Butler Annual Christmas Party

Monday night we all headed up to Coalville for G'ma Joan's family's Christmas Party.

Santa and Keala had a VERY long conversation. It appears she needs something of a particular size!

Leslie took these photos on her cell phone. We all forgot our cameras! 

Kai is just happy to be here!      Whats new?

Brayden and Leslie are up from California again until New Years Eve.

Maddox lives in Murray with his G'ma Kathy but is spending the week with us.

(If he still isn't the cutest bug I've ever seen!)

Always a nice reunion for the family. One of Ryan's cousins at the party had served with him on his mission - they had a nice big hug for each other! (Boys can be so cute sometimes!)

Just wanted to throw in Brayden's karate shot... impressive!

Mormon Messages

I am sitting at my computer this morning watching these little treasures I've found on youtube. You can also download them free at ITunes and put them on your IPod (great for the kids)! I thank my lucky stars that I have good friends who have led me to these little gems. Oh!... Did I say 'thank?!'... Well, after watching this episode my daughter (who's minding her own business in the bath) randomly says "I'm thankful for YOU mom!" I turned to make eye contact with her, and tell her my appreciation for her sweet statement.  But she was too busy rubbing a whole bottle of body wash on her tummy to notice me.  The moment was made all the more adorable because she was expecting nothing in return.  I didn't answer her. I just watched as all my soap went down the drain, but my appreciation for my child grew tenfold.  Are these the moments that make life priceless or what! (Minus one bottle of body wash.)

Birthday Blues

Saturday night Brent's kids drove back in town from seeing 'The Phantom of the Opera' together in Vegas. (Yes, just the 3 of them - they had a blast!) They got back early enough for all of us to go pick out a Christmas tree before the little kids' bedtime. It took all of 5 seconds for Brent to find the tree he wanted (no help from the kids). I might have been a little more cheery in this picture if Keala hadn't tripped over a pole and face-planted in the only mud puddle on the whole lot.  She was a good sport in this shot, not me though!

So, my birthday-Day is over now. (Boo Hoo!) But it was great! Keala wanted some Christmas earings so good ol' Walmart hooked us up with some little treasures for only $2 a piece. (Got myself some jingle bell bracelets which Keala asked me to take off after an hour of it annoying her!)

I love cheesecake!  So Brent bought me some and we ate it after dinner... (which he spent an hour on making!) What a hunk!  Earlier I had lunch with my 2 best-est friends and then spent the rest of the afternoon dragging my husband around the mall... couldn't have been a more perfect day!  (I really was shopping for him!) My BFF asked me when I told her we were shopping for Brent... "isn't that like him going fishing on your anniversary?!"  Yes, I forgot about that - we all had a good laugh over it!

Kai and Keala begged me to let to them open my presents... (nothing like having an argument in the middle of your Birthday party!)  Brent bought me lots of G.F. cookies... yum!  I found a nice fleece jacket, (which I bought and wrapped myself)... and a long brown sweater (which I love!) and wore for the rest of the night! (We're twinners now Bre!)

So after giving in to my kids and letting them open my last few presents, I sat around the rest of the night and did absolutely nothing! Yeah for me! Except Brent and I stayed up to10:30 and watched 'Prince of Persia'. (Hey thats late for us!) - But its a great movie and we had to watch it before Brent and Austin leave this weekend for the BYU game in Albuquerque with Brent's BFF, Brian and his son! (Apparently its tradition).

What a cute Birthday girl! (Hee hee hee!) I had such a great day - thank you everyone for your phone calls, and Birthday wishes on Facebook (gotta love it!) Each year gets better and better! Here's to another one!

Got Elf?!

I am a North Pole Elf.

I will sit upon your shelf.

I come to you Thanksgiving Day.

I watch the kids and how they play.

I need you to take care of me,

And try not to touch me please.
A name for me you'll have to pick,
Just please don't call me Tim or Nick!
Each morning I sit in a different place,
I like to have a change of pace.

Kids should behave because you see,

Every night I have to leave.

I tell Santa if you've been good.

So keep watch for that foul mood!

Each night I make a full report.
So try to be a proper sport.
The naughty kids will not be pleased.
When it comes time for Christmas Eve.
I leave with Santa the night he comes,
but you should have a lot of fun
With presents and gifts that he will bring,
If you're the kid who's behaving!