To our Beautiful Grandaughter

As you know Krista, we enter this world with nothing and we leave with nothing.  It is what we do with the time in between that matters.  I am getting up in years, and I have had a long and wonderful life.  If the good Lord takes me tomorrow I have no regrets.  You, Krista, have been an integral part of that life and I love you very much.  Take these words of wisdom:  Love the Lord, live each day to the fullest, and treat other people like you want to be treated.     Love,    Grandpa Bell

Krista:  You have always been a very sweet person, a beautiful baby, a lovely little person, and a loving young lady.  You are beautiful inside and out.  I think back to the evening you were born – the little girl dancing – beauty pageant – clogging – and cheerleading.  You have always included Grandma and Grandpa in your life and activities.  Have always made us proud.  I love you so much.  Grandma Bell

An Extra Post for my lil sis....

Krista,
I realized there were some more things I wanted to say to you on this special occasion.....
I cannot believe you are turning 30 years old....I met you when you were 14 years old,  as innocent as Rocky...hee.hee....Looking back through the years...all the highs & lows....it seems through all of them you & Kellie are  in many memories & experiences in the Butler's chapters of life....from Outback days to Michael's 30th b-day, to Christmas gatherings,  to our girl's dinner clubs & of course you always by Julie's side.  You have been there for the fun, that's for sure.....And, also, for the bad - I will never forget you at the hospital on the hardest day of our lives....you were there supporting our family.
You have an amazing heart & make everyone around you happy!  You always look for the good in people & set an example to those around you (Emma, Taylor & Gabby)....I wish you an amazing 30th Birthday & I love you like a sis.....Keep being you girl....I hope 2011 will be an AMAZING year for you....
Love,
vaJanna, a.k.a. don't ever forget your Daddy (Chicken deluxe)

You are one of the best things that's ever happened to me.

You are one of the best things that's ever happened to me. You're my love and my best friend. And every day that goes by, it seems like I discover something new about you to love. It's incredible to me how one person can make such a big difference in my life. You touch my heart in a way I never knew before. I discover something new about you to love. It's incredible to me how one person can make such a big difference in my life.”

My 30th Surprise B-day gift from you....still cannot believe you did that for me.

Just a night out & then back at home with my Neph-Dog

Your Mom's (my 2nd Mom) wedding....what a fun celebration!

Kellie on my right....Krista on my left....two sisters that have touched my life in so many ways....
16 years & going strong girls :)

Us at Taylor's 5th birthday party....You are such a wonderful Aunt....xo

It's hard when I know I only have a paragraph to say.... what could be the length of a novel.....
From the year I met you in your 10th grade year of HS, to many fun nights at Janna's Forest Creek Apartment, you, Kellie, Janna & I - wow, I still feel bad for her neighbors.  As the years progressed, Outback Steakhouse, Summer time, nights on the town a.k.a. Dalton's, My Office, Cajun Catfish Festival, 30 Something, & Let's not forget good old Molly's Pub....I realized in a short time I met my better half!  On to College Station where we became "roomies" , to the hospital when I became a Mother, to me doing your hair for your wedding, & the ups & downs that life brought us...you have always been my inner strength, you know me, you love me, you accept me & even when I make horrible choices (you know what I mean) you have never once made me feel like I wasn't anything but fabulous.  God knew what he was doing when he brought you in to my life.  You are the most beautiful person inside & out....& I am glad to call you my best friend.  My Father loved you like a daughter; He knew I had someone to pick me up when I fell & cheer me on when I succeeded.  The things you that you have done for me are priceless & I look forward to more memories with you by my side.  I love you & want to wish you the BEST 30th Birthday ever...shake it like a salt shaker.....
Love, your best friend, your sister, your Boo, & your sidekick...
Julie Quintana a.k.a. ( JULISHA)

To My Boo/ BFF

4th of July at Mike & Leslie's ....You & Tator Tot

Good Times at the Rodeo...yee haw!!

Court & Al's Wedding....OH WHAT A NIGHT!!

Us Blondes do have fun going Brunette together :)

Our nights in Houston always = FUN

Ummmmmmmm.....no comment....lol! (This one was for you Courtney :))

Happy 30th Birthday!

Happy 30th Birthday, Krista! So many great memories, but Hurricane Ike and Puerto Vallarta come to mind! Thank you for being such a beautiful person inside and out, a great friend, and a great neighbor. :) We are so blessed to know you and wish you all the best in the coming year.

Love,

Courtney & Alistair

Travel Times

*Leslie and I agree that our favorite memories of Krista come from the trips we take together. However, we did not agree on which stories to tell or how to tell them. In an effort to reach a compromise we have decided that I will write the reflection and Leslie will edit the content to eliminate any illegal, embarrassing or otherwise potentially offensive material.

 Travelling can be stressful, but it didn’t take long to realize that we could go any place at any time with Krista and her easy-going disposition. Our first time traveling together was to Jamaica a couple of years ago. One might assume that all-inclusive booze and the interesting culture of the Rastafarian people would make for an enriching experience. That would be a safe assumption.

 

The Jamaican trip really started to gather momentum as we exited the shuttle at the hotel. Oddly, the man wandering the street in front of our hotel xxxx x xxxx xxxxxxx. Xxx xxxx xxxx x xxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxx xxx  xx!!! Xx x x  xx  xxxxx x x xxx xxxxxx xxxx xx xxx xxx x weird that he already knew my name, right? Not to be outdone by his fellow countryman, we soon met a delightful local in a canoe. He was selling the traditional bracelets and beads, but xxxx x x x xxxxx x x x xx xxx  xx xx xxx x xx xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx xx xxxxxxx xxx xx xxx xx xxxxxxxxxx xx xxx xxxxxxx xx xxx xxx x xx xxx but it was totally worth it. Anyway,  xxxxxxx xx x xx xxxxxx xxxxxx xx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx xx x xxxxxx xx xxxxxx xx xxx xxxxxx xxx x x xx xx xxxxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxx x xxx xxx xxxxxx. I’m not really sure what happened to the hotel furniture to this day.

Mexico has also been a great destination for us. The first time was a birthday trip for Krista and we found ourselves in Acapulco.

Our guide, Cesar, set us up with many fun things to do. He was also very helpful xxx x xxxxx xx xxx xxx xx xxx xxxx xx x xxxxxx xxx xx x xxx x xxx xx but it’s not like he was working for free. Sometimes you just have to have faith that everything will be fine, but I think we were all a little nervous when Cesar drove us out to the middle of nowhere for some kind of show. As it turned out, we were being brought to a small village of locals and their version of a community center. Oh sure, they may not have had walls or air conditioning, but they did have xxx  xxxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xx xxx. Xxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxx! I could tell with most of them, but I’d swear that the one in red was an actual woman.

Our latest Mexican vacation took us to Puerto Vallarta. It was really a great trip with wonderful friends, good food, snorkeling and sight seeing. Our accommodations were fantastic and the nightlife as fun as one would expect. But I think my most vivid memory of Krista during this trip was our interaction with another local whom we affectionately named Tiny Tim. T2, as he is also now know, has a pretty good feel for all the movement in the city and he was very helpful as a guide. Krista and I waited for him at a local watering hole one day and he xxxx x xx xxxxx xx xx xx xxxxx xxx xx x xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx xxx xx xxxxx xx x xxxxx  xxx xx xx xxxxxx x xx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxx. Seriously. I didn’t know x xx xxx xxx xxxxxx xx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxx xx xxxxxxxxx x xxxx xx xx xxxx xx xxx x but I think he ended up doing pretty well with that deal. I’d swear I saw him dance a little.

                                 (photo approximation)

A close second that must be mentioned is Krista’s role as official rally-

whistle holder, but understand that Krista is an equal opportunity rally girl,

so xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx! I think I could actually make some money if I sold those pictures.

Markets for everything, right? Poor donkey.

 

Of course there were several smaller, weekend trips around Texas that

were just as much fun. Even when we’re close to home we always seem

to find something unusual to get into. A weekend at the bay has the

potential to unleash xxxxx x xx xxxxx xx x x xxxxxx xxx. xxx xxxx on a

jellyfish sting? Ok, if you say so.

By this time next year, we will have stamped our passports in at least two

more countries and collected many more great memories. While these

experiences are special because of their location and the absence of daily-

life stresses, it should be said that the best times we have with Krista are

actually of the “ordinary” variety. Of course that’s only if your definition

of “ordinary” is being blessed with the friendship of a person who is quick

to support and slow to judge. Someone who is always there when you need

her. In short, every single day with Krista is a better day than it would be

without her and the same can’t be said about very many people.

Happy birthday, Krista! We love you.

Mike and Leslie

Shakin It!

I have so many great memories from our days at the Outback!  I could almost write a book just from those days!!  We always had such a fun time especially on holidays….This particular night was Halloween & we couldn’t wait to dress up!!  This was during the “Something about Mary” era….notice Kristy’s hair…..This night was a blast back in 1998….And we were all so proud of our costumes. 

I remember this night was a very special birthday celebration at Pappasitos…..We had a big group in the back of the restaurant & oh did we celebrate!  My family was there along with all of my wonderful friends…I like how we always made sure we celebrated our b-days together….

This night was an excuse to get the girls together for fun!  We had a gift exchange where we drew names….& I still remember all my cute leopard panties that you gave me J  We had food & drinks then went out looking at Christmas lights…..Can’t forget how we would posed in people’s yards & had our pictures taken with their Christmas decorations…… What a night we had…. & of course the champagne made it even more fun.

Happy 30th Birthday, Krista...I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Love ya,
Daddy (Janna Butler)