On my own

Liev is now at the age where he wants to do things on his own. The latest thing - eating with and spoon and fork.

The pineapple wasn't too bad, but the yogurt sure makes a mess.

So cute and proud that he can do it all on his own!

Swimming Lessons

The girls took swimming lessons for a few weeks this summer. Last year I put Rease in lessons at our local pool and I didn't feel like she learned anything at all - I was disappointed that she couldn't swim especially after 4 weeks of lessons. So my neighbor recommended that my girls take lessons with her daughter at the same place she did last year. It's a family friend of hers and is taught at her home in her personal pool. We decided to give it a try and boy are we happy we did. The girls loved it and the lessons were excellent! They can actually swim now after 2 sessions of lessons! I took my camera one day and snapped a couple pictures of these girls in action.

So everyday it was a big decision which goggles they would wear for the day. There was a whole basketful so it always took a couple minutes for them to decide which ones they liked. I also started putting swim caps on them so that I didn't have to wash their hair every day. Lessons went for 2 weeks at a time so washing hair every day for 2 weeks started to get old. Plus wearing the swim caps helped keep their goggles on a lot better and they liked that.

Waiting for their class to start.
Their teachers are the grandkids of the lady who owns the house and they are high school/college swimmers so they really know their stuff. I was impressed with the way they taught the kids to swim - always keeping faces in the water while swimming and lifting their head to breathe only.

Rhen is a little fish. She was so excited to be in the water and was great at doing what they taught her. For the first session, her and Rease were in the same class then they were in separate classes for the last 2 weeks. It worked out really good because Rhen was in a 3 year old class the second time and they got a little bit more one on one attention and training. She did awesome.

Rease was amazing. She was one of the best in her class and was fearless in the water. She now says she never wants to go swimming without her life jacket. Now that it's all over the girls can jump off the diving board and swim to the other side of the pool (all on their own!), float on their backs, swim the breast stroke (who knows when they will use it, but it's impressive that they know it) side breathe, dive for rings and most importantly to me, they feel comfortable enough in the water to not be scared of swimming on their own.

Rhen and Liev had fun playing while we waited for Rease's class to get over and Rhen's to start. We had a great experience this year and will definitely go back next year for more!

On the Lake

Boating season has begun and we have taken advantage of the nice weather the past couple weeks. We took an early morning trip to Deer Creek one Saturday. Unfortunately I am a boat rider only this year due to my pregnant state, but we had a good (chilly) morning with the fam.

And Rhen is looking good in my glasses.
This week we had our annual office retreat/boating day. Kristina's parents have a molecule and everyone took their turn and had a blast - even our girls were brave enough for a ride!

We spent some time in the pool while the others were on the lake.

And the kids had a blast playing in the small river/mud.

And it looks like Liev decided to taste the mud - yummy!

We ended the day with pizza and soda. It was a fun day with the office staff and families!

Bowling

We spent Family Night bowling with everyone and had such a fun time. Us girls are no pros like Uncle Just and Uncle Garrett are but we still had fun and looked good while we were at it!

Beutler Family Reunion - Downata Hot Springs

Betsy put together our family reunion this year and we had such a fun time with everyone! We went to Downata hot springs in Idaho. I had never been but was pleasantly surprised at how much there was to do and how fun of a place it was. We each stayed in our own cabin, yurt, tepee or tent and gathered together for games, meals and fun. Here are a few highlights of the few days together.

A kid scavenger hunt. The older kids teamed up with the younger kids and they all had a blast hunting around the campground for everything on their list. My girls had so much fun being with the "big kids" and loved the time with their cousins.

Baby boy stayed with mama while the other kids were off playing.
Making hemp bracelets. Uncle Guy headed this one up and Josh made each of the girls a bracelet. This totally took me back - I remember doing this so much growing up!

Spent quality time playing in the dirt.

And spent a lot of time around the campfire. Aunt Dixie made us each a book of "camp songs" and we had fun singing around the fire. We also had journal reading time and everyone shared some funny journal entries from their younger years. All I can say about Aunt Dixie is "boy crazy!" We all had some good laughs!

The Beutler family all together. Not everyone was there but we were so happy to spend a few days with those that could make it!

Bike Helmet

I found this bike helmet for Rhen at a garage sale. She was so excited about it that she had to try it on right that second. Once it was on, she did not want to take it off. So she wore it the rest of the day - even to the grocery store. What a crazy kooky girl we have!

Our 5 year old Rease

Stats from Dr. Erickson

Height: 46.06 inches - 97%

Weight: 52.03 lbs - 95%

BMI: 17.2 - 89%

Skinny little thing

Does it seem weird that our 3 year old can fit into our 18 month old's clothes?

It was an accident that she put them on, but it seems so funny to me that they actually fit her! This is one area that she takes after her dad and not her mom - I was never this skinny as a kid!

Stuck

Rhen seems to find herself in these kind of predicaments quite often. I helped her out but not before I took a quick picture and got a good chuckle out of it!

Happy 5th Birthday Rease!

Our Reaser girl turned 5 this year! She was super excited and mostly because I told her that she could have a friend party this year. Preschool ended right before her birthday this year so we gave out invitations to all her friends right before they were done for the summer and she anxiously waited for the party day.

I opted to make it easy on us and we did the party at the park. It was pretty chill (and not much set up or take down for mom) but the kids had a blast together. We colored pictures as everyone was arriving.
Then played a mean game of "pin the crown on the princess."

Rease was very kind to Rhen and let her join in all the festivities. So glad these 2 sisters have each other!

We also played a mean game of "Red Rover." I remember loving this game as a kid and realized why as I was playing with these kids. Nothing beats waiting for your name to be called to "come on over!" We had a fun time!

Then it was cake and ice cream time.

Then on to the best part of all - Presents!

One of her favorite things she got was this book Pinkalicious. Super cute book.

We had time to play at all the playgrounds as we waited for parents to come. These girls had such a fun time together! Rease has made some really good friends this year and had a great time with all of them.

After the party we went home and did gifts from mom and dad. This was her big gift from us - a bike. She has been asking for a big bike for a while and we found this cute bike at a garage sale (shhh - don't tell her) and got it for her birthday. She was very excited!

We also gave her a box of art supplies because she loves to draw/create pictures. This was also a big hit with her and she couldn't wait to draw her first picture.

Rhen wanted in on the pictures so as Rease was opening gifts, Josh snapped a few of Rease's sidekick.

And a cute one of the little bro.

The birthday girl. My favorite things about Rease:

1) She is passionate about whatever she is doing whether it's drawing (she says she wants to be an illustrator when she grows up), learning, fighting with Rhen (yes it happens every so often), arguing her point of view, singing her favorite song or just being sweet - she is very emotional and passionate about all things in her life and I love that about her.
2) Rease is very easy to be around. She makes friends easily and can associate with adults like she is one. She loves hanging out with her friend Lacee down the street or staying overnight with Grammie and Papa. She plays really well with Rhen and Liev and also loves her date nights with daddy. She is a great girl to have around!

3) I can see a lot of me in Rease and that is both frustrating and awesome. Awesome because I love the miracle that this person is mine and came from me and I am able to teach and love her. Frustrating because she is as stubborn as I am and I have to catch myself before I clash too much with her. I do love her little soul though and am grateful for the wonderful daughter she is.

Happy Birthday sweet Rease!