The Grandkiddos

These are a few pictures Ashleigh took, she does such a great job. She has the Duke touch for photography. Hang on to that baby, Mason!

Austin

Is that the cutest little fat baby you have ever seen?!!!! He weighed almost 10 lbs. at birth and has grown bigger and cuter every day. Welcome to our family, Austen Vaughn Butler!

Papas boys

Now, that's one happy grandpa with Ian, Lawson, Breghten, and Mason. We all came up for baby Austin's blessing and conference.

Malories Reception

The reception was beautful, I had so much help from friends and family. There were way too many people there and we had a line going out the door (but we are glad they came!)

Malorie & Curtis

Malorie and Curtis were happily married in the Mesa Az Temple on Jan. 9th, 2010. It was an absolutely perfect day and I can still hardly believe my baby is married! Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Wallen!

Ray Wedding Reception

It is finally official. Malorie and Curtis are engaged! It happened last night at Mal's recital. As soon as she had finished singing and was walking off stage, Curtis came onstage. At first she thought she was hallucinating but he caught her and told her he loved her very much and then got down on one knee, and she went down too! It was pretty funny but she got her composure and stood up and he held the ring out and asked her to marry him. The crowd loved it of course and we parents were very happy for the both of them. I got it on video but you know I have to have help with stuff like that so hopefully someone can get it up on the blog for me. The date will be January 8th.

This is from the Reception over the weekend. Thank you Lauren, Malorie, Curtis and of course my wonderful husband!

Ashleigh and Alex are having another little boy, and I could'nt be happier!! I was thinking of what would be the most important things my sons and daughters could teach to my precious grandchildren and I opened my scriptures to Alma 37. "Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; Teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.
O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

Some wonderful news!! Lauren is expecting! She just found out and Ryan told all of us to "think pink" because it would be fun to have a girl after 2 terrific boys (and all my boys are terrific!!!) Ashleigh will find out what she is having on the 22nd. I sure wish I could be there. Ive been there all of the other times. Some other good news. I got to hold Craigs book in my hands! It was very exciting and thanks to my supervisor, Craig Kelly, we are getting books in two of the AZ stores way ahead of schedule. I suppose the family will buy most of the first books on the shelf! My kids know they will be getting one for Christmas for sure. I'm doing a wedding this weekend. Hot pink and black. I'll post some pictures of it next week.

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Colors/index.htm

Grandpa Curtis is doing pretty good considering he has 42 metal stiches in his leg. Yes, of course he counted them as soon as he could! I must say that the first few days he was home he was a terrible patient, but he has settled down and I'm not pulling my hair out anymore!! I have enjoyed spending so much time with them both and because Deseret book hasn't needed me to work for the past few months, I have considered that a blessing because everyone else has to work full time and who could have helped M&D as much as they have needed it? So, everything works out and has a purpose.

Lawson

Yes, Darrell did it once again. It only took him one day to make the bookshelf. Dont get me wrong, they were a lot of work but thanks to some friends help with the design they went up pretty quickly. I'm loving it so much that I'm looking around for another place! But don't tell Darrell!! I already have it filled up, so that will be my next picture.

My New Bookshelves

" Often we spend great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes and wards. We work diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow." President Ezra Taft Benson

Happy Birthday America!!

I see a distant land; it shines so clear
Sometimes it seems so far, sometimes so near.
Come, join together, take the dusty road.
Help one another; share the heavy load.
The journey may be long; no end in sight.
There may be hills to climb, or giants to fight;
But if you'll take my hand, we'll walk together
T'ward the land of freedom.

I hear a distant song; it fills the air.
I hear it, deep and strong, rise up in prayer;
"O Lord, we are many; help us to be one.
Heal our divisions; let Thy will be done."
I know the time will come when war must cease.
A time of truth and love, a time of peace.
The people cry, "How long til all our world
Can join the song of freedom?"

I touch a distant hand and feel its glow,
The hand I hoped was there; at last I know.
Swords into ploughshares; can it all come true?
Friends out of strangers; start with me and you.
I see another time, another place
Where we can all be one, one human race.
The walls will melt away, we'll come together
On the day of freedom.
John Rutter
(written in 1990, shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall)

These are highlights from our trip to the Oquirrh Temple open house in the Daybreak community in Utah. I know what you are thinking... Did they actually take all those rowdy boys? Yes!! and they loved it, they were so respectful and at times even folding their little arms. Even Lawson did really well, and when He and Ian got to the Celestial room, they were in awe and we had to pry hands off the rope where they had roped the room off, to move on. I know they felt the spirit there and I would encourage all you parents to make every opportunity for your children to have these experiences.