Sunday, April 15, 2012

Easter at Grammy's House

We traveled to Arizona for spring break this year. The weather was gorgeous! We had a wonderful Easter dinner with the Tenneys and Grammy and Pa.

Camille trying to find the eggs she didn't hide.



Easter egg hunting at Grammy and Pa's house is full of possibilities...


The loot!

The kids agreed that cousins were definitely one of the the best parts of Easter.


Sticky fingers.


Bethany in her Easter finery.


I love being an aunt and getting to know all these special little people!





April Fools Day!

Carter has grown a beard!

Bethany was so excited to show us her "chicken pox"!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Crazy Hair Day!

Bethany's School had crazy hair day! This was as crazy as this mom could make it.
This great hairdo only lasted a little while, because Bethany got a headache and pulled it all out during class. I'm sure her teachers really appreciated this...

The back view. I took it when Bethany wasn't looking.

Bethany wanted to take a picture of me too!

Friday, February 24, 2012

OOPS!


Ryan broke his right arm February 16th while our family was cross-country skiing at Soldier Hollow. He had just fallen and had gotten up when he lost his balance on those long skies and fell again. That's when he broke his arm, both his radius and ulna. It was pretty traumatic for all of us. Ryan has a high pain tolerance but he was in more pain than I've ever seen him. Once they got to the hospital Scott was able to distract Ryan by pushing him all over in a wheelchair. Of course Ryan loved talking to the janitors and anyone else he could find in the halls while they waited for the doctor. They waited for over 2 1/2 hours, Ryan was such a trooper! Fortunately the medical staff put Ryan to sleep while the surgeon set his arm. That was pretty gross. The doctor has to twist his arm all over the place while simultaneously taking x-rays to see where the bones were. Watching the anesthesia take affect was the worst. His eyes were glassy and he didn't look like he was "in there".

A week after his accident Ryan is doing great. He is excited to get his cast next Thursday and hoping to be able to pick multiple colors... He loves showing his arm to every one. Because we were at a church activity everyone knew about his arm and he has gotten lots of get well phone calls, an ice cream sundae, cookies and more ice cream. Ryan told me a few days ago, "Lots of people love me!" It's almost tempting to breaking our arms too...

Ryan hasn't needed any of the pain medicine the doctor prescribed and is just taking ibuprofen. We were told he would be in a lot of pain and that we probably wouldn't get much sleep for the first few nights. We've been so blessed because Ryan sleep through that first night without interruption and every night since then!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Christmas 2011

Bethany with "Bumblehuff" her new pillow pet from Carter. Bethany also loves playing school with her new school kit. Her dollies are the students of course! Emily, Chloe, Ashley and Annie do every thing Bethany does. After school they have primary , play games, cook and watch movies with Bethany. Her dollies got a bunk bed with a trundle this Christmas from Santa. Finally Bethany has room to sleep in her own bed with just the special dolly of the day and Bumblehuff of course... Bethany tenderly gives her friends many kisses before everyone settles down. She'll be a great mommy someday!

Ryan holding his Football money bank from Grandma and Grandpa Butler. Ryan also got spy glasses from Santa that take pictures and videos, so we are now all under surveillance. You've been warned... With his BIG nerf gun Ryan has the firepower to back himself up!

Carter was unique this year in that he focused on what he didn't want. As an issue of self-preservation he didn't want Ryan to get a bigger nerf gun than him. He also didn't want Bethany to get any more dolls. (There is definitely limited room on the couch with Bethany and all her friends in attendance.) He got his first wish but not his second... The Air Hog helicopter Santa gave Carter is his favorite gift. He can fly like a pro, shoot missiles and even make non-crash landings!

The pictures we took of the rest of us are unflattering so I'll protect our fragile self-esteem and not post them. (We actually had to wake up the kids this year so we could finish opening presents in time for 9 am church! Maybe we can sleep in next year.) Camille asked for stuff for college. Camille is always ahead of the game, in fact she is the most prepared person I know! She got a rice maker, a gift certificate to Dairy Keen and fun money that she is under strict orders to spend not save. Girls gotta have fun!


I loved having Christmas on Sunday. It was special to celebrate the Savior's birth and remember His sacrifice as we took the sacrament. I wish we could have Christmas on Sunday every year. It was a beautiful sunny and warm Christmas this year. No snow but that's OK with me. There will be plenty of that later. We had a fancy candlelight dinner on Christmas Eve; ham, candied yams, homemade rolls, green beans and pumpkin pie. After dinner we went for a drive around the valley to look at the lights. Then to bed, thank goodness. On Christmas morning we had a sugarfest; cinnamon rolls, sugar cereal from Santa, and grape juice. We threw in some breakfast burritos from Beto's just to even things out a bit. Yum! Since Christmas is almost all about food we had more junk food for lunch; pizza! We enjoyed spending the day at home. We played with toys, watched movies, read books and took naps (at least Camille, Sarah and Scott did). It was a wonderful day.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

New Family pictures, Finally!


Tate Barn in Midway




Coke bottle glasses!


Scott thinks this one is super cheesy, but I like it!





Bethany's toothy grin

Some of Camille's senior pictures

Getting family pictures is hard work!! Finding clothes that everyone likes, a photographer who has realistic expectations, and most of all ensuring the kids cooperation! That was helped by a hefty bribe... Whew, we're done!

Preference Dance 2011


Okay, Grammy, here are your pictures finally...

We had a great time for preference, complete with an impromptu snowball/frosting fight (which I had nothing to do with, of course) and fancy dresses. And I still have not learned how to rotate the pictures...

Brittany (her date was late...)

Matt and Holly

Branton and Camille

Robyn and Connor
...Brittany's date

Branton and Camille

Matt, Holly, Branton, Camille, Nate, Brittany, Robyn, Connor

Best Friends! Brittany, Holly, Robyn, and Camille

Branton and Camille