A Real Night Out

So about a year in advance we bought tickets to go see......

......Wicked!

But when the the family reunion was pushed back from June to July. We soon realized that it was going to be a problem. But it actually ended up being perfect because Eric and Andrea were not able to get time off to go to the reunion, so we brought the reunion to them! Although John was really missed.

Dad did the driving so I got to sit back and enjoy my kids.

The lucky winner of John's ticket was Emily. But she didn't win when it came to seating arrangements on the way to AZ. "All the way on the back of the bus, Em!" haha

Seriously, Eric and Andrea are such dorks.

Where there is a video game, there is a Luke and an Eric!

Andrea got us some babysitters, so we were footloose and fancy free!

Here we are arguing about which restaurant we should eat at. We ended up a Chili's. How unoriginal can you be?

Andrea all the way in the backseat.

Here we are after the show.
"Toss, Toss"

Making a mess of poor Aunt Andrea's house! She has the greatest collection of toys. My kids are always in heaven when we come to visit.

What could be finer than a "diaper dunk" on a hot afternoon. Eric got a text from his neighbor that just said,
"White trash......Nice"

If you ever get a chance to see the show, you better take it. We had such a great time.

PS Let us never forget the man with the fart machine standing outside the auditorium, that sent us all into a laughing fit.

Retun to Neverland (Cloudcroft)

John headed back to work and while the rest of us headed off to the mountains. After spending one night in our own beds it was time again to venture out on another vacation. This year's Larson reunion took place in our old stompin' grounds. Our reunions have been held in Cloudcroft, NM for as long as I can remember. Some of my most fondest of memories have taken place there. But we have not been there since 2002, due to the fact that my sister Ashley's lungs couldn't hack the altitude. So it was a bitter-sweet moment, we were excited to be back up there but it was kinda crapy without Ash. She would have loved it. But my cousin Sarah helped us remember her, by making these beautiful little charms in remembrance of her and Alexa. Alexa is my cousins daughter whose life was also taken due to cancer.

My Ash couldn't wait to test out the "sink bath". (I sat in that very sink when I was her age!)

Ashley loves her Grandma"Sisters, never were there such devoted Sisters"

No reunion is complete with out an absurdly large TV. This year Uncle Keith went the extra mile to ensure we had satellite TV coverage too! Crazy Keith!

Body for Lifers

Doodle in the Dirt

Searching for bugs with Aunty Em

Did I mention Ashley LOVES her grandma?

Bryce

Tukey Lukey

Nap time for G-ma

Noah and his "stick gun."Taylor Swift Hair by Rachel

We think we are so pretty haha

Pyramid Power

Hand and Foot anyone?

Haha Grandpa always has a stain on the front of his shirt. And yet he is still so handsome!

Drew and Aunt Rach

Melanie's first night there was our last so I made the most of it by ensuring that all the women stayed up until 4 in the morning. Whenever someone tried to inch they way towards their tent, I would strike up another conversation to keep the night going. My favorite reunion past-time is just sitting around talking and convulsing with laughter.

All in all, another successful Larson Family reunion. I'm glad my kids were able to enjoy a "Cloudcroft-style" family reunion just as I did as a child. It is a place that I will always act like a care-free child. Can't wait for our next return to my Never Neverland!

A Little Patch of Idaho Heaven

Watermelon, water balloons, rocks, the men - sneaking off to Transformers, lawn mower rides, strawberry crisp concoction, mo-hawks, Green Canyon swim, pedicures, Grandpa Bert, food, cows, "Don't touch the electric fence", Ben and Lisa's new house, late night mission reminiscing, Morgan and Tannner can no longer be called "brace face", blind water balloon volleyball, way too many left overs, memorial for Marian, Terry and Trina's, worm catching, shooting, 5k, parade, hidden ice chest of water balloons, James back from his Alaska trip, Donna and Tom visit, Max's B-Day Party, fireworks, stomach flu...

And The Red, White and Blue!

We did it all. We had tons of fun, well except for the the stomach flu part. haha

The best part of the trip was the fact that John's Grandpa Bert was able to come to the reunion too! It had been too long since we had last seen him. He is always full of funny stories and laughs. John and he share the same birthday. He has always felt a special bond with his Grandpa. We were lucky to get to spend the week with him.

All the great grand kids.

Can't wait for our next visit!

Part Two - Idaho

Every summer my family vacation was spent in Idaho visiting my grandma and grandpa. I'm so glad to have an excuse to continue to visit Idaho every summer. I am convinced that my kids are never going to enjoy home again after the fun time they had while at John's parents house. Their backyard was pure enjoyment twenty-four-seven.

Noah and Ashley were obsessed with Buddy.

Noah is already chasing the girls.

Karson and Luke, together again!

John and Mom

Our first stop was Wingers. You can never have too many sticky fingers.

Max, Karson, Luke

Berkli, Ash, Noah

More too come. Stay tuned.