A quick trip to Raccoon River Park ~9/13/10~

We decided to get out of the house and go enjoy what seemed to be "pretty good" weather. We had such a wonderful time.  As most people know about us Butterfields, is that Ted keeps us up to date and informed on bugs and other stuff.  Chloe and Porter have come to LOVE bugs and other stuff from Ted's enthusiasm, although I have to brag and a bit thrilled that my "Howard Bug Hatred" has at least persuaded them both to enjoy "smooshing" the spiders that come into our house :) !!!  Anyway, onto the wonderful experience...  At the waters edge there were tons and tons of Monarch butterflies drinking water (at least I think that's what they were doing).  Chloe spent a ton of her time just running all around the place finding butterflies and making them fly.  At one point she had a least 8 butterflies flying around her head.  It was so precious.  As with every time I get to be close to butterflies I feel Heavenly Father is saying that he loves me, after all, I am Princess Butterfly :)

I'm usually the one with the camera and seem to always be left out of pics, but this time Ted was the photographer which was nice to be a part of the action.

It took a bit but Porter did finally wake up and enjoy the water, sand and sticks.

 He's such a boy... I love it!

 Porter was most thrilled about the airplanes that were flying over head, hence the point.

Yup, that's me in a picture...sweet...

The water fun had to end pretty quickly because of the large, dark clouds with rolling thunder approaching us, but all-in-all a priceless experience.

Another year under his belt...

9-11-10

Ted I love you SO much and there are many times I feel I don't deserve your goodness and patience.  I think about your first birthday I participated in and I can't help but laugh at how it really didn't go very well, but at least I remember it.  There were 25 balloons and attached to each string was a reason why I loved you.  All those reason I love you are still there, but now since being married to you for almost six years, I've found SO MUCH more to love about you.  To add to the other 25, here are 10 more:

1. Your ability to bring peace to a situation between me and Chloe...and our head-buttoning-ness...
2. The time you take to make sure I'm feeling okay when I've had a tough day.
3. There is nothing that makes the kids smile brighter than when you wrestle with them
4. The time you take to tuck the kids in at night and sing them "one" song.
5. How you genuinely care for my foot care :)
6. The positive comments you always tell me.
7. Your heartfelt desire to be a better parent everyday.
8. Your active goal of being a better husband.
9. The ability you have to fix anything...ANYTHING!
10. The way you make me laugh, especially at night :)

 Keylime Cheesecake was the surprise dessert,  Ted ~ Chloe ~ and myself enjoyed eating, however Porter mainly enjoyed messing it. 

 Chloe and Porter picked some nice gifts out for dad: Chloe choose some lizard that she "knew daddy would love" and Porter picked out a "nice" golf club for the wii-mote (spelling?).  Of course Ted gave the lizard to the kids and love playing with them.  Ted also got some golf clubs and he is enjoying learning the sport of golf. :)

We love you Ted and Daddy!  Happy Birthday

Growing

Hi, I've been a bit...out of it for a while...no reason, really...well, kind-of :)
We're happy to announce (officially) that our little family of 4 is due to grow in size by one in March 2011.  We're super excited, ESPECIALLY CHLOE, who blesses her "baby sister" every night.  We've explained that the baby might be a boy and she has affirmed that she'd love the baby as a boy too, but she just feels it's a baby sister.

This pregnancy has proved to be quite different than the first two.  I now have a better understanding of what quite a few women feel like for the first few months of pregnancy. (blah!)
I think I'm on the up-n-up now and Chloe and Porter and Ted are thrilled... poor kids and hubby, I've been neglecting them for sure.