Deep in the Heart of Texas...In May.

Grandma Buttars has been in town the last 2 weeks and we stayed very busy! We spent time at the pool, shopped till we couldn't shop anymore (hard to believe, I know), and when Nate was available we were able to sight-see a bit. We visited the historic Ft. Worth Main Street and stockyards the other day. Supposedly they have an actual cattle drive every day right down main street. We didn't catch it, but did see some other rather cool stuff...
(just a few more weeks Bekka and you will be in heaven)


This goofy guy walks around with this longhorn steer on a halter letting any old yahoo jump on and take pictures. (yes, climb on)

Just call us a couple of yahoos.

We also stopped by Arlington where the Texas Rangers' field is and also where the snazzy new Cowboy Stadium resides.



We had so much fun with Grandma and are so glad you were able to come spend time with us. I believe Navi was really beginning to think that being so spoiled and held non stop is indeed how life is. :) We're grateful for all your help, and it was especially nice to have someone else to hang out with while Nate was gone all day. Thanks again, we love you!


And here are about 1 million and 42 pictures of Navi. Mostly it's for all the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and any other unmentioned family at home. However, if you are none of those and would still like to comment, feel free. ;)

We sent the Elder this picture in his birthday email. Happy 20th! (holy cow)

Yes Ash, another photo on the carpet with no blanket...don't judge me. :)

Hard day at the pool for Miss Navi

The ever-so-hard to catch on camera smile. But so worth it when I do!



So cute!



And last but not least... an attempt to capture some of her "talking". She turns out to be a bit camera shy because anytime I try and film the cute cooing, she suddenly stops. This has been the best video yet..which really isn't too much talking at all. Someday we'll catch it.

One Month!?!

I can't believe it's already been one month since Navi joined our family. She is such a good baby and is teaching us lots. :) Here are some recent pictures since we've been in Texas.

(She also wants to say hi to all the family members back home...sorry if you get sick of the text pictures we send. G&G Buttars - tell us when you get your new texting phones so we can send you some pictures) :)





I saw a cool idea in my blogging rounds the other day. A mom had taken a picture of her baby at different stages with the same stuffed animal. It was interesting to see how much the baby had grown, but for some reason sitting next to the same animal made the differences stand out even more. So I thought we'd give it a try...

Navi on her one month birthday:



And this picture better indicates how her one month birthday was spent. Unfortunately she wasn't to happy that day. I'm still not sure why, but I'm thinking it was a bad tummy ache. She is doing much better today.



(She is also already fitting into most of her 3 month clothes! Holy cow!)

Happy 1 month Navi! We love you!!

God Bless Texas

HOWDY YA'LL !!

My friend Dani asked if everything really is bigger in Texas...
So far I've only made it to Walmart, and wasn't too impressed, but I'll keep looking.

Anyways, we're finally here in the great state of Texas! What a whirlwind the last week has been. Here's a quick recap:

May 2 - Nate Graduated (!!)


May 3 -We blessed Navi

Nate gave a very special blessing and so many of our family and friends were there to support us. The day was definitely a good one.


May 4 - We left for TEXAS

The GPS told us the quickest route was through Wyoming, down to Colorado, half way through Kansas, and then cut down through Oklahoma.
But seeing as how the first year we left, we had a flat tire in Wyoming and last year the freeway was closed off due to a massive blizzard...we decided avoiding the boring place all together wouldn't be such a bad idea. SO, we opted to drive an extra couple hours down to Moab and over through Grand Junction, CO, then down through New Mexico. I was a little excited because I'd never been to New Mexico. (It would be something new) However, I was greatly disapointed and will just say there is a reason they call it New MEXICO.

I wasn't able to snap as many road trip photos as I would have liked (all the "welcome to" state signs) but that was partly due to my back seat location with Navi and mounds of baby stuff. Also because when I asked Nate to warn me when we were getting close to the Texas line, he replied with, "Uh, I'm pretty sure we already passed it." Gee thanks.

Navi was a super traveler. (No blow-outs and only 1 throwing up dilemma) She slept the majority of the trip; just waking to eat, change diaper, etc. Although, by the last 3 or 4 hours she really let us know she had had ENOUGH of her car seat. Who could blame her? I can't complain, this was my view the whole ride:


And lastly - I just wanted to throw in this stinking cute picture with cousin Brex. He wanted to hold Navi one last time before we left. I can't believe how big he getting! His 6th birthday is next week!! When I first started dating Nate, Brex was only 2 years old but carried on full conversations. (He was born a week after Nate had left for his mission so they didn't "meet" until Nate got home)


My favorite memory of Brexton is the very first time I went to his house with Nate. I don't think I had even officially met Nate's sister or brother-in-law, and much to my surprise Brex swings open the door to say, "What's up Nate? Where's Kristen?"
FYI - Kristen was Nate's girlfriend before and during the mission. I think Brex's mom was a little embarassed but I laughed so hard!

Too bad I'm a slacker and didn't get more pictures with all the other cousins and family members. Navi will have changed so much when we get back.

Nate's back in the selling mode and already has one so far. He had to use our car the past couple days so Navi and I have just been hanging out in the nice air conditioned apartment. (our car thermometer thing read 90 degrees the other day) Grandma Marianne is coming to visit in a week and we've already got the mall scoped out...

At the moment I can't think of a cheesy Texan salutation, but
ya'll come back real soon, ya hear?
HA. This might be a long summer...