Thumbody is So Cute!!!

What is it about babies finding their thumbs and sucking away noisily that is so charming? I mean, they turn into big 2 year old thumb suckers that have callous-ey blisters on their digits and perpetual drool. Okay, so the 2 year old sucking his thumb is still cute. Especially when he is dragging his blankie AND sucking away. (I wish I had a picture!)

I love to squeeze these thighs! I do it frequently. They're just so squishy and inviting. It disrupts much of my day and important things I probably should be doing instead of loving those delectable rolls of chub.

Completely kissable.

Our Halloween at Home!

Snowed in.

This was actually the first night of snow (Wednesday). The drifts were up to 4 feet by the time the storm ended Friday.


No chance of getting out Friday night for the church Halloween party and the community's Moonlight Madness (which was postponed until next week! Yay!) So this is how we celebrated our Halloween at Home!




Before the storm hit, and before Daddy left us in the middle of the storm with no power so he could beat the weather to Missouri to take a farrier exam, we colored pumpkins! (It's just easier for us right now, AND then I can use them later to make yummy pumpkin treats!)

Friday's Frightful Fare:

Potion Punch (pink lemonade Koolaid with green food coloring. Looks gross. Tastes great!)

Batty toast. (Spread with nutella with white chocolate swirled holiday baking morsels for eyes.)

Monster fingers (coctail weinies wrapped in tortilla strips with ketchup nails.) and Eyeballs (mushroom caps with mozzerella cheese, black olive slices & a tiny piece of cherry pepper in the middle - my kids actually liked these better than the monster fingers. Weird kids.)

Pear ghost with chocolate chip facial features.

Pumpkin pizza.

What we did to cure the cabin fever on Saturday afternoon:

This is gonna be awesome....

here I go!!!

Climbing Everest.

Wheeeeeeeeee!

Who needs sleds when you have slick snowpant hineys???

Yummy snow.

More yummy snow. The kid couldn't get enough and found it was easier to just stick his face in it for a mouthful. Crazy boy!

Aaaaaaaaahhhh!

Our snowman.

Saturday's Spooky Supper:

The Pear Witch Project (Pear, pomegranate seeds, craisin, shredded carrot, tortilla & Nutella. The cat is a tuna sandwich with cream cheese we colored with black food coloring.)

Black food coloring is awesome. *EXTREME SARCASM*

All dressed up, and nowhere to go! Batman & Batgirl. Total for both costumes: $9.00 (would've been $4, except Clayton HAD to have the Batman snowmask, and I caved so I wouldn't have to engineer the construction of one myself. Plus, it perfectly matched the onesie I freezer paper stenciled myself.)

Pin-the-tail-on-the-black-cat. Clayton didn't want to play, so Caroline commandeered all the tails.

Chunky Monkey

Connor & I had our 6-week checkup on Wednesday. It was actually 7 weeks because that was when they could fit us in the schedule.

The doctor had us go in at 1 week instead of two and Connor weighed 8 lbs at that point (he'd gained 8 oz in the 4 days since we'd taken him home from the hospital. So here we are 6 weeks later with a 12.6 lb baby boy. He may not have started life out as heavy as his big brother, but he sure seems eager to catch up! I just want him to stay little a bit longer. But I have to admit, those chubby thighs and kissable cheeks are definitely an adorable bonus to the weight gain!

Autumn Harvest

Back in June, when the hail hit and I lamented to my mother that all my hard work in the garden was for naught, she encouraged me to keep taking care of the garden and pray that our efforts to follow the counsel of latter-day prophets would be blessed. I'm so grateful I listened to and followed her advice!

In addition to the hundred or so jalepenos and bushels of tomatoes (some of which we picked while still green and are ripening in a box) that are slowly being made into salsa a batch at a time; we have loads of beets, 5 huge heads of cabbage, 5 acorn squash, 3 big white pumpkins, 6 baby boo pumpkins and 3 lovely large broccoli crowns. We had fresh corn on the cob with a few meals and we've also enjoyed fresh cucumbers and had zucchini and crookneck squash coming out of our ears!

A few days after I returned from the hospital with Connor, I walked through the garden and couldn't help but offer a silent prayer of thanks for the hail. Not only had I learned to have more faith in the Lord and exercise it when following his commandments, but also to trust in him to know me and what I need at a certain time. Had the garden not been pulverized and survived to be in the condition I originally planned, I would have had tons of vegetables to can and not been able to do it as I recuperated from the C-section. Heavenly Father knew this back when I planned & planted the garden.

I'm still able to provide for our little family with the bountiful harvest we've had, but not over do it. "I know my Father Lives, and loves me too. The Spirit whispers this to me, and tells me it is true. And tells me it is true." How thankful I am for these little "tender mercies" that teach me to trust more fully in Him, and help my testimony to grow stronger each day!

Love Bug's Birthday!

When asked this morning what she wanted to wear to church on her birthday, she replied that she needed to wear a pink princess dress with a pink bow. Here she is all beautiful (after church, since I forgot to take a picture before) with her sparkly birthday crown compliments of her dance teacher!

Four years ago today, Jake & I became parents when Caroline Anne joined our family. We are so grateful for the sweet little girl Heavenly Father entrusted to us to love & care for here on earth. I still can't believe she's 4 - and she's already asking us when she'll be 20 and go to "college school". (NEVER!) She requested Macaroni & Cheese, Peas and Orange Fluff salad for her Birthday meal today and we enjoyed celebrating with some of the family.

Here is a glimpse back on the last 4 years!



One of my favorite pictures - Jake cradling our firstborn.


Just a few days old.


Two months old.



5 months old.


1st Birthday



2nd Birthday (We celebrated the day before we blessed Clayton. She was just getting used to a new baby brother and needed some TLC from her aunties!)


3rd Birthday.



Today! She COULD NOT WAIT to open presents! And she had lots of help from her brother.


Checking out the new DVD from Uncle Pete & Aunt Sarah together.


THE birthday present she wanted - Bendaroos, from Clayton!!! (DON'T buy these. They're a waste of money. Complete junk.)


Before Connor was born, the kids & I went to Safeway to look at the cake book in their bakery. I thought that since I'd have a new baby, I'd make it easier on myself by just ordering cakes. Clayton chose Batman and Caroline surprised me by selecting a "Hello Kitty" cake. But I just couldn't justify $20 for a cake when I could do it myself for under $5. So here's my version of a "Hello Kitty" cake. There are a few less than perfect spots, but Caroline & I had fun doing it together. We rolled out Starbursts and used a cookie cutter to make flowers.


The rainbow cake inside. I got the idea here.

Caroline and her new Meadowlark bird from Grandpa & Grandma Butler, that actually sings the Meadowlark's distinctive melody (ONE noise making toy that I will NEVER tire of - especially in the winter when the Meadowlarks fly south!); her new doll with the same color eyes & hair as Caroline and sporting PINK! COWGIRL! BOOTS! And the new Little Pony nightgown from Uncle Pete & Aunt Sarah. And a unicorn sticker. On her cheek. Also from Pete & Sarah. They know what she likes!

Cuddle Monkey

One of the cutest things Connor does, that I absolutely love, is hold on for dear life by grabbing hold of my shirt or finger while I'm holding him. He's got quite the grip and we were noticing last night that he was squeezing so tight that his little knuckles were turning white. There is something so snuggly & sweet about feeling his little grasp on my shirt or hand, as if he is saying, "Mom, I trust you to not let go or let me fall. But just in case, I'm holding on as tight as I can." I think it reminds me of a little monkey clinging to its mother - and that may explain why every time he does it, I start humming "You'll Be In My Heart" from Disney's "Tarzan"!

I know it appears as if he is looking for dinner in this photo, but he had actually just nursed and was fast asleep - slipping down the front of me slowly while gripping my shirt.

Baa Baa, BAD Sheep!

On Saturday, the kids and I enjoyed picking some of the fresh produce that made a comeback after the hail storm that pulverized the garden in June. We picked a basketful of small tomatoes, about 25 jalepenos (in addition to the 50 or so we picked the week before!) several carrots (the only ones there were) and 3 beets (out of the huge row that survived!) I set the basket on the steps and ran into the house to grab a camera to take a picture of the kids with their bounty. As I was reaching the door to head back out, I hear panicked, sobbing, screaming. I open the door to "Blackie's eating our VEGETABLES!" Caroline was truly concerned, and Blackie was enjoying a deluxe salad! We managed to get them all picked up and the lamb shooed away which resulted in a much calmer little girl.

One Month Old!

I can't believe it was a month ago today that Connor arrived! The time has really flown and he seems so big already sometimes. I just want it all to slow down! He is such a good baby - he rarely cries and mostly just fusses when he's got a little bubble or gas. He's smiled at different family members several times in the last week (but I was first!) Around the time he turned 2 weeks old, he decided he'd try out sleeping through the night. We enjoyed 3 or 4 nights of bliss and then he discovered that wasn't for him. But he usually only gets up once, around 2 or 3, for which I am very grateful, though still tired! And just for kicks & giggles, I pulled out my measuring tape today, and near as I can tell, he's added another inch to his length for a total of 23 inches. He's recently discovered his voice and I love to hear his little coos. What a sweet baby he is and how grateful I am everyday for his presence in our home and the spirit he brings, so fresh from heaven.

My boys. I love saying that! (being from a family of 7 girls).

Connor was smiling at Clayton but everytime I tried to snap a picture, he'd throw his arm up, sortof like he was trying to wave "hello" to the camera.

It's Always Fun When Family Comes, When Family Comes, Hooray!

Photos of our family visiting, in random order because I'm trying to do this all before Connor & Clayton wake up from their naps and also because Caroline wants to play and I don't get a lot of one-on-one with her these days...

Caroline cried when Mona & Papa left on Friday. She took her time enjoying them and giving them lots of loves before they pulled out of the driveway.

Laying a big surprise smooch on Mona!

Clayton was not to be outdone by Caroline and had to copy her.

Giving Papa a goodbye hug.

Caroline & Clayton enjoyed "helping" Papa with all the projects he found around our house. I have lots of new places for storage thanks to Dad!

Mona & Connor enjoying some cuddle time!

Dad Butler & Dad Redd putting up a very nice new railing for the stairs up to the deck. It was so fun to watch them together!

Papa enjoying his new grandson.

I went to check on Connor and he had pulled the flap of his blanket over his head. It was so cute!

Connor found his thumb. With Mona's help.

I didn't have to change many diapers while the family was here. I had lots of help. Particularly from Marilyn & Nanny. Nan just didn't want to chance getting anything on her clothes, so she always covered up with my old housecoat.

Papa took Caroline & Clayton on a walk his first morning here. They had a blast! It was so cute to watch them walk past the house in the morning mist. Notice the leash Caroline has attached to Papa's belt loop. She wanted to make sure he wouldn't get lost.

Mar sharing Tic-tacs with Clayton. (How to win friends and influence nephews...)

Clayton & Cindy (He was very happy because she kept giving him Tic-tacs, too!)

Caroline loves her Aunt Cindy!

Cindy & Caroline

Marilyn, Connor & Nanny

Connor & Nanny - I LOVE this photo!

Cindy & Connor

Marilyn & Connor

Marilyn made a birthday cake with 6 candles - 4 for Caroline who will celebrate her birthday later this month and 2 for Clayton who celebrated his in August. We had a little party for both of them where they were showered with gifts from their aunties, Papa & Mona.

Connor's Blessing Day

We blessed Connor in Sacrament Meeting last week (September 6), and were so lucky to have both sets of Grandparents there that day as well as 3 visiting aunties in addition to our regular Butler crew here. I didn't get a close up picture of just Connor in his blessing outfit, and am missing photos of the Butler bunch (they all skedaddled so fast after dinner that we didn't get any.) But since the Redd family members were all staying at our house, we managed a couple of shots with them right after we got home from church. Thanks to Adam (a friend of one of my sisters who made it possible for her to come!!!) we were able to get everyone in that was there.

Marilyn, Caroline, Millie, Connor, Jake, Clayton, Papa Redd, Mona Redd, Lucinda & Nannette

Clayton "petting" Connor - he was doing it in the family photo, too and Adam got some great shots. Don't mind my retarded looking hair - the wind was insane!

Connor's blessing outfit was one that I actually made for Clayton. But then when Clayton arrived and was 9 lbs. 9 oz., my sister Cindy who was staying with me at the time held it up next to him and just shook her head. There was no way he'd fit into it as a newborn, let alone 7 weeks later when we blessed him. So I ended up making him a new one and just held onto the original. Since Connor was much smaller than we anticipated and we blessed him when he was 2 weeks old verses seven, it was a perfect fit!

Connor's blessing outfit.

Connor & Clayton's outfits side by side.

Deep Thoughts, by Connor Butler

Just Too Cute!

In the craziness of adjusting to life with 3 kids, I've found it a little hard to find time to post. But I've taken lots of pictures of our busyButler babies. Mostly because, well, they're just so cute! So here's a sample of things that have been happening around here:

Clayton really loves his baby brother and asks frequently if he can "pet" him. He lovingly strokes his little head, arms, hands & legs. So sweet!

Connor loves to stretch out when I lay him in the sunshine.



Er, naptime with Daddy. Jake offered to lay down with the kids so I could have a break. I heard giggling about 10 minutes later and went to see what was up. Well, the kids were. Up climbing the bed. Clayton looked like a litte monkey and was so proud of himself that he was hanging from the top bunk. Check out Daddy, zonked out on Caroline's bed in the background.

Connor is pretty smiley in his sleep. I love it and could watch and snap pictures all day!

Caroline & Clayton have recently decided that they need to sleep in the same bed (I think it's because they shared the big bed at Uncle Pete & Aunt Sarah's the two nights that Jake & I were at the hospital.)


A little down time with Daddy, watching the tube. I was supposedly making dinner.

Caroline, all ready for church on Sunday. It was pretty chilly, so she's all bundled up and looked so pretty with all those bright flowers in the garden!

He's a Long, Tall Texan!

Okay, but not with the Texan part. When they measured Connor at the hospital, the number they gave us was 20 inches. People kept telling me they thought he looked long, and I thought he did, too. Turns out we were right. When the nurse measured him yesterday at our one week checkup, she got 22 inches. She measured twice and I watched very carefully. Now, he DID gain 8 oz in 4 days (he came in at an even 8 lbs yesterday - up 8 oz from when we left the hospital), but I'm pretty sure that doesn't translate into 2 inches of growth in the same amount of time!

Holy Second Birthday, Batman!!!

Since I was in the hospital for Clayton's actual birthday, it's pretty obvious that there wasn't a party. Jake recognized that morning that our middle child was another year older & wiser too, by singing to him with Caroline and talking to him about being two. Clayton, I don't think, knew the significance of the day. Caroline, however, has been quite concerned since then that her brother did not receive the proper birthday party. She tried to rally everyone to the cause Sunday night while we had family visiting but other than her cousins Abbie & Leah shouting with her at the top of their lungs, "It's Clayton's Birthday!", she didn't get much response.

So tonight, she took matters into her own hands. We had wrapped all the gifts earlier so that we'd be prepared to celebrate without a lot of effort after the baby came. She gathered all of the gifts that we had and set them on and by a chair in the living room and then informed us that there would be a birthday party for Clayton. My sister-in-law Sarah had come over to cook us tacos, so after that was done, she made a pan of brownies and I made a quick batch of icing. It wasn't the most effort I've ever put forth on a cake, but I figured Clayton wouldn't care. He loved every bit of his little last minute party, but I think Caroline felt the most satisfaction that her brother had his special day!

Clayton opening his first present of the evening - a Batmobile Hotwheels car from Caroline. I'm not sure who was more excited that he was opening presents - him or Caroline. She kept dancing around singing, "Open it, open it!"


Clayton with his new Batman action figures from Aunties Cindy & Nanny. He was so excited when he opened it and was yelling "Batman! Batman!" at the top of his lungs. Seriously, I've never heard him yell with more enthusiasm in his short life. Then he told me that Batman was going to fight the bad guy (I don't remember the bad guy's name - he just came in the same package.)

A gift from Daddy & Mama (picked out by Daddy and SUCH a good choice!) A tool kit complete wtih tool belt & hardhat. Clayton already has tools, but what guy doesn't need more? We thought he was excited about the Batman loot - but he kept yelling "TOOLS! TOOLS! Help Open!!!" Serious heaven for our little builder.

Clayton with his hardhat & drill. I was amazed that he knew how to change out the drill bits. He figured it out on his own with NO help from anyone. At all.

Who knew a pair of pliers could be the cause of so much joy???

Yum! Batman brownies!

The birthday boy, ready for bed in his new Batman P.J.'s. Also a gift from Aunties Nanny & Cindy.

Home, Home at Last!

Getting ready to be discharged - finally!

Connor and I are so happy to finally be home after our lengthy stay in the hospital! We were admitted on Monday night to begin an induction, but after 24 hours of labor, hadn't gotten very far. That's when things went south, the doctor realized that I had a placenta abruption, the baby's heart rate dropped and I was quickly prepped and sent to the O.R. How grateful I am that I was in the hospital, not at home 30 minutes away when the abruption happened, and how thankful I am for a sweet doctor with a steady hand and clear mind who was able to make sure that despite the somewhat scary and less than ideal circumstances, Connor & I are both fine and healthy and that I'm on the mend more quickly than I thought I would be. That is also largely in part to an amazing staff of nurses and CNAs at the hospital who are nothing short of angels. Oh how I loved all the nurses who took care of us!

My dear friend Jenni - who also happens to be an RN. She had my room ready Monday night before we arrived for our scheduled induction. And by ready, I don't mean just with the basic hospital stuff. She had it decorated with streamers & flowers, gifts for Caroline, Clayton & Connor, and treats for Jake to munch on while I labored away. What a sweetheart to be so thoughtful of us!


And then there's the sweet friends and family that dropped by with little treats and thoughts and made each day special and a little more bearable, being stuck there - from contraband bean burritos and sopaipillas to good books & magazines to read, journals to write in - to beautiful baby gifts for Connor to use and wear, everyone has been so amazing! What a blessing to have you in our life!

Caroline hanging out with her baby brother in the sunny patch on the floor. He's a bit jaundiced, but not so bad that he has to go back for the bili-light!

Our first day at home has been wondefully relaxing, thanks to my amazing, thoughtful and wonderful best friend and husband (and substitute blog editor!) and also thanks to a very considerate and sweet sister in law who cleaned my house and made sure everything was perfect for our arrival. Thank you Sarah!

Caroline & Clayton are loving their new brother, though Clayton is much more clingy to Daddy and hasn't made himself available for many pictures. Caroline can't get enough of Connor and is so excited to do everything she can to help.

And now, seeing that it is after midnight, Connor is now fed, swaddled and ready to go to bed, I'm going to turn in, too!