Oh, What A Blissful Year It Has Been...

Happy Birthday, Drew Baby!! I cannot believe you are already 1 year old!! It amazes me how time can fly!! Our son Drew has been delightful every day of his life since the very first day we met him. He changed our family in so many ways, and even though it was difficult for me to adjust to three children in our family, he has never been difficult. He has been ever happy and sweet. The first time I held him was just like meeting an old friend again. He felt just like home to me. I am the happiest mom ever because of the three children Heavenly Father has blessed me with...well, so far.

We love him for his cheerful spirit and happy disposition!!


We love his dark eyes and very light skin. Even not having a hair on his head is incredibly endearing.


He is playful and bright, easy going and mostly calm.


He is fiercly loved by his sister and brother, and certainly his mom and dad!! He is a great addition to our family!! We are happy that he is ours!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OUR LITTLE BIG MAN!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Stairmaster...

Okay, so we have been teaching Drew how to navigate the stairs for a couple weeks or so, and now he thinks he can just go up and down without anybody there to catch him. We have found that he will go to incredible lengths for any squeaky balloon available, so I saw a great opportunity to get some footage. This isn't the best clip, but the other ones wouldn't load. I guess I am just asking the computer to handle too much cuteness at once. He seems to think he is the stairmaster...AND if he can get the gate open ( usually a slightly bigger sister is always willing to help) at the top of the stairs, he thinks he is KING OF THE WORLD!! It is so fun to watch them develop and grow. It is almost like you can hear a faint chorus of "Climb Every Mountain" in the background of his triumph. GO FOR IT, DREW BABY!! You sure know how to master those stairs!! You da stairmaster!!

Ken O' Lantern

Kendal lost his fourth baby tooth today!! It was his first top front tooth. It has been loose for long time, but in the last couple of days, Kendal hasn't been as graceful as he could have been and has had a couple run-ins with furniture and bus seats. We sent him to school with a ziplock sandwich bag just in case today was the day, and he came home with a gaping hole in his beaming smile of pride. He is so adorable with that silly toothmissing grin!! We love him.

The Toothfairy, on the other hand... is just about broke!! She may need to take on selling Girl Scout cookies door-to-door, babysitting, or selling homewoven handicrafts on ebay.

No matter what, though, a Ken O' Lantern is always welcome in our home, no matter what time of year it is. Halloween could never outdo this boy of ours. Never.

Bustin' Basement Blues

How in the world do we ever accumulate so much...STUFF? It is everywhere, lurking around every corner, taunting me. I am continually reminded it is around because it is, well, AROUND, ALL OVER THE PLACE, EVERY WHERE I LOOK, WONDER, OR EXPLORE. This STUFF is taking over.

This year our ward's relief society motto is "Less"ons for Life. We are focusing on living on less, making life more simple, streamlining our lives...just having and needing less, because less is more.

Our basement could sure use some shaving down. I had had about enough of clutter here and there and crushed boxes with junk inside. Why are we holding on to all this stuff, anyway? It was time to get brutal. It was time to weed through our mounds and piles and turn them into corners and places of space and serenity.

We are still in the process as I believe we are never free of the daunting task of keeping clutter at bay, but we have D.I.ed several boxes and just thrown out quite a few, too. As just a taste, we have gone from this:



To this:



AHHH! ThAT is BeTter!! It iS nOt peRfeCt, buT it Is a StArT!! The storage room has taken on a whole new look and feeling. I love it!!

Look out HOUSE, you are about to learn a serious "LESS"on.

Butikofer Family Christmas Party

Tari's family always gets together after the actual holidays have passed to get together, exchange gifts, and just be together. This year was no exception. This year was really fun because we brought out the old super 8 projector and watched some really really old home movies. I wish I had taken pictures of that but I was too preoccupied with running the projector until...the lamp burned out. That certainly darkened the evening. Then we brought up all the projectors we had and found a way to watch just a few more. I have missed those old movies. It was great to get back to my roots. LOVE YOU BUTIKOFERS>>>WHEREVER YOU MAY BE!!! THANKS FOR THE GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Oh, Christmas, There You Are...

We made Santa a very special plate and some very special cookies!!


Drew is quite a gift. We can all agree on that!!


Drew wasn't sure what to think, but Avery helped him get into the spirit!


Avery's new tea set will sure come in handy when entertaining.


Kendal will be able to channel his inner artist.

We really wanted to keep Christmas to a dull roar this year. With the job change and all, we just didn't want to blow a lot of money on stuff we won't use or stuff we didn't need. I truly felt refreshed by the thought of Christmas not being about opening presents all day.

It was a small quiet morning, and we even got to tqalk about the true meaning of Christmas...CHRIST!! The rest of the day was spent at Cameron's family's with dinner and conversation, and dishes. We were with family all day, and it was great.

We hope all your Christmases were bright and happy!!

Pepper Jelly Jollies

Okay, so I have some great friends who live very close to me, and one year I was given some seriously yummy pepper jelly. For those of you not familiar with pepper jelly, it is made with jalapeno and sweet peppers and loads of sugar. It is not hot nor spicy. It is sweet and awesome. Now, you don't make PB and pepper J's with it. You take a Ritz cracker, dab on some cream cheese and then a small dollop of the pepper goodness, and all of the sudden you have yourself a great little orderve or snack!!

Well, this year I wanted some, had not yet received some, and decided to make some myself. Got the recipe purchased the peppers and made my kitchen pepperific!!

I had enough to give some very adventurous neighbors each a cream cheese and a jelly with a Santa hat (some flannel, pom poms, and a glue gun). It was a hoot to do, and the reactions were priceless!! The jelly wasn't too bad either!!!

Put A Candle In It

Yep. Another birthday!! Okay, so get some take-out and put a candle in it!! Happy Birthday, Tari!!! You've had a bunch of 'em!!

Sleeping Beauty

Avery has decided she no longer needs to nap during the day. We have reluctantly allowed her a TRIAL basis of no naps. This is what has happened.
About nap time, Avery wanted to go out with her dad to plow the driveway.


Avery had a performance with her dance group and while I was curling her hair, she started to droop right before my eyes.


Cameron had to come hold her up so I could finish curling her hair with the curling iron. She was completely out, until she had to go dance.


Avery threw a big ole fit and hit Kendal, which in our house lands you in our "time- out" chair. She began to cry in protest. Pretty soon she was not crying anymore. When we looked around the corner to check on her, we found her dreaming away in this position. She slept like this for 20 minutes.

Most days she still refuses a nap, but there are other days, she will grab a blanket and just quietly go lay in her bed. She is her own little person. We love her so!!!

Santa Claus Came to Town!!

Great Grandma Denning is never forgetten by Santa!!


Kendal told Santa he wanted a football.


Avery wanted a blue baby.


Drew wanted out of there!!

Oh, the Denning Family Christmas Party always brings such spirit. We always have snow, games, music, food, and surprises. Santa always comes bearing gifts and candy. There are always children running crazy through the gymnasium (mostly mine) and there is always a feeling of family. No matter how many things happen to the Denning brothers and sisters (Cameron's mother's siblings) they always seem to make this party a priority. It was great fun!! Merry Christmas to All!!

Weeeee!!! Avery is Three!!!

Daddy and Avery made rainbow pancakes at her request.


Put a candle in it and ...instant birthday party!!


We made gigantic PINK sugar cookies for her preschool class treat!!


Her class is so great for her. She even likes the boys!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AVERY!!!





December 13th, 2008

Could it be that our extremely independent, strong-willed, expressive two year old daughter has lived through her "terrible twos"? Could it be that we all lived through her "terrible twos"? I suppose the answer is yes, although I am not sure we all came out unscathed.

I am hopeful that her year of three will be less dramatic. She seems to think the world cames to an end at least 300 times per day with no theatrics spared for each and every tragedy. AND she is also as beautiful a spirit as has ever been created. She is wonderfully angelic and motherly when the moment arises. She is free of all pressures of acceptance and others' opinions. She does exactly what comes naturally, and I believe it is how she will always be.

This personality of hers can go one of two ways. She can use her natural tendencies to benefit others and change the world for good. The other way, of course, is to look to the dark side. As parents, we want to see our children use those natural skills, talents, and traits to lead others to reach beyond what they have and find better ways to do things, discover new territories, explore and experience. My daughter will be a motivated, smart, driven leader. I want to see her succeed. The world could use more people like Avery to get things done. It is a parental responsibility to teach her and guide her to strive all her life to do what is good and decent.

Avery has always been a child who challenges me. I know she was sent to our home to teach us better patience, spontaneity, and the art of persuasion instead of threats and consequences. I love her for helping me be more prayerful and introspective. It is not always easy to understand how she thinks or what she feels, but it is always a lesson of how to love better.

We Love You, Avery Jayke!! Happy Birthday!!