First Swim Lessons!

Ava finished her first swim lessons this week. Besides one day where she woke up on the wrong side of the bed and refused to enter the water for the majority of the swim lesson (finally got her to get in the water at the very end of it), the rest were a pretty big success. Her biggest accomplishment was putting her face in the water. She was so proud. 

 

It was interesting to see all the fun age appropriate ways they start to teach them how to do swimming kicking and arm motions. Its nice that they have all ages going in different parts of the pool at the same time so when Rhett is old enough we can just come to one session and they can both get lessons at the same time. But this summer it sure was nice getting to just snuggle him as he sat contently in my lap and we watched her.

 

For both Ryan and I swim lessons were a staple of our childhood summers and it was so fun to take her to do the same. So we are officially (report card and all) graduates of P1 swim lessons!

 

A few favorites

Daicia got these great shots of Rhett while we were visiting. Hand over your child, they don't even have to be in the best mood,  give her 20 minutes and it always amazes me the shots she gets. So many of my most treasured photographs of my children are her handiwork. Thanks again Daicia!

 

A few favorites:

 

 

His face is filling out so much, he's got the signature Bell sweet little chubby baby checks.



Ava wasn't interested in being in pictures but Quinn was up for it, such a sweet picture. Also historic day sporting his first cowboys gear.

 



Aunt Amy Kisses.

Love these two shots. Pretty sure he is going to stay our blue eyed baby. The bottom one is Ryan and I's favorite of  him so far. Love all that crazy hair of his and his sweet little expressions. 

 



Rhett's 13 weeks old this week! Tonight is the eve of my last day of maternity leave. I return to work on Wednesday. Looking forward to getting back into the swing and finding our new normal with me back at work part time. I love being home raising these crazy kids and I love my job - pretty thankful to get to do both in a way that works great for us during this season of family life.

Houston trip - part 2

 

So on Wednesday during Houston week we strategically timed dropping off Aunt Amy and Picking up Ryan at the airport for the second half of our trip. We went to my brother's new home and enjoyed our annual summer Bell Bash. We enjoyed morning, afternoon and evening swims in their awesome pool, stopping in between to eat or watch the Zimmerman trial. We took turns with the meals, planing made a month in advance to make sure we could count on a variety of good eats. We had our birthday exchange and I made an Ikea run one day but other than that we just enjoyed hanging at the house.

 

My niece Adley looking super cute in her sun hat.

 

Rhett was so excited for patty cake with his cousins.

 



 

Some family volly ball also went down a few nights.

 

 

Ava got in lots of swim practice.

 

Crazy Uncle Ryan photo-bombing the girls picture.

Chloe (13) Allie (10) Ava (3)

 



Even Rhett came for a few evening swims.

 



The kids traveled great on the way there and back. Thanks Matt and Lori for hosting I loved the trip but I also love getting settled back this week.

Houston Trip - Part 1.

We made or annual trip to Houston last week. We made an additional stop after visiting our college friends since now Matt and Lori now live there also and my family was having our summer get together there this year. So here's Part 1 of our adventures in H-Town!

 

Aunt Amy rode down with us and joined us for this leg of the visit. It was nice to get spend time together and was so nice to have another baby wrangler to assist me. (Thanks Aunt Amy!! I don't tell you enough what a blessing you are to us). During the trip while Amy was trying to help Ava with her headphones for the I-Pad. Ava looked up at her and said with a big, appreciative smile. "You're such a good Aunt Amy". I couldn't agree more. 

 

On our way in town we met up for dinner at Chuey's, a great Mexican eatery, we love to eat at when we come to town. Rhett was born the day after Matt and Daicia left this spring so this was there first time to meet him.

 

 

Sunday we succesfully wrangled all four of kids under the age of 5 through worship and lunch afterwards. We spent that afternoon at their awesome neighborhood pool. It was Ava's first swim of the summer. (Matt kept the boys at the house for some rest time while we went, super nice of him and he is one of few guy friends I really didn't think twice about watching a baby.)

Ava had a blast. The Lahmeyer's house is quite the wonderland of fun. They have an amazing play room set up inside and a great outside play area as well. There was toad hunting in the evenings, mud pie cookin', story time and of course lots free play time. The girls even snuck in an unauthorized hair shop playing time and Quinn gave Ava a little trim. Daicia and I still can't figure out how they snuck it in when it was during a time we were all in and out of the play room as dinner was being prepared. The girls had their moments here and there but overall got along great, so fun to watch their friendship grow.

 

Tuesday we went to the highly recommended (by Ava's grandpa) butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum. Our mutual friend Shannon met up with us and then we went to her and her Matt's place for dinner. Shannon is a fantastic cook and made us a pretty awesome dinner complete with from scratch cinnamon rolls that my mouth is watering just thinking about. We talked Matt M into breaking out his trombone,  He, Ava and Quinn and their impromptu band played us a few songs.

 

(Thanks Shannon for the pictures!)

Some of my favorite times was after we got the kids to bed each night. We would just relax and talk, taking turns rocking or bouncing Rhett to sleep, eat ice cream, watch a movie or an episode of first 48 and just be together. I love warm conversation you can have with close friends, where it easily flows from deep conversation on meaningful topics to laughter and not-so-deep conversations that are just as good for the soul. It always brings me back to all those late nights we shared living together during those college years that are so near and dear to my heart. I love getting re-create it even for a few days.

Our Fourth Celebrations!

What feels more like summer than the 4th of July!?  We had a pretty great week celebrating.

 

First up one of our annual family traditions was the Star Spangled Friend Chicken Dinner at church. It involves singing patriotic songs, a bi-cycle parade that the kids do, eating fried chicken of course and then a smorgasbord of homemade ice cream from various members. This was Ava's fourth one and Rhett's very first!

 

Ava and Izzy in their patriotic attire!

Ava was so excited to decorate her Tri-cycle and be in the parade.
 

Then we had a neighborhood bike parade and cook out. We celebrated in style with some democracy in action at the cookout over a fun topic of raising HOA due for some projects and repairs that need to get done. Ryan is currently serving as our HOA president and got to oversee this vote and debate.  

 



Oh the captions I can come up with for these pictures. Our two little cuties the morning of the fourth!

That night we stayed in and I was really glad we did, our neighbors had quite the show going on. About 8-10 different neighbors had some pretty impressive shows and we got to watch it all from the comfort of our front porch while Ava got to set off a few of her own.