This is what happens when you ask Zach to take a picture of your new haircuts...

Hayley and I just recently left 5 inches each of our hair on the salon floor. Sometimes I miss mine, but other times, not so much. Since we have family not nearby, I thought I would have Zach take a picture of our haircuts. Not such a good idea...

First picture: Hayley's very expensive mouth (which Zach thinks is funny 'cause it's not him...yet!)

Second picture: Me: "Zach, get our hair in it." Ha ha ha!

Third and last picture: Finally!

And they're off...

Well, school has officially started! Everyone seems to be doing well after the first week of school. Zach seems to enjoy his new teacher, and he has most his friends in his class. They are bribed with Guitar Hero on Fridays if they turn in all their work. That should inspire him! Hayley seems to enjoy her teacher and from what I hear, the cute new boy that sits across from her! Oh, to be young and have a school girl crush! Justin has survived his first full days as a big first grader. It helps that he has a great teacher and a couple of neighbor friends in the class. Tyler starts preschool next week, so stay tuned for updates on that.

Right now, Tyler and I have to figure out a way to share the house together. Tyler has suddenly become afraid of the house and has to be in the same room with me at all times! I can't even take a shower without him coming in to be with me! I even tried locking the door the other day, and had to get out of the shower to unlock it because he had become hysterical on the other side! I hope this is a phase that he will soon outgrow!

End of the Summer!!! Yeahhh!!!!

Well, sadly but mostly happily (that doesn't sound right, oh well!) our summer is coming to a close. We are enjoying or surviving (depends on whose view your looking at) the last week of our official summer. The kids have for the most part been good and we have all got along, the last month being the longest, but I think everyone is looking forward to a new school year. We just found out our classes and teachers, and I think everyone is very happy, with both teachers and friends. Mom and Tyler are going to celebrate the first day back to school by going to the park and having lunch with a bunch of other girls in the ward (visiting teaching) and their younger kids! You can call it "Mom's Back-to-School Celebration!"

Some of the highlights of the past summer were:

Lagoon and Lagoon-a Beach (did this several times)

Family Get togethers

Pineview Reservoir

Bear Lake (sorry, forgot to take camera!)

Farmington Parade Float (our Stake entered this float in the Days of 47 parade, and won top honors and first place! It was awesome! It had crickets jumping in the jello and salads! They had it parked out front of our church building for several days, so we got to see it up close and personal! Way to go Farmington Stake!)

We hope this new school year brings happiness and joy for us all!

Pain in the Neck

July has been a very crazy month for us. A couple of months ago, Kris noticed a lump in his neck. He made an appointment for his yearly physical to get it checked out. Immediately, this all spiraled into several doctors visits with the end result of getting it removed. He scheduled his surgery for July 17th. We checked into the hospital at 1 pm. He was taken into surgery at 2:15, and My father-in-law and I went to the waiting room to wait for the 2 to 3 hour surgery. Patients came and went and we still sat! Five hours and 15 minutes later, the surgeon came out and told us that all went well, it was just a little bigger than expected. Kris recovered remarkably well, and the scar is healing well also. The biopsy results came back last Tuesday, and all is normal! A scar is a small sacrifice to pay, and we are elated with the news! You don't realize how quickly life can change, so take a minute to reflect on your blessings and give your family members a kiss. Life is GOOD!

May

Well, we are once again at the end of another school year. All the kids will be finished with school next week. I don't know whether to be excited or depressed. Hopefully we will all have a great summer together and enjoy it! Zach will be leaving the fifth grade, to be the oldest at Eagle Bay next year in the 6th! He won't be missing his teacher though! (They have had a love/hate relationship.) Hayley is leaving the 3rd grade. She has excelled and made many new friends. Justin is going to be leaving the Kindergarten, where he has learned so many things, like reading among other things. Mom will be a little sad when he start 1st grade and will be gone all day next year. I still have Tyler though! Tyler will be finishing up this Thursday from his 3 year old preschool and next year he will be starting 4 year old preschool with the grandma's! (An inside joke!) We are also in the middle of a busy sport season for the Larson's. Soccer finally finished up for Hayley and Justin, and we are now doing baseball for Zach, Justin and Tyler. Zach is one of the pitchers for the Mets, and Justin and Tyler are great swing hitters on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. You should just see Tyler roll, not slide, into home plate! Hayley also had her piano recital on Saturday, and I will try to post a video for those who want to see. She really has a natural talent for the piano, but fighting her for practice is not so fun. We will see if she decides to pursue this talent.

Easter in Arizona

This year we took a roadtrip to Phoenix, Arizona for Easter. We enjoyed very nice weather (close to 90 degrees!), got to go swimming in March outside, and got to see the Grand Canyon (not our favorite, because of the long drive, but still it is checked off on our list!). The kids had a great time, and were amazed that the Easter bunny followed us to Arizona! That smart bunny! It was a nice time, we enjoyed the warm break, and the highlight of the trip were the cactus on the drive!