The rest of November and a little December

Our friend Carson came to visit and play while dropping off a meal for us:


Kate and I made 21 turkey place cards for EVERY member of our family. I prepared the pieces and she assembled. I thought she would get sick of it after 3 or so but she did them all and wanted more!



The MOON!


Tummy/elbow time. Dad is in charge of getting this done everyday since I was too slack with it with Kate. Then we were threatened with a helmet for her because her head was flat in the back. Not this child.


Craft time with Auntie Becky?! Who would have thought. They made a tree in which the leaves were tracings of people's hands who then wrote what they were thankful for on them. Something she saw at a missionary's house in Hondouras.


This is a keeper.


Dean and Kate's newest obsession is two-fold. First they love the dollar store and have gotten some pretty good finds. Cheap outing with a 2-year old. She can pick anything she wants. Where else can you afford to do that. Second, puzzles. And she is quickly becoming a master. We are pretty impressed.



Dean's 4oth birthday. Here is our little family celebration. Dean and I are going out Friday.

More pics

Here are some pictures that you might find interesting:


Collin in his tanning bed for jaundice.


Too cool with his shades.


Coming home.


Welcome home! Compliments of my sweet husband Dean and sweet friend Lynda.








Getting to know each other.


Big sister!


So proud!


Collin and the princess. Poor kid always seems to have a few sparkles on him.


Kate drew this spider all on her own and came and showed us. We were pretty impressed.


Sweet.


First bath with helper Kate.


Not a fan of baths or being unclothed for that matter.

So where is Kate?

So where is Kate? She is at my mom's house having a blast. Here are some pictures from the updates I get from my mom:


Holding new baby doll. Does't look too sure as to what to do. From what my mom said she would prefer a robot. Her newest obsession is apparently robots. Who knew?!


Eating like a big girl!


Just was introduced to Grandma's apple butter. Anything goes down the hatch with apple butter!


Gift from baby brother! Doesn't she look just like Dean here?

First visitors

Here are Collins first and maybe only visitors. Because of H1N1 there is a strict no visitors policy except for Grandparents. Poor Kate couldn't even come. It will be a long 4 days not being able to see her but she is having a blast at Grandmas!

Collin Dean Butters

Collin Dean Butters
6 lbs 13 oz
20 in

Palatine HS Trick-Or-Treat Festival

Tonight we headed to Palatine High School's 14th Annual Trick-Or-Treat Festival. It was really fun. I expected them to have about 10 rooms decorated that the little kids could go in and out of but they had two floors of the school with almost all the classrooms decorated for trick-or-treating. Some you played games, others you just wandered in and out. Kate was so excited just to see other kids in costumes. She yelled, "Yeah! Candy! Yummy!" When she got her first treat. They had face painting, games, music...it was well done...and inside and FREE! Okay baby boy...if you do happen to put me in the hospital over Halloween I guess it will be okay. We got our trick-or-treating fix early!

Squeezing in some fall fun!

Kate and I headed to Barnes and Noble today for a story time, craft, and costume contest. We also used a free hot cocoa and cookie coupon I found. Fun little Halloween outing in case I wont be able to partake when Halloween is actually here. Dean unfortunately had to stay home painting four closet doors.





Story time:


Princess Kate:


Costume contest. Santa won. It was totally rigged. The lady who judged it was obviously friends with Santa's family.


2 weeks to go!