Our Merry Christmas!

Well, as you can see Santa Claus did make it to our home! I think every year the boys get more excited and it makes so fun for us. Fun times and memories to be made!

Thomas is still a celebrity at our house and the jet engine was a must have this year.

Carson multi-tasking...and yes that is drool on his shirt. He has had a bit of a cold and well you can figure out the rest.



Grandma and Grandpa Butler sent this wagon.....so fun!

The most exciting thing about this wagon are the restraints :)

When you have a monkey like we do, it's in their own best interest.

I realized I haven't even taken any pictures of the tree. Good grief, after all the time it takes to set the darn thing up you'd think we'd post pictures everywhere! Well, maybe before it's time to take it down.

Happy Holidays to all of you our friends and family!

Catching up!

I was thinking to myself what a shame it was that I haven't posted anything since November and then the cruel reality hit.....October! It's been since October! So I suppose we'll pick up where we left off.

Yes, 3 boys is what we have in case you doubted for a brief moment. What are you going to do if one insists on being a witch? Oh...a Warlock right?! No a WITCH! Funny stories as I'm sure you can imagine but no skin of his nose, he loved it!

The crew getting ready to go out.

A little uncomfortable?

Nah!!!!! This is a boy who sleeps best with a kinked out neck which cracks me up because when the boys were babies I was always so concerned about "kinked" necks. Hmmm.....how can this possibly be comfortable?

We had a wonderful Thankgiving with family and have enjoyed several Christmas outings as well. A trip on the Polar Express was a fun adventure and dowtown to see the Christmas lights that never dissapoint!

Merry Christmas!

How was that for lightning speed update?

Autumn in the Park

Look at this and you won't ever have to wonder why Fall is my favorite time of year. I'm always reminiscent this time of year because this is the season that Matt and I met and decided to spend our lives together. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the seasons come and go and how time flies without really acknowledging it's passage. I can't believe how big the boys are and how much they add to our lives. Each their own little personality and I wonder how it can be when they came from the same mould, but different they are!

Does it really get any better than this? Pure joy and at so little a cost.



Two peas in a pod.




Almost walking!

Bliss on a cool Autumn Evening!

The Top of the World

Saturday we spent the afternoon up at Snowbird with the boys and rode the tram. Can you say amazing?! What a beautiful state we live in! Nearly 3000 feet up in less than 10 minutes.

The Crew....

Don't step back!! No guard rails on the mountain that's for sure!


This view...priceless!

Big Jacks is 4!

It's official! Our Big Jacks is 4 years old. What a great kid he is! Today was a big day of course and to top it off it was a preschool day so add that to the excitement. Jackson helped me make this little poster to share with his classmates so that they would know all about him and what he likes.

He wasn't so much a fan of the crown or "clown" as he referred to it. He only kept it on long enough to get this pic. He came to me very seriously and said quietly "Take this thing of my head. Take it home and put it on the counter."

Happy as a couple of clams. Ethan loves to wrap em' and Jacks likes to do the unwrapping.

Not to be forgotten....Matt had a birthday this past week too! We spent time as a family up the canyon exploring and hiking around Alta ski resort for his big day.

We found this old ski lift chair on one of the trails. We got this picture of Carson right before he tried to fall through the back. You'll notice we don't have too many pics of this kid and for good reason. He's fast, he's wiggly and he has his own agenda!


Happy Birthday Matt!

Summer into Fall

Isn't it amazing how quickly summer flies by when you're an adult?! It seems just like yesterday we were anticipating our summertime plans and being home together. Now it's back to the old grind of school and schedules. But what a good time we did have rounding out the warm days of summertime fun! Here's the proof.....

Who is this silly googly eyed boy? They loved these goggles!

Gotta keep the water out the eyes when sliding full speed.

Ethan enjoying a little hot dog with his corn cob holders. Did we mention this boy LOVES watermelon? Can't get enough!

Our little trip to the zoo. We went and picked up Dad from work and headed over together to have a little fun.

Back to school! Ethan on his first day of first grade.

Big Jacks headed off to preschool...rain or shine! He loved it and asked if I could drop him off there again.

Dad and Ethan scored some tickets to the BYU football game. Ethan's first game, I think he's a fan. He's the easiest kid to take anywhere. Before this game they spent the night before....

Camping! Also a first for Ethan. Matt is the YM's president and had a campout to attend. I'm thrilled to have 3 boys that will all be able to go together in a few short years, something I'm looking forward to!

A couple of good looking boys if I do say so myself.

Our Birthday Boy!

My baby is 1! We thought it only fitting that the birthday boy be in his birthday suit for the big day. Actually there are a number of other reasons this little one is running around looking like this...First he is sooo busy that he doesn't want to take the time to hold still long enough for mom and dad to put his clothes on. Second, when he does have clothes on they are soaking wet in the front because of a leak he has a sprung....(something to do with the teeth perhaps), or they are filthy because he is a very messy guy!

His favorite gift was not the new toys but the crib bumpers that Grandma and Grandpa had delivered from Pottery Barn. Mom loves them because they're cute but Carson loved them because he could do this:

and this.........he seriously did this for like 5 or 10 minutes, just back and forth!

Happy Birthday Carson! One to eat and one for destruction.

Hmmmm....not too sure. Poke, poke.



Delicious! Frosting is the best!

We Love YOU!

Summertime Provident Living

All I think of when I see this picture is look out! Put away your breakables! You can imagine that my home in completely overrun by little boys (and that doesn't even include the friends that come over!) Our boys are lucky to have little buddies that they can play with all the time.....as crazy and messy as it can be!

This year (a little late in the year I might add) after much council about provident living from a good friend at work, Matt decided that it was necessary to plant a garden. We've given it our best go at it and seen the fruits (or actually vegetables) of our labors. The boys have really had a great time with it and it's been a good learning tool. You really can't beat the little bean sprouts to death with the hose sprayer on jet and expect to get a return. While water is definitely a good thing it has to come in moderation and with a lot less power!

This is our little garden and hey it's not dead so I guess we're doing something right!

Wow! Our first squash! I told them we had to document it on camera for posterity. The sun was blaring in their eyes and I just couldn't get them to look at me without squinting or closing their eyes.

Here is the squash a little closer up....what can I say, we're proud! We're still very hopeful on everything else. I can say we have enjoyed two little strawberries as well....delicious!

I've been tagged!

So the rules are: 3 Joys , 3 Fears, 3 Current Obsessions, 3 Random Surprising Facts

Let's give this a whirl!

My Joys:

My husband (I am a lucky girl!)

My 3 boys

My business http://www.betterhomeinteriors.com/ (it keeps me sane!)

My Fears:

Losing my husband in an accident

Doing risky things I deem unneccessary (other people call those same things fun)

Having wayward children.

3 Current Obsessions:

Finding good deals (especially on clothes for my boys, Matt included)

Picture Frames....I seriously didn't realize it but dang I've got a lot of them, and they are all hanging!

My website...I keep working and working and working, I doubt it will ever be perfect!

3 Random Surprising Facts:

I am really cheap! I don't think people realize how bad I am...it probably really belongs under obsessions !

I love.....love breaded fried mushrooms. Thanks Dad!

I hope this last one isn't too surprising but I really like to keep in touch with friends and family. It takes some effort, but boy is it worth it. I love taking a walk down memory lane and thinking about past good times and I appreciate those that also make the effort!

So my turn to pick on you! Consider yourself tagged:

Lucie Chamberlain

Elizabeth Smith

Lia Anderson

Natalie Needham

Lindsay Blackburn

Sister Kathryn Clark

What do you think? Could this possibly be the best looking sister missionary that you've ever seen? My sister Kathryn went in the the MTC on July 16 th and will be serving in the Washington DC South Mission. We are so proud of her and excited about her decision to serve but we are going to miss her soooo much! She is a very important in the lives of our boys and as my only sister I'm feeling the loss. Wow! I hope the time goes fast.

Here is our beautiful missionary and a little teary eyed mom.

The Nephews! Boy (and I mean boy literally) will there be changes to these little ones in 18 months! They will miss their Aunt Kath!

Matt and I hope we will be standing in front of this same sign with these future missionaries. I'm sure the time will come faster than we can possibly believe.