In Memory of Grandma Butler

This has been a sad weekend for us. Our puppy died on Friday and our dear Grandma Butler died this morning on Sunday. On Thursday, Ken and I spent some time with Grandma and brought her her favorite meal....a Taco Bell taco. Saturday morning, we got a call from Ruth letting us know Grandma had severe stomach pain. We took the kids over and spent some time visiting. This morning, we were getting ready to go spend more time with Grandma before we headed to church and got the call that she had just passed away. Grandma was an amazing woman full of kindness, quick wit, and playfulness. She was still getting down on the floor to play with the kids with no help. My children are so blessed to have known their great grandmother so well and she will be truly missed.

We were able to stand around Grandma's bed side this morning so the kids could say goodbye. Ken explained to them why she was pale and her skin was cold to the touch. Christian took out her earrings and Madison took off her rings in preparation for her cremation. It was a very tender moment to see my kids want to help and participate in laying her to rest.

There will be a memorial in California at the end of the month where we will lay her to rest beside Grandpa Butler in Hayward, Ca.

This 4 generation picture was taken just a few short weeks ago. So glad I thought to take it!

OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN

Today, and the next day, and then next day....our hearts are broken. Today, our 7 month old Australian Shepherd named Sounder died. We are so incredibly sad. Sounder chased Ken's truck when he left for work and somehow got caught under the back wheel and died instantly. We take great peace in knowing he didn't suffer and that his last 24 hours on earth were good ones. Yesterday, Ken and I took Sounder and Hope around on our errands, took them to Ken's parents house to play with their dogs, and then down to the Columbia River to swim. It was Sounder's first time swimming in "the deep end." This morning, he made both trips with us up to the bus stop with the kids. This was one special dog and a member of our family. We now feel empty and sad inside but know that this feeling will pass but we will forever remember our favorite puppy named Sounder.

WE'VE GOT PUPPIES!

Right after puppy #1 came out and Sammy ate the sack.
Puppy 1 and 2 came ten minutes. It was about 1 an hour after that.
Giving Sounder some TLC and encouragement. Us Mom's have to stick together.
I woke everyone up at about 2:30 right after #3 was born so they could see it.
Just a few hours old.

TODAY at 3 DAYS
These were taken today! All of them are black and white except one that has brown. They're all so cute! Can't wait to play with them!


On November 10th, I pulled into my driveway and there was a strange dog sitting in the middle of it. At first I thought it was our 5 month old puppy Sounder but then realized when I got out that I didn't know this dog. We gave her a warm garage to sleep in as it was freezing outside but left the door open so she could leave. We woke up to her. We proceeded to give her food and a warm garage while we asked around and put an ad in the paper for a missing dog. We talked about the possibility of someone having dumped her at the end of Reata.

We fully intended to give this dog away. However, she quickly won over our hearts. She's extremely obedient and hardly ever barks which I LOVE!

Since being with us, the kids named her Sammy and she has slimmed down quite a bit since living here. 3 weeks ago, Ken mentioned he thought she might be pregnant due to her belly size. I took her the vet and they confirmed the pregnancy and said she was due somewhere around 2-3 weeks.

I was hoping she would have her babies between Christmas and New Year's before I went to Boise for the New Year weekend. Less then 6 hours after I returned home right before midnight on the 3rd of January, Sammy had her first baby. I stayed up for 4 of the 5 and was with her but she did awesome! 3 girls and 2 boys.

We are fortunate that Sammy chose our house!

Idaho Weekend-New Years and Baptism

Ringing in the New Year at midnight.
Mom, Dad, Reagan, and Christian
Cheers!

Alex's Baptism after her confirmation.

Brad and Nina and AlexBrad and Nina's kids with Alex.


We had a dinner afterward and Dad found this chef hat and coat in the kitchen and HAD to wear it!
My family minus one brother, J. From left: Mike, Bob, Mom, Dad, me, Brad
I love this shot.....but not as much as I love my brothers!
The girls in the family minus J's wife Jenn. LEft: Me, Nina, Julina, Wendy, and Mom.


We spent New Year's weekend with Bob's family in Idaho for their oldest daughters' baptism. We played hilarious group games and rang in the New Year with them and Wendy's side of the family as well. We learned an awesome new game called Settlers of Catan and played it a couple of times each day.

Congratulations, Alex on your beautiful baptism!

ALL ABOARD!

This weekend was Polar Express time! We drove to Hood River, OR to the Mt. Hood Railroad to ride the Polar Express train. Our expectations were low based upon some friends who have gone before. Our train was sold out...390 passengers... but the freeway between Hood River and Portland was shut down due to icy conditions which left our train with MANY empty seats. We had an awesome time! The train was old which is part of its charm and we got individual attention from the conductor, elves, and Santa since so many people were missing. Our hot chocolate was even luke warm! The Polar Express book was read to us over the loud speaker and we sang christmas carols. The ride was an hour and a half. We take a trip to the North Pole where Santa and his Elves join us on the train and there is a little village to see outside of the train but we don't get off. Did I mention we were all wearing pajamas including my parents? Most kids were in pajamas but VERY FEW adults. I loved wearing mine!
I would recommend this trip as long as you keep your expectations low and you have smaller kids. My older kids had fun but if they were any older, I don't think they would have enjoyed it as much.

A BAKER'S DOZEN?

During singing time in Primary on Sunday, the topic of cookies came up. I told the kids that once a year, the women in my family get together and bake Christmas cookies. I asked them to guess how many? The first guess was 15. I said MORE! Then one kid who likes to be a smarty pants said "1000!" You should have seen his eyes when I said MORE!

You read right. We baked 1155 cookies. I know because I counted EVERY single one. We started at 9am and finished by 5:30. That includes cutting out and frosting 360 sugar cookies!!

I look forward to this back breaking day. SO FUN!!! Thanks, Ladies! Mom is missing in these pictures. She was stilled drugged up and in a sling from her arm surgery.

PEACE

I love Christmas. Did I happen to mention I love Christmas? How can you not feel a sense of peace when the lights are low and the tree lights are on? Every year, our kids get a new ornament that represents that year somehow. When they are grown, they will take their ornaments with them. The kids each like getting out their own box of ornaments and remembering when they made or received each one. Stories are passed around as we trim the tree and hang our memories. Yes, Christmas is my favorite.