Riann's Dance Class

We have a good friend that decided she wanted to teach her kids some basic dance and asked if we, and a few mom's in the area, wanted to start attending a class that she was going to teach. Riann has been very interested in dance recently and I've been thinking about getting her into a class but didn't know if she was old enough to start and we don't quite have the finances for it right now, so we were very excited with the offer. Every Wednesday we head into town, to one of the Stake Centers in Rexburg, and meet with a few other families for some basic dance instructions. We've been going for 2 or 3 weeks now and Riann really seems to enjoy it. She always comes home and tells me about the new things she's learned. I think this class is a perfect option for getting her excited about the idea and hopefully once we're done here she'll be ready to try out doing another class. I've been surprised that she does so well listening and taking instruction and it's great to see her try new things.

These pictures are from her first class and we'll be taking more as she keeps going. I think there was initially talk about doing a recital but I don't know what will happen when we get to the end of the class. At the end of every session the kids get to "dance it out" and they have a great time running around and practicing their new moves together. Colby even enjoys going and does a little dancing on the side with me. It's really fun watching them grow and experience new things. I hope we'll be lucky to try more stuff like this all throughout their childhoods.

Colby tried Mac'N Cheese...

...all by himself!!!

We've been working hard on getting Colby transitioned over to table food. We have had some really good days where he is happy to try what we're giving him and some really frustrating days where he chooses not to touch anything except for his normal baby/soft foods. One of Riann's favorite lunches is Mac'N Cheese so I thought that I would make some up for Colby and give it a try. Normally when I make a box he'll sit with me and we'll share as much as he's willing to eat but this time I wanted to give him his own bowl and see how he did.

Overall he did a great job. He let me feed him for about 5 minutes and then he just wouldn't have it anymore. He does great with a fork, if you set up his food for him and then hand over it for him to hold so he can take his bite. After he's done, he'll usually hand it right back when he's ready for another one. However this day he really didn't want help and after we "fought" a little bit over who got to hold, and use the fork, I finally gave up and decided to just give him the bowl and see how he did. He loved feeding himself and took it on with as much vigor as he could manage. After a while he stopped chewing and started "packing" the food in his cheeks so I had to take everything away, for fear of his choking.

He did a great job though and ate a little over half of what I gave him, which is more than I think I've ever seen him eat on his own. It was a big step forward in our efforts to get him transitioned and I'm excited to see how much better he does as we keep trying new things. He sure is fun to sit with as he learns and I love how he doesn't hide his excitement when he's having a good time.

Our first "official" family outing of the year!!

A few months back we finally got another car that would be more reliable in the winter than Paul's little VW truck. We love his truck but in the cold weather and on icy roads we just needed something that we could guarantee would get him to Idaho Falls and back, safely. After quite a few months of searching Paul found another 4Runner for a really good deal.

This is Paul's new baby. It looks a lot "newer" on the outside than it does on the inside but we really like it. We've always loved the 4Runner brand and we're glad to have another one back in the family. It's also nice that we have something that Paul can take out on the dunes and that we can take off-roading again. We've really missed being able to do that since selling Paul's truck and we're excited to start going again.

We've all been itching to get out and go play together as a family now that our weather has started getting better and since it's been nice so much earlier this year than we're used to we took the first opportunity we got and took the kids out. Riann didn't really seem to remember how much we used to take her out on the dunes and seemed a little confused about the fact that we weren't driving on the road but as soon as she saw the "giant sandbox" she was happy to get out and go play.

Colby really seemed to like being out and playing with Daddy too but he was a little hesitant about getting his hands dirty. He loves the dirt and he loves being outside but he's not so interested yet in having dirty hands. Anytime he tripped and had to catch himself he'd take a little time to get back up and dust himself off. He never complained but as you can tell in the pictures above he kept his hands open and a free from sand as possible. I'm excited to get him out and have him get dirty this summer. I think we can fix this fast. :-)

Colby also LOVED watching the people out playing with their quads on the dunes. Anytime someone passed us he stopped dead in his tracks and didn't stop staring at them until they were well out of sight. I can't wait for him to get to play this summer with Grandma and Grandpa Vreeken when they come to visit, when Paul graduates. I think both kids are going to love getting rides and seeing what kind of fun we can really have out there!!

Before we packed up and left I took a few pictures of the area we were in. As much as I miss Seattle, and everything green, the area we live in is absolutely amazing. There are so many places out here that are just breath taking and I hope we get to go visit and play a lot more in our national parks and other areas out here before we make the decision to move (not that a move is in the plans anytime in the next little bit). It really does get more and more fun to be out as the kids get older and we get to share with them a few of the things that get us excited about where we live. I can't wait until everyone is older and we can go do, and share, more together.

Goodbye Dave and Terri

At the beginning of last month our neighbors and dear friends moved back home to California. We are going to miss them TONS but we are so excited that they get to be back with family. Before they left we had a fun "farewell" party at a friends house and it was great to get to spend a few hours together not doing anything but hanging out. The kids were so happy for the last chance to play too.

We love you guys and hope you're doing great back home!!! Can't wait until we get to see you again!!!

Dave, Terri and their little guy Nathan.
They're expecting baby #2 in August and I keep telling them I'm praying for a girl!!!

Our little "neighborhood family". We love all of these guys so much and they make being away from our real families so much more bearable.