Definitely One of Us

Anyone who knows our family well will know that all of us (and I do mean all) love bags.  It's more of an obsession really.  Well today Brinnley had a backpack on her back and Porter was following her screaming and frantically pulling at the straps.  He wanted it bad!  I was laughing, it was just too cute.  Brinnley, being the good sister she is, found a bag similar to the one she had.  He snatched that thing out of her hand and took off down the hall afraid someone would take it from him.  He threw a fit like I have never seen from him when it was nap time and I took it away.  He would not calm down!  It was only when I gave him a replacement bag, one with very short straps that wouldn't get over his head, that he calmed down.  He is at this very moment peacefully sleeping with his little fat fist clutching the strap of his bag.

Lefty?

So lately I have noticed that my little man reaches for things with his left hand, eats with his left hand, and waves with his left hand.  I'm not getting my hopes up, but I would love to have a lefty.  I am a lefty and both my dads are lefties.  I always wanted to have a lefty.  Maybe I got my wish!  I personally love being left-handed.  I feel unique and special.  We shall see if Porter continues to favor his left hand and if there will be a fellow lefty in the house.  But there is not pressure, I will love him even if he goes to the other side ;)

P.S.

Question for all those private bloggers out there.  Can you still have your posts e-mailed to people after you go private?  How does going private work, do you just add their e-mails to your list?

Phew!

The past few months have been very busy in this house.  Since we got back from our last visit home in April, things have been crazy.  Chant has been as busy as ever with school and his calling.  He is getting great grades and learning a ton!  We have been privileged to attend 4 convert baptisms in the past 6 weeks.  Truly that has been amazing for us as a family.  We have had two birthdays and one more coming soon.  And I as well have taken 2 college courses.   I finished 6 credits in about 6 weeks.  It was crazy!  To be honest, I was scared to take the classes.  I haven't been a student for 5 years and I have forgotten how to do it.  I was nervous to get started, but once I did it was a great experience.  Of course it was much harder to juggle school and 3 kids, but my understanding of what Chant goes through everyday grew immensely.  I honestly don't know how he does it.  But I feel so proud of myself, like I really accomplished something.  And it felt good to be learning again.  I do miss being a student.  I miss the fire I would feel when reading my history books and hearing people's stories and the way they affected me, and the passion I had when discussing topics with fellow classmates and when writing papers.  I love learning and I hope to be able to continue doing it through my own reading.  I recently started a book called Sarah's Key.  It is about the round-up of Jews in France during WWII.  (Thanks for the recommendation Crystal!)  Now I have 4 more years to procrastinate my next 6 credits!

Birthday Funny

I thought this was hilarious and had to share!

Birthday wrap-up

After presents we had her cake.

Then she wanted to watch Barbie and the Dimond Castle.

(Notice who is tucked nicely under the blanket next to Ainsley.  That's right, Liana.)

Good Birthday!

Present time!

After we got back from Grant's Farm Friday, Ainsley got to open her presents.  

She got a bagful of Toy Story Toys.  That was very exciting for her because Toy Story 2 is one of her favorite movies.

And she got Liana from Barbie and the Dimond Castle.  She couldn't believe it!  Plus, there is a button on her had that when you push she sings one of 4 songs from the movie.   She just kept pushing the button.

Bobby Jack bedspread.

Clearance at Sears for $8.  Yea!

My monkey girl was in love!

So was Porter, with the wrapping paper.

Really, she wouldn't put Liana down.  It was pretty cute!  I think she was happy with her presents!

Grant's Farm, the Wild Side

We had a lot of fun looking at the animals.  I had to include this picture of the elephant because I thought it was so cute how he was standing with his legs crossed just chillin'.

This tortoise was massive!  The girls thought he was pretty cool.

But the favorite was the goats.  We didn't have anything to feed them so they decided to feed on our clothes.  The girls got a little nervous when the little guys started nibbling.  Brinnley made sure everyone knew her shirt had been eaten by a goat.

THis really was the perfect day.  We had a nice relaxing tram ride, a decent amount of animals with a much smaller crowd than the zoo and not nearly as much walking.  Perfect!

Grant's Farm

Yesterday our little Ainsley turned 3!

For her special day we planned on going to the zoo.  When we got there it was packed.  We couldn't even find a place to park.  So we decided to go to Grant's Farm instead.

Good choice!  It was really fun.  We had to wait in line to get on a tram that takes you for a ride through the property and then back to see the animals.  (It's like a mini zoo.)  Our little ladies waiting for the tram. 

On the ride to see the animals.

Waves

The first time Porter waved was tonight at the grocery store.  I missed it because Chant took the kids by himself, but he told me that the checker was waving at him and he waved back.  At first he thought it was a fluke but Porter did it again.  (Up until now he has put his had up in the air with his palm out like he wanted a high five.)  When they got home Chant told me about our little man's new development.  Just had to share!

Grateful

Porter playing in our little pool.

Playing in a sand volleyball pit behind the local library. 

Porter's new kicks.

Tonight I just feel joy and overwhelming gratitude for my family.  I am so blessed to be a mother.  There is a joy that comes from motherhood that nothing else can bring.  I find myself celebrating the little things.  For example, Porter got his first pair of shoes Friday.  You would have thought I was getting a brand new car for how excited I was.  But it was a first.  Watching him toddle out of the store and onto the sidewalk brought me such joy.  Last night was the first night Ainsley went to bed with her big girl pants on (I am talking BIG GIRL, not Pull-Ups) and no accidents!  Today Porter waved for the first time.  Also today Brinnley helped me do the laundry.  She folded her own shirts and shorts meticulously.  I came out of the bedroom this morning from getting ready and the house was silent.  I wandered back to the kids' bedrooms.  The girls' door was shut.  From inside the room I could hear hushed whispers and then little giggles from all three of my children.  Yesterday we played in the pool outside and Brinnley dunked her head under the water for the second time.  (She is preparing for swimming with her Uncle Kirk.)  Porter loves the water and his favorite place to be is on the slide.  He loves the slides at the park as well.  My Jeanie Beanie is a good mommy to all of her babies and animals.  Today she and Brinnley were talking about what they wanted to be when they grow up.  Brinnley said she wants to be a fireman and Ainsley said she wants to be a mommy.  I almost cried right then.

I am so grateful for my children and the joy they bring me in my life.  Every day I am filled with unmeasurable love and gratitude to have a wonderful husband who stands beside me and shares in the joys, the milestones, and the triumphs of parenthood.  We really are living the dream.

FIREWORKS!

We got to our spot at 6:30 and the fireworks were not supposed to start till 9:30.  So we had lots of time to kill.  

Ainsley talking on her cell phone.  I am nervous for when this one gets older.  She is going to have the phone glued to her ear!

Just hanging out!

Good show!  The fireworks actually started at 9:15 and we are glad they did.  Just as the show finished the rain started coming down.  Good timing!

What a wonderful day celebrating the independence of our beautiful country!

Getting ready for the 4th of July Baptism!

The kiddos getting ready for Nancy's baptism.

I just thought they looked cute, so I had to share!

4th of July

(Real men wear pink!)

Elder Hobbs got a little nervous about getting the perfect frothy mounds.  

I was snug as a bug in a rug all cozy and sound asleep in my bed when suddenly I was jarred from my peaceful slumber by a shrill screech coming from the back bedroom.  Porter.  I looked at the clock.  3:45 a.m.  After a drink of milk and a finding his binky, Porter was back to sleep.  I, however, was not.  It was raining.  Raining!!!  After weeks of beautiful weather and heat advisories and the one day I actually wanted it to be nice it was raining.  I fell back to sleep hoping the rain would stop in time for the parade.  We had a date to see a famous purple hippo and I didn't want to stand him up!

But no such luck.  The rain kept on coming.  The Elders were supposed to go with us to the parade.  They showed up at 9:00 and went with Chant and the girls to see what was going on.  Of course the parade was canceled.  But Brinnley was okay because there were people standing on the side of the street and she waved to them as she went by.  When they got back home she told me she was in the parade!  What a great attitude!

Since the parade was a no-go, we put a movie on for the girls and the missionaries and Chant headed for the kitchen.  The project for the day:  Ice Cream Cake.  Talk about complex!  That recipe was quite involved.  But it kept them busy for a while sorting egg yolks and whites, mixing until fluffy and forming  frothy mounds.  There muscles will be a little bigger tomorrow after all the hand-mixing.  While we waited for the cake to bake, it was a head to head match in an intense game of Sequence.  Elder Hobbs and I won!  Sorry Chant and Elder Goudie, maybe next time!  (The Game is not over Yet It is 1-1 in a 3 game series,  Tie Breaker is to come and Elder Goudie and I will not go down with out a fight!  We'll Bring the Rain!)

After all the sweat and tears (k, maybe not tears but you get the idea) that went into the preparation of the cake, it flopped.  Oh well.  We had ice cream sundaes instead.  

That afternoon at 4:00 we attended a baptism.  It was so amazing to be there and witness it.  We truly are blessed to be members of the Church and to have knowledge of a Father in Heaven and a Savior who love us.  Thank you Nancy for allowing us to be there and share your special day with you!

    

4th of July Prep

Since it is was the 4th of July, I thought I would do something fancy (for me) to the girls' hair.  We had a few cries, but they did pretty good and it turned out cute I thing.  I did 4 topsy-tails on Brinnley and then braided them and put one big ponytail.  Ainsley got 3 topsy-tails.  The girls thought that Porter needed some ponytails too.  We were barely able to fit the bands in his hair.  He didn't know what to think and kept trying to pull them out.  As soon as the picture was taken, the bands came out.  

Popsicle Thief

Porter LOVES popsicles.  Anytime we get one out of the freezer he starts to shake and scream.  We always share with him and let him take little bites, but the other day he decided he was done with that.  He snatched it out of Chant's hand and toddled away as fast as he could.  He was hiding by the back door when we caught up to him.  

Jabber Jaw

This is what I hear all day long, and I love it.

(Check out that cute little tongue!)

P.S.

For those who this is being e-mailed to, this is a video and you have to go to the blog to see it!)