Highlights of 2009

Since my last post was in JULY, I am not even going to attempt to catch up with everything since then. So, I have decided to do a 2009 highlights list and then start fresh from now. Here are the Butler Family highlights of 2009 (in no particular order):

1. My nephew Brady was born on October 22. He is David's first baby, and is chubby little lump of sweetness!

2. We bought an RV, and broke it in by traveling to Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Pigeon Forge, TN. We did several local trips as well. The kids love that they have bunk beds. TJ and I love that we don't have to set up anymore. No more cranking and leveling for us!!

3. Julienne graduated from preschool and began Kindergarten. Hooray for not having to pay for daycare!!

4. TJ and his drivers drove 443 students last year! The business is doing really well. In fact, he made an appearance on the news recently to talk about driving in inclement weather!

5. Tre played flag football for the first time and loved it.

6. We decided to remodel our bathroom, Julienne's old bedroom, and create a new room for her. It was quite a project, but it turned out just lovely. Our new closet is huge! I am really proud of the work that TJ did. he has turned out to be quite a handyman!

7. We got a cat and named him Brady, before we knew that David and Andrea were definitely naming the baby Brady. So now we have cat Brady and a baby Brady. I guess you can never have too much Brady!!! ;-)

I know that there are many more highlights I am missing, but for lack of immediate memory, I guess my list will end with 7 highlights for now. Hopefully, I can keep up-to-date with my posting, and not wait another 7 months for the next post!

Christmas Eve: Family Photos

Here is my crazy Maine family!

Christmas Day in Virginia

We travel every year for Christmas. The driving stinks, but we have tried twice to stay here in Virginia for Christmas, but it just isn't the same. We felt lonely, and it just didn't feel like Christmas! So, we travel 14 hours to celebrate Christmas with my family in Maine. It takes a lot of work to get ready prior to leaving, and a little "fudging" on our part to explain why Santa comes to Virginia way early, but we do it every year.

So this weekend was designated as our Christmas in Virginia. Our Santa counted down the days...5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and Friday was our "Christmas Eve". So, after school on Friday, Tre and I went to do some last minute shopping, ordered pizza for dinner, and then we made a gingerbread train as a family.After the train was finished, we needed to make some peanut butter cookies to leave for Santa.

Once the cookies were baking in the oven, we got ready to go spread our reindeer food on the front lawn. Three years ago, we began making reindeer food, to lure Santa's reindeer to our house on "Christmas Eve". Last year at the Christmas parade, we were given bags of reindeer food, so we didn't need to make our own. This year, we were again given reindeer food. TJ decided that the reindeer food needed a little extra spice, and thought to put cinnamon in the bags. However, instead of cinnamon, he grabbed cumin! I hope the reindeer enjoy a little Mexican flair in their food!

After spreading the reindeer food, Tre made a sign directing Santa to the peanut butter cookies.

Finally, after all of the evening's festivities, the kids settled into bed to dream of Santa's sleigh and eight reindeer. They went right to sleep, which was surprising, given their excitement of what would happen that night. Sure enough Santa came, eager to test run the reindeer before the real Christmas Eve, and set up all of the toys, and filled four lovely stockings hung with care.

The next morning I woke up early to shower because I knew we had a long day ahead of us. We had invited our neighbors over for a breakfast of pancakes and waffles cooked by TJ. Then at 10:30, Julienne was having her last dance class and performance for parents. The alarm went off at 6:00, I got up and showered, and then went to wake everyone else up to see Santa's surprises. Everyone was sleepy and reluctant to leave their warm beds, even for presents!

During Santa's visit, he made quite a mess! He spilled milk on the counter, and left cookie crumbs on the floor. Santa always leaves us a mess on Christmas morning, because he is in such a hurry. The kids did not ask to leave Santa coffee this year!

The kids were super excited to see the gifts that Santa left. Julienne had a new cottage to play in, and Tre had a whole big tub of new art supplies, including clay, googly eyes, glitter and lots of other fun art stuff.

We opened all of our gifts, and tried to clean up and organize before our guests came. Not only were our neighbors coming, but Grandad and Grandma were coming with gifts for the kids. They arrived with huge 4-foot tall stockings filled with presents! We all enjoyed delicious pancakes and waffles that TJ made with his new waffle maker. After breakfast, the kids opened their gifts from Grandad and Grandma. Each of the kids received a new digital camera, new games, clothes, and other fun stuff that Grandparents give. TJ and I received a wonderful gift, which is a night away for Valentine's Day, childcare included. That has to be the best gift ever!

After all of the gifts had been opened, we left for Julienne's dance performance. Grandad and Grandma came with us, and Julienne really enjoyed her audience. She was all smiles and was the perfect ballerina. The performance was one of the cutest things I have ever seen, all the little ballerinas, performing for their parents. They were so proud of all the new things we had learned.

It was a great faux Christmas weekend. Now we can focus on packing and getting ready for Christmas #2 in Maine!

A Lovely Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving this year. We spent the day with TJ's Dad and Stepmother, for our Thanksgiving Dinner. My brother David joined us, which was very nice as it added a little more familial feel to the holiday. Libby always does a wonderful job cooking our feast, and of making it feel special. This year we enjoyed turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, yeast rolls, yams, macaroni and cheese, brocolli casserole, stuffing, pound cake, and homemade chocolate pecan pie. Yummy! After we ate, we lounged around the living room, making room for digestion to occur, and laughed with each other. It was very nice. I must admit, I am thankful for not having to travel over Thanksgiving, but I am also thankful that we will be traveling for Christmas!

Election 2008

Wow! What an amazing journey this election has been. I still cannot believe that we have just elected our first African American president. It is unbelievable to see how far our country has come. It was only 50 years ago, that our country was struggling through the Civil Rights Movement.

My support did not begin as support for Obama. I had said for years that if Hillary Clinton would run for President, she had my vote. Then she announced her intention to run. Around that time, my book club read "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama, and I was able to learn a little bit about the man. The book moved me, challenged my thoughts, and forced me to question my support for Hillary. I felt torn between the candidates. Gradually, as I feel was meant to be, Obama slid ahead of Hillary and secured the Democratic Nomination. My support was now solidified for Obama.

Throughout the campaign, I have admired Obama's composure, his solid plans for our country, and his ability to connect with people of all classes, races, and backgrounds. I feel this is a special gift that few people possess. I believe my own husband possesses this gift of undeniable charisma that captivates people. Obama captivates with honesty, genuity, and above all hope. He worked incredibly hard to reach all people, and I think that shows a lot about his character and his intentions for our country.

I tried to see Obama at JMU. I wasn't able to do so, and felt so deflated. Here was this man, who would potentially change our history in the United States of America, in my town, and I couldn't get there. I sat on the couch, with tears in my eyes, as he gave his speech at JMU. I thought, "We need this man."

I cast my vote on Tuesday. I stood in line, proud of my country and of my ability to speak my voice in who governs our country. I browsed the faces in line. Each face held that same excitement to make a difference. This is the first time I have felt such an excitement to vote. I think many of us take for granted the gift that voting is to us here in the US. In many places in the world, democracy is NOT a right, as we are taught from early elementary through adulthood. We are so lucky that we have the right to vote, and I felt privileged to vote for Barack Obama.

As soon as 7:00 arrived, I turned on the television to watch the results of the election. I waited, as each states' results were given. As I sat, and the screen flashed blue, I began to think about why this election was so important to me. As with everything in life, my thoughts turned to my children. This election was not only for me, but also for them. They would have a president that looks like they do! How powerful. It will ring true to them, when someone tells them that they can be President of the United States. They will be able to see a path that is theirs, no matter how many obstacles they might face along the way. Does racism exist in our lives? Absolutely. I see it every single day. Someone very close to me asked if I voted for Obama just because he was black? How could someone who knows and loves my family, ask me that question? We never play the race card, and try very hard to teach our children that race is insignificant. But yet, it is significant. Because no matter how smart, athletic, kind, compassionate, giving, empathetic, or hard-working they are, their skin will always be black. And to some people, that makes them less of a person. But as of 2008, black is in the most powerful position in this country. How can I ever teach them, or show them a better example of what they can do. Thank you Barack Obama, thank you!