Beutler Family Adventures: December 2025

Happy 13th Birthday, Lexi!

Happy 41st Birthday, Aubrey!

I got a wax melter for my birthday, and Macy and Benson got some drinks and sat here and watch the wax melt FOREVER. Who knew something so simple could keep their attention for so long?!

December Fun

It has been a busy month! This year all three of the my girls participated in the Stake Christmas Concert we put on for the community. Lexi sang in the adult choir with me, and Clara and Macy sang in the children's choir. I was asked to direct the children's choir, and it has been months of learning and hard work for me and the kids. We held practices in our living room (which turns out fits 15+ kids pretty well) from October - December. I actually really enjoyed practicing with the kids, but when we got up and performed one number with accompanying hand bells and another with oboes and flute, in front of hundreds of people over 2 different concerts, I got so nervous! I do not love having a stand-out role like that in front of so many people. The choir is my happy place. The kids did great though and I think it was a really positive experience for everyone.

Myrna brought the girls flowers.

I was just called to be the first counselor in our Relief Society Presidency, meaning I am the counselor over activities. The RS and Elders were in charge of the Christmas party, giving me a couple weeks to plan decorations and get it all together. Fortunately people signed up to bring food, and the Elder's Quorum put together a nice program with a nativity and music. My kids and another family from the ward were asked to sing one of the songs we sang for the Stake Christmas Concert, so we got another chance to perform. I think it turned out really well. Just a little stressful though. Dave strung our old Christmas lights across the gym to make it moody and I set up the Santa station and all of the table decorations. Go team, go!

Cole, Clara and Macy had their Christmas piano recital. We LOVE Sandy and all she does for our kids. She did mention that the music store where we held the recital was selling a used grand piano for a good price, so of course we had to go take a look. Needless to say, we came home with another baby. Hopefully it takes a little while for the excitement of a new piano and eagerness to practice to wear off.

Clara had a sneak peak dance performance of the song "Hot Chocolate" from Polar Express. Dance is a new world for her, but she's enjoying it.

Can you spy Mac in the picture?

Despite getting a new calling into the Relief Society, I had to finish out one last activity with my activity day girls. We coordinated with and association here in Colorado Springs that assists the elderly, decorating an assisted living home for Christmas as well as helping a few of the patrons who have their own apartments put up their decorations. It was a lot of work to coordinate and a lot of time, but I think it was worth it.

Finally a snow day! Very few of these so far this winter.

Benson is loving preschool and thriving.

His Christmas music concert was adorable.

Our neighbors, the Jacoby's, invited us to come over and decorate cookies with them.

Nathan and Lizi's family came for a visit, so of course we all had to get together and play games. We also went to Dart Wars together and rode the Ferris Wheel at Scheels. We had also a nice Christmas dinner and a family nativity at Mom and Dad's. Lots of kids, lots of noise, and lots of good memories.

Mom's Christmas dinner was 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' themed. She didn't miss a detail!

Dave has grown into his role as the star of the show.

Christmas Eve

We already had our big Christmas dinner and Nativity while Nathan's family was here, but we still felt like we needed something on Christmas Eve, so we had a Christmas Hymn sing-along. All the kids (and adults) who wanted to chose a song and played it on the piano while we sang along.

This year for Christmas we decided to take the kids on a trip to The Bahamas rather than buy tons of things. I had fun getting under the tree ready after they went to bed. I packed each kids suit case with everything they would need and tied a bow around them and stuck them under the tree along with some palm trees and flamingos. There was also a letter for them to open in the morning explaining they needed to "Thank your Mama because you're going to the Bahamas!" We needed to leave the house by 9am on Christmas morning, so it really was a Christmas Day gift.

Christmas Morning

The kids were a little confused and very surprised, but so excited once they realized what was happening. Santa filled their stockings and brought them each a new swimsuit, snorkel gear and a sun hat.

Bahamas Bound!

After opening their gifts to each other we quickly changed and off to the airport we went!

Benson got a scooter-suitcase for his birthday from his Grandma Beutler. It was awesome to have him walk/scooter the whole way through the airport by himself.

We spent a good chunk of our time at the Atlantis resort and waterpark. Our friends, the Stettlers, joined us for this trip. It was so fun for the kids (and the adults!) to have some friends to do things with!

The lazy river was a favorite for everyone. It was unlike any lazy river I have ever been on. It was really long, there were several spots with simulated rapids that you rode through, lots of waves and curves and turns, a conveyor belt in the middle to raise you higher so you could go downhill for longer, and stops where you could get in and out of the river to ride on some of the waterslides. Benson particularly loved it.

Pina Coladas by the pool with Mom was a special treat.

Another favorite of the trip was an all-day boat tour that took us to several different islands. We snorkeled with sea turtles, stopped and played on beautiful white sand beaches, did some more snorkeling at a coral reef, swam with and fed wild (or not-so-wild) pigs, and ate dinner at a floating restaurant. So many adventures in one!

Chilling by the pool after getting a little too much sun on our island hopping adventure the day before.

These two participated in a dance-off and placed, so they won shaved ice.

One of the water slides came out in a cenote, or a small underwater cave.

There was also a slide where you came out underwater in a pool with sharks swimming all around you. Clara loved it.

This drop also went through the shark pool, but you were going so fast in the tube that you didn't really see anything. Below is Clara, Lexi and Dave being brave.