School--last year at Irwin

The kids were really excited for school this year, their last at Fort Irwin. Tessa and Ian got involved with the excitement as well. Man that school year went by fast!

Big Bear Adventure 2010

We finally made it out camping to Big Bear. We stayed at the Pineknot campground and boy it was packed. The kids loved sleeping in the tent. We were lucky to have the Robertsons with us who are pros when it comes to camping, even when deathly ill :) We had a bit of a startle after dark when a family of enormous raccoons took an interest in our delicious peach cobbler but were denied, they took their frustration out on one of the dogs in camp as after midnight as we were awakened by the screeching banchees. The kids had fun in the dirt. I love the picture of an exhausted Mindy, spacing out, staring in the smoke....a real transcendental experience.

The next day we went to the alpine slide and had a blast then we had fun on one of the hiking trails and the visitor center near Big Bear Lake. Ian wasn't too sure about the big grizzly bear!

Big Bear Trip 2010 - Slideshow

Summer Past

After waiting a year to update this blog, we have a lot of catching up to do. And since this thing is a journal of sorts we'll work through the past year, so bear with us as we get back to speed....

July 4th on Fort Irwin is always an interesting experience. The pretty respectable fireworks show contrasts nicely to the black night of the dark desert. And as the Army post is so small you're pretty much guaranteed a great view from anywhere. We've enjoyed using our front porch.

The blast of the fireworks would echo down the street.
Kimbyl still plugs her ears during fireworks, just like she did back in Fort Hood, TX during the fireworks show.
Enjoying the show!
As you may expect summers in the Mojave Desert are really hot! Tessa and Jacob Swenson enjoy a make-shift jacuzzi in the dirt and gravel a.k.a. our lawn.

Watermelon eating contests are an essential summertime tradition as well. In this epic battle between the Swedes, the son of Lars beat the son of Swen.

Sun sets on Mount Blacky

Just adjacent to Fort Irwin lies the small volcanic mountain (more of a big hill) named Mt. Blacky (or at least thats what the Fort Irwinians call it). One evening some of the Larson Clan decided to climb up the rocky trail to watch the sun set. The setting sun gave some great light for pictures. As you can see the view over Ft. Irwin from the top of Blacky is picturesque. The desert is beautiful.

This is one of the Album Cover shots of the soon to be released "Larson 6" Album. Kimbyl on the Keyboard, Emma making electronic horse sounds and Max playing the drums on Ian's skull.

Never-ending western winds blow......

There is Mt. Teifert in the background.

So here we go again, how our family has grown in a year!

Here is a cool shot on a tank in front of the Museum at our desert home Fort Irwin, CA.