A "Toe Tappin' Time"

Cami in front of the elaborate stage decorations.

You should always stop to smell the flowers,
even if they are fake. 

Cami and her best friend Jessica Perry.

Dancing. . .

"Put another nickle in. .  in the Nickelodeon. . . "

Ta Da!!! 

Cami takes tap lessons from Bea and Sarah Stirland.  This performance was with the Adagio Dance studio in Hurricane.  The dress rehearsal lasted for 4 1/2 hours on Friday, and the performance lasted for 2.  It was so worth it to see Cami and her friends perform so well and we really love dancing with Bea and her girls.  Thanks Bea!!  Good job Cami!

Water, Water everywhere!

 Today I had the privilege to go on a field trip with Dalyon.  It is always fun to go with the kids and see what they do in school and how they interact with their friends.  It has been a while since I went with them (about a year to be precise) and it was good to spend the morning with Dalyon.  We went to the "Water Fair" at Dixie State College.  It is a big production put on by the Utah water conservation department.  We learned about the ancient people who lived here and how they made pottery, used water, and about their technology back then.  We went to a class that taught us about the Hurricane water system, where we get our water, who works on the systems and what they add to the water to keep it safe.  Our natural spring is in Toquerville and the water is treated and pumped into the surrounding areas.  We learned about the water cycle and the kids got a chance to act it out by being wind, condensation, and precipitation.  They danced around and were silly, some more than others.  Dalyon and I took a minute to go and visit Grandma Winn at the Institute of Religion next door, because we knew she would be working today (and we saw her car).  For Dalyon the highlight of the experience was the mini class that showed us how they predict weather and the teacher had a machine that created a little tornado in the  room.  He also had videos from storm chasers that showed Category 5 tornadoes.  They are crazy scientists we decided (the storm chasers are crazy).  He also had a lot of "destruction" pictures of severe weather around our area.  I realized that we have really had some damaging storms and floods come through lately.  Here are a few pictures of our experience today.




Dalyon is sitting in a classroom at Dixie State College.  The seats
were a very big distraction for the kids because they swivel. 




Chanting and dancing.  Wind (clap) Wind (clap)




Condensation (clap) Condensation (clap)




PALS:   Dalyon and Dallas Davidson. 




Dalyon was precipitation.  He was a good raindrop that fell
to the ground and laid there chanting precipitation (clap) precipitation
(clap) precipitation (clap).  What a silly kid. 



Mothers Day

Last week at this time, during our Family Home Evening business meeting I reminded everyone that "in only 7 days is Mothers Day".  We all laughed about the reminder and went about the week.  I must say, it has been a fabulous Mothers Day for me.  Friday night Doug came home with a very gorgeous bouquet of roses and Lillie's.  He said that every woman in Costco was envious as he purchased them, and they are beautiful. 

Beautiful pink tipped roses and orange Lillie's.  I love it!!!

This almost looks fake.  It opened this morning.  Nice!

Just turn your head to the side and you'll get the full affect. 

Saturday morning Cami surprised me with breakfast in bed and eggs that she had cooked herself (she is 8!).  It was delicious, and she couldn't wait to give me the gift she had made in school, a very colorful necklace and picnic plates. 
Sunday morning Doug, Cody and Dalyon again made me a very nice breakfast in bed with freshly squeezed orange juice!  They said it took six oranges to create 1/2 a glass of juice.  That was the best orange juice I have EVER tasted!  It was very naturally sweet.  At church they gave out king size chocolate bars (the ladies were soooo happy) and the boys made lunch today.

Nothing says "I love you" more than the boys cooking dinner!
And they cooked their specialty, tin foil dinners!  Thanks guys!

On my bed this afternoon I found a very special note from Mady, and lots of pictures and drawings from Cami and Dalyon. 
It has been such a special Mothers Day for me!  I thought it was funny last week when I reminded everyone of the holiday coming up, and now I'm so glad that I did because it has been a very special day for me.  Thanks to all my wonderful kids and super husband for all you did for me today!!  I really love you all!!  I am so grateful that you have all given me the opportunity to be a mom.  There is nothing like the joy I feel from being apart of your lives!  Thanks!

Cloggin' beats joggin'!



Cami clogging at her review.



When I was growing up I loved to dance.  My mom enrolled me into ballet at a very young age, and I evolved into tap and Jazz, and clogging.  I really liked it all, and especially had a great time clogging.  Since becoming a mom, I have enjoyed watching my girls get involved in dance too.  On March 26, 2011 Mady and her group the "All American Cloggers" competed at the dance competition in St. George and did a great job!  We found out later that they received a 1 in rating and won Grand Champion!  They got a great big trophy and everything!!  It was so fun!  Cami is a beginning clogger, and does a really great job smiling and moving her feet at the same time.  I think she is also going to enjoy clogging with us.  Her are some pictures of our performances.

Dancing to "Hand Jive" from the movie Grease.



Madi Clogging at the St. George Arts Festival. 

What a pretty smile! 

The All American Cloggers posing for a picture.



My friend Chad King and I clogging when I was
about 14 or 15.  Love the dress!  Ha Ha Ha!

We are sooooo looking forward to performing at Disneyland on June 2!  What a great opportunity for our girls, and a ton of fun for the rest of us.

Spring "Fooo-ball"

This year Cody has discovered something that he is really enjoying, and that if Tackle Football.  He is in the 6th grade, and was talked into trying it with his friend Carson.  He decided it was a really good out for him and I loved the fact that it is a healthy place for him to work out his aggression.   His coach called him again this spring to invite him to play spring football and he jumped at the chance.  He plays a lot of different positions, but really likes center and tackle.  He played in the Youth Football USA league for the spring.  I think he looks so tough in his uniform and its fun to see the Beutler name on the back of a player.  We are proud of you Cody!   Go Tigers!!!

Good Game!  Good Game!  Good Game!!

"Hog Heaven"

Dixie Junior

Livestock Show

 2011

Every year for the past 6 years our family has raised hogs for 4-H and FFA clubs. Our 4-H club is called "Hog Heaven", named by Kelly Ashcroft who used to show hogs, but now show steers.   Each year we learn a lot, and have a really great time.  Austin started out when he was 11 and has competed every year since.  Each year is filled with drama, sometimes the pigs don't make weight, sometimes we don't make any money, or go in the hole.  Some years the buyer forgets to come, or someone gets hurt, but we continue to look forward to the show regardless.  In the end it is alway a good experience. 


This year was probably our best year yet. All of the hogs made weight, which is at least 220 pounds. This is such a huge relief.  In years past if your hog did not make weight, you could show for showmanship, but not for livestock judging, which meant you couldn't sell on Saturday.  If you brought your underweight hog to the show, you still have to butcher the hog because Utah law says that you can't take the hog home from the show because of the threat of a swine virus that kills the hogs.  This year they changed the rule, but we still stressed about the pigs making weight to enable us to sell the animals at the end of the show.  We entered four pigs/kids this year and it was really good to see them all participate. We also had Carson Bjelland, a friend of Cody's participate with us this year for his first year. We are so proud of all of the kids and their hard work getting ready for the show as well as their performances there. Be ready for pictures galore!!


Thursday:  Weigh in and Showmanship competition.
Here the kids get judged on their showmanship skills.


This is Carson and his pig Peaches.  We couldn't fit all of our hogs in our trailer, and his too
so we took ours to the show first, then were going to go and get his (we had until noon to do this).
Carson got really nervous and impatient so he and his mom rigged up their trailer "hillbilly" style so
he could get his hog to the show early.  I now know Jenny (Carsons mom) can do anything.




Setting up for the show.  Dalyon has a portable waterer in his hands.



Carson and Cody all set up and the pigs are getting comfortable.



Austin studying what was in our feed for the showmanship judging part of the show. 




Austin showing his pig.  He made it back to the star class and took
11th overall. 





Mady in the showmanship round.  She took Intermediate Reserve!! 
(That is second place overall)  She smiled and did exactly what
she was supposed to.  She did SSSOOOOOO GREAT!!!! 





Cody in Showmanship. Doesn't he look handsome?



Dalyon in Showmanship.
 He took eighth overall all in his age class making it to the
star class.   Good job Dalyon!!!

 Friday:  Livestock Judging

In preparation for the show, the kids have to wash and shave their pigs.  The shaving we did at home a week ago, and before each show they have to wash and brush them.  This IS a beauty pageant after all.

The kids get so attached to their animals.  The hogs don't
care if they snuggle with them.  They are clean and in shavings.
The kids have a great time when they aren't showing.  They take
good care of the animals, and also have squirt bottle wars, eat greasy
hamburgers and fries, and really have a good time. 

 Friday: Livestock judging

Dalyon having his hog  judged. 

 

He took fifth overall in his weight class and received a blue
ribbon for his hog.

Cody received a blue ribbon for his hog.

Mady received a blue ribbon for her hog and got 4th overall in her weight class.

Austin received a blue ribbon and was reserve (2nd place) in his
weight class.  Way to go Austin!!

Friday Night Award Ceremony

Dalyon received a cool t-shirt for making it to the star class
for showmanship.  Good job Dalyon!



Mady received a $100 savings bond for being awarded Intermediate reserve
in showmanship.  Way to go Mady!!



Mady displays her cool shirt and certificate, as well as her excitement.




The Dance

 

The dance is always one of the highlights of the show.  We all get out get a little crazy.  I love to do the Macarana and line dances with the kids.  Doug even got into the fun and danced some slow dances with Cami and I.  It took Cody a while to get up the courage, but he finally asked a cute girl from Veyo to dance.  He did a few swing moves and says he "wowed" her.  Way to go Cody!  Austin is doing a candlestick move with Cami  in the pictures above.  It ended up being a fabulous night.

The final day of the show is the auction.  This is a stressful day for us because we really want to recoup our money from raising the hogs, and if possible make a profit.  This year we are really grateful to have broken even.  It cost us about $450 a hog to raise them for the show, and each of us got at least that.  The economy really tightened things up for everyone and fortunately  we were able to get a buyer and sell.  What is the most important though is that the kids learn something and have a chance to compete and be good sports.  The livestock show is very similar to life.  You have your success's, and disappointments, sometimes you sell high, or could possibly go in the hole, you are subject to others opinions and judgements, and politics.  But in the end what matters most is how you handle each situation, and how you feel inside about your performance, knowing that it is all for our growth and progress and that we are always OK, no matter what happens. Something I hope we can alsways remember.