Butcher Happenings

I've needed to update for so long but life had been busy and exciting lately. Way back when on Memorial Day we went with Ben's sister and her family to Mesa Falls. Ben & I had never been there before so it was really fun. Hyrum was a trooper and walked the whole way! Ben's mom has been here for about 2.5 weeks and recently went home but she was able to be here for this.

Above: Family pic at Mesa Falls
Below: The boys and Chloe

Grandma Butcher & Hyrum

May 17 we got a new little niece...Paige. Ben's sister Becky had her 5th girl and here is a picture of the new family!

We've had some fun outside whenever the weather has decided to stay nice. These are some pictures sometime in May of Hyrum having fun helping wash the cars.

His favorite part was spraying us with the hose. He would laugh and giggle so hard it was so cute!

Hyrum always points out bikes whenever we go places so we thought maybe he'd be old enough to try a trike! Well, lets say this picture is the most he's been on it total. He hasn't got the coordination figured out yet but we'll work on it! He does like it though!

Hyrum's most favorite activity right now is mowing the lawn. I do not exaggerate to say that at least 5 times a day I get asked "dad lawn" which means is dad mowing the lawn? How exciting is mowing day at our house! We got Hyrum a bubble lawn mower that he pushes around while Ben mows. It's pretty cute and funny!

Hyrum's 2nd cousin Karston came to play the other day and here is a cute pic of them.

Hyrum also loves to throw the football and we did not teach him this but he knows somehow he has to have his helmet on? Too much watching football at our house! He's getting ready to toss it here!

Our future football player (Ben hopes).

Hyrum is now in a big boy bed...in a big boy booster seat at the table (no high chair). He's getting so big...next big step will be potty training.So it's not a great picture of me but I chopped my hair off last night. I was trying to grow it out but decided I needed something faster so I chopped it. I love it though.

I turned 24 last Monday which was fun. Ben and family spoiled me which was nice. We went down to Sandy, UT for one of our IVF appts and it went well. I have started injections now in my stomach and it's not as bad as I thought. Even though I give many shots at work and start IVs frequently you just don't know how it will feel to do it to yourself! I still have to psych myself up for it a little but the pain is really minimal. It's more the idea of it than anything. I'm heading into my last 3 shifts of work this weekend and then will be spoiled with month off to complete our IVF stuff. We head down July 1 to stay for a week and a half. We have a couple day trips to make down there between now and then. It's getting exciting and nerve racking! I just want it to work so bad and we have so much invested in this! They gave us the lecture this past weekend of the risks of it not working and it felt a little discouraging. I'm trying to stay positive and have faith!

On a happier note...Ben is enjoying work right now and actually had been busy...He's having fun building models for the company but worries he will put his whole department out of a job because the computere is doing all the work! Just kidding! But he does laugh about it!

Happy Spring!

Were to start? I've been thinking of blogging for weeks now but just haven't gotten around to it! But, today the sun is shining and Hyrum is napping so we are going to catch up! We just enjoyed a beautiful weekend of sunshine and outdoors! We took Hyrum to the falls to see the ducks! He loved it!
Here we are again feeding the ducks. I made yet another quilt (below) for a friend back east so here is a picture! So glad it is over! It was tons of work! She asked for these colors...

My mom and brother Nate flew out for Nate's spring break. It was so nice to have visitors and someone to help entertain us! We had fun antique shopping, celebrating Easter early, and visiting the dog museum in Idaho falls. Hyrum and Nate loved it. Here they are coming out of a teepee...this was the Idaho part of the museum...not the dog part. It was okay but maybe a little old for Hyrum still.

Hyrum and Nate counting their Easter goods! We had a nice day and really enjoyed remembering our Savior and his Sacrifice for us! Not to mention conference!

Hyrum and Nate in a cave at the museum.

I got brave while my mom was here and decided Hyrum was ready for a big boy bed. Yes, this is his same crib but we converted it to a toddler bed. He can now come and go as he pleases! This started off great but the last week has been a bit more challenging. Seems he has a mind of his own and doesn't like bedtime! We're working on it...

Grandma and Nate making pudding or cake or something black?

Hyrum with his Easter bunny from Grandma and Grandpa Butcher. It is well loved as it has made it into the crib for sleeping every night. This is a high honor only 2 other animals share!

A spring picture of us!

Below is a video of Hyrum saying mama. I know it is corny but he is in speech and I've been waiting for this for 2 years! He's really improving with his speech and I'm so grateful he has it! Anyway...here is my pride and joy of him saying mama. He says it all day everyday now but I'm not tired of it! I love when he is in another room and says "mama" and comes looking for me! Tender!

Ben and I had our big appt with the invitro clinic last Thursday. Ben's sister graciously watched Hyrum so we could drive to Sandy, UT and back in one day! We were welcomed there and very excited to find out we are not crazy and that we really have some issues going on concerning fertility. We were told we were excellent candidates for invitro so we will be starting that in a manner of weeks! We are waiting until family arrives to help out as the logisitics will be a bit harry for a few weeks. I have to spend about 2 weeks in UT for monitoring and the actual invitro. Our target date is July 5 for egg retrieval with later that week being implantation hopefully (if we have some good embryos). We are excited and looking forward to a light at the end of our fertility tunnel! It has been a hard 16 months as I have watched several people get pregnant and deliver and try not to be jealous! I am so grateful for Hyrum because the doctor said he was about a 1 in a million chance! We are hopeful this will work and are so grateful to the Lord for providing us with all the resources to do this and find a great place to do it! Wish us luck!

The Birthday Boy turns 2!

As always my pictures are out of sorts. I made Hyrum's birthday cake and here are the farm animals. Below is the barn. It turned out okay for a first attempt! I was stressing all morning about it but got it done in time! The marshmallow ones are supposed to be sheep...

We had a great 3 day weekend spending time with Hyrum! He got spoiled by family and made out like a bandit! Above is actually a picture of this morning. He loves to push his doggies around in his new shopping cart!

Saturday-Hyrum's Birthday(above and below) Showing me all his presents.

Our Handsome 2 year old! I can't believe he's 2!

He's wondering why I'm taking a picture of him first thing in the morning. Have to capture every birthday moment!

Here is a video of Hyrum doing the cake and candles thing for the grandparents.

Hyrum got a golf set for his birthday and has been having a blast with it. Here is a video for the professional golfer. He is not my kid...mostly Ben's. Not only is he good at basketball and soccer...lets add golf to it! Okay...so he still has a little to work on with golf! Enjoy!

Update

Nothing too exciting has been happening here. We had a nice V-day weekend together. I'm not looking forward to giving up my 3-day weekends with Ben for sleep but it will be nice to sleep after working again. We had a gift card for Hyrum from Christmas and we went browsing last Saturday night and found Hyrum these sunglasses. He always wants to wear my glasses but I can't let him. He also tries to wear Mr. Potatoe Head's glasses but they are too small. These are a little big but with room to grow. He prefers to wear them in the house...funny cute boy!

Here is our Valentine's Day picture of the three love bugs!

I made a red velvet cake and attempted to decorate it and we had yummy flank steak and mashed potatoes. It was a very relaxing day. Hyrum colored me a picture!

My two handsome boys!

I didn't know that a side effect of vacation was horrible child. We have been paying for our recent trips (especially me) with Hyrum. Bed time is all messed up and when Ben is home Hyrum wants nothing to do with me. Finally he will give me hugs and kisses again without being forced. He's making me pay for his lack of mommy time. Well, mommy is home and home to stay!

I had a dr appt today to figure out what we can do about having more kids. Thankfully the dr did not pushover my desire to have more despite our trying the last year and two miscarriages. We have a new plan which I'm hopeful and excited about. We are going to try IUI (interuterine insemination) and fertility meds. It can be done locally which I'm grateful for. If 3-4 months of this doesn't work then we will have to resort to going to Boise for their fertility clinic but I'm hopeful that this will work. It's just nice to have a plan. My fears keep growing as Hyrum is almost 2 (in 10 days!) that by the time the next one comes he'll be 3. Which is great. I just don't want them to be 4+ years apart. As I watch Hyrum wipe his doggie's nose and try to feed it I know he'll be a great help to a new little one. We're keeping our fingers crossed that this year will be kinder to us in our desire to increase our family.

I can't believe that Hyrum will be 2 soon! He has started counting "1.....2" and he's practicing blowing out candles. We must blow out about 4 a day! He'll be ready for his birthday. We are going to have a farm theme and I'm making the cake so it should be interesting. He's such a joy and I can't believe it's been 2 years already! Time flies! He is not my baby anymore...he's growing to be such a big boy!

From Hawaii to Virginia and Everywhere in between!

Can I just warn you that this will probably be my longest post ever! So much has happened and it is not in any kind of order! On a whim...this last weekend I flew to Virginia for a "me" weekend. My good friend Cari is expecting twins in March and my wonderful in-laws flew me out for her shower. The picture above is the whole clan at the shower. It was so fun to see everyone and catch up. Better yet was that she didn't know I was coming so it was a jaw-dropping experience for her! So fun to see her cute belly growing! Below is the mommy-to-be!

This is Hyrum's baby blanket...for those who wanted to know, and you know who you are.

Happily reunited after Hawaii! Hyrum has gone through a little separation anxiety with all of our traveling but we are starting to get back to normal.

Our last day in Hawaii we went to Diamond Head Crater and hiked up it. This was part of the hike...steep stairs!

Had to laugh because on the USS Bowfin there was this placard showing how to do CPR. On your tummy?

USS Missouri! We got to explore the boat! Ben was like a kid in disney land!

Me in front of the big guns!

Me driving the USS Missouri...kinda!

This is me in the USS Bowfin (the submarine). Small hallways.

Ben peeking through the same hole!

USS Arizona. What an amazing memorial. It was really neat to walk around on it and see the sunken ship and remember what happened at Pearl Harbor.

The view near our hotel in Waikiki.

The girl baby blanket I made for Cari. Just wanted to have some pics to remeber it by.

Ben on the North shore. We drove up to see the Big waves!

Us in front of the Laie Temple. Unfortunately its under construction so we couldn't do a session. It was still beautiful and we walked through the visitors center.

Our dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Yup...thats a dead pig!

Us at the PCC eating dinner!

The USS Missouri again.

Inside the Arizona Memorial. It was beautiful but windy!

Us before we boarded the submarine USS Bowfin.

All the boys watching football in Portland after our trip.

Many thanks to my mom who watched Hyrum for us. He really enjoyed her hot tub and is not scared of water whatsoever. He loves to dunk his head and blow bubbles and even jump off of the step! My mom said she got the best sleep she had in a long time the week she watched him! Thanks!

Ben's cousin had her baby 3 days after we got home from Hawaii and 1 day before I left for DC. We watched her little boy (thanks to Ben you're the best) during the time and here are the boys in the tub!

View from Diamond Head.

Boy quilt for Cari!

Hyrum with Mr. Potatoe's glasses on.

A cool fish we saw snorkeling at Hanuama bay.

A parrot fish.

Hanuama Bay.

We went to Kailua on the west side to do some kayaking and snorkeling. This was probably our favorite day. Here is Ben eating lunch on the kayak.

How attractive!

Even more attractive right?

Me on Kailua bay. Yes, we were the whitest people in Hawaii. And no, we did not come back brown. Most our coworkers asked if we even went because we were still so white!

It was a great trip full of fun memories. It already feels like forever ago. We had a great January and are excited for Hyrum turning 2 this month! Two years flies by! Now it is back to work and reality! Can't wait until the twins are born for another excuse to go back to Virginia! Aloha!