Rodeo Fun = Exhaustion

We all had a blast at the Reno Rodeo this week. The whole family went on Thursday and Friday. Becki (Scott's mom) and Christopher (Scott's brother) came down from Susanville and spent a couple days with us. We took some family pictures but I'm still learning to use my new camera and they didn't turn out.

My boys are sure adorable though.

The rodeo has lasted to about 10:30pm the last couple nights and Noah is feeling quite exhausted. He started his afternoon nap a little early today...I just had to share.

Our beginning to present

Rodeo and Racing...a Bell and Boutcher Tradition!

Wow, have we been busy! This beautiful Nevada weather has gotten us all out of the house and enjoying the great outdoors. We've been fishing, walking at the marina, and building garden boxes for Noah's first garden.

It's been a joy watching Noah truly playing outside this summer and getting into EVERYTHING. My theory on mothering "If my kid is dirty and tired at the end of the day I've done a good job." It's wonderful watching him experience the blessing that God has so richly given us in this life.

We've been spending quite a bit of time at my parents house with the horses, dogs, and our most recent discovery....the backhoe. Dad taught him how to move the bucket up and down although he still doesn't quite have enough strength to do it himself. As soon as we drive up to their house now he makes a b-line straight for his new play toy.

We bought a season pass to Wild Waters this summer and have been going about 2 days a week. I met an amazing stay-at-home Mom friend, Crystal, and her wonderful children a couple months back and they've been going with us. Her youngest, Cavan, is only 4 days younger than Noah so they've become great playmates. Also, Samantha Brunson, a girl from church stayed with Noah and I during the day the last couple weeks. Noah's becoming quite the water baby!

Not only has the water park been a big hit, but he's been working on his racing...much to his father's approval.

Scott and I went to Sonoma last weekend for my first NASCAR Cup race! It was a blast! We went to practice and a California series on Saturday and then the Cup series on Sunday.

Unfortunately, Tony Steward didn't have the time to come and visit me personally....but that didn't stop me from giving his cutout a little love.

Meanwhile, back in Nevada Noah enjoyed a weekend full of Rodeo. The Reno Rodeo is this week and and he dressed the part. Mom took him to the parade on Saturday morning and he rode around like a big boy with Grandpa Randy. They took him to the rodeo on Sunday night and he's now a big fan of the Wildest, Richest, Rodeo in the West! We're going again on Thursday and Friday and I'm make sure to take some pictures. He's just the cutest cowboy I've ever seen!

Sharing our Blessing

I've finally found time to jump on the blogging bandwagon. I've been good about sending out e-mails occasionally the last 1-1/2 years to update all our loved ones on Noah's milestones but this will be much easier. I have so many pictures I'd like to share but due to time I must begin with what's current. Just too many funny stories and pictures.


Noah's personality just seems to get sillier and sillier every day. If you've spent much time around him the last 6 months his favorite universal word for everything has been "Ah Da". Who knows what it means but he speaks it with such enthusiasm. Finally he's starting to talk saying words like DaDa, Dog, Boo, Hi, and FINALLY Mama! As much as I treasured "Ah Da" one can only hear it so many times in a day before it becomes monotonous.




Mom and I took him up to the lake a couple weeks ago and put his feet in the creek. The water this time of the year up in the mountains is extremely cold because it's just melted snow. He just loved putting his feet in it (at least for a couple minutes) before his little feet froze and he had to warm up. As soon as he warmed up he was right back in thinking he could walk into the middle himself. That's our dare devil.
















Jeremiah and Noah are becoming the best of pals. They read a hunting magazine together the other day. This kid is doomed to be an animal killer just like his Grandpa, Uncle, Daddy, and oh yes....Mommy too!