Jeanie Beanie

My Ainsley Jean is getting so big! She will be 5 in July! I cannot even believe it. April 8th I took her to Kindergarten orientation. She got a new Silver Crest Knights T-Shirt. There were 5 stations set up with different games and she loved it. She is so smart and knew exactly what to do. She was so excited to have a shirt like Brinnley. We put it on at school so she could wear it home. I am so excited for her to start school. She is ready to have her own friends and do her own things. But I am almost more nervous about her starting than I was with Brinnley. She is a little more reserved and she is such a tiny little thing. But she will do great and she is ready!

I am so proud of my girl. I have seen so much growth in her lately. She loves her big words, and "actually" is still one of her favorites. She has taken quite a liking to playing with Polly Pockets and her Calico Critters. And she's been playing with her babies more. I love listening to her play. She has such an active imagination. It reminds me of when I was little playing with my dolls and Barbies. She loves to color and draw and play with playdough. She loves reading books. That is our time to sit and enjoy quiet time.

But one of the biggest changes I have seen in her has been her behavior. She used to get instantly frustrated when she didn't get what she wanted or something didn't work right. Her reaction was to scream and throw a fit. Occasionally that still happens, but it is a lot less frequently. She has gotten so much more even tempered. Her biggest frustration in life right now is a little brother that likes to torment her and kick her toys over. But she is learning that instead of yelling at him, go get Mom or Dad to "Take care of it."

She is still a master debater, well practiced in proving and defending her point. Often I am left speechless or laughing. Where does she come up with this stuff? She pays attention to details. The other day we were in the car and she said to me, "Mom, did you know there was this plane that had a crack in it and they had to emergency land and all the people had to get on another plane but that plane had a crack in it too. But luckily nobody died." I asked her where she heard that. "Watching the news with Daddy." She loves to watch the news. Often when I come down the stairs in the morning she is sitting on the couch holding the remote. When she sees me she smiles and says with a giggle, "I'm just watching the news."

She loves music and learns lyrics amazingly fast! Her favorite songs right now are Justin Bieber's Baby and the music from the Camp Rock soundtrack. She has every word down for Baby. It is the funnest thing to hear her sing. We have dance parties in the living room and we always sing in the car. She is such a fun little girl.

She is still my little monkey girl. Each night her bed is piled high with monkey friends of all kinds. She is my girly-girl. She loves to dress in "fancy" clothes and she likes bright colors, patterns and designs. She cares about things like the right shoes. She has been talking about a new bedspread because hers is a dark purple and she wants a brighter one. Her favorite color is still blue with pink as the close second.

She always amazes me with her knowledge. We were in the car yesterday and we were talking about how the mannequins in the store windows at the mall were wearing tank tops and short skirts. We talked about that and if it was okay. Brinnley said that we should always wear a t-shirt with a tank top. Ainsley said, "yeah, because we need to be modest." And yesterday as well she asked when we were going to have the missionaries over for dinner. I told her I didn't know who the missionaries in our area are and if we had missionaries in our ward. She looked at me with a shocked face and said, "Of course we have missionaries or we wouldn't have anyone to teach the people what is right and about Jesus." She pays more attention than I think.



I just love this tender little girl! My life would not be the same without her. She has taught me so much and continues to amaze me every day. I love you Ainsley Jean!





(Here she is with her bear in his bed made out of a melted record.)








(Wearing the mask she made with Auntie J.)














(All ready for church. This sweater and these boots are her favorites.)

Love you, Miss you

Today is my Grandma's birthday. She was born April 8, 1912. She died June 2001. I miss her. I have been thinking about her a lot lately. For April Fools Day the local news guy was showing how to make chocolate covered cotton balls. I started crying because just that morning I was telling Chant of the time when Mom and I were living with Grandma and she made me cotton-filled pancakes for April Fools. Chant thought that was so weird. Not so my dear husband!

My Grandma was an amazing person. I was born when she was 70 years old, so I don't have the same types of stories as my brothers or older cousins who told of times when she was active and chasing them and tying with a leash to trees to keep them in the yard. But I still have plenty of memories. She loved to quilt. There was hardly a time when the quilt frames were not set up in her living room. I used to lay on the floor underneath the canopy playing or watching tv. She made a quilt for every one of her grandchildren for when they got married. She started working on quilts when the grandchildren were born. When it was finished she would lovingly pack it away in the attic until it was time. Even though my Grandma passed two years before I married, I had a quilt waiting for me on my special day. And I cherish it!

I have probably written about this before at some time but I'm going to share it again. I worked in West Yellowstone, Montana every summer from the time I was 16 till I was 21. My first two summers I lived with Grandma. It was a special time for me. One of the things that stands out most is that every morning we had to watch Bob Barker on The Price is Right. I promised her when I turned 21 (the age limit to be a contestant on the show) I would take her to the show. She died when I was 19, so I was unable to keep my promise. I still can't watch that show without thinking of her and having tears come to my eyes. I so badly wish I could have taken that trip with her!

Since we have moved closer to family and have had many opportunities to open our home to others, I think of her and the example she set. Her home was open to all. I am sure a great number of my cousins have taken their turn living at her home for a summer or longer. It didn't matter the number of people, the more the merrier. Every Christmas all the extended family would flock to Grandma's for Family Christmas. Wall to wall people. Some of my favorite memories with my family happened during those times.

She was a hard worker. I had a few occasions to help her wash the laundry in the old metal tubs with the ringers. Dangerous job! My fingers got sucked in one time and it did not feel good! Even though she had an electric washer and dryer, she used her old wringer washer and a clothes line for as long as she was able.

I have felt her with me a few times since she has passed and she has brought me such comfort in my times of need. I am so thankful for this amazing woman and that I had a chance to know her. I love you Grandma and miss you! Happy Birthday!

Gratitude

Lately we have been blessed to spend a lot of time with family. March 19th and 24th we were with Chant's Dad and family celebrating birthdays. Then my sister-in-law, Sokie, brought her kids Crystal, Lincoln, and Naomi to our house last week for an afternoon of food and fun. It was so good to get to know her better! She is wonderful and so are her kids!




For Conference weekend my brother, Kasey, brought his family to stay at our house so they could go to the Conference Center for a session of Conference. It was wonderful to have them. Our living room was wall to wall beds and people, but I loved it! I am so grateful they want to come to our house and I hope they know how much we enjoy them when they are here!



(Brinnley, Lily, Ainsley, Brent, and Porter)


















This was their one freeby crazy face.











All the cousins: Lance, Lacey, Luke
Brinnley, Porter, Lily, Ainsley, and Brent






This Conference was somewhat of a miracle for my little family. I think this was the first time we have been able to listen to all 4 sessions of Conference since we have had kids. And it was incredible! For the Saturday morning session, Kasey and his family went to the Conference Center and my family loaded up in the car with a lot of popcorn and water bottles. We drove up to the Timpanogas Caves (I can't spell). We just drove for the entire two hours. My hope was that we would be a captive audience to the radio and we wouldn't be able to move around. But I was worried the kids would scream and fight. I was pleasantly surprised. They did so we and we were able to listen. Saturday afternoon we watched it from home, as well as both sessions Sunday.

This Conference was beautiful and motivating. There was one talk in particular that touched me. The speaker talked about mothers and how some have to work and some stay home. He said the Lord was grateful for our efforts in raising His children. I came away feeling like it was just what I needed to hear. There are times I feel like what I do is not so significant. But that's not true. What I do in the home is the most valuable work I will ever do. Even though I may feel that dishes and laundry and housework are menial, it teaches my children cleanliness and the importance of hard work. Every day I teach my children whether through example when they see me read my scriptures or say my prayers or whether it is physical teaching of things like letters and numbers and writing. What I do matters and even the small things are important. I need to find joy and accomplishment in them. I came away with feelings of love and gratitude for the Lord and his prophet and a desire to do better.




Yesterday we enjoyed a quick visit with my parents as they were on their way for a much deserved vacation. And now today my mother-in-law comes to town. I feel so grateful to be close to family so we can see them more than 3 times a year and that we can be more actively involved with things. We are loving it!

Truly we are blessed!



A very important side note: March 24 we signed the papers for our business loan. We hope to have our chiropractic office opened by the end of the month and then have the grand opening in May. We are so blessed and grateful that things are working out!