Looking Back at 2012

2012 has been another exciting and growing year for the Butler family.  We continue to love being here in Round Rock and were excited that this summer’s weather was more tolerable though it still required frequent visits to the neighborhood pool. We stayed in Texas for Thanksgiving and celebrated with some friends and Bri’s brother’s family at the beach.  We were super lucky with the weather and enjoyed and wonderful turkey day/10 year anniversary in 80 degree sunshine.


David loves his job and feels blessed that he is able to work in a fun field, with fun patients and a fun staff.  His 1 hour commute is not as much fun, but he looks forward to it as his “quiet time” where he can meditate and listen to self-help books.  In his free time he has enjoyed golfing with his friends, late night basketball, a fishing trip to Alaska with his dad, and a work cruise with his wife.



Bri continues to be the energizer bunny, using what seems to be unending energy to take care of the kids, house, and husband and still find time to run or work out at the gym most days. And this year run a marathon and 200 mile relay and complete a triathalon and tough mudder just for fun.

Trenton 9 is still the caring, concerned, if not slightly anxious, older brother who is a blessing to his teachers and and family. He loves his daily explorations outside, often into the night, for bugs and reptiles with his friends up the street.  Trenton also was able to be “called up to the big league” and play on a rec plus soccer team.  He enjoyed the extra practices and higher level of competition.  It has been fun to watch him really push himself.

Dallas 7 also seems to have the unending energy gene and loves to keep busy at all times.  Whether it's authoring a series of comic books, playing pickup games of tackle football or reading anything and everything he can get his hands on, his is constantly on the go and engaged in something.  He also played in a new league of soccer and learned that he is going to need to practice a lot to overcome being the youngest and smallest on the team. :)

Brooklyn 5 has loved school and is way ahead in her reading and writing skills.  She loves to write random notes to the family and express her love and holiday cheer.  She has also, at way too young of an age, become very aware of the need for matching clothes and lays out the next days outfit each night, and must comb her hair every morning before talking to anyone.

Lexi 4 is obsessed with purple and elephants.  And Nixon. They are going to get married and she is going to miss him when he’s on his mission.  According to her teacher, Nixon has to constantly battle for her as all of the boys in her class fight to sit next to her and offer her their snacks to win her love. She played soccer and finally scored her first goal on the very last game of the season. She has a sweet but spunky attitude, and couldn't care less about matching clothes, combed hair, or having her cowgirl boots on the right feet.

Ali 1 has grown a lot this year, learning to walk, talk and sneak peanut butter out of the pantry while dad was “watching” her.  She loves dancing to music, cuddling, and randomly hitting you in the face when you least expect it. Being the 5th kid, she is very independant, getting her own bowls out of the cupboard, eating with a fork and spoon, and changing her own diaper (ok maybe not that last one). She is all smiles and loves to tell us “tay too” (thank you) for everything.


We look forward to a new year in 2013 and greet it with nervous excitement.  A big upcoming life change for us will be Dave partnering with a practice in Tri-Cities WA.  We are excited to get closer to family and friends but are going to severely miss those we have grown so close to here in Texas (and the 70 degree Decembers). Merry Christmas everyone and may you have a blessed new year.

Love, The Butlers

Merry Christmas to All

Dave 

Culminated 10 years of higher education with his graduation from University of Louisville School of Dentistry Orthodontic Residency.

Took a job as an associate outside of Austin, Texas

Has taken on the philosophy that happiness is a choice and blesses the family with constant positivity

Developed a taste for some of the finer or at least healthier foods in life  . .chooses wheat bread all on his own now.   . . still working on those vegetables.

Took a trip back to Kentucky to drive an all women running team along the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky.

Bri

Birthed another girl .. this time without the help of an epidural

Decided that there was no better time than an Austin summer with record breaking heat and drought to train for and complete her first marathon.

She was pretty sure she wanted to die during her final leg of the Bourbon Chase relay(and may have, had her loving and supportive husband not gotten out of the van and run alongside her for the final  3 miles- despite his hate for running),but it was worth it in the end to be part of the first place women’s team and spend two days with 11 amazing women in the beautiful Kentucky Countryside

Blessed with the most amazing mother who, not once but twice, came out to Texas to watch all 5 grandkids so that she could run that relay race and accompany Dave on an office cruise down to Cozumel. 

Trenton (8 1/2)

Gets an A++ for  citizenship.

Wishes soccer was year round with nothing but games.

Never leaves home without a book.

Saved his money and made his first big purchase. .a Nintendo DS

Is often heard saying while in the car, “Move my seat for Christmas, please move my seat for Christmas, I’ll even pay you” in the most dramatic pleading voice imaginable as his  “seat” is currently in the middle of the back seat  in the minivan between two younger siblings still in car seats

Dallas (6 1/2)

Got sent to the principal’s office for the first time after he left his lunch at home and took matters into his own hands (and mouth) by eating another child’s snack.

Learned the strategy associated with being in the right place at the right time allowing him to score many goals with very little running during his soccer games

Everyone knows his name wherever we go . . .never one to slip under the radar.

Loves to show off his intelligence by spouting off random facts, reading long words, and questioning everything.

Brooklyn (4 1/2)
Always coloring, unfortunely this still includes the occasional mural on a wall, table , pillow or doll.

Is rather independent in her learning to write many words and read right along with it

Nicknamed “ fashion police” by her soccer coach for her always unique choice of clothing

Often commenting on how much she misses her school and friends and teachers in California (we’re guessing she means Kentucky since she’s never lived in California)

Lexi (3)

The instigator of laughs from many . .always followed by “that not funny” as she doesn’t realize how comical we all find her

Was nice enough to be potty trained for about a month before the baby was born giving us our first diaper free time in over 7 years.

In a very serious yet sweet voice, will often tell us to close our eyes or not go into a certain room before she does something naughty (like sneak a snack out of the pantry)  I wonder if we could get her to still do this as a teen?

Ali (8 months)
Tested our patience initially by arriving a week past due but has brought nothing but joy since.
Smiles, smiles and more smiles.

Multiple rolls can be counted on each leg.

Can pull of a one tooth grin perfectlly.

It's been another full year filled with changes and blessings.  We are grateful to all of you-our friends and family-who continually enrich our lives and remind us of what is most important.  And we are grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and his birth that we remember and celebrate this time of year.  Happy Holidays!

What a Difference a Thumb Makes

Recent Photos

 Day before delivery, she's still as beautiful as ever

 Final picture as a family of 6

 Relaxing on mommy

 The older brothers and sisters waiting their turn at the hospital to hold their new baby sister Ali

 Such a gentle big sis!

 First bath!

 Thanks to severe rain, tornados and flooding we had an indoor easter egg hunt with some neighbors

Lexi's favorite silly face