The Beutel Blog: Parties and birthdays

Well, to start off with the basement, the drywall was successfully hung and one layer of mud was put on last week. It's really looking nice! The crew is here this week again to finish the mudding.

Also, Nate, Steph, and Elena are here!!! Hooray!!! We're actually leaving today to spend a few days with just the Dean Beutel family (minus Tim, who has to work) down in southern Illinois. I wanted to get this post up so my camera would be cleaned off. :)

Last Friday night was Melissa's personal shower, at her parents' house, hosted by her two sisters. Sheila, Katy, myself, and Brittany (one of Melissa's roommates last year) drove up to it. After we got there, we had some super fondue...oil for cooking, batter to dip cheese cubes and potatoes in before frying, and the best cheese fondue I have ever eaten. Really. I already have the recipe and want to make it. I didn't get too many pictures, but I did remember to snap a few, at least.

Fondue...so fun!

One of the pots, along with the bread cubes, mushrooms, beef, cheese cubes, cheese fondue, chicken, and shrimp. I'd never heard of doing the batter thing before. Oh my, those cheese cubes were good dipped in it and fried!

After supper we played a couple games and Melissa opened her gifts. Some of the time we just sat around and chatted, too. It was fun meeting Melissa's friends she grew up with along with a couple of her college roommates. Lots of memories shared and laughter! Eventually, once our food had settled and all the gifts were opened, we headed back to the table...for chocolate fondue! We were driving back that night, so we left right after the dessert. It was a super fun shower, though, and Melissa's sisters were awesome hostesses!

Oh, yum.

The Beutel women (apologies to Baby #2 if you're a boy)

On Saturday morning, despite a late night the night before, I met my good friend Julie for breakfast. We haven't really had a chance to catch up since she got engaged, so it was good to just sit and talk. Love ya, Jules!

Saturday evening was Tim's bachelor supper at Dad and Mom Beutel's house. Greg, being the best man, was hosting it with the other groomsmen (Mark and Tyler), so Max and I went to help. Actually, Sheila and Katy took Max out to eat at Monical's, which was really the best thing they could have possibly done! Greg and Dad grilled up a whole bunch of meat for the guys: teriyaki steak, a couple porkloins, some sausage, chicken breasts marinated in Italian dressing, and shrimp. Needless to say, it didn't take long to disappear. My hubby really knows how to grill! :D (Sorry, Dad, didn't mean to leave you out...the meat was all delicious!)

Greg manning the grill

The meat

Also on the menu: baked potatoes with toppings (thanks to Mark and Ashley), salad, and lots of fruit. Oh, and Dad Beutel cooked up the first sweet corn crop of the year as an appetizer. Sooooo good! For dessert, Tyler brought brownies and ice cream.

Other than helping get food around and doing dishes, I didn't really have to do much else since it was a bachelor supper and the guys were in charge. I pretty much sat around and chatted with Mom, Ashley, and Sheila and Katy. Oh, and chased Max some. Thankfully Greg and I had both our vehicles there so I eventually just took Max home to bed. I think all the guys enjoyed the bachelor party, though!

Sunday night we celebrated the July birthdays in the Rassi family: Jack (2) and Hope (3). Supper was delicous, as always, and it was fun to watch the kids open the presents. Ellie made chocolate chip cookie pizzas for dessert and brought ice cream. I have two new favorite flavors: Edy's S'mores and Edy's Caramel Cone Crunch. Oh, yum! (I must be pregnant...I just realized how much I've talked about food so far!) Anyway, here's the birthday boy, girl, and everyone else:

Jack, on Ellie's lap, Elisabeth, Hope, Silas

Singing happy birthday and blowing out the candles (Hope's birthday is this week...so she technically is still 2.)

Hope: "That's my umbrella!" She knew she was getting one, and was prety excited about it!

Hannah loooooved her ice cream cone! It was so funny to see her eat it...when she'd try to take a bite of cone, her whole nose would be dunked in the ice cream. :) I got a kick out of watching her toddle around and eat it.

Mmmm.

Jack, opening his present from us. (Sandbox toys)

I meant to get a picture of Jack being excited about his gift, but when I snapped the shutter he was looking at Jason, saying, "Open!" He wanted to get his truck out so he could play with it!

I know the real reason anyone reads this blog is to see the creative ways we let Max get dirty. Here's the end of last night, right before we left. Hannah had dumped leftover lemonade on the picnic table, so Mom Rassi gave Max a glass of water to 'wash himself off with.' He figured out it was really fun to shake the cup.

Last thing for the day: a Max antic. He was sitting on my lap as I was on the computer one day, and leaned forward and pounded on the keyboard. All of a sudden, the screen flashed black, and came back on...completely upside down. I was already IMing Greg, so I asked him to Google it for me, since I wasn't sure I'd be able to search and figure out the problem while reading upside down. We got it figured out, but it was just kind of funny. One of those things that makes me shake my head and say, "Oh, Max!"

I promise, I did not turn the camera upside down for these pictures. This is me asking Greg to tell me what to do to fix it!