Christmas 2015

What a great holiday Christmas season we have had this year!

We got our traditional gingerbread houses made.

We really are getting good at this!

We had our traditional Christmas breakfast at The Grand with Grandma and Grandpa Butler. It was lovely.

And so much fun!

Pretty Girls!

Silly boys!

Once school was finished we got to go see the new Star Wars movie with the Sorenson. Uncle Nate's company had bought out a theater for their Christmas party and they had extra tickets for us. Even met Vader!

And Brittany created this great ensemble complete with Princess Leia buns! So cute!

We did Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house, so lovely.

I made these  three adorable girls matching mermaid tails.

And then this morning we had one of the best Christmas mornings ever!

I really wish I could freeze time. Our kids are so fantastic and fun at the point. They are always so fun on Christmas morning. They should never be allowed to grow up and be anywhere but here with me on Christmas morning!

I mean look at this enthusiasm!

The weather cooperated so we were able to go down to the Sorenson for dinner. Aren't these three the cutest?

And we even got to hang out with this cutie! The only thing our day was missing was a cute small person and we got to borrow Nate's brother's adorable Aubrey. Perfect! She liked pretty Brittany and her sparkly jewelry.

Such a lovely Christmas full of family and love. I am feeling so blessed and grateful.And tired. Just a little tired!

 

 

Christmas 2014

Such a fabulous Christmas we have had! This last week with the kids out of school has been great! We snuck a few extra holiday things in. Like walking around the light displays at the Laytin City Park. The kids had complained that we always drive through but never get out and walk around. So this time we did get out, and it was fun! But cold!

Then we had Christmas eve at Grandma's house. The kids we sitting so cosy on the loveseat I had to take their picture. Not that they cooperated. And had scary eyes.  Then we came home to our beautiful neighborhood. Two families prepped luminaries for everyone and it was so pretty!

Christmas morning! So fun! That blur is Matt running for his victory lap in the basement, he was pretty excited about the tablet Santa bright him. His siblings were pretty happy too.

That top left picture is the kids opening a family gift together. Like a Tazmanian devil got it! Brittany always makes a present fort around herself. Then we had a great, lazy day playing video games, putting Legos together and eating.

Such a lovely, beautiful day. It even snowed giving us a white Christmas! I'm so grateful for my fantastic family and my knowledge of my Savior's birth and sacrifice, especially on days like today.

Christmas Breakfast at The Grand

This morning was the day for one of our very favorite Christmas traditions, breakfast at The Grand hotel.  It is always so delicious and beautiful. 

We go with the Butler family and it is so fun to be together! 

This year we got to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus, all of the gorgeous windows, and the biggest gingerbread house ever.

 It was a beautiful, wonderful morning and we are so grateful to these two beautiful people for making it happen!

Halloween 2014

Another great Halloween has come and gone. We love Halloween! Not so much the scary or the gory but we are big on imagination and pretending to be someone else.

 

I got to help in Josh's class this year where his two buddies had also draws up as Avengers.
 

The next day, on Halloween,  we had no school! I wish this could be how Halloween worked out every year! Because there was no school some of the neighborhood girls planned a fun party. Again, the Avengers struck together.
 

That afternoon we all got ready for the annual Halloween party at the Dopps' house.

We love this party every year! It is laid back and fun, just like the Dopps! Lots of candy and seeing people we love, plus it is a fun place for us all to go dressed up! This year we again judged and presented the awards Brittany made.
 

This is where we get a shot of the whole family. Brittany was the Winter Solider, Matt was Star Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy, Josh was Captain America and William and I were the Marvel parents supporting them. This year we again judged and presented the awards Brittany made. It was so hard! Then we went home and Josh trick or treated with the Avengers. Matt went with s friend and Brittany went to a party

I can't believe how big my kids are getting but I an really grateful they still like to hang out with us!
 

I took a few pictures of some of our Halloween decorations before I put them away, just for posterity!

Annual pumpkin carving 2014

 

The Monday before Halloween we always carve pumpkins so that is what we were up to tonight. The kids have developed some great skills!

 

Josh had Dad's help creating a puppy 

 

Matt created a cool Spiderman. Brittany created a new form of Jack-o-lantern that involved wire and paint.  Then she tackled a second pumpkin covered in Mavel comic,it was so cool I wish it had been a fake pumpkin so we could keep it. We are ready for another Halloween!

Park City 2014

This was one of our favorite weekends off the year, it was the weekend we spend in Park City.

 

This year we started in Salt Lake with a visit to Smash Burger and a favorite toy store. I'm so glad they aren't too big to have fun there.

 

 Then we hit the outlets for some school shopping and of course the pool. We ate a lot of yummy food too.

 

We love the Arts Festival, it really is one of our happy places. This year it was even better because Annie and Roberto joined us with darling Gigi.

 

That cute face makes everything more fun! 

 

Just a few of the fun things we loved seeing.

 

The last morning we decided to try something new and we all rode the alpine slide. This was the view when you got off the lift.

 

It was great fun, I was so proud of Matt for overcoming his fear of heights to ride the ski lift up to ride it

Josh right before he went down.

 

Brittany coming down. It was great fun!

 

Then we finished with a movie the kids have been really excited for Guardians of the Galaxy. Our family has had a great time seeing Marvel movies lately. It is fun to find a movie we all like at this stage. Such a great weekend!

July 4th 2014

 

 I love the Fourth of July. So much fun for relatively little stress. This year ours was even better because the Sorensons decided to spend it with us. These are all of the Butler cousins waiting for the parade to start. Aren't they the cutest?

Face painting while waiting for the parade to start is a tradition among my kids. Josh is patriotic puppy in case you wondered.  

 Brittany and Libby being fabulous while Matthew tolerates me taking his picture.

Brittany and Matt trying to catch something good.

After the fireworks we had our annual Meatfest. I tried to take pictures but there just was too much meat. It was awesome. Then we took the Sorensons to our favorite spot for fireworks. Half of the reason the kids like this spot is because there is lots of room to throw a Frisbee and horse around while you wait for the show to start.  It is even better when our friends the Dopps join us too!

The cousins all lined up, ready for fireworks. I love moments like this. I know it won't be long before these kids want to spend the Fourth with friends or have  a date or some such thing. But for now I sure loved having them all together.  

Happy Fourth of July!