs in a 5th out of 7th place. During tournament time though, they were able to come in 3rd place (Zach and his dad went camping during the last 3 games, so just maybe they could have gone farther? I don't know, and we will never know. Must remember to plan all campouts at least 2 weeks after baseball season ends...) He will now be starting All-Stars tournaments which will take us into the end of July. At least we really love the sport!

(He is not happy about losing.)

Justin helped his team, the Diamondbacks, finish in 4th place during the playoffs. He really started playing toward the end of the season, when he got past all the T-ball habits. His coach put him in as pitcher through all the playoff games (he's in machine-pitch, so he really just stands next to the machine), and he had some really nice snags there, leading to several outs, and even had a double play, catching a pop fly, then throwing to first base to get the kid on first out! Talk about fast reflexes! His goal for next season: to make the All-Star team (can you tell he has an older brother he idolizes?!) I say, you have a great chance Justin!

Tyler just finished T-ball. That's all, no playoff tournaments, because we all know that in T-ball, everyone is a winner! He had a great season, learned lots of things, had some great hits and throws into first base. Probably the best thing about t-ball this year, was his teammates who were all friends from our ward and the ward we just split from. He had fun playing with his friends. Next year he is hoping to play machine pitch with Justin. We shall see...

The End, or Should I Say, The Beginning

Today, my oldest graduated from sixth grade. The school held a graduation with caps minus the gowns. As a parent, it is a bitter-sweet moment in time. In just six years, we will be doing this for high school. In just 3 years, he will be driving. Where has the time gone.

There were some differing opinions amongst some of the parents about having them "graduate" from elementary. Some think it should just be a celebration, I say, why not call it a graduation. After all, they have finished the first part in a series of schools. They move on to the next phase of life, one that can be trying and a time for finding out who one is. I hope my son can find his way through this and come out on the other side, emerging as a fine, young man. I have no doubts that he will. I love you Zach and am proud of your accomplishments in life this far! Way to go!

Just a side note, do you know how painful it is for a sixth grade boy to sing a song with the class during elementary graduation? Zach looked like he broke his arm or something. I told him he should have started doing the Napoleon sign language motions during the parts of the song they were supposed to do hand movements!

Happy Mothers Day!

I love my kids and my husband! Every year on Mothers' Day, they go the extra mile to make me feel loved and appreciated all day long. This year, I commented on how I would love to make every day Mothers Day, just to feel so appreciated! Justin has been counting down the weekend until he could pull out the package from under his bed that he made at school. I love the cute gifts they make at school. I treasure them so much, and it is fun to look back at things they made when they were younger. All the kids gave me meaningful gifts, Kris made me breakfast, and they spent the day doting on mom. After church, they made me a comfy spot on the couch, while they got me drinks, lunch and leg massages. Hayley helped clean the family room, and even Zach was making sure I was feeling appreciated. I am so lucky to be a mom and have the wonderful family I have. Even though it's one day out of the year, I will take it, and enjoy the pampering! To all the other mothers out there, and to my own, Happy Mothers Day!

"Fowl" Ball!

This is what happened while trying to record Zach while he was up to bat. (Notice the batter standing to the left of me.)

Fortunately, I looked up from the camera in time to see a ball coming straight for my face, and I was able to duck in time. Therefore, this video is entertaining, rather than tragic. Don't worry, two pitches later, the pitcher hit Zach in the arm, and he walked. I feel this was payback for almost hitting his mom in the face. All the boys in the dugout (to the left of me and the camera) gave Zach a hard time after that one!)

Just a few reasons why I love spring...

First, the way my planters (minus the weeds) look right now.

The nice warm days (the last few have been absolutely beautiful!)

Reading a good book out on the back porch, enjoying the fresh air and warmth of the sun.

And baseball. Right now, that is what our life constitutes almost every night.

How Does the Easter Bunny Know I Wanted This?

As my kids get older, I find it harder not to tell the little ones the true Easter bunny secret. Zach has known the secret for years, and last Easter was the first for Hayley, which then included the secret about Santa. Zach has been good about keeping it mum, but Hayley at times, likes to share parts of her knowledge, and drop little hints. It is only a matter of time before Tyler or Justin catch on to her hints, and then, maybe Easter/Christmas/Tooth Fairy will be easier, or will it. I think I like the innocence of the whole Easter Bunny/Santa idea. Kids are happy with what these two fantasized heroes bring them. Whereas, when it comes from Mom and Dad, the kids tend to drop lists and hints of things they want, then expect. Don't get me wrong, my two older kids are always grateful and happy with what they get, but as parents, we can see the disappointed look in their eyes, when the other two have sure joy! Things to look forward to...

Easter Spring Break

The kids just went back to school today and life went back to normal after having a week off for Spring Break. The only time the kids started to get on my nerves was last night at 8:30 pm. That is because it was bed time and for the last week and a half, they were allowed to stay up late. Some nights they got to stay up as late as 11 pm, which is quite late for me! We only let them do that one a couple times while we were in St. George for four days. We are lucky enough to live somewhere where you can get in the car and within 5 hours, enter the warm zone! We had 70 and 80 degree weather while we were down there, and were able to swim, hike through Zions and play basketball, racquetball, and tennis. It was just the pick-me up we all needed at the end of a very long, cold winter. Now, if only summer could come...