Frank & Dixie's New House!

Frank, Sr. and Dixie, Sr (not to be confused with Frank and Dixie - the Juniors who are dogs) just bought a house.  While B10 and CW were visiting their dad in Kentucky, we went over to help them do some remodeling.

The house was a rental, a beautiful 4 bedroom home, rental, that shows signs of being a rental.  Frank and Dixie really want to make it their home, and we were overjoyed to start helping!

These are the before pictures, hopefully, I'll be able to show after pictures someday before Spring.  :)

GO loved being with her Aunt Dixie and Uncle Frank.

She thought Uncle Frank was a cutie-pie!  Every time he walked into the room, she gave him sweet eyes and tried to climb into his lap.

More pictures to come - epecially after the fence is put in and the puppies and boys get to play together in the backyard!

~Lone Butterfly )i(

Merry Christmas

~ From our family to yours ~

~ Wishes for a very Happy Holidays ~

~ May the child whose birth we celebrate, be the center of your coming year. ~

With Love,
B10, CW, GO
Lone Butterfly & Hubby Butterfly

Wii Fit Plus

First - I would like to say that I have Hubby's permission to write the following blog post.  He is comfortable with me discussing his weight issues and how we (as a family) are working together to become healthier.

Many of our family and friends know that Hubby has struggled with his weight for quite a while (as in: since he was 13).  Right before our wedding, he had lost lots of weight.  Then, in 2008, we purchased the Wii Fit which really helped.  He was focused on doing it almost every day and saw major results.  Up until GO was born, when he began to taper off his workouts.

Then, around May, the project team he is on at work went into high gear and he stopped working out.  It's been a battle since then.  He gained a little over 20 pounds in 5 months. 

Right after Thanksgiving, Hubby and I were with the Caterpillars in Target and saw the Wii Fit Plus.  For only $20 we upgraded our Wii Fit game to Wii Fit Plus.

Now, you can search the internet for reviews and game specifics.  All I can tell you is this.  Hubby has continued to watch his food intake and also been doing the Wii Fit Plus 4-5 times a week for the last 2 and a half weeks.  Already he's lost almost 7 pounds.  His goal was to lose 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas, now there is a very real possibility he's going to double that!  His highest weight since we got married was over 220 pounds and he's now down below 210!

I am super proud of Hubby's commitment to his health.  Plus, he feels so motivated that he has taken the Half Marathon plunge and will be running the ING Half Marathon in March!  So, if you own the Wii Fit, I highly recommend upgrading to the Wii Fit Plus.

The Skateboarding is my favorite - and it really works my abs!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

101 in 1001 - Another One Bites the Dust

Okay, one of my goals was to listen to the FISH radio station and nothing else for one month.  I've accomplished this goal, but it wasn't easy.

I didn't think this one entirely through, such as my intense dislike of certain Christmas songs and the fact that after Thanksgiving - the FISH ONLY plays Christmas songs.  Plus, by not being able to change the radio station, I was stuck listening to commercials.

BUT, I did enjoy the fact that not once did I have to censor a song on the radio because the Caterpillars were in the truck with me.  And I discovered a couple of new songs that I enjoyed.

Overall, though, the only reason I stuck this one out was so I could check it off my list.

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Little Sheep's Christmas Performance

The school Little Sheep attends has a beautiful Christmas Musical every year, and this was our 3rd year attending.  We love going to watch Little Sheep sing.  For 2009 there were 10 of us in the audience.  BooSheep and HubbySheep were working in the lights and sound booth, so Baby Sheep hung out with her grandparents (both sets) and us in the chairs.

 

Baby Sheep gladly shared her Cheerios snacks with GO.

We were near the back of the Sancutary, and they ask you not to take flash photography, so I don't have any photos of Little Sheep (who sang about rocking Baby Jesus to sleep...so sweet!) - but the Caterpillars and Baby Sheep gave their best smiles!

 

It's hard to imagine next year this program won't be just Little Sheep, but Baby Sheep and GO also!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Waken Up Is Hard To Do -

We are such a family of Night Owls and GO fits right in!  Take a look at this poor face early in the morning!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Christmas Lights

Every year, we always enjoy at least one night driving around looking at Christmas Lights.

GO wasn't feeling well (we spent yesterday morning in the ER, she had a 104.5 degree fever), but after a warm bath (and showers for the boys) - everyone bundled up in their jammies.

We hopped in the car and headed to Publix for dinner.  CW went inside with me, and helped pick out Pizza Lunchables for himself and B10.

Hubby had a turkey and swiss sub sandwich.

While I decided on chicken tenders - a delicious choice.

GO fell asleep quickly, and being all clean and warm in her pjs she seemed much happier than she had been.  I'm so glad her fever is gone!

We had a great drive, instead of Starbucks Hot Chocolate this year (we are trying to pinch pennies) - we got two large cups of mocha from QuikTrip and split those into our Starbucks mugs.  B10 acutally thought it was BETTER than Starbucks (totally can't believe that...but at least it's cheaper)!

Then, we drove home to our own beautiful home with our Christmas Tree lighting up the bay window.  We are going again, but as B10 pointed out - this is a great family tradition.

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

My Favorite Nephew

Little Sheep is my favorite nephew...

...can you see why?

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, LITTLE SHEEP!  I LOVE YOU!

Love,
Aunt Lone Butterfly  )i(

Sweet Caterpillars

I love catching my Caterpillars being sweet...

...this view of GO sleeping on B10 just warmed my heart.

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

The 3/50 Project

As a member of the Board of Directors for a local community theatre, local support for local businesses is important to me.   The holidays is a great time of year to join in the 3/50 Project!  Will you take a moment to click on the link above and join me in supporting your local community?

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

The Caterpillars helped decorate the tree today, as our Family Christmas Events continue.  B10 and CW were in charge of putting the ornaments on the tree.

But GO tried to help.

 Then she realized (thanks to B10) that the toy we got her made noise.  I didn't want to open it yet, but she was determined to hear it play a song.

She was like the monkey/banana trap - once she got her hand inside (and around the angel) she didn't want to let go!

It was a nice hour together, as a family, and the tree now looks beautiful!

Now, if we can just get the star away from GO!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Family Advent Wreath

Tonight we made a family Advent Wreath.

First, we used green construction paper to cut our our handprints.

Even GO helped.

Then, we glued the handprints onto a cardboard circle (cut out of an old gift box).

Finally, we lit our little purple tealight as our first Advent Candle.

It was SO easy, and it's a small craft.  I put our names on each handprint, then the year on the back, so we can compare next year!

It's not to late to make your own Family Advent Wreath.

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

A Shrunken Christmas Carol

The Cub Scouts and the Daisy Girl Scouts came out to see "A Shrunken Christmas Carol".  CW wasn't in the show (he came with Cookie and Doc) - but they got to see B10 doing his extra role (Turkey Boy).

It was so much fun to have our friends out to see the show!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(