A visit from Dad!

The end of June Ted was able to come and visit and boy-o-boy did we keep busy while he was here (I'm pretty sure the kids got to bed after 11pm every night).  We saw family, went on a promised hike to Stewart Falls, played in the play-pool and enjoyed fireworks at the Stadium of Fire.
I wasn't of the mind set to take tons of pictures, but I at least got some.

The Stadium of Fire was exciting, but it was a lot to ask of such young kids.  It started out HOT and ended late...which made for some unhappiness.  We loved being there with Ted's family and we're so grateful for such a wonderful memory.

Busy--As usual

Whew, what a fast pace this summer is.  I can't believe a month has already gone by (bye bye).  Ted just left this morning from his wonderful 5 day visit.  The kids got to bed late every night and we did fun things all day everyday.  Thanks for coming Daddy!
As Ted starts his new rotation in Indiana, we'll be going on a vacation to Bear Lake! --Pictures to come :)

Summer Smiles

Bitter-Sweet

It's been just over a week since we left our beloved state of Iowa.  These past 3 years have been indescribably wonderful.  The people we've come to know and love are the biggest pull to it.  Speaking for me, I know that I'm a different person now than I was before, different as in refined for the better.  I wish I could say that I changed due to my incredible self evaluating skills, but I know that's not remotely true.  I changed due to my wonderful friends surrounding me.  Their many words of wisdom, their example of kind loving mothers, a quality of ambition to better oneself and the service and care given so freely.  Amazing women I feel privileged to know.
Most the women I became to know will also be moving from Iowa now - 3 years, and knowing that kind-of makes it easier to say "good-bye", kind-of.  However, in my case, I leave a sweet-wonderful-amazing-hardworking-loving-funny sister in Iowa.  Being in a closer proximity to my sister Alexis this past year was beyond my wildest dream.  I so adore her and her children, oh and her hard workin' hubby too :).
I'll always treasure the memories made!

We left Iowa Wednesday at 9am and arrived in Utah at 3am Thursday morning.  Thursday we slept a bit, unloaded most everything, and had a quick Howard family dinner that night. Friday morning we quickly packed some camping essentials and left on a quick family trip down to Goblin Valley.  Sure we were tired and worn out, sure we were sick of being in a car and yes it's true camping can be miserable, especially with a newborn.  However, what better memory could my kids hold onto than turning over thousands of rocks, catching lizards, poking ant hills, roasting hot-dogs and marshmallows, filling their shoes with sand and dirt and hiking in the warm sun, and doing all this with their dad.  Defiantly one the best decisions I've ever made.  Such a perfect little trip.  And yes, Rainee did as she usually does and was an excellent baby the whole time!

Ted left Monday morning to start his first rotation of 6 before we'll get him back permanently in December, 6 months from now.  Needless to say we miss him SO much...  I just keep thinking of my blessing of having such a wonderful support group to help us cope with missing him.  Most my prayers of comfort are said for Ted, I also pray that he'll be super busy ALL THE TIME.  He's such a dedicated father and being away from his little treasures will be hard, very hard.
I'm thrilled to be surrounded by family again!  There seems to always be something going on and people on the move.  The best families ever!

A new era in the Butterfield family now begins... "good-bye wonderful Iowa", "hello Utah and family".

Rainee's Blessing 5-15-11

What a beautiful day to bless our sweet Rainee.  My sister and her family were able to make it down from Davenport and be a part of the blessing (thanks for being with us!).  I'm so grateful for all the wonderful people in Iowa that made Rainee's arrival - blessing day marvelous.  I think of all the people that brought meals and helped watch my kids so I could have a few moments to adjust to having three kiddos.  What a blessed life I have.
Here are some of the pics of the special day.  Thanks Lex for bringing your camera :)

The End of an Era

Ya know when you donate things to Goodwill or D.I,  it feels good to know you're recycling, giving to a good cause and clearing space in your home, right? Yeah, a good all around feeling, everyone wins! Well, today was a great day for making a donation in a different way.  Today we donated our pets!  Our dear salamanders, Mander and L.G, and Toady-Toady (our toad :), can now be found  at the Family Science Center in Downton Des Moines! AND our furry, but a little less cuddle'y pet, Flanuga (Chilean rose tarantula) has a new home at the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.  How awesome is that!

We have enjoyed our little pets for the past years.  Flanuga has been with us before Chloe was born.  Her name was initially Nuga (as in the hair that covers a baby in the womb), but after she ate our other tarantula, Flick, she took on his name as well and became "Flanuga". Then there is Mander and L.G (stands for Little Guy) and they have been with us almost as long.  The best part about these guys were when they ate, especially Mander, so much fun to watch.  Plus, a huge perk to these two were that they are kid friendly!  Toady-Toady came home with us from Utah's Strawberry Reservoir about 2 years ago.  I wasn't keen on keeping him, but when I heard the little croak he made there was no way to say "no".  Of course these weren't our only pets through the years: our fishes (Gekey, Gomey, and Deep), a handful of frogs: leopard frogs, bull frogs and cricket frogs.  There were possibly more, but those are the animals that I can remember.  Anyway, now that we'll be moving around a bit for the next year, this option of giving them to a great cause is just perfect!  

"Good-bye" Butterfield Animal Era... 

(for now)

These two pics of Rainee are just to show how big she's getting and how stinkin' cute she is!

Easter 2011

Easter was wonderful--small--simple--and wonderful!  

Saturday was an egg hunt worthy for Eskimos (brrrrrrr!)

 

 Yes, my children are color snobs... Chloe would ONLY pick up "pink" or "purple" eggs and Porter would ONLY put "green" eggs in his bag... and throw any other color.  However, any green egg Chloe would see, she'd pick it right up and take it to Porter... she's got her brother's back.

Thanks to the great people that set this event up, you're amazing and wonderful!

Sunday
My sweet sister made these super cute dresses for my girls (just 'cuz she loves me!)  It was fun to match my little gals, we felt so Spring-y.

How Time flies!

Rainee,

This month we've loved getting to know our beautiful little girl.  From the beginning we've learned you are a huge fan of cuddling and swaddling (yea! finally a cudd'ler!). You're calm under pressure (aka smothering by your loving sis' and bro').  At your 2 week appointment you weighed 9 lbs and had grown from a 20in babe to 21in baby.  Sleeping is no problem for you (thank you!).  At first baths are a bit intimidating, but soon you relax and enjoy the warmth (it's kind-of like cuddling, right?).  You are EXTREMELY strong and love to hold you head up to look at who's talking/holding you.  How lucky we are to have you here on earth with us! (YEA!!)