Florida - Friday

The Butler's are moving to Cincinnati!  Even though we are very excited they are moving closer to home - we are very sad that our random trips to Florida will be over.  

We left on Thursday at 1 pm and got to Florida at 3:30am on Friday morning.  With 8 kids - we didn't exactly make great time... but we arrived safely!!!!  The butler girls couldn't wait to have  a tea party with everyone. 

They played house...

and a fun trip to the beach.  Do you see anything wrong with this picture?  

1 - We are the ONLY one's at the beach!

2 - Heavy Storm clouds 

3 - Ice in the water (well not really - but it was FREEZING cold water)

Cooper & Maddie

The kids running

Kora Lily

Eli helping Willow

Great fun day at the beach!

Tea Party - Birthday Party

For Grandma Hartzler's Birthday this past Monday we threw a little last minute tea party together to celebrate.  We are so blessed to have such a special women in all of our lives.  We love you Grandma!

Tea Time

Kora gets to play with her magic teas set when:

1 - When Kora is a REALLY good girl 

2 - When mommy REALLY wants to get something done 

3 - The kitchen floor REALLY needs washed 

4 - Kora REALLY needs to drink more water 

Kora Lily will play for hours and hours!  She pours water from cup to cup and drinks lots of water - most of it ends up on her or the floor.  But it has been a very nice thing for the Gardners to have around!  

Cray is usually out of the splash zone - but close by to hear kora playing.  He loves sitting and sleeping in his car seat and swing.  Kora always makes sure he has some kind of toy or animals - just in case he starts playing.  

Sun = Mud

In the winter odds are if the sun is shining - there is lots of mud.  However I let Kora out the back door to play the other day since it was so nice out.  It didn't take her long to get stuck in a mud hole. 

She was thrilled to get to take a tubby in the laundry sink - since I was doing laundry.

She was a little prune when she finally let me take her out.

My Binky Babies.....

My Binky Babies...  Yes I have TWO binky babies... 

One lil' man and One big girl!

Hopefully one of the last binky pictures of them together.  

Snow

Sadly we have not had a ton of snow this year.  Kora has enjoyed every little bite that she could with her daddy.  

Ryder & Cooper's Birthday Party

In January we celebrated Ryder & Coopers birthday's with a football theme.  

Joanna did an awesome job creating a football stadium out of Lego's 

It was really awesome - these pictures do not do it justice 

Please take time to read....

One of the amazing blogs that I really enjoy following along did an amazing post on this Weekends Super Bowl Game and the Sex Trafficking that goes on.  Please read and then pray for all the children and women.  Thanks!

http://sarahflyingkites.blogspot.com/

Thanks Sarah - and I hope you don't mind me sharing.  

Flint's Celebration - Rainbow

We wanted to have a special celebration for Flint.  We picked a rainbow theme since we believe Flint is in heaven and we wanted this to be a colorful celebration in honor of Flint's life.  Here are some detailed pictures of the party. 

Amy's Famous layered Jell-O

Brownies & White Choc Oreo's

Beautiful Rainbow Fruit Kabob's that my mom put together.

Chocolate Filled Cupcakes 

Colorful M&M Ice-cream that Joanna put together.

I added this in last minute when I learned that Daddy's favorite things to eat a birthday party are the different kinds of Chips & Dips.

Candy Buffet

Rainbow Drinks.

Flint's Memory Table. 

We made little note pads for everyone in honor of Flint.  I will have to post more on this in another post.  It was very colorful and was a great idea I found online using Paint Sample Swatches.

Even though the Butlers were not able to come home, we know they were with us in spirit. They sent us BEAUTIFUL flowers that worked out PERFECT to accent our party. 

Table Pieces 

Flint's Celebration - Friday, Jan 27th

Sam took off work on Friday and we spent the day remembering our little son.  We went to Applebee's for a birthday lunch, then we got flowers and took them out to put on Flint's stone.  

In the evening we were honored to have a celebration party with family and friends. 

Here is our first family picture since Cray was born.  Cray looks so much like his daddy in this picture!!

 We had a balloon lift in honor of Flint.  I found the idea online to put glow sticks in the balloons.  But it didn't work very good outside.  They were little fishing glow sticks that will not affect the animals.  We were so honored and excited for all the support from family and friends!

 Fun pictures from the evening.....

Rhonda feeding baby cray for us!  Thanks!!!!!        Beautiful Savannah in her rainbow shirt :o)         

Tori, Megs & Emily          Annika & Emma

 Baby Harper & Cray - born 4 weeks apart - The Davidovics Family

The kids enjoying the candy buffet - Molly, Megs & Emily Coloring

 This picture breaks my heart as I look at how Eli is looking at Flint's memory book.  It makes for a special memory.

 Baltic's with Grandma & Grandpa

Thanks to ALL who read our blog and have supported over the year with the lose of Flint.  We miss him dearly.