SUMMER FUN

Since I have slacked on blogging here is a quick update on the summer fun that we've been having!!

FIRST - of course SWIMMING!!

How to survive a summer with humidity - well you are wet already so just go swimming all day long! Here are some pictures of us having fun swimming at the Links pool.

Stanger's just got their pool working again too - so we've invaded them also - and they always say everyone is welcome so come on out too!!

SECOND - GirL's NiGhTs OUT to RiTa'S!

Leave the kids and have fun with the GIRLS! Deborah, Alisa and I had a blast at Rita's. There we lots of comments on how we all felt like teenagers again - we just would laugh about everything and really had a silly time!

Well one of the funny things was trying to get a picture with "the Hand Shot" and let's just say this is one that passed but believe me it was at least the hundreth picture which of course we still didn't all like - so we got someone to take a shot for us finally at the end :)

THIRD - CONCERTS in THE PARK!!

This is one of our FAVORITE things about living here - Rhett and I LOVE the concerts in the park during the summer. They are at a park real close by that we just walk to and bring blankets and lay and lounge and listen to the music, which is mostly good, of course some bands are better than others :)

Gunnar also loves the concerts - he runs and runs and laughs. Isn't this picture cute - you can really SEE how much FUN he is having!

Preston is caught dancing the only way he can right now - waving those arms!

FOURTH - CaRniVaL fuN!

It was both the boys first time to the carnival this summer as we hit the Sykesville Carnival. We all had a blast! Funnel Cakes, Rides, and BIG BIG Stuffed Animals!!

Yes that is right Rhett had to win at a game - so of course Basketball - he took two shots and Gunnar and him got to choose a stuffed animal.

Gunnar of course had to choose the BIGGEST one he could - so now we have TIGGER. Check out the size of him next to Preston - it was pretty funny! Preston really liked the tiger next to him in the stroller!

Last of ALL - BAUGHER'S

Yes, we went to baugher's for the first time this summer and now have been three times since! It is quite the place!!

We got to pick strawberries the first time we went and Gunnar ate more there then we actually brought home.

Then the next time we went it was mainly for the animals - Gunnar you can't get him away from them.

Now you can see Preston is at the grabbing stage where he grabs anything that he can and he too loved those animals!

We've gone with lots of friends too - here is Joshua and Suzanne on the teeter - taughter swing thing.

Oh and Deborah had a stroller that the donkey just loved or maybe he just really needed to scratch his bum ALL day Long!!

Preston's Half Birthday!

Yes I can't believe that my new born is already six months and growing every day. The time sure does fly alot faster with the second baby. Well for Preston's half birthday we had to party of course! Here's the Party Animals!!

Gunnar helped make Preston's cake and LOVED the sqaure pieces on the sides and ate every single one of them - I guess since it was basically his half birthday too what the heck they both can have half a cake :)

Preston was covered with chocolate sooo he too loved the chocolate. The dog also loved the chocolate as she would lick it off of Preston. It was pretty funny - Preston kept putting his hands out to get the dog to come over and then you would see him smile and Gunnar laughing and all of us having a good time!

Here's my two December boys!!

TRACTORS, TRACTORS!

With two boys - tractors are a favorite in our house. And luckily we have had sewer work done in the cultasac right next to us that Gunnar and Preston have gotten to get close! Every day Gunnar here's the noise and says TRACTOR Mom!! So we go for a little walk and see the tractors!

Now we have gotten to really know the tractor guys and they even let Gunnar on the tractor's - even asked if he wanted a ride, but Gunnar wasn't quite ready for that - but he climbed on board for a picture anyhow!

MY BOYS AND THEIR HARD HATS!

They really got to know us as we'd go down every day for the whole week or two they were here - so one guy brought the boys hard hats to go with the tractors. His name was Back Hoe Bill!! He was a 70 year old guy and they were just so sweet - we had to bring cookies to them before the job was done. We still go by the cultasac but now Gunnar says "where'd the rocks go, where's the tractors Mom"

Luckily highway 32 will never be done - so we still see tractors as we go on errands!

Our Camping Trip

Memorial Weekend, what should we do?? GO CAMPING, of course!

It was the first time that Rhett and I ever have gone camping with the KIDS and we had an awesome time! We went with the Linton's and Carter's from the Stake to the Greenbelt National Park Campsite right by DC, it was so beautiful - I diffenantly would recommend it!

Here we are setting up the tent - Gunnar enjoyed trying to put the sticks together!

The TENT is UP! YEAH!!!

Gunnar was excited to go camping and was pretty thrilled to have a tent and get to sleep in it. The first night was funny he had a little flashlight and kept getting out of his sleeping bag and going all around the tent - eventually he crashed - but it was fun to play games and watch from the outside this shadow constantly moving :)

Boys and their Cheetohs!
Braden and Gunnar sure had a fun time with one another! As long as cheetoh's are involved what else do you need. I think they ate almost the whole bag the first night!

What's Camping without WATERMELON and HOTDOGS!!!

These are just the cutest pictures of Preston eating a watermelon!

Rhett just kept laughing and laughing at him.

BIKING!
The Carters brought their bikes and let all of us take turns riding it! We had so much fun that Rhett now wants to get a bike hook up for us too!

We especially loved it because it was an easy way to get the kids to nap :) Aren't they sooo cute!

Here's Preston - lounging! The best thing about camping is the relaxation. Nothing to do but eat and hang out. Preston says "I'm a professional at this" and so dang cute at it too!

The worse thing about camping - I'd have to say TICKS!! We had at least five ticks each, except for Preston which had none thankfully! One morning I woke up and looked at Gunnar sleeping so nicely with a HUGE TICK on his Eyelid - no picture unfortunately but I am sure you have a pretty good picture in your mind anyways! It took a lot of tries to get that one out - but with Gunnar sleeping I could take a lot of tries - on the very last one he woke up! The Lord blessed us :) Rhett also got a tick in a funny place - but I'll let you just imagine where :)

Camping, Camping - lots of fun!

Preston's Blessing

Well since I just started I have to catch up, right? And of course these pictures are just too cute to pass up plus I haven't even sent them out to family - sooo here you go!! :) Better late then never!

Well we were so lucky to be able to go down to Utah to bless Preston. It was so nice to be with family and show off our new little bundle of joy. Preston was given a name and a blessing by his Dad, Rhett Rhees with all of his Uncles and Grandpa Rhees circling him with Preisthood power.

Isn't he just soo handsome!

And then there was another.... It is such a special blessing to have another wonderful child. I feel as if the Lord has poured out blessings upon us with giving Rhett and I the opportunity to raise such choiced spirits! We are truely grateful for our Little Preston Dean that has joined our little family, and of course for the oh so BIG now, Gunnar William.

The Brother Shot: Oh so BIG Gunnar and Little Preston Dean.

Preston's Circle of Priesthood Power!Cousin Brinley and Preston - only a couple months apart!

Here is the Rhees Clan. All of Rhett's Brothers and Sister were there along with Aunt Lois and Uncle Kent. It was so nice to have everyone together! Grandma and Grandpa's time to Squeaze!
The Merrell Clan - Luckily I have two sisters and a brother that live in Utah too. So it sure did work out nicely to have them there too. Plus my Mom was able to come up from Arizona, too. We loved having so much family around!

Grandma's are always fun to have hold the new baby - it is a good thing too seeing how Gunnar loves my hip :)

The Rose Ball

Oh the fun of dancing!! This was our first time to the "Rose Ball" and we had a blast. Rhett of course is a great dancer - always keeping me laughing and smiling as he twirls me like a princess. The Rose Ball was like a adult Mormon Prom that they have every year here so we'll be sure to make it next year too. They had great entertainment too - someone sang "how do you know he loves you" and "I'm dreaming of a true love's kiss" from Enchanted it was really cute.

Here are some friends from our ward - it was a great time to also visit and just hang out with everyone - church seems to be so hectic unless your in the mother's room :)

The Edmans, Larsons and of course us.

Our Dog - Sophie

Yes, that is right! We finally got our Maryland Dog. It has taken a few turn downs from even shelters but after much preserverance we found "SOPHIE" She is the sweetest boxer and you can see that her and Gunnar really get a long well. The first day we got here - we wanted to give her back - our life all of sudden went to three "wild" kids. The Second day she was better and in our minds we were saying well maybe or maybe not, but by the third day she won us over and now we'll keep her for sure!

Sorry I can't figure out how to turn the photos, so just turn your head :)
Gunnar loves his new dog - every morning he wakes up and says "I go see dog, Mom", then before bedtime he has to give the dog kisses - which Sophie loves to give also. Now for scripture reading he has to sit by the dog and you can see in this picture he likes to lay by the dog, too.