Our Month of July

THE FOURTH OF JULY

We didn't do a WHOLE lot on the holiday because we both had to work, but in between shows our company had a BBQ where our "Big Boss" was doing all the BBQ-ing. Kashton had a bite of his first whole hot dog and LOVED it. He kept trying to steal bites from both me and Cameron.

While Daddy was working, we played in the yard and enjoyed the sunshine. Kashton LOVES being outside.


Our good friends Bob and Lana Nichols always host a 4th of July celebration with fireworks after everyone gets off work.


Living in a tourist town, we don't get to enjoy holidays as much because everyone has to work. We usually have to do all of our celebrating really late once all the shows are out. So, at 11:00 pm, I got Kashton out of bed and went to Bob's house. Cameron met us there at about 11:30 once his shows were over.

Kashton actually did really well. He fussed only a little bit, but was mostly fascinated by all the colors in the sky. The big "booms" didn't seem to bother him too much. He was only a little scared at first, but got use to it.

Later in the month, Kashton discovered how to get into the "Lazy Susan" in the kitchen. I walked around the corner and this is what I found.

It was a little difficult teaching him that this was not a good idea because I thought it was so funny.

Sometimes we go down to the lake and meet Cameron in between shows. ( Anyone think that campground looks so beautiful and tempting that you're just DYING to come to Branson and camp....and visit me. Larsen Family Reunion, anyone??? :> ) We usually get to spend a little over an hour with Daddy. So we play on the swings...

...swing really high with Daddy...

...and eat Egg Salad Sandwiches (anyone reminded of Grandma Larsen???)...

...which are really good.

And at the end of the day, we love to take luxurious baths in colored water.

This stuff is great and highly recommended by my sweet son.
And THAT has been our month. Hope all of you have had a good one too.

Mr. Independent

Okay, since this is the week that we celebrate our country's independence, I thought I would share the NEW things that are going on at my house.

Kashton has discovered his own Independence and wants SO BAD to do things by himself.

He tries so hard to feed his self. The mess is a little annoying, but you can tell he's so proud of his accomplishment. As a parent, you have to pick your battles. My choices: Let him feed himself and deal with the mess. OR try to feed him and watch him throw a HUGE fit and cry because he can't hold the spoon and then refuses to eat. Obviously I chose the mess. Notice the sauce all over the wall???

Making sure he gets every last bit.

Trying so hard to scoop it up, but not quite succeeding yet.

He's actually not doing too bad.

"Here mom, want some??" Such a good sharer.

Independence Story #2:

We live on this hill. I like my house...I DONT like the hill. In fact, this is one of the very rare times that you will see my car facing forward (I wasn't the last person to drive). Usually I back into my house so that gravity will keep my door from shutting on me while trying to shuffle purses, diaper bags, groceries and Kashton.

Anyway...

Kashton LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to be outside and does not like us to interfer with his exploring.

Thus:

The very large "BONK" from tumbling down the drive-way. This was our first (of many) battle wounds and the first time seeing my sons blood. Oh, never fear my friends, but be proud, we actually handled it very well. Little boys are suppose to be covered in bruises and scabs. :)

He only cried for a few seconds and then he was ready to play some more. What a tough guy!!

He had a HUGE "goose egg." The picture doesn't do that bump justice.

Independence Story #3: Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Kashton sees me brushing my hair every day and wants to help. He actually does a pretty good job too. He brushes my hair, then his, then Camerons. It's really quite cute. Sometimes he turns the brush the wrong way.

This morning I had quite a fun experience with Kashton. The house got very quiet and when I went looking for him, this is what I found:

I thought this was the cutest thing. Now, because Kashton brushes my hair, he understands the word "brush." When I found him I said, "Did you find Daddy's toothbrush?"

He immediately started to comb his hair with the tooth brush.

SO CUTE!!!!!

Happy Five Years!!!!!

This is one of our funny engagement photo. Look how young and cute we were.

Cameron and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary and it was such a wonderful day. Ever since I became pregnant we've basically tried to keep our "heads above the water" and really haven't done anything together. We decided we were both going to take the day off from work and just PLAY. It was the BEST day this year.

I gave Cameron a bunch of gifts, one included a new leather wallet that I had engraved. Because we really don't have many pictures of me and Kashton together (I'm usually taking the pictures), we tried to take a cute picture to put in Cameron's new wallet. However, Kashton was a little fuss and they didn't really turn out.

Look at that belly!!! My mini "Santa Claus."


The morning of our anniversary we went to a local resort and we played 9 holes of golf while one of the YW from the ward babysat Kashton. Things you probably didn't know about Bethany....I LOVE TO GOLF. Cameron's new to the sport, but he's already getting REALLY good, way better than myself. I'm a dork and forgot my camera at home...so no fun pictures.


After the golf game (Cameron won 54-59) we took Kashton to the local water park, White Water, where we had lunch and a fun afternoon together playing in the water.

Kashton loved this little chute. He kept putting his mouth into the water to drink it.

He got a face FULL of water and I was thankful my camera was ready. Look at that priceless face.

Kashton's favorite place was at the foot of these two water slides where all the water was collecting. He didn't want to leave that area.

He loved this little mini waterfall at the end of the slide.

My two cute boys dancing in the water.

After White Water, we took Kashton home and put him down for a nap while we watched a few episodes of "Lost." When Kashton woke up, we went down to the Landing and did some shopping, then we took Kashton to his "aunt" Kelly to babysit.

There was a time when a dinner and a movie use to be just the normal way to spend a weekend. Now it's become the treasured and coveted thing to do. We went to one of the only nice restaurants in Branson, Tony Z's. We had their famous Ceasar Salad that they make tableside.

We had a wonderful Italian dinner and got a free cheesecake because of our anniversary. We ended up taking the cheesecake "to go" so that we could get to our movie on time....PLUS, we were really looking forward to the Baskin Robbins at the movie theater. :)

We went and saw Indiana Jones and ate our ice cream. Well, I've ALWAYS loved Indiana Jones, history, and who didn't want to become an archiologist after seeing these movies?? However, I LOVED the movie up until the last 15 min. I kept thinking "They're not going to go there are they? No, they can't go there." And then at the very end of the movie: "Yup, they went there." I was so disappointed. But that's just me. Cameron LOVED it and I was disappointed. Still, you'll never hear me complain about a dinner and movie with the love of my life, sans children.

This is the beautiful necklace Cameron gave me. I was so surprised, it was completely unexpected. Emeralds are my birthstone and there are five of them to represent our five years together. He's such a sweetheart!!

I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!! Happy Anniversary.

This is just me being silly showing off my new hair-do. It's a rich auburn color. We still need to put some caramel highlights in it and cut it. I was ready for a change and my pregnancy made my hair turn darker. I'll get a picture of the finished product!!

CATCH UP!!!

Hey Everyone!!! Well, we've been a bit busy at our house for the last little while. I kinda got bit by the "redecorator bug" and felt like some rooms in my house really needed a face lift. We also had family coming to visit, so the face lifts needed to happen FAST so that everything was ready when family got here. I'll add those pictures later. I still have some finishing touches to add here and there.

We started out with mom and dad coming to visit. What a wonderful few days that was. Sadly, that was when we lost Uncle Reid, mom wasn't quite herself and their vacation was cut a little short so that they could get to the funeral. I was gratful that they made it to the funeral JUST in time, but so sad to see them leave so soon. I've heard her say my entire life that her brother was her best friend. I know it was hard for her to see him go. He was a great man and left behind a beautiful legacy and touched many lives. He will be missed.

Love you so much Mom and Dad! Thanks for being such awesome, fun, good people and good examples. Come back soon. (Mom needs to update her blog and then you can see more pictures of their vacation. I didn't have my camera with me most of the time but she had hers.)

After mom and dad left, Cameron's parents came into town the next day for a family reunion. We had a nice time visiting with the family that we haven't seen for a few years. We had a wonderful BBQ at our house. Kashton was such a big helper getting the yard ready and helping mommy plant flowers.

He is going to be such a wonderful helper. He tries so hard to do whatever me and Cameron are doing. Cameron was putting new rocks into the firepit in the backyard and Kashton helped place a little pebble here and there.

He LOVED digging in the dirt with the spade while I planted herbs. He got so dirty in the process. I never thought I would say that a dirty, muddy little boy was so cute. Can you believe that he even stayed tick and chiggar free?? YIPEE!!! Mommy and daddy were not so lucky. Daddy had to remove a tick from unmentionable areas.

Once family left, we were able to have some family time with just the three of us. We spent a few hours at Silver Dollar City and Kashton was able to ride some of the rides for the first time. He LOVED it. We'll be returning very soon.

I was busy planning a wonderful Baby Shower for my incredible friend Kelly who's having a little girl in about two months. Me, Mesa, and Tami had so much fun doing this together. This is Mesa, Tami (who's also pregnant), Kelly, and Me.

This is the quilt I made for Kelly. I had so much fun doing this, I'm ready to make another one. Anyone else having any babys and wants a quilt??

Kashton is almost 14 months old and is SO sweet. It was a difficult year with the colic which (by the way) was solved when he was eight months old. Poor little guy had such tummy troubles. We put him on Prevacid when he was 8 1/2 months old to help with his tummy. And he FINALLY rolled over when he was 9 mths old and started crawling a few days after that. Poor thing wouldn't ever roll over or lay on his tummy because it hurt him so bad. No wonder he cried so much. You would never know that he was ever cranky because he is so sweet and wonderful now. He has his moments. He doesn't really like to be held or cuddled. There is just WAY too much in the world to explore. There's no time for cuddling.

This picture: He found mommy's juice drink and got into it.

He so dang sweet, I just love him to pieces.

Carrying mom's juice drink around.

Kashton had to have a follow-up appt. to his one-year-old appt. He wasn't on the charts at all at his one year appt. and the Doc wanted to see him again. So at 13 1/2 months old he is finally on the charts at 5% and weighs 19 pounds. Still not big enough for a forward facing car seat. :(

Our precious, happy little boy!!!