Happy Birthday, Zackary

Our daring little Zackary turned two clear back in December. It is hard to believe that he has already been here for two years!! He was born screaming loudly, letting himself known to the world and he continues to make himself known. He loves to tease Anton. He will take something from Anton and start to run away. He then turns and looks to make sure that Anton noticed and is upset. When Anton starts to complain I just tell him to ask for it back. Zackary gets a huge grin on his face and very willingly gives the toy back.

Zackary has the most gorgeous eyelashes, long, dark, curly! He has the cutest blue eyes to go with it and he continues to perfect that "puppy dog pouty" look. It is a good thing it doesn't work on me. Grandpa is great at giving in to it though. At Grandpa's Zackary gets just about whatever he wants.

Zackary loves peanut butter and honey or jelly sandwiches. He eats an average of three a day. We are hoping that this will help him start to gain weight as he remains in the 1% for weight. The peanut butter sandwiches are a more recent acquired taste.

Books, blocks and balls are other favorites. All three of which are favorites because we have so many of them he can cover the floor with them. Recently he set a new record for emptying the entire box of balls, all of the blocks, and the bookcase. It was about three minutes. I came back from brushing my teeth and I could no longer see the floor. (I imagine that he might have had a little help from Anton.) Luckily, he also likes to help clean.

We are truly blessed to have our little Zackary in our family. He makes things so much more interesting. We love you, Zackary!!!

Blowing out the candle for the second time. He enjoyed it enough the first time he insisted on trying again. He then proceeded to try to eat the candle. But we stopped him before he could get a bite. I guess that I shouldn't have left it out on the counter because the next day after THREE bites he decided candles weren't as good as they looked.



Enjoying his cake.

Our Baby

Clear back in November we had the ultra sound to check the growth and development of our baby. Everything looked good. Now, I am finally getting around to posting the ultrasound pictures. We are waiting until the baby is born to find out if we are getting blessed with a boy or girl. But, yesterday, we had a doctors appointment and found out that we are scheduled to have our baby arrive on March 25, 2010. After going through as much labor with two babies as my mom did with 10 and still having two emergency C-sections we are really hoping that there is no labor this time and I get to recover from just the C-section without having labor to tire me out before the C-section.

A cute little profile with the hand up by the face.



I really like seeing the tiny little foot.




If for some reason, Edwin, you can tell what the baby is from these pictures, please don't share the info. I imagine that you are getting more and more expert at deciphering pictures of ultrasounds now that you are in your residency.

Preston Trip

The middle of October we had a wonderful day trip to Preston, Idaho. Linden's Aunt Becky and Dan were there on a hunting trip from Washington and we couldn't resist the idea of visiting them. So, we packed up the boys and took off for Preston. It was a nice drive there. We drove about twelve miles back up into a canyon (I don't remember which canyon anymore) and found their camping spot. They were staying in a very pretty little campground.

The day before Dan Jr. had gotten a deer, so we had the pleasure of having all three of them visit with us in camp all day, Aunt Becky, Dan and Dan Jr. We had a great visit. They decided to spoil the boys and got each of them a little toy. We had a delicious lunch of tacos and fixins. The thing we enjoyed most, though, was being able to visit with them. The last time we saw them was at our family reunion at the end of July at Bear Lake. Before then, though, we hadn't seen Aunt Becky since Linden and I went up to Washington on our honeymoon.

We are very grateful to have such wonderful family and really enjoyed their hospitality. We look forward to seeing them again soon.

Aunt Becky and Dan with Anton and Zackary.



Aunt Becky and Dan.



These pictures were taken a few years before of the same canyon when they were there hunting. Since I forgot to take any pictures of the gorgeous fall scenery while we were there I am including these pictures that Aunt Becky sent to me. There wasn't any snow while we were there, but I like it. It adds a nice little something extra to the fall colors and pine trees.





This picture we dug up at Linden's mom's house. It is from a family reunion from ages ago. Annikka is the baby. Brina and Brook weren't born yet. Aunt Becky, Uncle Rick and their clan are there along with Uncle Mike, Grandma Ruby and her former husband. I thought it was a great picture. Thanks to Linden for scanning it for me so that I could post it. Enjoy the memories.

Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks

The weekend after Labor Day we took a trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. It was very enjoyable and relaxing. We saw some great sights and had lots of fun. All summer long Linden would call Claudette and tell her how much he was enjoying the surroundings he was in then. He spent the summer working in Grand Teton National Park. In their younger years (after high school) both Linden and Claudette worked at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park. So all summer long we planned this trip. It was lots of fun and Claudette and Linden enjoyed reminiscing about their past adventures in the park.

Outside Jackson Lake Lodge.



It's my turn to take a picture.



What are you doing?



The boys outside of Jackson Lake Lodge.



Looking at a school of minnows at the boat docks at Colter Bay.



The boys by the sign talking about why Colter Bay was named what it is.



Colter Bay



A cute little beaver we saw at the river at Oxbow bend. We also saw a moose, but it was too far away and in some trees for a good photo.



A sunset view of Mount Moran with the Snake River in the foreground.



Another view of Mount Moran.



Me trying to keep the boys from ending up in the river.



Inside our cabin. Thanks to Claudette for arranging our lodging. I think it was fun for Linden and Claudette to stay in one of the cabins they used to clean. Our room had two doubles and one twin. Claudette took the twin. Linden had one of the doubles and I ended up with Anton and Zackary in the other.



Outside our cabin.



A view of Mount Moran from Colter Bay.



The boys and Claudette and I at the shore of Jackson Lake. We had a nice little hike around part of the lake Saturday morning before we took off from Colter Bay.



Me with my boys along the trail. Saturday morning we headed over to Jenny Lake to hike up to Hidden Falls. It was a nice hike, very pretty. I wouldn't mind going again.



A nice little view of the creek we passed a few times on our hike.



A view of one of the Tetons from the trail. It was much more breathtaking in person.



A ground squirrel the boys found quite amusing on our way up the trail.



We made it. Hidden Falls.



All of us at Hidden Falls, minus Linden. He only ended up being in two pictures the whole trip. I guess that is what happens when he takes charge of the camera.



The whole group of us at Hidden Falls. It was really pretty. We had a nice little picnic lunch in the shade. Linden continued on to hike up to Inspiration Point. The boys weren't up for much more hiking so Claudette and I and took off back down the mountain with them.



On our hike back down I couldn't resist getting a shot of this view of Jenny Lake.



Anton's eyes were rolling around as he fought sleep. He would NOT relinquish his jerky. This is the result.



Old Faithful



Anyone in the Butler Family knows exactly why we took this picture. My Dad is a civil engineer and licensed land surveyor. We found this marker on our way back to the car after seeing Old Faithful.



Hey, Dad, where is my $5? I finally found a license plate from Alaska in Yellowstone!! It is just a FEW years late.



We saw a nice size herd of elk on our way out of Yellowstone. There were about 11 elk total. One nice size bull elk, but he didn't let us get a picture of him. However we were able to capture this one of the cows and calves, there are even a couple on the little island in the river.



A tree growing out of a rock? How unusual.



Does looking at all of these pictures without snow and cold make you long for summer?

Fun Wedding Pictures

Although I already posted a few pictures from Leonora and Kevin's wedding I have some more fun ones to post. Enjoy.

Zackary and I trying to stay cool in the shade while waiting for Leonora and Kevin to come out of the temple.



Maria and Josh, what a cute couple.



David must have been worn out from helping to watch the dozens of nieces and nephews. (Thanks also to Lori, John Wood, John Niel, Jenna, and Grandma Nielsen we really appreciate your help.)



The happy couple.



Uncle Josh and Evan.



Dad and Daniel visiting at the reception.



A self portrait of Linden and a very grumpy and tired Anton. Wouldn't you be grumpy, too, after a long day away from home?



Bruce and Zackary playing at the doors of the church. How adorable.



I think that every child loves blowing on windows and getting them all dirty.



Somehow Leonora and Kevin registered for some little boy baby bibs, they claim innocence. Either they are hoping for a little boy or they know someone having a little boy and are trying to save money by having someone else buy the baby shower gift. Ha, Ha. I thought it was funny they had baby bibs on their bridal registry and couldn't resist getting the bibs for them.

Zoo Trip

It has been THREE MONTHS since I have posted anything. The whole time I have been downloading and organizing all of the pictures from the camera. I just haven't been doing anything else. So, now I am starting with the oldest ones and moving forward. Hopefully in the next few weeks I can be more consistent and get caught up.

These pictures are from a trip to the zoo on August 21, 2009. It was the day before Leonora's wedding. We decided all of the cousins would enjoy going to the zoo together. It was a fun day despite the heat. We even got an early start and got there shortly after the zoo opened.

Shanna, always gorgeous, and adorable in her blue hat.






Little Bruce didn't quite make it through the zoo without a nap.



Benjamin and Rohan watching the monkeys.



Anton and Zackary watching the turtle.



The turtle (or tortoise).

We haven't ever seen the tiger as active as it was that day. The kids loved seeing it.



Ali and Ethan chillin' in the stroller.



Little Evan, all smiles, despite teething issues.



It was feeding time for the penguins. I am glad I wasn't out there during the mayhem. The kids loved watching them swallow the fish whole.



Our attempt at getting a picture of all of the cousins together. It was a bit chaotic. We sure missed the rest of the Texas cousins (Grant and Tucker) and our Iowa cousins (Grace, Anne, and James who was on the way at the time).



Finally, we got all of the kids on the tiger. Hurry get the picture.



There they go, Evan first, then Rohan.



Susan and Evan at the petting zoo, feeding the goats.



The soon to be newlyweds.



A group photo just before we left the zoo. We survived!