My Little Princess

Hollie is my little princess, always has and always will be. She is the little girl that made my dreams of becoming a mother come true. She means the world to me. I remember so clearly the first day she was placed in my arms and how I stared at her beautiful round little face with the cutest chubby little cheeks. She had a perfect button nose with the most perfect little lips. I remeber how long her little eyelashes were and she was only a day old. The softness and smell of her skin is still so fresh in my mind. I remember looking at her long tiny legs and saying, to myself, they will always look so perfect and will never get a scratch or bruise. I remember her fine dark hair and the little green bow that was in it. I remember her soft little cry, the coos and cute little noises she would make. I held her little hand with her tiny fingers wrapped around my finger as I stroked the top of her hand and whispered how much I loved her and told her all of my dreams for her and how I couldn't wait for her to come and be a part of our family. She was so perfect in every way. I remember thinking to myself that I don't ever want her to grow up, that I had 3 years with her until she started preschool and thinking that those 3 years were going to be everything I have dreamed about and that the time would go by slowly. Well, this tiny little baby girl of mine is starting preschool tomorrow and I cannot believe it. She is starting preschool with bumps, scraps and little bruises on her little legs because she loves playing outside and I have had to learn that those are things that just happen to our little children. Her tiny little hands are still cute as ever but even prettier because they are painted pink with sparkles. Her fine dark hair is now dirty blonde, very long and she loves to tell me how she wants it done. Her lips, nose and eyes are prettier than ever. Instead of hearing little cries, coos and cute noises I now hear a beautiful voice that says, "mom I am so excited to go to school tomorrow, I love you," and many more sweet beautiful words. She is still so perfect in every way, but now she is growing up, those 3 years have gone by SO FAST and were everything I have ever dreamed about and more. Now, tomorrow, I will be dropping her off at preschool and allowing someone else to help her learn. I am trusting someone else with my baby girl for a couple hours 3 days a week. I cannot believe it. Yes, I may sound like a sappy person and I am. Hollie is my world along with my wonderful/amazing husband and my adorable little boy. These 3 people mean the world to me. Watching Hollie and Ethan grow and meet different milestones in life is VERY exciting! These are moments that will come and go and I have learned to treasure EVERY moment. Life is to short. I have learned if I don't document it, write it down or take pictures that moment is gone and will just be a memory in our mind. Whereas, if we write it down and take pictures the moment is more fresh and we WILL remember more.

Tonight Ryan had the wonderful opportunity to give Hollie a Father's blessing before she starts school. Yes, it may only be preschool, but it's school and Ryan was so excited and proud that as a father he could give Hollie this special blessing. Hollie was perfect absolutely beautiful as she sat there reverently, arms folded and listenend to the special words that were told to her in her blessing. Ofcourse, I cried, she is my baby girl who is quickly growing up. Following the blessing she gave hugs and kisses, was anxious to read from our scripture jar and head to bed. Because she knew the quicker she went to bed the sooner tomorrow would be here and she would be going to school all by herself. She has her high school musical backpack, some new school clothes, fingers and toes painted and is ALL ready! Tomorrow here we come!

Hollie, I want you to know how much we love you. You mean everything to your dad and I and we want the best for you. We want you to grow and succeed in everything you do. We want you to have every opportunity possible and we will do our best to make that possible for you. We love you so much and hope that you have the best first day of school EVER!

Kimberly and Kathryn

The first week of August was a bit crazy around our house. It was filled with work, doctors appointments, a birthday party, Adoption Conference, Ryan's parents coming to town and two wedding receptions (one of which we did attend). And guess what, I survived!!!

Anyway, I would have not survived if it wasn't for these two adorable, cute twin girls. Now, there is a pretty neat story behind them and I think it is just so cool that I need to share it.

Back in the day, when I was in high school, there was this awesome family in our ward. I loved them from the moment I saw them. They were the perfect family. I looked at them and saw them as people I wanted to one day be like. They were amazing!! Well, soon after meeting them I had become their babysitter and LOVED it! They had adopted a little boy, Dallin and shortly after him they were blessed with twin girls. Well, those twin girls are Kimberly and Kathryn!! I am SO glad that I have stayed in close contact with this family. They have been such an example to me and I am SO grateful for them. Well, what are the odds that I babysat Kimberly and Kathryn when they were 6wks old and now they are babysitting MY KIDS!!! All I can say to that is AWESOME!! And another special bond that they have is that they all are adopted...AWESOME AGAIN! I just love how, in times like this, that we can look back and see why certain people were put in our lives. I couldn't be more grateful for this family and for the example that they have been to me and my family. They have been there for me through ALL my high school boyfriends and after high school boyfriends and the drama that comes with that and now they are here with me through being a parent myself...I find myself to be SO lucky. AND the next AWESOME thing is that their oldest daughter married my brother, and I truly couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law! Now this wonderful family has just become family to me and I love them ALL!!

Dance Recital

My sweet Hollie. For the last few months she was in a dance class through the city recreation center. It was every Friday and she loved going. I was able to watch her, sometimes, through the little glass window that they had in the door, but that was it. (I was also chasing Ethan through the halls). From what I could tell she was really enjoying it and having fun. Well, today was the last day of class and at the last 10 minutes of class they put on a little recital to show us the 2 dances they had learned. Well, here is Hollie showing me her dance and what she learned.

Can you tell which one is Hollie? Yep, that's right the one covering her eyes and at the same time telling all of us mom's, "stop taking my picture". Can I say I was a little embarassed!!!!

Then she decided she was just going to take a seat where she was at and not dance...that's my GIRL!! Gotta Love It!!

During this dance she decided she was finished, took off her tutu, necklace and crown and came and sat on my lap. I was perfectly fine with that. Doing something in front of other people can be scary and I told her that it was okay if she didn't want to dance. Holding her was just as good, if not better.

High School Musical!!!

Last week I got Hollie and I tickets to go see High School Musical at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. Hollie had LOVE High School Musical ever since I bought her the first one. Soon after the first one we had the second and then quickly came the 3rd along with the CD's to both the second and third one. I really didn't think that at age 3 Hollie would be so into it, but she is. We are constatly talking about and praying for Troy and Gabriella. She will tell you that Sharpay is not nice and is being mean, she can point to the characters and tell you who, Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Taylor, Sharpay and Ryan are, everything has to do with being a Wildcat, she LOVES all the songs and sings them around the house. When we listen to the CD it has to "be up really loud" says Hollie and she will tell you if it's not up loud enough. It is all about High School Musical!! I really can't complain because these movies are all appropriate and fun.

So, when I heard that High School Musical, the play, was here I couldn't resist not getting tickets. She was SO excited last night to see Gabriella and Troy that she couldn't sit down and eat, yet alone, sit still. She was singing some of the songs and her eyes were glued. If she lost sight of Troy I had to explain to her that he would be right back. We had a great time and I LOVED just being with my girl!

Scripture Jar

As I was preparing journal jars for the activity day girls I came across the idea of scripture jars. Scripture jars are the BEST idea ever!! Once I read about it, I couldn't help but get what I needed to make one and it was so easy.
For those that don't know what a journal jar is; they are jars (mason jars) filled with slips of paper that have questions written on them. Everyday you pull out one question and in your journal you write the question and answer. The questions can be as simple as you want or as detailed as you would like. This is just a great idea to help you write in your journal. Well, the scripture jar follows the same guidelines except you don't write anything in your journal. The scripture jar is great for those that have young kids. I know that, for us, pulling out the scriptures and reading them is not easy with 2 little kids. So, when I heard about the scripture jar, I couldn't resist.
The jar, instead of being filled with questions, is filled with scripture references (scripture mastery), quotes, 13 Articles of Faith and stories from the "Gospel Art Picture Kit". I bought a gallon glass jar from Walmart, decorated it with scrapbook paper and the voila...our Family Scripture Jar!
The first night we started was Monday night. Hollie picked out a slip of paper and there was a scripture reference on it, "Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4-5" (we also read verse 3). And this is what it read;

Moro. 10: 3-5

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

When we read this scripture Ryan and I just looked at eachother and knew that this is what we should be doing as a family. What are the odds that in a jar filled with MANY slips of paper, that this is the one that is pulled out first.

I have always known that reading the scriptures as a family was something that we should do, but trying to do it with 2 young kids was not an easy task. The Scipture Jar has made it easy, simple and fun! Even though not all the slips of paper have a scripture on them, they are all about our Savior and what He has done for us and the teachings throughout the scriptures.

I can't believe how excited Hollie is to read from the scriptures. The other night we read a quote and she was upset it wasn't from the scriptures, so we pulled out the scriptures and read the first verse in Nephi. I love seeing her show a love for the scriptures at 3 years old.

The long awaited Haircut

In St. George we decided to cut Ethan's hair. It was a very dramatic experience and now he looks like a little grown boy. Not that he didn't before, but cutting his hair took away his baby look. I just can't stop looking at him, he is so STINKIN' CUTE!!!

Wondering what in the world dad is going to do with that.

NOT liking the idea that dad is using the cutters on him.

This is just horrible!!!!!

He survived and looks adorable.

Wow, I love his little face!! So handsome!

Here is our family picture with Grandpa Butler/Great Grandpa Butler. Can you tell the kids are tired!???Following the reunion we stayed a couple extra days to visit our friends. It was great seeing them and we all had so much fun. Here are a few pics.

A visit to the St. George Temple. (I was in the car with a sleeping little boy)

A little bit of backyard fun

Two cute girls. Lexi and Hollie

Zion National Park

On Sunday we took a drive into Zion. We parked our cars and took a shuttle into the canyon. To really see Zion you now have to have permits or take a shuttle. The last time I was there was when I was 8 years old and it was 2 weeks before my Mother passed away. Going back there was a great experience and brought back so many memories of being there with my mom and our family.

Here we are in front of Zion's lodge.

Just the cute couple

Our cute family in front the tree.

When I was there 22 years ago this tree was so small that we climbed on the branches and had our pictures taken. As you can see the branches are to high to do that now. I will have to scan a picture in so you can see the difference.

Hollie loved being on Papa Chris' shoulders. They had the best time together and thanks Chris for being so patient with her...she still talks about you.

The family went on a little 1/2 mile hike while I stayed back and rested in the shade.

Playing and cooling off in the little stream

Nana and Hollie

Love this picture!
Ethan found a squirrel and couldn't get enough of it. He was laughing so hard and wanted so badly to touch him, but daddy kept his safe.
Gotta LOVE the chubby dirty feet.
Playing in the river of water again. And here he was soaking wet...such a boy!!

Sunday we were trying to get a few family pictures of the cousins and this is the best we could do. Ofcourse, it was our kid that wouldn't cooperate.

Nana and Papa with the kids. We had so much fun with them and are glad we got to come.

Thanks guys!!!

Our trip to St. George...Watch out this will be long with LOTS of pics

We headed to St. George for Ryan's family reunion (his mother's side) last week. We stayed in a beautiful condo with all his siblings and their families. And then his Mother's siblings and their families were in other condos...to say the least we had a blast! Here are a few of our happenings...BEWARE LOTS of pictures!!!

We enjoyed LOTS of Pool time!

Enjoying time with their cousins

Ethan had no fear and would back into the water even if there wasn't a step.

Time with Papa Chris

I couldn't get in the water yet, so I sat on the edge with my feet in

A drive through Snow Canyon...beautiful!!

Bath Time

The girlies LOVED their bath...full of bubbles and jets.

Grandpa Butler...89 years old!!

On Saturday we went to the St. George Dinosaur Tracks Museum and I am sorry to say, but it wasn't very impressive. There were NO dinosaurs!! Just tracks and a movie and the only thing the kids liked was the gift shop and a small section where they could color and uncover dinosaur fossils. So, we as parents, thought that we needed to make up and do something fun and we all took the kids to Jumpin Jacks....SO MUCH FUN!! The kiddos were in heaven and had a blast!

Tuacahn Theater

Saturday night we all went to the Tuacahn Theater to see Footloose. This theater is all outdoors against the beautiful red mountains in St. George. The Play was fantastic and I loved how they used part of the mountain in the play. We were up close and my favorite part was all the dancing...ofcourse.

While I was in the hospital my cousin brought me the most wonderful book in the world, "A Mother's Book of Secrets'.

This book is about motherhood and enjoying the moments! I just love it! Reading it has made me see motherhood in a different way. Sometimes we get caught up in life and forget to enjoy the moment. Before we know it these moments will be behind and we will sit back and wonder what happened. The book gives ideas on how to enjoy the moment and make life memorable with our children. I highly recommend this book to all mother's. I can't wait to read it again!!

Oh, and a little something special, Hollie's baby picture is on page 123 and my cousins kids are on the page just after the table of contents.