Lindsey's Baptism

Our sweet Lindsey was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, August 23, 2014. She has been looking forward to this day for a long time! The Saturday before school starts is a hard day for inviting people, so there were not a lot of people in attendance, but Lindsey had a really great attitude about it. She also said it was probably better, because the few people who came managed to eat 9 1/2 dozen cookies, and we would have run out if more people came. (: Lindsey is such a good girl. She has been reading the Book of Mormon for a little over a year, and finished a few weeks ago, specifically so she could pray about it and get her own testimony before she was baptized. She was absolutely floating after the baptism, and has been trying extra hard to make the right choices since "they count now." We are very proud of her and all the good choices she has made so far. We love you, Lindsey!!

 Lindsey and Robert (who baptized and confirmed her) before the baptism

 The whole family before the big event

I love the look on Lindsey's face in this picture after her baptism. (I also love the little photo bomber behind her--I took another picture without him, but Lindsey's smile in combination with the look on Blake's face make this one priceless to me (:)

Buried Alive!!

 Alan was the first brave soul who agreed to be buried in the sand.

 Mermaid Lindsey (thanks to Ashlynn)

 Claire loved being buried until the sand got in her mouth. (:

Blake wasn't interested in having his arms buried, but he wanted to stay in the sand for a long time.

A Surprise Day at the Lake

Last Friday Robert told me to get dressed and come with him. We loaded all the kids in the van, and he started driving. Without giving me any clues, he and our friends the Braleys planned a day at Hickory Run State Park. They had food, swimsuits, everything needed for a day of fun in the sun! It was very sweet and we had a wonderful day.

 What Natalie did all day (:  She is wrapped up because it was actually quite cool in the shade.

 The big kids had tons of fun trying to catch minnows and tadpoles with Ashlynn

 Blake was super proud of his sand castle

 Claire like making sand castles, but liked destroying them even more. Surprisingly, she left the other kids' castles alone and only destroyed the ones she and I built together.

 The never ending battle with Blake's shorts

 Ashlynn (a.k.a. the most patient cousin ever!) carrying Lindsey and Alan double decker style into deeper water

Seven Tubs Nature Park

 Clockwise from left: Ashlynn (Robert's niece), Lindsey, Alan, Robert, Natalie, Blake, Claire

Visiting Palmyra

 Visiting the Priesthood Restoration site with Aunt Teressa, Grandma Butler, Ashlynn, and Grandpa Butler

 Aunt Teressa and Lindsey at the Peter Whitmer Farm

 At the hill Cumorah

A very sleepy one week old Natalie (who was a champ the whole trip)

We visited the Priesthood Restoration site, the Peter Whitmer Farm (where the church was organized), the hill Cumorah, the Palmyra temple, and the Smith family farm and Sacred Grove. It was a wonderful trip!!

Natalie

Natalie Jennae Butler (her middle name is for two special women--her Auntie April Genee and her Aunt Jenny)

Claire and Grandma Butler meet Natalie

Our growing family (who really are happy to meet Natalie, in spite of the long faces)

Mommy and all the kids (from left: Alan, Lindsey, Natalie, Claire, and Blake)

Proud Papa

Natalie all ready to go home

Natalie Jennae Butler was born at 9:43 p.m. on Tuesday June 24, 2014. Other than a sluggish start to labor (I was induced at 9 a.m. and things finally got going only after the doctor upped the pitocin to 20--yikes! 8-12 is what they usually use) everything went very smoothly. I surprised the doctor by only pushing through 3 contractions before Natalie was here. Everyone always comments on how beautifully round my baby's heads are--I guess that's a result of how short a time I spend pushing. She has no jaundice (a first for us), and seems especially tiny since she is almost half a pound smaller than any of our other babies.

All of the children love Natalie, and constantly want to hold her. Claire is utterly enamored with her, and though she definitely want me more, doesn't seem to begrudge Natalie my attention. It is a little crazy at our house, between a new baby, remodeling the family bathroom, and Robert's new calling in our new branch, but we are extremely happy!! Much love from all of us!!!