Thanksgiving

So we had a great Thanksgiving. My Mom had us all over to her house this year-including my Grandpa Butler (from Denver) and my Grandpa and Grandma Robison, also this year Becca brought home her soon-to-be fiance' Nic (of SLC). We loved having Becca and Nic here for Thanksgiving! We are still getting to know Nic, and we really like him a lot! And we really like Becca with him--she is so happy and so nice---Nic brings out some very good qualities in Becca. Nic was very sweet to all of our little girls (who, I think, all have a bit of a crush on him--they were acting very giddy, silly, shy, and giggly around him). Whitney, is the most crazy about him! Always climbing in his lap and demanding to be held---to which Nic was very accommodating . . . I am so excited for Becca to have Nic in her life. They make a great couple.

Thanksgiving . . . a time to slow down and be grateful for all that we have. And no, I haven't taken the tiniest bit of time to do that this year. I am grateful for so much in my life--my crazy, busy life--- nonetheless, I do have plenty to be grateful for. And I really don't take enough time to think about it all . . . so now is as good a time as any.

1. Scott, of course, he is the first on my list. :) Words do little to describe my feelings about Scott. He truly is my best friend. A team player. Wonderful provider. He makes me laugh. Hugs me when I cry. Still holds my hand when we're walking somewhere. Tells me I am beautiful, even when I can't see it. Loves me. I can see it in his eyes when he is looking at me. This journey through life and raising kids is better with him by my side.

2. Samantha, McKenzie, and Whitney---my little women. Teaching me how to be a Mother. Little reflections of me--some good, some bad-- They are innocent, tender, forgiving, teachable, full of love, full of joy, full of excitement. My greatest life's work. I am grateful everyday for the gift of them in my life.

3. The gospel of Jesus Christ. Shaping me, helping me, guiding me, keeping me safe, bringing me peace and direction in my life.

4. A home of my own. I love having a house that is just our family's. A place to learn and love and grow together.

5. Living in here in this great community. So close to family --I love having my parents just next door, and Scott's parents are just down the road.

Gratitude keeps us happy. I actually feel calmer and more peaceful having taken the time to think about the great and wonderful things in my life. Hope you all had a "Happy Thanksgiving."

Journaling--The cute things . . . and "Ba-Hum-Bug"

So in the interest of keeping (somewhat) of a journal, I decided to write about Whitney and some of the cute things that she is saying. Concerning nursery at church, she has been really good up until she turned 2. Then she decided that she will scream, kick, cry, wail, and otherwise frighten the other children (not to mention the poor nursery leaders) until, I agree to stay and play with her. I am NOT letting her tantrum her way out of nursery, so I stay for awhile and then leave for my church calling and then keep checking back and usually go in to help calm her down. When I check on her she is usually separated from the other children screaming in a corner---saying over and over, "I need Mommy, I need Mommy . . . " you get the lovely picture . . . So I have been trying to change my strategy, I thought well I will "Pep-Talk" her before she goes to nursery--Going something like this: "Oh Whitney, it is time for nursery!" she quickly says, "NO Nurs--ee!" I say, " You can see Sister Shirley (whom she used to love)." She says, " NO Sisa Sher--yee!" I say, " Oh come on she is so fun." Whitney says, "NO fun!" I say, "Sister Shirley is so nice and happy." Whit says, " No ni-ice, No Hap--y!"----Pep-talk not working so well. But I had to laugh (inside) at how cute and confident Whitney was with her answers, all with a very serious scowl on her face. This past week we decided to try and talk more about nursery during the week, we even started praying for nursery and for Sister Shirley, I thought it might help when we then got to nursery and of course when we got to church, Sister Shirley wasn't in nursery that week . . . Her son got home from a mission and they were having a family party. Just my luck.

Scott has officially started coaching Basketball this week! He is the new assistant JV Boys Basketball coach at Madison High school! He is loving it! Four hours of B-Ball practice a day--who wouldn't be in heaven? I am trying to be a good sport about the whole thing. I think that I am doing pretty good so far, a whole week---way to go Chris!--- Scott is such a happy guy, all smiles when he is going off to Ball, and in a great mood when he comes home. I like to see him so lit-up about something---the spark the excitement! I am happy when he is happy!

I am trying to keep-up with the Holiday Season---and I am trying not to be a "Ba-Hum-Bug"! I used to love the "Holidays", but now, I kind-of dread them. I know, it's all the in attitude . . .blah. blah. blah . . . I am not ready to have a good attitude about it yet. So, I am being honest. I just feel like Christmas becomes all about "the stuff" and I look around our house, so full of "stuff" and I just get all wound-up thinking about all the more"stuff" that we are going to get . . . I know that we give gifts in honor of the gift of our Savior. And I honestly enjoy giving a gift to someone, when I know that it is really something that they will love and I get excited to surprise them with it, but I hate feeling like I have to get something for someone, just to get them something. more stuff. I know, "Ba-Hum-Bug" Sorry. Scott and I did do some Christmas Shopping this past Saturday, we were able to find some great things that I am really excited about giving to people, plus we got our Christmas cards all ready to send out! ALL of that is helping me feel better about the up coming Holidays!! I like to be on top of things!

It's a Star Wars Halloween!

Samantha as Darth Vader---Completely her idea!
McKenzie as Princess Leah --a beautiful princess!
Whitney as Yoda-I fought a mighty battle to get her in that costume, she is so mad at me in these pictures, and as soon as I finished taking her picture she began ripping it off!!

May the force be with you!

This was the night of the Hibbard Elm. School Halloween Carnival! Scott had a Football game that night, so I took all the girls myself (I must not like myself very much). But it actually was not that bad, the girls were well behaved. I did get a few cracks about being "Hans Solo"--because I was there "solo" without Scott (Ha Ha Ha--people are so dang funny)! Anyway we went and ate dinner at the school and then went around to the different classrooms and played games and won prizes. Whitney refused to wear her costume. So she was not dressed-up at the carnival. I won the battle, but I did not win the war. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Art under the bunk-bed . . .

So during Spud Harvest, Sam and Kenz were supposed to be cleaning up their room! They had lots of books and clothes and hangers all over their floor. When I came in to check on their progress . . . I found an elaborate, artful hanging of books and hangers! Honestly, I was quiet impressed with their "work". They played for a long time under their bed making different arrangements of their books and such. Creative kids. Gotta love them.

Mount Borah

My dad and I climbed Mount Borah on September 27th. He turned 55 this year and his goal was to climb the tallest mountain in Idaho. Some guys buy a convertible for a mid-life crisis, but my dad wanted to cause himself immense pain and suffering.

It was the last nice Saturday before all the storms and snow started coming in. The trail is 3.5 miles long and you climb over 5,100 feet, that is about a mile up. The average grade is almost 30%. It was a grunt taking us almost 11 hours total. It is the steepest hike I have ever been on, and the most challenging that I have done. There is a part called "Chicken-Out Ridge", where the trail gets a little tricky. You basically have to scramble, walk/crawl on your hands and feet for almost a half mile. There are some intimidating ledges that look scary as you scramble next to them. The comforting thought is that there have only been two recorded deaths on the mountain, and they were people that fell/slipped on snow. Honestly, the ridge wasn't that challenging physically, but it was a mental challenge. We took it slow and steady, and there were other hikers out that we could see where they went. The trail was a grunt in parts and your muscles burned on the way up, and your joints ached on the way down.

Overall a great experience! Would I do it again? Maybe when I am 55.

Scott


This is about a mile into the trip. You can tell it is Idaho with the sparse trees and rugged mountains. This dead tree was picturesque.

This is about two miles in and we had climbed almost 3000 feet, notice how the trail follows the ridge line. Dad wouldn't even look over ledge--he didn't want to 'chicken out' before we arrived at Chicken-Out Ridge.

This is the same stop, but we are looking up at Borah behind me. The air is so light up there that I couldn't keep my arms down. :)

This is our view of Chicken-Out Ridge, see how the trail still follows the ridge line. Where the color changes to yellow is the official starting point of Chicken-Out. We saw our fair share of hikers that stopped and waited for their buddies, or others that stopped and just went right back down the mountain.

This was the worst part. My finger is pointing to the little notch that we scrambled to get thru. What you can't see is the 'imminent death ledge' that looms to the left or the 'less steep but still pucker-worthy ledge' to the right.

This is a picture of Dad showing the 'big gun' he brought to keep the bears away. We are at the top of Borah here. The temperature was in the upper 50's with a mild breeze. As you can tell we felt great making it to the top before sunset.

There was a U.S.A. flag along with an Idaho flag that was hanging upside down(I guess altitude sickness makes you do funny things). We signed the log book, had a sandwich, called the girls with my cellphone. Surprisingly the signal wasn't great--I had to stand on the north part of the peak and face west or I lost the call. Some other hikers brought a few cans of Budweiser--that didn't seem like the smartest thing to do heading down the mountain. Yes, I had to work hard to keep my arms down.

This is one of the tricky parts of Chicken-Out Ridge. You climb about 20 feet straight up and then head down about 80 feet off to the right. Then we scrambled along a 'snow field', which was a side-hill trail that was in the shade and had snow from the past week. Notice the light air lifting Dad's arms up again.

Here is Dad on the way down. This is about 1000 feet down from the peak, and it was steep shale that would make you slide down almost just as much as you would step up. It was a grunt going up, but on the way down it was a 'controlled slide.' You can see the winding stream at the bottom, that is where our car was at.

Here is Dad and I at the top of Mount Borah. 12,662 feet up and the tallest peak in Idaho. Not bad for a 55 year old and his 30 year old son.

There's Nobody like Aunt Karissa

I love these pictures of Kenz, Karissa, and Sam! They were taken after Karissa's dance recital. Sam, Kenz, and Whit all adore their Aunt Karissa! They all look up to her and have watched her grow and mature into a wonderful Young Woman. Aunt Karissa has long been their favorite person (sometimes even preferred over Mom). Karissa has always taken the time to play with them, love them, teach them things, talk to them, read to them, be their friend, and she has even changed a diaper or two . . . (bless her heart). WE appreciate the good example she sets for our girls (especially since she and Sam are only 5 years apart). Sam is watching Karissa and notices the choices she makes, and is looking forward to when she can do some of the things she has watched Karissa do---such as: get baptised, get her ears pierced, go to middle school, be in Young Women's, wear make-up . . . just to name a few. Thanks to a wonderful Aunt! We love you Aunt Karissa!

Camping behind the Couch

I was just looking through some pictures and I found these of Sam and Kenz. One night they made beds behind the couch and they were so proud of their efforts that they wanted to sleep there for the night. We told them that was fine. Kenz made it until about 11:00 p.m. and then Sam went to her own bed about 2:00 a.m. I knew they wouldn't last the night, but I didn't want to squash their excitement!