POO99 & The Corolla

This is a really random post (Now that you have been warned I'll continue). Last Spring Travis & I were going over our finances & realized that we were spending a ridiculous amount of money on our cars each month. Also we were beginning to see that Trav's Passat was starting to have major issues that we knew that we couldn't afford to fix. So we set a goal to sell the Passat & then increase our payments on The Corolla until school started, & if all went well we would have the car paid off by September.

We sold the Passat in May & spent the summer as a 1 car family. My parents were kind enough to loan us their extra car (the Green Machine) which helped us out a lot because our work schedules are not conducive to car-pooling. It was a long hot summer for Trav, driving a car without air conditioning, but now he basks in the cool comfort of the Corolla. Which, I am very excited to announce, we officially paid off this week!

I'm excited to have the car paid off but not nearly as excited as I am to be able to say that we accomplished our goal. I tell Travis all the time, I plan to drive The Corolla "'til it dies." It's a good car & I'd even say it was worth the money.

The picture with this post is the famous POO99 licence plate from the Passat:)

Nothing like the 4th in I.F.

I know the 4th of July was a long time ago but... oh well. It was a good time. This is our third summer together & that means it is my third time in Idaho Falls for the Fireworks. Grandpa & Grandma Butterworth live really close to the river where they have the BIG Fireworks Show, so we like to go up & watch from their back lawn. I didn't take many pictures but Travis did... only problem is, when Trav takes pictures he doesn't wait for you to say cheese. For example Tyler & I





Most people would delete these pictures, but I think they are funny so they stay! Anyway, the show lasts about half an hour (actually 33 minutes, to be exact) which is a lot longer than it sounds. But who doesn't love Fireworks right.



Apparently Tyler does:)



And it wouldn't be a party without my cute sister-in-laws, Brittney & Kallie!



Travis had a great time playing with Roxy while we were visiting. Roxy is Trevor's dog & she is a lot of fun. She LOVES to chase her Frisbee.





Oh & I saved the best for last... We went to the Zoo! I knew you would be excited;) I had no idea there was a zoo. It was totally random, but Travis & I decided we wanted to go, so we went. Kallie & Britt went too, although I'm sure they thought we were crazy. Just another day in paradise...

Hiking Adventure 2009

So my family has never really celebrated the 24th of July... well that is we don't really have any standing traditions. However, this year we were able to do something extra fun for the holiday. My Dad, Tyler, Jamie, Travis & I all hiked to Mt. Naomi on the afternoon of the 24th & we had a great time! Trav & I are convinced that Tyler ran to the top, because he was easily up there an hour waiting for us.



I don't feel too bad for him though, the view from up there was absolutely beautiful!





Here are some of my favorite boys. I just love this picture:) Never a dull moment.



It really was an excellent day for hiking! But we'll have to go again when Kiel comes home next year, just to see if he can still keep up with our little brother. And with Dad around there will be many more fun hiking adventures to come.

Summer Vacation!

This summer Travis & I decided we needed to do a little more for our summer vacation. So we packed our bags & off we went to Sunny Southern California with my family. We had THE BEST TIME!


Our only set back was on the first day Travis wasn't able to pop his ears for 11 hours after our flight. This was the first time we had ever flown together & I had no idea that he had problems with this. Just before we went to bed that night I was beginning to get really nervous, we had tried everything. Chewing gum, Sudafed, swimming, hanging off the side of the bed, basically anything we could think of. Shower #2 finally did the trick & it was smooth-sailing from there.



Our first day in the park Dad decided, without hesitation, that we were going to California Adventure. I absolutely loved the Big Roller Coaster (Sorry I don't have a picture, my mom does) I could have ridden it over & over again. Travis was also excited about the new 4D Toy Story ride, primarily so he could tell his sister, Brittney, she was missing out.


This is my Mom & Dad on the ride that I liked the LEAST of all. The Ferris Wheel. Don't let my Mom's smile fool you, trust me, it was not a good time. Usually rides like this don't bother me but that was not the case, I was actually quite terrified.



I really don't know what it is but I LOVE DISNEYLAND!!! We had a ball riding all the rides. Travis got completely soaked on Splash Mountain, both times actually. It was cloudy & about 65*F the entire time we were in California. So he was kinda cold.
Our greatest Victory all week was late in the day Friday we went on the "Jungle Cruise" & got stuck for like 10 minutes, no big deal. Well as we were getting off they handed us 2 passes for 6 people to board any ride we chose like a "fast pass." At this point we still hadn't ridden Space Mountain, which is apparently the most popular ride in the park because you'll stand in line for about an hour & half to ride it. Anyway it's safe to say we took our 'Sweet Passes' straight to Space Mountain.



Check it out, Travis & Bradley with their Turkey Legs. Trav wasn't really that impressed & I thought it was nasty. But "when in Rome."

Happy Birthday to Me! We were exhausted so we slept in, then went to the Huntington Beach. It was a great day.





Our last stop was the Newport LDS Temple. It is so beautiful.



We were just getting out of the car & a couple stopped to talk to us about the facilities & to welcome us to the temple. We weren't prepared to attend a session but they just made me think about how grateful I am to be a member of the church, to be associated with such wonderful people everywhere I go.


I like to imagine Kiel standing next to the Van telling Tyler to get down. Everyone needs a little brother. Ty keeps us all laughing.



Unfortunately all good things come to an end. But we can't wait to go back!

Introducing... the Butterworth's!

Well Jame-Dame, you did it. You talked me into blogging! For those of you who don't know, Jamie has found the funnest way to keep in touch with everyone in her life is through facebook & blogging. About 6 months ago she convinced me to sign up for facebook, & now I guess I'm blogging. I love my sister, she's always looking out for me. Maybe this is her way of getting me to take more pictures too.
I don't know that I'll have a lot of exciting news for our blog but I hope that it will help me record my life with my sweet husband, Travis. I'm currently working at Lee's Marketplace in Smithfield, it's not very glamorous but it pays the bills while Trav is going to school. He is going to USU, & just changed to a Public Health major with an emphasis in Industrial Hygiene. Everyone I tell asks me what that means exactly & to be honest... I'm not really sure. All I know is that he should be done in about 3 semesters, & that is VERY GOOD News!
As for me, while I don't have the job of my dreams, I love the people I work with! And they're a great support group. We're all a bunch of kids in the same situation. Going to school & Broke! And the job has been exactly what we've needed. Kiel worked with me before going on his mission. I still miss seeing (& hearing) him.
That's us in a nut shell! "Just another day in Paradise!"

Welcome

We are finally joining the blogging world! Be patient with us as we try to figure out how to do this and what to write about!