7 years and 1 week

7 years and one week ago I was married to my Sweetheart in the Idaho Falls Temple. I couldn't have asked for a better man. He is hard working, kind, considerate, thoughtful, loving. He would do anything for me and our children. I love Chant with all my heart and I am so thankful to be his wife.

He's still making me laugh 7 years later. Happy Anniversary Honey. I can't wait to see what the next 7 years will bring!

One week is a milemark for another exciting event. We have been a binky-free home since last Sunday. I have to be honest, I cried when we decided it was time. I cried not because I am baby hungry. Oh no, I'm good :) I cried because my baby is no longer a baby. Diapers are the only thing left. Porter had been biting through them and it had become a safety issue. So last Sunday night we gathered them all up and threw them away. Porter cried but then Chant turned on a tape of him reading some stories and he was quiet. It was a miracle because the girls cried every night for at least an hour for the first week. Porter has done wonderful! He hasn't cried at nighttime at all, well, not longer than about 3 minutes. Naptime has been the hard one. He only napped two days last week. But we are on a three-day napping streak now, so I think we are good. Here's hoping! We love you Porter Boy!

Our Little Dancer

Ainsley started dance last Wednesday. She was so excited about it! She and I had a special Mommy/daughter date to go buy her leotard and tights. When we got home she wore them for two hours. She had been looking forward to it for a week. When the big day finally came she got a little nervous, but I reminded her she knows the teacher and a few of the other girls in her class. Once we got to Miss Tracey's and she saw Emmaline and Aubrey, she felt a lot better. We got the tour of the basement where she will be having dance class and then the mommies went back upstairs. She stayed right on her red piece of tape and she did great. She was all sorts of excited about her gummy bears at the end of class. I am so proud of her and so excited for her. She has never really had her own thing that's just been for her. I think this will build her confidence and maybe she might even find an activity she loves.
Before heading off to dance for her first class.

Ainsley and Aubrey
Grace and Molly

Cape Girardeau

Last weekend we had a Saturday that was completely empty. No patients for Chant. Nothing. So we took advantage. We decided to visit Cape Girardeau. It was such a fun day! We visited the Nature Conservation Museum where the kids got to touch and explore and then we took a walk following the paths through the woods behind the museum. It was nice. I only wish we could have gone further because it was a beautiful area, with the birds chirping and bridges over bubbling streams. We dipped our toes in the Mississippi River. And we wandered down Main Street through all the little shops, where I scored a few like-new church pants for Porter at Kids Wear Again for cheap cheap!

The first stop of the day was at a petting zoo. The goats stole the show. We bought two big bags of food for the kids to give them and it was worth the $2! Porter got right in there. And of course Brinnley was her her brave self.

They especially loved this tiny baby goat. SO cute!
Ainsley loved looking at the animals, but she didn't want to touch them or feed them. But this smile tells me she still had a good time.
By the time we got to the deer, the bag of food was almost empty. Porter just held the whole bag up for him to eat out of. That deer made every effort to get his tongue in there. Finally we ended up dumping the rest out for the chickens. Funny story. The chicken coop was right behind Brinnley and there were a few chickens and a rooster walking around. One came up behind Porter and did his cock-a-doodle-doo thing. Porter jumped so high and he had this look on his face like "What in the world was that!" It was a wonderful day and we are so glad we were able to spend all of it together!