Living the Good LIfe

Hollie's First day of Preschool

I cannot believe it, my baby girl is going to school! Today was her first day and she was SO excited! I love watching the excitement come out of her, but in turn I just couldn't believe that time was already here. Hollie woke up happy and excited and couldn't get ready fast enough. For breakfast she wanted Mickey Mouse pancakes...everything had to be Mickey Mouse for breakfast. Following breakfast we were upstairs to get dressed and do hair. Getting dressed can sometimes be a battle in our house and today it was very easy. She had a few new outfits and knew exactly what she wanted. Doing her hair was very easy also because she wanted it done just like Paris (Paris is her cousin and always wants to have her hair done just like her...too cute). So, before we knew it our girl was ready to head out the door, she grabbed her packpack (as she calls it) and was out front ready for pictures. And guess what? My girl even SMILED for her pictures... I was so impressed.

Then we were on our way to Ms. Becky's for our first day of school. Ofcourse, on our way, we had to call papa and tell him that Hollie was on her way to school. Papa was excited to talk to Hollie and it was cute hearing Hollie tell papa how excited she was to go to school. We arrived at Ms. Becky's and Hollie was ready to go, packpack on and all. We walked in and Ms. Becky had little mats on the floor for the kids to sit on while they waited for everyone to get there. Hollie, ofcourse, picked pink...because it matched her shirt and then when she sat down she decided she was going to be shy for a couple minutes. I gave her a kiss, told her I loved her and then had to take her "shy" picture.

I got in the car, no tears, and there was Ethan saying sissy, sissy. Hollie hadn't been gone 5 minutes and Ethan already missed her. I told him she was at school and that we will pick her up soon. As I drove away, I couldn't believe my little girl was at school. This days starts the first day of school for the next 18+ years. She will never have a Tuesday of sleeping in (except for summers and vacations) for the next 18+ years! Wow. Yes, I know, I am weird for thinking that, but it's true.

Anyway, I was very proud of myself, I did not cry. Well, I cried the night before so I must have gotten it all out. If Hollie was having a hard time going and pulling on my leg not wanting me to leave I am sure I would have been crying, but it was a great experience and I am so grateful that she is excited to go to school and learn.

Following school we headed down to Ryan's office to go to our most favorite place in the world for lunch...BARRO'S Pizza!! We enjoyed being together as a family as Ryan and I celebrated our anniversary with 2 beautiful children and Hollie's first day of school. It was a GREAT day!!!

At lunch with Daddy

Ofcourse, I had to add a few of our Mr. Ethan...look at this kid, he is so STINKIN cute!! Everytime I look at him a BIG smile just comes to my face!! I love him so much and he is my VERY BUSY BOY who knows a secret and won't tell me (look at that face isn't that what it looks like)

Happy Anniversary!

Today is such a special day, it is our 8 year ANNIVERSARY!! This time 8 years ago Ryan and I were sealed in the San Diego Temple and began our journey together. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life. Though we have had our ups and downs in life I can truly say that we have grown closer through it all and I am so grateful for the man that he is. I couldn't have gone through all that I have with out him. Thanks Ryan for always being there for me and being the man I have always dreamed about. I LOVE YOU and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

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.