Called to Serve!

the soon to be ELDER PATRICK BRIAN BUTLER (my little brother) has been called to serve in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! He reports to the mission training center on April 29th. we are so very excited that he has chosen to dedicate two years of his life to sharing his testimony that Jesus is the Christ and has established his church on this earth through modern day prophets once again. He is an amazing young man and we know he will work hard!

"ATTACKED"

So, I didn't mean to scare anyone by saying that Simon attacks Jared-- they are the best of friends! By attacking I mean with loves and kisses that occasionally knock Jared over because Simon is bigger than him. But really, the only other thing that makes Jared smile bigger then when Simon runs into the room is when his Daddy gets home from work!

A little about US

Well, so many of my dear friends have started doing these "blog" things, that I have decided to jump on board and join along-- even if no one will ever read it. I guess I've just decided that I'm just not the best journal keeper, so at least with this I can write quick little things about my family and hope that one day I'll collect it all and put it in a more permanent place to preserve for our posterity.
Having said that nice little disclaimer-- I'm truly quite excited. Currently our situation is this: We-- Jason, Suzie and Jared-- bought a fun little house in Ogden, UT in October with the intention of allowing Jason to have easy access to Weber State so that he can finally finish his degree. Yeah, when that grand event actually takes place, I'm sure that cries of joy will be heard from the heavens above. No, really, I think he might finally start this summer-- I think. His hope and dream is to work for the State Department- which he plans on taking their test this year. BUT we've been told that it is quite the gruesome process and since he can only take the test once a year, we have to have a back up plan until that happens- and I know it will. The timing and all is just going to take some faith and hard work. While that process is taking place, he will finish his degree in geography at Weber. I have the wonderful blessing of being able to stay at home and play with our cute little boy- who is 8 1/2 months and the light and joy of our lives. Seriously, I'm not just bragging because he is my son, he really is the most incredible baby. Despite all the allergy and food issues he has-- he is quite the trooper, very rare to complain when I know he has to be hurting a lot more than he lets on. He loves dancing and singing to music and is trying really really really hard to crawl-- just hasn't quite figured it out yet. He has no teeth yet to talk about, though he eats his mushy food by chewing on it with his jaws-- he's just practicing I'm sure. We can't get enough of his smiles and giggles.
So yeah, that's us for now. Oh wait a little more to add to the novel. I will be graduating with my bachelor's degree in Health Education next month and am sooooo very excited to be done with it! It's been a long and trying process, but I will finish!! Yeah!! Also, in December we got a Rottweiler puppy who we named Simon. He is now 5 months old and growing and growing and growing. He is great- though a little overwhelming for Jared at times. We have to keep them outside most of the time to let Jared play on the floor without being attacked-- this is one of the many tactics we are using to encourage and ease the frustrating crawling process Jared is going through right now.
OK- really I do know this is a blog and not a mini novel- but I had to catch everyone up. There are many I haven't talked to in a while, so this is us for now!