How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways....#5

I love your "Hunk-a-Burnin'-Cowboy-Hotness". Need I say more? You're simply delicious, honey!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways....#6

You are my very best friend. I can't wait for you to be home at night, just so I can be around you. Even when we're not talking, I'm content just to have you nearby. You're the one I want to tell everything to, even if it's just the things that went on around the house that day with the kids. I love that I can share my concerns and feelings with you and I never feel belittled or like they are of little consequence to you. I am so glad that we can discuss thing of importance to our family and that you support me as your wife and have made me truly, your companion. You make me want to be a better person and a more loyal friend because that's what you are. I love you so much!!!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways....#7

I love that you love and want to be around me. Even in all my weird, goofy, silly glory. I've never EVER felt that you were ashamed or embarrassed of me in any way, ever. What a boost to my nerdy confidence!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways.....#8

I love it when you call me little sweet names. Darlin' is a favorite. It makes me tingle. I really liked "Meine Schone Frau" the other morning! Something about being called "Your Beautiful Wife" in another language is pretty romantic, if you ask me!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways.....#9

You take protecting our family VERY seriously. Hee Hee. Well, I am just grateful that you are such a wonderful protector and provider for our family. I've never felt worried or scared since marrying you. Even the night that the hand stuck through our bedroom window in New Mexico, it made me nervous but not scared because I knew you'd keep me safe. I Love You!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...#10

You know how much I love music. What you don't know is that I get such a thrill each time you pick up the guitar and play & sing or each time you sit down to the piano to plunk out a few lines of "Called to Serve" or the "Man From Snowy River" theme. I know you think you don't play well, but I love that you get so much joy out of singing & playing. It is such a blast to watch you when you go to town with "Settin' the Woods on Fire". And I think about the day you serenaded me on the phone before we got engaged. "As Long As I Have My Horse" may not be the most romantic of song choices, but I could tell how much you enjoyed yourself, and I think that might have been the clincher on the whole marriage deal. Besides that, my other favorite musical memories of you are: 1) when I would get up early to nurse Caroline & then you'd take her & then I'd go walking and when I got home, you'd be sitting in that office, listening to "The Phantom of the Opera" and singing along. And then 2) The other thing I love is when I can hear you early in the morning, playing and singing to the kids while I'm still in bed. I could lay there & listen forever. I know it's been awhile since you did, and I've definitely noticed! Thank you for helping to give our kids a love & appreciation of music just by showing them how much you love & enjoy it!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways.....#11

I love how you have always been so willing to help me out around the house. When we were both working and had limited time, I always appreciated how much you did to help keep our home tidy. And with each pregnancy you have helped make things a little easier for me whether it's by picking up toys, vaccuming or mopping floors, doing dishes, making beds or doing laundry. I know I don't tell you enough how grateful I am for everything you do, but I think you are the absolute best! I've been reminded again this last couple of months how lucky I am to have you! You are such a blessing to me in so many ways and I'm glad I married you!!!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways....#12

I love it when you do the little things. You are so aware of things that need to be done and I love the effort you throw into making things easier for me on a daily basis. Like when I was preparing for my presentation at the Stake Primary Training meeting in Rapid City and you helped me rev up the powerpoint to be more interesting and enjoyable for my audience. And then when I returned home to find so many things done around the house...including Caroline's pajama pants being mended. I so appreciate your sweetness in that regard.

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways....#13

I LOVE that you love to study and learn new things. You are such a great example of spiritual and secular learning. I love to bounce ideas off of you and am so grateful when you can answer questions for me or help me to understand different things better. It also makes me so happy that it rubs off on our kids and that they see that it is something important to you. What joy it brings to see them "studying" with you and the patience you have to help them learn something new even during your limited study time. What a wonderful example they have to follow!!!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways....#14

Watching you be the most incredible father to our children brings me so much joy! I love to watch you interact with them and I marvel at your patience, unfailing love, wisdom & creativity. The joy you find in fatherhood is so obvious and it makes me even more grateful for you everyday.

Our kids' favorite place to hang.

Daddy & newborn Clayton snoozin' together.

"Cocoa Parties" with Caroline.

Letting the kids "help" around the house/farm...

...and being conscious of their safety to boot!

Happy Birthday to Me! and Giveaway Announcement!

The big 31!

Thanks everyone, for your wonderful birthday wishes yesterday! We had a fantastic time, all planned & orchestrated by Jake, with in-laws and Jake & Sarah's wonderful cooking. Jake grilled up some T-bone steaks (courtesy of my great father-in-law & mother-in-law) and Sarah made delicious mashed potatoes, fried okra (YUM!) and my favorite Chocolate Cake! It was so nice to just be with my family to celebrate being "one year older & wiser too!" Well, I don't know about the wiser part...

But, in celebration of my birthday, I'm doing a giveaway at the BusyButlers Boutique! Go check out my new Valentine Collection (more bows to be added soon) and enter to win a crocheted beanie and set of bows!

Another New 'Do

The problem with cutting my hair off is that I start to get braver and braver and cut a little more off until there's nothing left. And then I decide I want it long again and have to grow it for a couple of years. But I'm really loving this latest cut. It's an A-Line cut, something new for me. And I probably wouldn't have considered it if not from my cute sister Lucinda, who suggested I try this style, since it looked like I already had it like this from the front because I always pulled the back into a ponytail. So thanks, Cindy! Great Idea!

Why I LOVE Family Scripture Study!

Please pardon my waxing a little spiritual, here. But blogging is one way that I'm able to journal some of the thoughts that are important to me and I want to get this down mostly so I can print it out and put it in our Family History.

When Caroline was 16 months old, for our New Year's resolution as a family, we decided to do better about studying the scriptures as a family. Because she was so small, we opted to read out of the illustrated scripture stories (New Testament, Old Testament, Book of Mormon & Doctrine & Covenants) that our Church produces. It went well and Caroline always enjoyed sitting on Daddy's lap looking at the pictures and listening to the stories.

Last year, at a little over 2 years old, we decided she was big enough to "read" with us. We'd read a verse, a word at a time, and she would repeat each word. The most fun was when she figured out that the ending of "And it came..." was "...to pass". She'd get so that she could do the whole phrase by herself if we started her out. We started the Book of Mormon last year with this new goal and I have to say, the going has been slow. We read a column out of the book each night, which usually wasn't too many verses, but seemed just about right for a wiggly toddler.

So here we are in 2009. For those of you who are familiar, we just reached Omni. For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, we're not that far into the book. At all. But we continue to perservere. And it's all worth it when my 17 month old wants to hand out the books every night and insists on having his own so he can follow along (he likes to look at the pictures.) And then to have my 3 year old want to make sure she's in exactly the right place (even though she can't read yet and is still repeating the verses after us) is priceless! I also LOVE it when Caroline asks "What does that mean?" It has presented us with some choice teaching moments as parents to teach gospel principles and explain things from the scriptures so that even a child can understand. And, Caroline hasn't graduated from looking at the pictures either - so after each scripture study session, we spend a few minutes looking at and discussing pictures. She can tell you who Samuel the Lamanite is and how and why Heavenly Father protected him from the rocks and arrows being thrown at him. She can identify Nephi, Moroni and Alma and tell you the stories associated with the beautiful illustrations in the front of the book. And she loves to look at the picture of Lehi & his family on their boat on the way to the Promised Land, though sometimes she insists it's Noah, which is okay with me because that tells me she understands that story, too.

(Notice Clayton in the background. He had been sitting on Jake's back, "reading" but decided to move just as I snapped the picture.)

How grateful I am for the scriptures and their daily application to our lives now. They may have been written a long time ago, but it is obvious that the Lord had our modern struggles in mind when he inspired those prophets to write the things in their hearts and to record the struggles of their people. And how thankful I am for the guidance they give me as a parent in these definitely challenging times! I pray my children will continue to have the love for the scriptures that is starting to grow in their hearts and that studying will help them to know of the reality and divinity of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Just A Couple Cute Pics

I've taken these over the last couple weeks and forgot to download them onto the computer. Just a glimpse of everyday life in our home...

Jake let me sleep in one morning and when I emerged from the bedroom, this is the scene that greeted me. We love Saturday morning cartoons...

I walked into the living room one day and found Caroline in this position just watching TV. Little 'squatter'. I learned from my sister-in-law who served her mission in Mongolia that this is how everybody over there 'sits'. I don't know how she does it. My legs would get tired!

This is the snowman we made today. We had a fantastic snow on Wednesday night and part of Thursday. We went out today to make lunch and I promised the kids that after we ate we could go play in the snow. We walked out of the bunkhouse after eating and it had ALL melted and was like, 45 degrees! OH, the disappointment! When we got home, the shaded side of the house still had a little bit of snow, so we built this little snow guy. Made Caroline's whole day and saved me as a mom!

I have one more super darling picture of Clayton, but I'm afraid to post it for fear it will generate some controversy. Let's just say it has to do with the Lone Ranger, a new holster he got for Christmas from Grandma & Grandpa & those things that go in holsters (NOT real ones!!!)

A Jolly Holiday

Christmas was such a wonderful day for us! It was so fun and we just enjoyed being together and watching the kids enjoy their new (some homemade) things! The anticipation is always fun for us as "Santa's Helpers" and it is just so exciting to see the results of the kids playing with the things we worked so hard on and thought so much about to make the day special and just for them.

Caroline & her pile from Santa.

Caroline & Clayton riding their stick horses.

Caroline & the new dollhouse & her "Kelly" doll - she's feeding Kelly breakfast.

Clayton opening his big gift from Santa with a little help from Aunt Cindy.

Daddy helping him put together his big gift from Santa - a tool bench with a drill press that really makes noise & has a bit that spins around.

Caroline as "Tinkerbell"

Caroline & fabulously static-ey hair from the huge flower tent that she got from Mona & Papa.

We really enjoyed having all the Butlers that live in the vicinity over for Christmas dinner. It is just so nice to be near family. I had so much fun making the table extra special with the china I never get to use, and a nice centerpiece. But our house is a tad bit too snug for everyone and the food. So, even though it's not as "pretty," I think I'll have to resign future holiday dinners to the bunkhouse so everyone can fit and find the food and move around comfortably. *Sigh*.