Quality time with Dad!

I couldn't help but snap a picture of Josh with his adoring kids draped all over him. We were at the cabin and there are plenty of places for everyone to sit, but I love that the place of choice is right on dad's lap - even if it's getting a little crowded! What a great dad these kids have!

Liev's Toys

Liev has just started loving to play with toys - now that he grabs onto anything and everything, every toy he can get ahold of goes straight to the mouth. I have also been trying to sit him in his Bumbo pretty often so he gets used to sitting up. I snapped some pics of him and his slobbery face while trying to eat this block...

This is how he feels about me making him sit up for too long...

So I laid Liev on his blanket and Rease and Rhen promptly clobbered him with kisses and hugs like always. Rhen also decided to share her necklace with him. It looks more like he is being choked, but of course Rhen did it with all the love she has for her baby brother.

Grammie Beutler found this bouncer at a garage sale. She cleaned it up and gave it to Liev and he is in love with this new toy of his. He could be in it all day if I left him there. He just bounces and bounces and keeps a pretty steady rythym bouncing with one foot, then the other, then both feet without losing the beat. Such a great toy for mom cause it keeps him stationary but also gives him something to do.

I love my babies when they are this age - so fun and love learning new things!

Ragnar Wasatch Back 2011

This year we did the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay. Josh and the team did it last year, but since I was prego with Baby Liev I missed out. I was so excited to be able to be a part of it this year! Dad sponsored our team again this year so we were officially team "Thanksgiving Point Dental."

Our start time Friday morning was an early 5:30 am. We had to be to the starting line at 4:30 to get all oriented, so we were so happy that Kilee's sister offered to let us stay at her house in Logan Thursday night! It worked out so nice and we were glad we didn't have to get up even earlier to drive up. We carbo loaded at Firehouse Pizza and Pasta when we got to town - delicious!

Then it was van-decorating time.

Sam, Kilee and I helped but really it was Kilee's brother in law with the art skills and made our van look great! The boys loaded the suburban while we decorated.

Friday morning we were up bright and early. It was chilly! Runners in our van: Dad, Sam, Caleb, Kilee, Josh and I.

We had our reflective vests on and since dad was the first runner he also had his headlamp and taillamp on. This is right at the starting line - the sun is trying to come up!

For some reason, dad was a little unorganized and they were calling last call for him to start and he wasn't quite ready. We all pitched in and pinned his number on and helped him get organized for his first run.

Quick stretch before the run.

Ready to roll!

I had to snap a picture of the "Honey Bucket." We spent some time in line for these little babies.

Dad was our first runner and did awesome.

Sam was next. She was a trooper and just kept going and going and never looked like she was tired.

Caleb had some of the prettiest scenery to run in. This place was awesome just outside of Logan.

Oops. One of the vans hit a water line in front of one of the houses. It was crazy how much water was coming out!

The girls waiting to give Caleb some water.

Kilee stretching out before her run.

The squirt bottle was the best thing ever. Even though it was cold in the morning, the day heated up and we were happy for the spray bottle!

Yes, this is me and yes I was exhausted as I look in this picture! My first run was the uphill part of Avon Pass. It was hot, dirty and almost 8 miles long and I was so happy to see that run end!

Josh did great on all his runs - he ran right after me so I was always happy to cheer him on!

Spray bottle saving the day again!

Josh ran the downhill portion of the Avon Pass - hard on the knees and a long run.

We met up with our other van at Snow Basin and snapped a picture with them. Van 2: Trevor, Jake, Angela, Tyler, Travis and Justin. They are Josh's buddies from work and they all had a great time running with us!

Grabbing some zzz's while we can.

Dad relaxed on someone's front lawn after one of his runs.

We all crossed the finish line together with the others from Van 2.

This is our awesome Ragnar Team. We ended up finishing around 1:00 in the afternoon and were happy with how we all did. We were also glad to be going home to get some rest after a weekend of no sleep and lots of running!

Same time and place next year?

4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

As always, we celebrated the day in Delta. The kids love it and Josh and I love that there is so much for the whole family to do all day. The girls were so cute dressed in their 4th of July outfits and were super excited about going to the parade.

And baby Liev just looked like a little man in his long shorts and Sperry shoes.

Everyone is waiting patiently for the parade to start and mainly waiting for all the candy!

Once the candy starting coming, it didn't stop. The girls got bagfuls of sweets!

My cousin Allison was Miss Liberty and she got to dress up like a "princess" and ride on a float in the parade.

While the little ones were fighting over the candy, all the oldies were just relaxing and having a good time.

Garrett and his friends thought they were hilarious and dared each other to find one float during the parade and jump on it while it was going. They each found a different one and actually did it... and it really was hilarious!

One of my favorite parts of the day is the derby that night. Rease went with us this year and, even though she had to cover her ears a couple times because it was so loud, she had fun being with the "grown ups."

Towards the end of the derby, it starts to rain on us. We didn't mind - we all cuddle closer together and tried to stay dry.

We had a fabulous day celebrating our nation's independence!