A Master's Degree.. who me!

So I have been accepted to an online master degree program for teachers. I decided that I would do this in instructional design. I have had a feeling for a few months that I need to do this when I was prompted.. to look into it. I took the assessment to get in and have been accepted to start on August 1st. I am so excited. I know that I will be super busy with this and 3 kids but I know it is what I should be doing! So wish me luck!

Gavyn's Sealing

Ted and I were able to take Gavyn to the temple the day before my mother's memorial to have him sealed to us for Time and all eternity. My mom had been bugging us since January to do it but we were waiting to see what would happen to my other foster daughter. Ted and I decided that it would be the perfect time to do this while all the family was there. I had a really hard time trying to keep my emotions in check .. all the while thinking that I should have done this earlier. Two days after my father was able to return from Tonga we were able to accomplish this. It was an amazing day! It was so wonderful to see Isaiah and Gavin dressed in white. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have my family sealed for time and all eternity.

April...

April was an incredibly hard month.. It started out so wonderfully.. with Easter and remembering our Savior and Brother, Jesus Christ. Then the unimaginable happened.

My parents,Gary and Gayle Lee, left to go to Tonga on a humanitarian mission with 23 nursing students. It was a planned trip that has happened 2 other times. My father served his mission among the Tongan people. He loved that place and wanted to take my mother there for years. Being an instructor at BYUI, She was able to take students there and make a huge difference. This trip was different in that I was able to take them to the airport. Usually, I was working but since becoming a stay at home mom I was able to take them to the airport. I gave them both hugs and kisses and told them I loved them and to be safe and I drove off. Little did I know at that time what would happen.

We had just returned from taking Isaiah to his 2nd soccer game and had put the three kids to bed when my Stake President and Bishop were at my door. They asked me if I had heard from my mother. I stated no but I wasn't expecting to. They then told me she was in a serious accident in Tonga and to see if I could contact them. Tonga is such a third world country that it was hard to get in touch with anyone.

After they left Ted and I made some phone calls and found out that yes she was in a serious accident in my mind I thought a broken leg, etc. However, it was then that we found out that she was on a sightseeing tour in and stopped at an amazing land bridge in Tonga. She was out of the bus first with a few other students and they went to the edge of this 15o foot cliff. She discovered it was safe and was motioning to the students to go down this pathway for a better view when the ground gave way and she fell. She passed away and was not able to be recovered. It was a shock to me, my family, and my sisters. Since I was the one of two to find out in the family I had the hardest job ever. Telling my sisters, my grandfather, my brother, and extended family what happened. I was so worried about my father, the nurses, my family, and well me.

We had a memorial and my father was able to return. We miss her and love her deeply. There is not a day that goes by that my kids don't ask where Grandma Lee is.

It has been so hard. People ask what they can do. I reply that I really don't know. The ward was wonderful. They opened their arms and hearts and have stepped up. I will be eternally greatful. It is still very hard and it will be for a long time!

I know that I will be able to see my mom again. I know that this is possible through the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Until then it is up to me to be the best mother, sister, wife, and daughter that I can be. So you see April was a bitter sweet month to me!

Easter

Easter was a fun time in the Buthman house. Having 3 kids under the age of 4 was a job... needless to say Ted and I decided that we needed to find a way that the kids could help color the eggs without the BIG mess. We found this neat egg dye tool that you put the egg in the

spinner and then push the button around and around. It was so much fun! Of course Easter wouldn't be Easter without the amazing pictures of the cute clothes for the kids on Sunday! ( I wish I could show you all three kids but maybe somday!)

Of course Easter couldn't be Easter without the snow! Don't you love Idaho!

Soccer!

Ted and I decided to sign Isaiah up for an under 5 year old league in Idaho Falls. He was on of the tallest on his team but also the youngest. Isaiah loved running after the ball. However, he was more interested in what was going on in the indoor arena then to what was going on during his 1/2 hour game. He kicked the ball a few times and got an award at the end. He tells us that he wants to play it again! So it was a success!

January - July School !

Gavyn began a toddler lab at a local college. It was for kids from the age of 18 - 3 years old. It was put on by the teacher canidates. They did a great job and Gavyn loved it!

Then Isaiah was accepted to a preschool in Rexburg. He went three days a week and he loved it. If you ask him what he learned he will go on and on and on. The theme was gardening and all that goes with it. He would come home and tell me and anyone else about what he learned. Bugs, Birds, Worms, and Ladybugs.. were his favorite topic. The only bad part was that he had to be in school from 8:20 to 10:15 those days so we were out of the house by 7:55 each day.

Gavyn and Baby H attended a toddler lab on Thursdays in Idaho Falls. They absolutely loved it! They loved the teachers and all the activities that came along with it.