Woof! 2025 was quite the year for us all, I believe. Some of the most cherished friendships have been built and fostered over the past 12 months, and some of the most unimaginably difficult moments have been lived. I think I can speak for many of us in welcoming a new year, a fresh start, and an opportunity to grow and care for the good that we share and create together. Looking back through my calendar and photos, I am left with overwhelming gratefulness for this life and all I am fortunate enough to have experienced. Whether 2025 was the best year or your life or the worst, I am so glad you are here, and so thankful for you.

Here are some highlights from what happened in the Butterfras household this year:

We were able to travel to see family both in Arkansas and in Houston this year, and one of the trips within a few weeks of each other. Ryan’s cousin got married at the beginning of May, so we made a trip to Houston to celebrate them, and spend some time with family and friends. Our kids loved dressing up and getting fancy for a wedding, and then dancing their hearts out! They also loved spending time with their cousin throughout the week.
Since it was still baseball season, we got to attend some of our best friends’ son’s games, and it was a blast cheering him on, and then of course celebrating afterward with texmex.

Just a couple short weeks after we got back from Houston, the kids and I traveled to Arkansas to spend time with my sister and her family. While there, two of my nieces and I made a day-trip to Nashville to attend a concert featuring a musician I’ve been following for almost 20 years. It’s so fun to share a love for an artist, and experience live music with them!

On the theme of traveling, we welcomed some family and friends into our home as well. My nieces and nephew made a sibling trip in June to KC, which was a fun, quick visit with them.
One of my oldest friends, Angelique visited us over July 4 weekend, and again captured some stunning family photos for us! This has become a long-standing tradition, and she is truly the absolute best with kids and making family photos a fun experience for everyone. This year, I’ve been extra thankful for Angelique’s friendship as I reflect on all of the phases I’ve walked through in my life, how much I’ve changed, and how she has been such a steadfast friend to me through every single one. Friends like her are one in a million, and I cherish her so much.

My older brother and his family visited us in August, just before heading back to New York for their last year in seminary. Jonathan was ordained as a priest in the Orthodox church this year, and next year they will be moving to a new parish. It’s always a sweet time together when they visit, and the cousin bonding is unmatched.

In October, we went camping again with some of our bffs, the NeSmiths, and this time around we took my niece, Isabelle! It was her first time camping, and it was super fun showing her the ropes from building a tent to percolating coffee. She also got a nice little taste of what it’s like to raise children without walls and deprived of sleep. Missouri has such beautiful outdoor spaces, and the fall in the midwest is perfectly chilly at night and warm in the daytime. We had a ton of fun being outside together.

A few individual updates!

Jude will be DOUBLE DIGITS in January, and no, I have no idea how he got that old that fast. His love for reading grows, and this year he tore through his first dragon series: Wings of Fire. He also read The Hobbit, and he and I have been watching the movies together on sick days throughout the year while little brother isn’t around. ;)
Jude and Jake both played soccer this year, and Jude’s team has several kiddos from his class, which is an extra layer of fun for all! He has grown a lot through 2 seasons learning confidence on the field, some soccer skills, and how to collaborate with a team. He’s looking forward to the spring season!

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Jake turned 7 in the fall, and has had a huge year of growth and transition! He loves to be outside, loves to help with almost any task and is not afraid of hard work. He also loves and cherishes quality time with family and friends. He’s quick on his feet and loves to hustle, and worked hard for several goals for his soccer team, for which he was very proud.
We had some learning challenges with Jake over the year, and are so thankful for access to good assessments and care to help guide us through the most optimal opportunities for him. We are hopeful that he’ll find encouragement and success as he works so hard to master tough skills!

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Ryan had a monumental year with Beskar Books, the comic book business he and my brother, Christian own together. They set up at Planet-Con again, but this year, they were the hosts of their table which meant Beskar’s name was featured in all the con materials and promos! A few years ago they started a mini-con locally called Tower-Con, which has earned lots of love and recognition in the KC comic community. They recently partnered with Boulevard Brewery, and hosted last month’s Tower-Con there! This was the largest event they’ve hosted yet, and it was a huge win for all parties involved. It’s such a cool feeling to grow your passion project into something others love and look forward to as well!
On the daily, Ryan still works in IT for Living Water International, and loves his team. Since he is remote, we are hoping to be able to travel to Houston again soon so he can get some face-time with them (and so we can visit our friends and family, of course!).

This year has been the MOST full for me (Tiffany), and we’ll just say my new year’s resolution is to prioritize the importance of rest and sleep. :) Working at Revive with some of the most incredible people has been a dream, and I’m so honored to be there. I started the year out launching a strength training program I built, and over time, took on more tasks and am currently working around 30 hrs a week on administrative related tasks and member experience. The community we grow together is one I’m so proud of, and it is an honor to care for a space that is safe for so many.
I’m also hanging on to my beloved Les Mills International certifications and teaching a few classes a week at The J, a community center just outside KC proper. The variety of creating programming from scratch paired with LMI classes where I learn and memorize pre-choreographed programming is the perfect mix. I love living in both worlds, and both bring me a lot of joy!

This year was also very strange for me with a couple instances cemented in my memory. Last January I was on my way to an early morning class at The J, and witnessed a pile up on a bridge that was iced over. Since it was so cold outside, I ended up sitting on the freeway for over 4 hours with some of the people involved in the accident in my car, all of us just listening to Doechii while we waited for the fire fighters to arrive and extinguish the car and bus that caught fire. Since then, I’ve been a lot more cautious and a lot less brave about driving in the ice… watching cars and a bus ram into each other and literally drive on top of each other shakes you up a bit.
Then, in April, I, along with 2 of my friends from Revive witnessed the aftermath of an accident involving a pedestrian. That is the first time I’ve ever seen anything like that first hand, and I still think about that man every couple of weeks. Both of these instances reminded me how very fragile life is… and at the same time the immense weight of humanity. I wrestled with a lot of feelings from that day: the man being unidentified for over a week, him being alone at the crime scene while everyone’s lives moved on, my own choice to disassociate and teach a class 30 mins after the incident… everything feeling both so important and so frivolous at the same time. For a week, the most important thing to me was finding his name and remembering he was here on this earth.

There are many people in my life who have lost loved ones this year, and I just want to create space for you and acknowledge your loss, your pain, your confusing feelings and all the in between moments. Grief is strange in that it doesn’t all come at once or make sense, and that’s something I hope you are able to hold space for in your life as well. It’s ok to laugh, cry, feel kind of crazy, feel like you’ll never be better, not want to feel better than you do now/not want to forget, disassociate from time to time, do something that cares for your mind and your body, etc. Showing up with what we have today is enough, and with love and kindness our goal and our guide, we’ll find some healing along the way.

It often seems like there is non-stop horrific news updates one after the next; I’m learning to save some space to remember the good, cherish beauty, and not hold back in the hope for good to persevere. I tend to be enveloped in tragedy, feeling like it’s not right to smile, have fun, or enjoy things fully when I know about the nightmares people are living at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I will never stop bombarding your social media feeds drawing attention to injustice and our responsibility to build a better world. But today, and tomorrow, and the day after that, I invite you to choose to find good, joy, and find hope with me. Samwise said it best, so I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“It’s like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad has happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it’ll shine out the clearer. I know now folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something. That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”

All our love,
Tiffany, Ryan, Jude, and Jake

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! It’s a little unreal how another year has passed in what feels like such a short time. And yet, 2024 was so full! We hope that you are able to take some time this month to reflect on your year, and hold some space to prepare for what is to come in 2025.

It’s always such a gift to look back on our calendar and photos and see just how much life has been lived in a year’s time! In 2024, we traveled to Houston for a family wedding, welcomed friends visiting us in KC, and had the joy of our second oldest niece living just 30 minutes away for college, to name a few highlights.

In February, I (Tiffany) traveled to Mississippi to be with my parents for the memorial of my grandfather (my dad’s father). Although it was a sorrowful occasion that brought about the reunion, it was a sweet time to reconnect with my aunt and uncle, as well as my grandmother for a few short days. I hadn’t seen them in probably close to 20 years, and I really enjoyed listening to stories told of my dad’s childhood from both his and his brother’s perspectives.

In March, we got to take the kids on their first camping trip with our friends, the NeSmiths. We went over the Easter weekend, which was so much fun doing an Easter egg hunt at the campsite. They had such an amazing time, and didn’t want it to end! We went again in October, and both times had such great weather. Fall in Missouri is really beautiful, and we were so fortunate to see all the leaves turning and had some fantastic hikes! Ryan and the kids went fishing every day (that’s a no from me), and were absolutely in their element. We hope to make camping in the spring and autumn a regular tradition!

Another monumental moment this year was the solar eclipse many of us witnessed in April. The kids loved watching the eclipse through their glasses, though they were confused about why it didn’t become completely dark since we were at a 90% coverage spot. It was a good teaching moment and a memorable event to share with friends!

In May, our second oldest niece, Belle, graduated high school, and we were able to visit AR for the weekend to celebrate her. She is now attending school at Park University, about 30 minutes north of us in KC. It’s been so fun to have her close, getting to spend many weekends together, and even seeing my sister and her family a bit more often as they’ve driven up to stay with us and see Belle.

Only a couple short days after that visit to AR, our dear friends Jamie and Erin came to visit! We all attended the 20th anniversary tour for Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service albums, but really it was just the excuse they needed to finally come see me! Erin moved to AZ last year, so it was such a sweet time to reconnect, as we now all live in different states.

Speaking of reunions, in November I had a fun visit to Houston, stepping back in time, and reuniting with my friends Jenna, Amanda, and Taylor. Jenna and her husband, Stephen very hospitably opened up their home, and I got to hang out with them and their sweet kids during my stay. The four of us (Jenna, Amanda, Taylor, and myself) hadn’t hung out together in at least 15 years! A band we all used to listen to (blast in the car with the windows down) together was having a 20th year anniversary tour, so we all decided to get tickets and scream our hearts out together once again. What a fun time reconnecting, sharing stories of our kids, and reminiscing on all the things that have changed, and some things that haven’t! Ps. All these 20th anniversary tours must mean I’m getting old…

One of our longest friends, Angelique visted us over fourth of July weekend, and was so kind to take our family photos again. She is the brightest soul, and every year that goes by I feel I’m more thankful for how loyal of a friend she has been to not just me, but Ryan and the kids as well. It’s a priceless gift to have friendships that have grown with you over multiple decades, and have held space for each other as we have both changed so much and been through so many life shifts. All the family photos we enjoy are her incredible artistry!

This summer, we had the joy of celebrating the wedding for Ryan’s cousin, Kate. As the wedding was black tie optional, it was the first time since our marriage that Ryan and I got to dress up that fancy, and the kids’ first time to wear three piece suits! The wedding was beautiful, and the reception was a blast. Jude and Jake really danced the night away with their cousin, Jada, and we loved getting to spend some celebratory moments with the family.

While we were in Houston we made plans to extend our stay after the wedding and get away with our friends, the Floreses. Aside from reminding us how much we miss them, we had a fantastic time in Bolivar and Galveston together. Unfortunately, due to the storms that had just come through, there was too much bacteria in the water to swim in the ocean. But we made the most of our time with a pool day, dolphin tour, and a trip to La King’s Confectionery. The best weekend!

On the way home from Galveston, we stopped to see Ryan’s grandmother (Honey), as her health had been declining quickly. It was a hard visit, but it was one we will remember and cherish for a long time. After Honey had a stroke in July, her speech and mobility had suffered a lot, so she wasn’t able to communicate as well. We sat with her for a while, and told her stories about Kate’s wedding, and showed her pictures of all her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids all dressed up and dancing. Her face lit up when we shared pictures and stories, and it was a beautiful moment we were able to share. While she couldn’t respond as easily, she had strong eye contact and connection, and we knew she could hear and understand. Ryan got to pray with her, and we said our goodbyes. In August, we received news that she passed. We are so glad we had the opportunity to see her, and are very thankful for her life and the legacy she left with her family.

Mid-August, my brother, Jonathan and his family came to stay with us for almost 2 weeks. They moved to New York last summer, as Jonathan is in seminary to become a priest in the Orthodox church. We’ve missed them so much since they moved, as they used to live not even 2 miles from our house. However, my younger brother, Christian and his partner are now living in their old house, so that’s a fun trade off. Jonathan, Christina, and the kids are here to visit again for Christmas break, and we are soaking in the time together!

Jude is in the third grade, and will celebrate his 9th birthday in January. He has been eager to constantly remind me that he will be double digits next year(!!!). Last year, over winter break, we transferred him to the school that Jake had been attending, and it has been so, so good for him. The school they attend is a Montessori school, which functions a bit differently from traditional school settings. One thing I love is that they encourage self-starting mindsets and work to protect the curiosity of learning that kids often lose as they age. They also often work in groups, and are encouraged to collaborate on researching information for projects they are working on. Jude worked on an Ancient Egypt project with 3 classmates last spring, and presented it at the end of the school year, complete with a diorama, memorized speeches, and even snacks to share that originated in Egypt during that time period!
Jude has taken a deeper interest in football, and knows far more than I about the sport. He plays with his friends at recess daily, and both he and Jake are getting really good! We love watching their excitement grow, and of course, love any opportunity they will take to get outside and run around!

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Jake turned 6 in September, and is in Kindergarten this year. He is one of the oldest in his class, and he carries that with pride. He has such a tender heart, and I love hearing how he looks out for and cares for the younger kids in his class. While he loves numbers, spelling has been a bit of a challenge for him. He’s been working so hard this year on his sounds and reading, and it is so fun to watch him succeed and see the excitement on his face when he recognizes words! His class has a mantra on their wall: “We treat every living thing with kindness”, and it’s so sweet to watch this in practice. They got to watch baby chicks hatch in their classroom last spring, and have learned how to grow plants from seeds, and how to care for them on their own. This type of care and responsibility are amazing life lessons that we’re seeing slowly make their way into life at home as well.
Just like Jude, Jake loves football, and particularly Pacheco from the Chiefs. In addition to playing at school, he asks Ryan and I to play football (or at least practice passing and catching) with him nearly every day. He loves working with his hands, and is always the first to volunteer to help with whatever task is at hand. The kid is nonstop! It’s so fun to watch both our kids as they grow and their personalities and interests develop.

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Ryan continues to work at Living Water International as Manager of IT Support, and just got back from spending some time in Houston with his team this month. He and my brother, Christian are also still going strong with Beskar Books, and were able to set up at a booth again this year at Planet-Con. In 2025, they will be hosting the booth, which means their name will be on the sign (so cool!). They’ve also continued to build a great community with Tower-Con, the event that Beskar Books hosts about three times a year. This year they featured local artists, and supported some great charities with raffles and giveaways. Ryan also has a weekly tradition with the kids to visit a local comic shop and reads them the comics they pick out. He’s influencing these kids, and it’s fun to see their interest and knowledge of the comic book world grow.

Another fun milestone: Ryan turned 40 this year! We had such a fun time celebrating him with some big surprise gifts (including a group gift of the huge Millennium Falcon Lego). The week after his birthday, the NeSmiths graciously watched our kids for a weekend while Ryan and I flew off to Denver to see Hans Zimmer Live! It was an unforgettable show, and far exceeded any expectations I had. We both loved hearing the stories Hans told of how the music came to be written, the collaborations, and the history. I realized mid-show that many of us were raised on the soundtrack that is Hans Zimmer. He brought all of the original musicians and vocalists from these soundtracks, including the cellist who co-wrote Wonder Woman with him, and the vocalists from Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar, and even Lion King! One really cool moment was when we learned that one of the vocalists featured throughout the night is the daughter of Lebo M, the vocalist of the famous Lion King theme song. She sang with him for that piece, and it was a surreal moment of realizing she grew up with that movie just like we did. Not a dry eye in that arena!

I (Tiffany) had some big transitions this year, including a major job change! In November, I left my job at my old gym and accepted the brand new role of Director of Functional Training at a studio called Revive! Revive opened in 2022 and was indoor cycling only. The owner, and my new boss, Thomas, had a dream to expand the studio to include strength training, and I’m so honored to be considered and approached for this role. Even a few months ago I would have never dreamed of taking on this position, but I am loving the exciting challenge of building a program from the ground up, training coaches, and designing this concept for the participants. Revive is a small space, but the community they have built speaks volumes. They have won “Best of Kansas City” Indoor Cycling Studio and Group Fitness Class for two years in a row (reminder that they’ve only been open for two years!), and the sense of belonging and excitement when you’re there is unmatched. We launch the LIFT classes on December 31, and we all cannot wait to share these programs! I’m also picking up some classes at The J starting in January, as I have many Les Mills certifications that I’d like to keep, and also just really enjoy teaching Les Mills, so didn’t want to give that up. I’ve subbed a few classes since being officially hired as an instructor, and the community and layout feels a lot like my old club in Colorado (which I loved). I’m very thankful for a place to teach what is familiar and something I love while breaking new ground in the space at Revive. I am very busy, and some (most) days I feel like my brain is melting, but it’s such a gift and privilege to be in spaces where I feel belonging, feel a sense of challenge and purpose, and have the opportunity to dream and explore new growth.

2024 carried so much, from overwhelming joy and celebrations to deep grief, as well as stress, frustrations, disappointment, hope, surprises, reunions, uncontrollable laughter, and everything in between. As always, thank you so much for taking the time to share with us in our memories and hopes for the year ahead.

We wish the very best for your and your loved ones this year. We’d also love to hear from you and what you’ve been up to, so please feel encouraged to reach out and connect! Merriest, warmest holidays, and much love from the Butterfrases!

-Tiffany, Ryan, Jude, and Jake

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Merry Christmas, friends! We hope this letter finds you in good spirits as we close out 2023 and look forward into the new year. We love the opportunity to reflect and reminisce on everything we share and experience each year, and we’d love to hear from you as well in your journeys!

In 2023, we had the joy of both visiting and hosting friends and family many times. We also were able to take part in some super fun activities, including (but not limited to!) several concerts for Ryan and Tiffany (Beyonce and Odesza for Tiffany – um WHAT!), Jude and Jake’s first show ever (Galactic Empire), the 20th anniversary theater viewing of The Lord of the Rings (Return of the King), Planet Con with extended family, plays at a local children’s theater, and The Nutcracker in Houston!

Perhaps the hardest transition of 2023 for our family is when my brother, Jonathan, sister-in-law, Christina, and our niece and nephew, Fayna and Basil moved to New York. Jonathan is in seminary at St. Vladimir’s as he studies to become a priest. We are very happy and proud, and also very sad that they are so far away after being so close for 2 years. One unexpected benefit to the move is that they stayed with us over the summer as they prepared their home to rent. We enjoyed lots of quality time with them, and tag teamed juggling 4 kids all summer long! Between countless visits to the zoo, library, lunch and play at Ikea (free childcare!), the pool, and playgrounds, we managed to keep the kids busy and help each other out with caring for 4 wild kiddos. We cherish the time we were able to spend together, and the closeness of the cousin relationships our kids share!

We love that our brother Christian is still here, and we often spend Chiefs game days together with him and his partner, AJ. We enjoyed a quieter Thanksgiving this year where I did my best to cook only half the amount of food we usually do, and spent some great time together. That evening after dinner we trekked to the Plaza for the Christmas lighting ceremony, which was such a fun thing for Jude and Jake to experience.

Ryan and Christian are rounding out a full year of a comic-con event they created called Tower-Con. Their comic book company, Beskar Books has been a really great way for them to meet more people within the comic book community. I can’t believe everything they’ve accomplished this year! From starting small with just assisting another vendor at a local comic-con, to owning their own business and running their own comic-con, their growth is astounding. In March, they were vendors for the first time at the largest comic-con in Kansas City: Planet-Con. It was a dream come true for them, and something that usually takes people years to work towards. My sister, Lynette and her family were able to visit for spring break over the same dates and attend the comic-con as well, which was an extra special treat.

Ryan is in his second year as Manager of IT Support at Living Water International (LWI). We just returned from a visit to Houston where he worked for the week in the office and got to have lots of face-time with his team and other staff members. He is staying very busy between work and Beskar Books. He’s always coming up with new ideas for the social media and connection side of Beskar Books, and both he and Christian are really great at creating connection within the local comic book community.

This year has been one of immense personal growth and healing for me. I had the privilege of continuing in therapy, as well as doing EMDR for the first time. I highly recommend putting in the work to finding a therapist that fits well for you. You truly never really know how helpful and healing therapy can be until you are consistent for a period of time, and commit to working through the challenging stuff with a professional. I’m so grateful for everything this year entailed on that end, and this is just the beginning!
A huge update for me: after nearly 8 years, I am back to working full time! I have been working at Woodside teaching classes for what was 2 years at the end of August. In October I accepted the position of Group Fitness Coordinator, which perfectly combines my love of fitness and administration/organization. I feel so lucky to be working in a space that brings me so much joy and is so rewarding every day. I’m working directly with my amazing boss, the Group Fitness Director, and assisting in administrative tasks and creating systems to improve the quality and efficiency of our department. What a dream!

Far right photo by Angelique Humcke

Jude will be 8 in January, and is in the second grade. This year he’s discovered a new love of audio books! He loves renting books through the Libby app on his tablet and listens to more books than we can count! Jude also loves music, and recently started playing around on Garage Band on Ryan’s computer, writing melodies and adding beats here and there. He is always excited about Lego and puzzles, and his favorite is to sit and listen to a book while building. Much to our bewilderment, he has developed quite a snarky whit and a good amount of sarcasm. It’s fun most of the time (help).

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Jake turned 5 in September, and is in preschool this year. He is at a Montessori school and is absolutely thriving. He is learning how to write in cursive, and is even reading short words! He loves writing his name and coming up with funny ways to write rhyming words. In June he had both his tonsils and adenoids removed, which was a difficult recovery, but has had amazing results with his breathing and sleeping. Poor kid had blocked air passageways all this time! He is a trooper. Jake likes to give lots of hugs and kisses almost as much as he likes to wrestle. His favorite activities include almost anything outside, and he is the first to volunteer to help with any work that needs to be done!

Photos by Angelique Humcke

This year we experienced many joys, and also some loss. My paternal grandfather passed away in September. Although I did not grow up spending much time with him, processing loss and death of friends and family over the last few years, and specifically with someone who shares your blood, is at the least, complicated and sorrowful. Life is so sacred and valuable, and as I reflect on my grandfather’s I am so thankful for him and the life he had here on earth. Time is precious, and we are blessed to spend it with so many people we love.

We are yet again blessed with the most amazing family photo experience with my dear friend, Angelique. How incredible it is to have a friend who simply plays with the kids and ends up with photos like these. Truly a gift (thank you!). Enjoy the flood of photos I am wholly unashamed to bombard you with.

We wish you the very warmest of wishes, and pray you are filled with love, peace, and have a space where you feel welcome and safe. Merry Christmas to you, and Happy New Year!

– Tiffany, Ryan, Jude, and Jake

Happy holidays, family and friends!

We hope this letter greets you with joy and warm wishes. Reflecting on each year has been a great way to look back and remember all the change, progress, and movement that has occurred in our lives, as well as what has remained consistent and steady. So much to be thankful for, and we are glad to be able to share it all with you.

It has now been a full year of living in our KC home, and as it usually goes, that feels both quick and like a lifetime. We’ve learned lots about living in an old house, and Ryan has more gray hairs in his beard because of it! But our home truly feels like home, and we’ve had the joy and pleasure of hosting a bunch throughout the year, which has been our main goal in choosing a house from the beginning. From casual gatherings, to out of state visitors, to hosting a Stranger Things Halloween party, our home has served as the best landing space and place of rest for us and for our friends.

We’ve fully embraced living in Kansas City, and have found so much celebration of the amazing cultures packed into this midwest city. KC supports small businesses better than most any other city I’ve seen! We’ve attended so many festivals, small business pop ups, grand openings and business anniversaries, and events that celebrate inclusivity and have helped us learn about our own and other heritages and cultures around us. I love how KC lifts each other up and supports its own! While there is of course still so much division, the efforts I’m seeing for diversity and inclusivity have been such a gift.

In July, Ryan changed companies back from Compassion International to Living Water International! He’s working again with his old colleagues, and some new ones, and is able to work from home. This has been such a wonderful switch, and a great challenge for him, as he is now the Manager of IT Support at LWI. He had kept in contact with his old work mates, so they were able to pick right back up. He’s implementing some changes to processes and hoping to help improve systems for IT and LWI as a whole, and of course, enjoying the time he gets to spend with his team. He’s visited Houston a few times since the transition; once for onboarding, then again a few weeks later, and then for a staff building retreat he was able to attend with everyone. It’s a plus that when he visits, he also gets to spend some time with his family, who are all in Houston.

I’m still teaching group exercise classes at Woodside, and have been keeping busy! I teach several times a week, and sub for others when I am able. This has been a wonderful company to work for, and my boss is so great about recognizing his team’s efforts and making sure we feel appreciated. We’re in the middle of a huge renovation that is supposed to be completed in the new year. I cannot WAIT to explore all the new toys and spaces we will have, and be able to bring more of that fun to my classes.
In August, I attended Les Mills LIVE for the first time in NOLA with my friend, Maria. It was an amazing time working out with thousands of others (600+ in a room), all with the same passion and high energy. We worked out way too much in a 24 hour time period, but had the time of our lives, and even got to explore New Orleans a bit afterward!

Jude will be 7 in January, and is in the first grade. He told me at the end of Kindergarten that he’s pretty sure he’s learned everything he needs, and is done with school. If the kid only knew he’s at the very beginning of his learning journey! Overall, he’s enjoying school, and especially looks forward to drawing Pokemon characters with a friend seated in his desk group. He seems to have a knack for math, and his teacher is helping to give him more math challenges along the way. He also loves drawing, playing board and video games, and has developed a recent interest in collecting Pokemon cards. Jude is a super sweet kid, and loves playing with his brother and his cousins!

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Jake turned 4 in September, and continues to be our firecracker. He is the best helper, and volunteers to assist in all the chores. He loves working with his hands: cleaning, cooking, taking out the trash, he’s your guy. He looks up to Jude, and finds interest in all the things Jude is into, so Pokemon is a big thing in our house right now. Unlike his brother, he loves to snuggle, and always wants to be close to Ryan and me. Jake never stops moving, even when he sleeps, and loves being out and about, no matter what we’re doing! He enjoys working through “school” which includes lots of tracing and practicing lines and shapes. He also enjoys drawing, and the two boys together come up with lots of hilarious creations. He’s fiery and affectionate, and loves an adventure.

One of the joys from this year is that my younger brother moved back to KC from Florida! We have loved having him close. Christian and Ryan have bonded this year especially over their love for comics. They started dabbling with just collecting in early spring, and a few months later managed to start their own company, buying and selling comics! You can check them out at BeskarBooks.com. You can also follow them on Instagram @beskarbooks and Facebook at /beskarbooks. They have an Etsy store, and they’ve also been setting up booths at local comic cons. My other brother, Jonathan, and sister-in-law, Christina just created a new logo and entire marketing brand for them, too. If anyone needs some visual art work done, they are fantastic and insanely creative and talented.

Although we haven’t been able to travel as much this year, we did a bit in the summer. After I went to NOLA, I met Ryan and the boys back in Houston, and we got to spend some time there for my birthday. The trip, though, wasn’t supposed to last quite as long. A dear friend and mentor of mine from my time in Houston passed away over the summer, and the memorial service ended up being later that week. So, we decided to extend our trip so that I could attend. This passing was such a hard mix of emotions for many of us, as Donna was what most would call the face of health and fitness. She believed the best in everyone, and was the one to push me toward furthering my career in the fitness industry, helped me calm my doubts, and believe that I could help people and make a difference in their lives. She was so full of joy every day, and we honor her life by remembering who she was, and that she lived so fully while she was here, not wasting a moment. May we do the same.

One thing I’ve learned this year is that life contains both joy and sorrow, sometimes in the same day, and living well is learning how to exist with them both. Sometimes we feel like only one can be welcome at a time, but truly living means feeling it all, and letting it all have its space. It’s ok to both laugh and cry in the same space, to be angry, confused, and hopeful, to reserve space for all of it. This year has contained a lot of that, and I’m learning what it looks like to allow myself to just be in those moments. There’s a lot more to that, but I think I’ll leave it there for now. :)

My hope and prayer for you this year is that you feel free and welcome where you are to acknowledge and feel what needs to be given space to exist. I hope that you have freedom to laugh hard and cry deeply, and that you feel safe in those places. My wish is that we learn how to give ourselves and each other what we need to embrace everything life brings.

This season, as a Christian, I celebrate Immanuel, which means God with us. This is a profound idea because before Jesus, God was not accessible to humans, and only certain people following certain protocols could be with him. Jesus being Immanuel means that a once distant God can now be closer than a friend. This year, I’ve had a lot of highs and lows working through my own faith and simply being ok in spaces that have caused a lot of long-term damage to me personally. So if you’re not in a space where the idea of Immanuel brings you comfort or peace, I get it, and that’s ok. My hope is that wherever you find yourself this season, you can find peace, comfort, belonging, and safety there. I hope that you can be fully who you are, and fully feel all the complexities of things life brings to you. You are here, and that is enough. I’m so glad that I get to know you and share life with you.

Merriest wishes to you and yours!
The Butterfrases

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to you!

As I walked through our 2021 memories and collected photos to add to this letter, I am filled with thankfulness for God’s goodness and kindness to our family. As you may know, we moved to Kansas City, MO over the summer, and found a home this fall. This year has been nothing short of a whirlwind, packed full of changes, and often stress, but walking away from this year and into this next, I’m left with only gratitude.

The year started out for our family like many of us: recovering from 2020, and hoping for a taste of normality. You may remember that we started a podcast last year. We intended to take a break and start up season two in the spring, but at that time the opportunity to move entered, and our lives became absorbed with getting our house ready to sell, and moving! During this time, we’ve continued to have some great conversations, and hope to bring the podcast back with season 2 once we’re settled into our house. (Side note: if anyone needs a great realtor in either Colorado Springs or Kansas City, we definitely hit the jackpot in both! Hit me up; we’d be thrilled to connect you.)

Since we knew early spring that it would be our last few months in Colorado, we soaked up as much as we could and enjoyed having both friends and family visit (have we mentioned we love hosting guests?). While we were showing our house, our realtors recommended we get away for the weekend, since the market was nuts and we only needed to show our house for 3 days. That way, we didn’t have to keep cleaning around ourselves, and constantly be ready to leave every hour or so. We decided to enjoy the mountains one last time, and did a weekend getaway in Breckenridge! My parents also flew up to join us, as it happened to fall on my dad’s 60th birthday. It was the best time, and one we all continue to recall fondly. Ryan, my dad, and I went white water rafting while my mom took the boys gold mining. We had leisurely walks through the adorable town, ate ice cream in 40 degree weather, and enjoyed what is possibly the best meal of our lives. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time in Colorado.

When we moved to Kansas City, we didn’t have a house, as we wanted to wait until we closed on our Colorado house and didn’t feel comfortable buying a house we’ve never seen in person. KC has some amazing character, and some gorgeous homes, but many of them are very old, and come with very old house problems. Foundation issues, mold, really rough plaster cracking, 100 year old plumbing… the list goes on. Because of this, we looked at countless houses that looked like a dream on paper, but inside were heartbreaking. So glad we decided to wait until we were here, because there’s no way we could’ve known these things from listing photos. It took us 4 months to find our house, and along the way we were under contract on two other houses that fell through. It was definitely exhausting to say the least. In the meantime, we were staying at my brother and sister-in-law’s house, and are eternally thankful for their generosity and hospitality. One benefit of living together for 4 months was the cousin time our kids were able to enjoy. We moved to KC to be closer to family. My brother’s family, of course, but it also brought us closer to everyone else as well. We’ve been able to have weekend visits with my sister’s family, and soon my younger brother will be joining us in KC! We also drove to Houston for Thanksgiving, and although we’ve done the trek from CO, KC is just so much closer, haha.

Ryan still works for Compassion International, but is now remote. In 2020, Compassion decided as most companies did to move to remote work. Once the opportunity to open the building back up arose, they offered an exclusively remote option to anyone whose position was able to be done outside the building. It has been such a gift to have Ryan home, as it has cut out commute time, allowed flexibility where needed, and even gave us the ability to become a one car family. Ryan has a pretty sweet office in our new house, and I can’t wait til we get it all set up and running for him. When I look back I remember how crazy the work-from-home transition felt at first, and now feels so normal. Just another reminder of how much we all adapted and flexed to the best of our ability to make 2020 work. Now, I can’t imagine it differently!

Jude turned 5 last January (he’ll be 6 soon???), and started Kindergarten in August. He goes back and forth between absolutely loving his school days, and wishing he could just stay home and play (don’t we all?). I’m amazed at how much a 5 year old can absorb and learn in such a short time, and even more amazed at the gift of school teachers who take on the incredible challenge of not only managing the chaos of 15+ kids in a room together, but somehow coordinating it into something productive and beautiful, and even pouring encouragement into each kid along the way (thank you, teachers). Jude has many interests, including dinosaurs, Godzilla, and the newest addition, Mario. He is very musical, and is constantly singing whether he realizes it or not. He’s sensitive and caring, and also a little wild. We love watching his curiosity about the world, and feel thankful that we get to walk alongside him in his discoveries and journeys.

Jake turned 3 in September, and is a 3 year old in every way you can imagine. He cannot be left alone, as he likes to fidget with things, and it often leads to disaster or danger (help). He keeps us on our toes for sure. He is extremely snuggly and affectionate, and it has been the cutest thing to watch him with his new baby cousin. He loves any kind of physical activity, and has quite a throw. He loves to be involved and help with whatever you may be doing, whether it’s cooking, cleaning, hauling, or building. We were too late to get him into a part-time preschool this year, but hoping we can enroll him next fall, as we know he’d really love it (he loves having somewhere to go).

After we moved to Kansas City, I decided I was going to take a break from teaching and just focus on adjusting to a new city and taking a brain break. Turns out, I cannot stay away from group fitness! 2 weeks into working out alone, I felt like a huge part of myself was being neglected, so I decided to look up some fitness clubs. I found Woodside, and found my new fitness home! It’s been really fun jumping back into more freestyle teaching, as I had been teaching mainly Les Mills programs in CO. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still in love with LM and am teaching a few of their programs, too. But having the mix has been a blast.

In November, we finally were able to have our long awaited vacation to Disney World and Universal Florida! We originally planned to go last year, but with the pandemic and so much being shut down for so long, we decided to postpone our trip, and I’m so glad we did. The boys were a year older and so much more invested in everything. They understood better what we were doing, and seeing Disney through a child’s eyes is pure magic. We did a ridiculous amount of research, watched countless YouTube videos, and meticulously planned each day. If you need some tips, I probably have them… feel free to reach out, haha. I’m so excited that we actually got to do every single thing we hoped for, and we had the best time ever! My parents live in Orlando, so we were able to stay with them, and they were able to join us for the two Disney days! Christian, my younger brother, also drove up from Miami and experienced his first taste of Disney, too! We spent an entire day in Galaxy’s Edge, Disney’s Star Wars land, and another day covering the rest of Hollywood Studios and park hopping to Animal Kingdom. 100% nerded out, and brought an extra suitcase home (no, I’m not kidding). We also did one day in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, mostly to see Jurassic Park and lean into the boys’ dinosaur obsession. The trip fell on our 10 year anniversary (what?!), and my parents kept the boys one night so Ryan and I could spend a day getting massages, eating a quiet, uninterrupted meal, and sleeping in. It was an amazing and much needed time away from our daily routine, and when we came back, we closed on our house the following day!

We didn’t move into our house right away, as we wanted to get some work done while the house was empty. We got to visit Houston for the first time in almost 2 years over Thanksgiving break, and catch up with some good friends, and spend time with family. Although we were only there for 5 days, we squeezed in several hang outs, and I even taught a pop up class at my old stomping grounds! It’s so good to be with your people; we left physically wiped, but full in reconnections and friendship.

2021 threw lots of things we were not expecting at us; some invited and welcome, and others painful and disheartening. As with all hardship and joy, we have learned some things that seem to be the theme of our experiences: 1. God is consistent and trustworthy. In a life that is constantly changing, often raising suspicion, and extremely uncertain, He never waivers in His goodness, and it’s ok to be unsure. 2. Having people in your life that you know love you for who you are enables you to live in freedom and without fear. The past couple of years have had a lot of us questioning a lot of things in our lives, and having a safe space to do that is a gift. My prayer is that I can also be that kind of safety for the people around me, and practice the beauty of listening without worrying or causing insecurity. What a beautiful dream to be and be in that kind of community.

As we look forward to the new year, I am challenged to walk forward with intention. To be more intentional in every aspect of my life: spiritually, physically, in healing, in growing, in relationships. 2021 was a year of big changes, of questions, and in many ways, survival. May 2022 bring newness, wholeness, and health in all forms.

My prayer for you is that Christ meets you where you are. As we celebrate His birth this Christmas, we celebrate a very specific name: Immanuel, which means God with us. My prayer is that you see God in all of the big and small things in life. That when you see Him, you are met with peace, and that His presence provides healing and growth.

I’m thankful for you, and thankful we get to share this life together. May you have a wonderful holiday spent with people you love.

The Butterfrases

The Butterfrases have a special announcement: we’re moving to Kansas City! And we’re moving in about a month!

We’ve had this move in mind for some time now, but were originally thinking next summer. Through the pandemic, Ryan’s job has gone remote indefinitely, which allowed us to really start thinking in this direction. With Jude starting Kindergarten this fall, we felt moving this summer instead of next would be the best decision for our family. This is definitely more accelerated than we anticipated, but things are really happening now, and as we check things off our to-do list we get more and more excited.

Why Kansas City? This move brings us closer to all of our family, but especially Tiffany’s brother and sister-in-law. The idea of our kids getting to live close to their cousins is something we’ve always dreamed of, and although it’s not ALL their cousins, we’ll take what we can get. ;)

This is absolutely a bittersweet move. Ryan has built some of the best friendships at Compassion, and I (Tiffany) have worked at a club that feels more like family than a gym. We have all grown so much during our time in Colorado. When we moved here, Jude was 15 months old and started walking the day we got here! Two years later, Jake was born, and we brought him home to the house we realize is the only home either of our kids know/remember. Four years doesn’t seem like a lot until we think about all the life lived. We’ve gained some of the richest friendships, and we’ve both grown and advanced in our careers more than we could’ve imagined. We have learned, healed, walked through hard and sometimes scary times with friends, been poured into when we felt hopeless, laughed, cried, been challenged, welcomed life and mourned death, and have had some pretty amazing hikes in these four years.

To our Colorado friends: thank you so much for embracing us and inviting us into your lives. Your friendships have been sweet and a balm to our souls. You have helped us heal in ways we didn’t know we needed, and have shown us community and belonging.
To my Villa family: thank you for being the best part of my day, every day I got to spend with you. You have made me a better instructor, and have encouraged me to bring the best parts of myself to everything I do. You have helped grow my idea of health and fitness, and your energy and readiness to work hard (even in masks) made me excited for every single class I got to spend with you.
To our Compassion Family: you brought us to Colorado, and you opened so many doors for our family. Thank you for not only caring for Ryan, but truly caring for our entire family. You are a gift, and we are so thankful we get to stay with you and have the best of both worlds by being with you, and being near our family as well.

Here we come, KC. We aren’t sure what all is waiting for us, but we know it includes great BBQ and lots of red and gold!

Photo by Angelique Humcke

Twenty-twenty, am I right? Phew, what a year for us all. We have experienced loss, grief, smiles and laughter, a whole bunch of video calls and meetings, and by the grace of God, deep joy. We pray that you and your loved ones are healthy and whole, and that you are able to find contentment and thankfulness wherever you find yourself this holiday season. Here’s a little glimpse into what has gone down in the Butterfras household over the last year.

This year started out as any other. We had big dreams and plans for travel, and surprisingly, a small part of that came to life. In February, I (Tiffany) had the incredible opportunity to travel with my boss and a group of teammates to Houston (hey!) for a weekend training in Les Mills The TRIP. This is a cycling class experience that knocked my socks off. Definitely the most fun I’ve EVER had exercising, and an incredible weekend training with some of the best teammates a girl could ask for. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the construction of our The TRIP studio has been put on hold, but I’m still reeling from this program and can’t wait for it to come to our club.

I still work at VillaSport, although we all did take a break there for a few months between March-July. During that time, I launched a Facebook LIVE online workout group, and recruited both old and new colleagues to offer free workouts every single day during lockdown. It was a really sweet community, and we came together in ways we could and lifted each other up via video stream. It was super fun, but I am REALLY glad to be back to in-person classes, even if we do have to wear a mask while exercising. ;)

Ryan is now working from home for Compassion International; a mandate that started because of COVID-19 and was offered as an option to continue once businesses started opening back up. We’re really thankful to have him home, as the boys love wrestling and working out with dad during his lunch breaks. Working from home presented its challenges for sure, but I think we’re finally getting into the swing of this new routine, and enjoying the time together.

Jude will be 5 in January, and is the extrovert of our family. His preschool shut down in March, and we decided to not re-enroll him in the fall. He’s definitely missing his friends and the interaction he’s used to. We’ve taken up doing more walks in the neighborhood and playing outside every chance we get. Thankfully, we’ve seen family even more this year than in years past, which is something he looks forward to, and counts down the days for our next visitors. He’s very much obsessed with dinosaurs and knows a ridiculous amount of information on the topic. He loves reading books and learning as much as he can about prehistoric creatures.

Jake turned 2 in September, and he’s our spitfire child. He’s always on the move; like, literally moving even when he sleeps. He knows what he wants and sets his mind to it. He has the cutest giggle, loves to wrestle and dance, and his favorite is playing in the car with Jude. He is tiny but strong. We’re so thankful for both our boys and have loved watching their relationship grow this year.

We were still able to vacation with Ryan’s side of the family in July in Destin, FL, although our plans to extend the trip and go to Disney World had to be cancelled (something Jude is not letting us forget, and is determined to do as soon as it’s safe again). We loved getting to see family and spend some time on the beach playing volleyball, kayaking, and riding waves. It was Jake’s first time to be in sand, which he was not a fan of at first, but both the boys ended up having a blast once they got used to it (much different terrain than they’re used to up here in the mountains).

At the end of July, two of my nieces, along with my parents, came to visit as a celebration trip, as Bekah graduated high school and Bethany turned 13. We had an amazing time hiking in the Rockies, visiting Boulder, staying in Denver, and playing lots of Catan. We’re very excited to be visiting my side of the family for Christmas (after self quarantining as much as possible, of course).

We had several other friends and family come visit us this year for just a weekend or several weeks! We always love when we can host friends and show off this beautiful state. Come visit us soon! Our door is open as soon as it’s safe to hang out in groups again.

2020 has rocked our worlds in more ways than one. COVID-19 definitely shook the way we live and interact with each other. It also slowed us down enough to pay attention to the injustices happening around us. Around the end of March, Ryan and I decided to start a podcast where we would host guests to tell their story, and stand in the space and margins that our society has built, and listen. We just finished season 1, which focused on racial matters. We interviewed 25 incredible people, and are completely honored that we were able to learn from them and share their stories. If you’d like to take a listen, you can find us at OnlyUsPod.com.

While quarantining restricted us in many ways, it also taught us many things. How to love our neighbors and care for them better. How to esteem others higher than ourselves. How to work together and sacrifice our preferences for the good of our community. How to take our time with our families instead of always rushing around to the next thing. How to live together and how to be patient. How to be creative with staying in touch and care for each other from a distance. How to cherish the time we do get to spend together.

As this year comes to a close, it’s ok to feel a sense of relief to watch it go. Let’s give ourselves some grace, and remember that we made it through, and sometimes, that is enough. As we walk forward, let’s stop to remember for a moment the good that was experienced this year, even if it’s small or hard to find. The gift of life is one that I’ve been reminded to treasure in some heartbreaking ways, but a gift I hope we don’t neglect to give thanks for each day. There truly is good in each day, and joy to be shared with everyone we get to encounter, whether it be in person, through a mask, or through a screen.

We are so thankful for each one of you, and as we reflect, we pray that you find the love and peace of Christ everywhere you look. We pray that you are met with joy when you wake in the morning, and that this coming year brings many opportunities to behold the goodness of God and his beauty in our world.

Much love to you,
The Butterfras Family

Oh, hey there! Yea, it’s been a while. #momlife.

Anyhow….. Merry Christmas! I love this time of the year because it allows us to reflect on all that has transpired during the course of just 365 days. The great and the terrible. The super fun and the…. “Oh please, I really don’t want anyone to be sick anymore, please God.” It also is a time of year that I think about YOU. So much time passes before our eyes and as busy as the holiday season can be, it is a time where I actually pause to remember. I take a deep breath, an even greater exhale, and thank God for your life. You are the good stuff, my friend. And I’m so glad we get to be a part, whether big or small, of sharing this life with you.

A lot has happened in the lives of the Butterfri in 2019. If you’d like to catch up with us, we’d love to share a bit of it with you!

Since I didn’t even bother to write a 2018 letter (because we had a newborn and were not sleeping, and were focusing on keeping our kids and ourselves afloat), guess what? We had a baby! Yea, September of last year. Which means this past September we celebrated Jake’s first birthday, which seems a little like a cruel time joke, but mostly delightful. This little guy of ours has had an eventful life, and he is a trooper through and through. He’s got a pretty mean poker face. If you get a smile out of him you’re basically the most hilarious person in the world; congratulations. We hit the ground running with him. Jude was sick majority of last winter, and when he wasn’t, Jake was. We fought ear infections, sleepless nights (how come the second child never sleeps, huh?), and viruses nearly every other week. In February, we were supposed to visit Houston, but the day before we should have flown out, I slipped on our stairs while holding Jake and we ended up in the ER that entire night. He fractured his femur from his knee absorbing the impact and it ricocheting through his leg (thankfully my reflexes kicked in a little and I shifted enough to protect his head). I was fine… physically. Had a huge bruise on my elbow but didn’t even feel it til the adrenaline slowed the next day. It was kind of terrible. Fought some major mom guilt, but God is good. We had friends texting and Marco Poloing me reminders of God’s goodness and protection. Reminding me that I’m a good mom and my kids are safe with me (when you’re interviewed by a psychiatrist and police officer at 2a in the ER you start to wonder if you are a completely terrible person; if you’re fit for raising kids). God used these people in my life to keep me from falling into deep shame. Jake had to wear a brace for about 3 weeks. God’s grace is that the fracture occurred right above the growth plate, so it healed incredibly fast, like nothing had even happened. The days following that event we all came down with bronchitis, including Jake, and we were basically begging God to make it all stop. It sucked, but we got to witness incredible generosity with Ryan’s coworkers immediately organizing a meal train to help us out while we were pathetically surviving. Sweet souls. In March, Jake had to have surgery for a preexisting complication. The surgery was minor and we were home by noon, but the idea of your 6 month old being under anesthesia is not my favorite life experience. It gave me a big heart for the mamas who have lived through many surgeries of their littles, and I often pray for them now. Such strong parents; such strong babes. Since then, Jake has not let us down with more excitement. We’ve had some eating issues, and texture is a really big hurdle for us. We went to a food therapist, and we’re working through touching foods without being totally repulsed, tasting foods, and even swallowing without gagging. I never would have thought this would be a struggle (didn’t even know food therapy existed until now), but we are making progress, and Jake is staying healthy as we navigate through it all.

I share these things to proclaim the incredible grace that God bestows on us to sustain us. There have been moments of this year that I have complained to God, “Why can’t SOMETHING be easy with this kid? Why is everything a fight?” He softly reminds me that 1) I’m being a tad dramatic, and 2) it’s a good and beautiful thing to need Him, and to need the people around us. There is no way we could have pulled through this year without the support of our families and friends. I say this a lot, but if you don’t have community around you, build it. Life is really hard. If it’s not for you, it will be at some point. It’s gonna happen. Don’t wait til it happens to find your people. If you don’t know where to find people, join a church (even if you aren’t a Christian). Find a church that invites you into their lives (if they don’t, I’m sorry…. find another one. Christians can be bad at this, too). It also kept me desperate enough to be constantly aware of my need for God’s grace. I have zero control over Jake’s (or anyone’s) life. I’ve never been more aware of that than in the moments when I was being interviewed for the doctors and officer to agree whether I was a safe place for my child, or when my baby was under anesthesia and I had to wait in a room on the other side of the ward. Realizing that my children’s lives are in the hands of their creator on a real life level has changed the way I pray for them, think about them, and treat them. They belong to him. And what a gift it is that I am entrusted with caring for their souls. If you’re in a scary place, throw your worries on the one who made life out of dust. He can handle it.

Ok, out of the sad/scary/sobering stuff. We really did have a lot of fun this year, too.

We had so many friends and family visit us in Colorado in 2019! During this time, I climbed the Incline for the first time, and have now scaled it 4 times (I’m one ahead of Ryan, nbd). We have loved getting to host friends and family, show them around our beautiful city, and maybe torture them a little with physical challenges (how can you visit CO and not see some gorgeous sites, though?). Hey, if you want to visit, just let us know. We’re all about it.

We also were able to visit some friends and family in Houston, my family in AR, and Jake and I took our first duo trip to Chicago in May. We met up with a few family members for my older brother’s diaconate ordination into the Eastern Orthodox church. It was such a rich couple of days celebrating with him and reconnecting with my family. We also celebrated my second oldest niece’s 13th birthday the same weekend, which was super fun!

I turned 30 in August, which is awesome because now real grown ups finally take me seriously (I know, I look 12, I get it). For my birthday, my dad came up to watch the boys, and Ryan and I did a 4 day road trip around our gorgeous state. One thing about having small children is that you can only drive so far before your kids melt down, so this was an amazing gift away. We hiked in Rocky Mtn National Park and in Black Canyon of the Gunnison, camped in the freezing cold in Estes Park and Grand Lake, visited some amazing spots in Boulder, stopped in the adorable town of Ouray to check out the hot springs (and a hot springs cave), went white water rafting for the first time, and topped it off with glamping. Guys, glamping lives up to the hype and is super worth it. Just do it; you won’t have any regrets. We made a big circle around Colorado and made the most of every single day. It is definitely one of the best vacations I’ve ever experienced.

sky pond – rocky mtn national park

black canyon of the gunnison

Jude started preschool in September. He came home the first day and spelled his name for me, which I hadn’t even thought to try with him, so it was pretty evident from the beginning that we made the right move. The kid thrives on structure, loves music, and most of all, PEOPLE. We call him a walking soundtrack because he makes noise from the moment he wakes til the moment he falls asleep, which you can imagine is real special for his introverted mother and father. His teacher is very musical and makes up songs for everything. He’s learning at an unbelievable speed, and navigating how to interact with other kids his age. The social and emotional skills we’re trying to teach at home are being reinforced at school (by someone who isn’t his mom and dad), so that’s incredible, too. We’ve been so happy with his school and it’s all pretty adorable (he has a Christmas production next week which may put me over the edge, y’all). Jude is all about dinosaurs and we both have more knowledge about dinosaurs than I ever cared to know. He is pretty obsessed with Frozen and tells me I look so beautiful like Elsa anytime I braid my hair. He’s the perfect combination of silly and sweet; we love watching him grow.

Ryan is still at Compassion International. His work has had some changes this year, but he’s still loving it. Mostly the people he works with. He’s made some of the best of friends in his workplace, which is a huge gift. We are very aware that is not the case for a lot of people, and we’re thankful for amazing work friends. Ryan turned 35 in September, and my younger brother flew in to surprise him. I also planned a surprise Hot Ones birthday party, which was a blast. I watched Ryan eat stupidly hot wings and try to answer questions about himself. It was fantastic. We really lived up our birthdays this year.

I’m still teaching fitness classes at VillaSport, and couldn’t have asked for a better place to teach. This year I’ve worked through three new certifications, and two CECs (re-upping existing certs). It’s been so busy and I may be a little bit out of my mind, but I just love it so much, I can’t stop myself. #someonehelp. #actuallydont. Shout out to Ryan who cheers me on and takes on extra load on the weekends I’m in training and the hours spent studying this year!

Wanna see me do 100 burpees? Watch below.

Oh, almost forgot about our house. Since our life is totally boring and we have nothing to do, we have continued to renovate our home. To our utter delight (sarcasm) our downstairs bathroom flooded with gray water over the summer. We had to move out because we just couldn’t handle the smell. We stayed at a generous friend’s house for 2 weeks, and then a hotel for another week while our bathroom was demoed and the gray water was neutralized. At least we got a remodel out of it? I got to design the bathroom from scratch, and it’s weirdly now my favorite space in the house aesthetically.

I think that’s enough excitement for one year. We’re already looking forward to 2020 with open eyes (pun) and arms, just hoping it holds a few less surprises for our family. But, like I said at the top, everything this year, the good and the bad, has kept us at the feet of our God. So, I would call that a successful year. ;)

As you walk, sprint, or stumble into 2020, shall we all take a moment to stop and savor His goodness? Pause, take in a big, refreshing breath, an even more healing exhale, and whisper a word of thanks; an acknowledgement of the power and peace that holds you so delicately whole. You are such a gift to our family. For many of you, we wish we were closer. For many, we wish we had more minutes in the day to spend with you. For all, we cherish the gift of your life and friendship, and we wish you the very best as you look expectantly forward to the new year. May you be blessed with keen awareness of God’s presence in your life and be filled with overflowing joy.

Much love to you and yours,
The Butterfrases
(Ryan, Tiffany, Jude, Jake)

Dear family and friends,

Merry Christmas!

Quite some time has passed since we’ve had the joy of connecting with so many of you, and even more time has passed since I blogged regularly. *face palm* I’d love to pretend like I’m on top of things and promise that I’ll be more consistent, but the reality is that I have trouble being consistent with anything that isn’t life-pressing, so I apologize. I will say that since we bought a house, we’ve been taking lots of progress photos, so maybe some of the DIY action will make it up here over time.

We’ve had lots of changes and growth in 2017, and we’d love to share these joys with you as we reflect on this year!

Last January we celebrated #judebug’s first birthday! It’s funny how time works when you look back and feel like something was ages ago, and at the same time, just last week. I am so glad I did document Jude’s first year month by month, because it feels so hard to remember the in-the-moment details now. His second year of life has been so much fun and filled with so many milestones. He’s such a joy and hilarious (and sometimes a little stinker) and we are so blessed to be his parents! The day we moved to Colorado Jude decided he was finally ready to walk. What can we say, he has a pretty laid back personality and isn’t very internally motivated, haha. It was a sweet moment though, as we were starting a brand new season for our family, that Jude would take his first steps on his own in our new rent house. Since then we’ve watched him grow in every aspect, and his preferences and personality develop. He is SO very much into monster trucks, and could play with them, read books, and watch videos on trucks all day long. Which is mostly what our days consist of. We try to do lots of things throughout the day, like toddler time at our local library where we sing songs and read books, BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) which has an incredible children’s program and is where Jude officially stopped crying when I dropped him off anywhere, and our amazing gym where I teach classes, and also happens to have fantastic child care. Of course, we also make sure to squeeze in trips to our favorite store, Target, and look at all the new trucks they have.

Jude’s First Birthday

At the time of Jude’s birthday we knew Colorado was a possibility, but hadn’t made a concrete decision yet.  You may have read our letter about our move back in April. God made it evidently clear to us at that time, and so many times since then that this is where He wants us to be.
Ryan is working IT with Compassion International, and though challenging at times, has been one of the best work environments we’ve ever experienced. Everything is done excellently, and Ryan loves his boss and coworkers. It’s a gift to work in a place where you respect your people and they respect you, and that is exactly what CI is like.
Ryan has been completely immersed in house work since we bought our first home in October(!), and I feel kind of bad that all of our hobbies have gone out the window. But it’s a season, right? He’s done a stellar job researching and taking on majority of our home renovations himself. He single handedly removed a wall, ripped up all of the flooring in our house, and is now laying our new flooring room by room. We were sleeping in our living room for the first month of living here (hahahaaaa), but are now officially in our bedroom and no longer living out of a suitcase. Hallelujah!

I’ve been the primary painter of the house, and am pretty over it. I could win the slowest painter in the world award due to my perfectionism, but I just keep telling myself it will be over one day. Right?

In July I applied and auditioned for a Group Exercise Instructor position at an amazing gym here in the Springs. I’m now teaching primarily cycling classes with a little yoga and Athletic Conditioning (bootcamp/agility style) sprinkled in there. Just a few weekends ago I participated in my first LesMills training for a new program they’re launching in January. I’m super pumped to keep expanding my fitness knowledge and abilities while still maintaining a fantastic very-part-time-mostly-stay-at-home-mom schedule. This has been my favorite season of life maybe ever, and I am so thankful for God’s grace and gifts in our lives.

I didn’t officially start teaching until September, because Jude and I spent the entire month of August in Houston! Our best friends had a baby in July, and Ryan’s sister gave birth to hers in August… on my birthday! That’s two nieces now that have been born on my birthday. Shout out to the sisters. Thanks, y’all.
We had such an amazing time getting to know these new cutie faces and spending time with all our Houston friends. We unfortunately were there when Harvey hit (thankfully Ryan flew in a day before and was with us), and got stranded for a bit as our flight back was delayed a few times. However, we had the opportunity to volunteer and help the city we love so much. It’s such a sad thing to see the destruction and morn with those who lost so much of what they had. But it is also a joy to watch people come together and serve each other. Most families impacted are still trying to piece their lives back together. If you have a desire to give, I encourage you to reach out to a local organization and do so. I’ve even seen families “adopt” other families impacted by Harvey for Christmas. Let me know if you need any help with finding out what you can do, and I’d love to get you connected.

This summer was full of traveling for the bug and me. Before we went to Houston, we had the opportunity to go to AR in June and stay with my sister’s four youngest kids while she, our brother-in-law, and their oldest daughter went to Haiti with their church. They had an amazing, life-changing time, and I had a blast with the kids. We called it Camp Tia, and made the most of every single day. Laser tag, ropes course, water balloon fights, library events, trampoline park, roller skating, ice cream and more. A BLAST. My younger brother was able to join us for a few days too, which was even more fun!

This fall we had some visitors! Ryan’s parents flew in for a long weekend and treated us to a ride on the cog-rail up Pike’s Peak. It was freezing cold, but such a cool experience. (Yes, we did get the donuts.) Such a fun time having them in!

Seeing how this year was one for traveling, we road-tripped over Thanksgiving back to AR and enjoyed the holiday with the whole family together. This only happens once a year now, so we truly cherish these times when we all get to be there. My older brother and sister-in-law had their baby in April of this year, which made this trip especially sweet. The amount of joy when the cousins are all together and playing is almost more than I can handle. So sweet and so much fun!

The day of and day after we rolled back into Colorado Springs, we moved into our new house. Yes, insane. We couldn’t have done it without our new friends who helped us move, and friends who watched Jude so many times so we could get things done. Community is such a gift. We found a church we can call home and dig roots into, and being here even in this at times overwhelming season just reminds us of God’s faithfulness to us, and His grace in providing rest in the midst of it all.

So, as we walk (read: sprint) toward Christmas, we pray that over you, our loved ones. That you would find rest in Christ regardless of what may surround you currently, and that peace would fill your hearts. That you would be flooded with memories of God’s goodness to you in 2017, and that you might be a reflection of that source of goodness to your immediate circle today and this coming year. And that you would reflect on the gift that is Christ, God with us, Immanuel. May the anticipation of this day make your heart burst with the anticipation of our King and Savior. He is good!

With love always,
The Butterfrases