Family Reunion at Cherry Hill

(Easton and Christi)
We spent the weekend of the 15-17th at Cherry Hill. We had a blast! Grandma and Grandpa brought their camper and the rest of us had tents. I was lucky enough to sleep in the camper Friday night.

Friday we got to the campground with just enough time to set up camp and have dinner. Then we got the tour to see all the exciting slides waiting for us.

(Sister-in-law Tracy and nephew Brent pictured above.)
(Ainsley and Dalton)

Saturday morning we had breakfast then got on our suits and slathered on the sunscreen for a day of fun in the sun. And fun it was! My girls' favorite ride was the Double Dragon. I was a little nervous to go on it, especially with Porter in my lap, but we had fun. When we got off the slide he said, "I love water!" Chant and Ainsley went down together and Brinnley went all by herself. That girl is so brave!
(My kiddos)
During lunch we had the party for Logan and Ainsley.

After lunch it was back to the park for more play. My kids were pooped about 3:00 so we came back to our camp and played there.

After dinner and clean-up we put the kids to bed in the trailer. Grandma and Grandpa said they would watch the kids so Chant and I could play mini golf. We had a fun time! We haven't done something like that for a long time. It was nice. We met up with my brother Kasey and after we played we got a frozen yogurt and sat down to talk for a while. It was nice to have some adult time and hear what Kasey has been up to with his job as principal of a middle school.
(McKenzie and Lacey)
When we got back to camp it was about 11:30. Chant and I had been sleeping soundly for about an hour when Grandma came to our tent with Porter. She said he had been crying for an hour and couldn't get him calmed down. We took him and she went back to bed. We asked what was wrong and he said he wanted his carseat. He kept saying it over and over. So finally we got the car keys from Grandma and got into her car where the carseat was. We sat Porter in his seat then he said, "Now buckle up." We did that. Then he said, "Now get in car." So we did. "Now drive." We laughed and he said, "Drive!" Chant told Porter if we left now we would leave Brinnley and Ainsley behind. "I don't care! Drive!" That wasn't really an option. But by some miracle he fussed for a minute and then fell asleep. Buckled in his carseat. Chant folded down the backseat of the car and made us a bed so we could be in the car with Porter. We slept sounded till 7:00. Hallelujah!

(Madison and Luke. Best buddies, only one day apart. They had a great time together racing from ride to ride.)
Dad was the camp cook and he did an amazing job! Thanks for making sure we were well fed, Dad!
(Brent and Gavin)

It was a fabulous weekend and we loved being all together. It was a great idea to come here. Thanks Kasey for thinking of it! And thanks Mom and Dad for making it happen!

Uncle Kirk's Birthday

Our last night there we went to my brother and sister-in-laws for Easter/birthday dinner. Kirk's birthday was on Saturday. While we were waiting for the party to begin, Porter found a guitar. He provided everyone with the entertainment. He sang Justin's Baby.








Brinnley worked really hard getting a present ready for Kirk. She drew him a picture and collected random things. She was so excited to give it to him! I love how thoughtful she is.










Kirk has been working really hard to get his food storage together. Their storage room is quite impressive! The only thing he wanted for his birthday was spices. And spices and ranch and salsa he got. And he was thrilled! The big nerd! (JK!)









Random picture, but I thought it was so cute. Brinnley and Porter spent over an hour playing restaurant. They put on Grandma's aprons and created a fancy table. It was so cute! Love my kids!

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!

Family Christmas

The week after Christmas we spent at my parents' home. It was so good to be back! (Our last visit was in July.) It was so nice to be around the family again! The first couple days were pretty quiet. The kids spent lots of time putting puzzles together. Logan did all of them himself.
While the kids played Grandma sewed. She made the cutest hats out of extra material. She's amazing!
They also spent plenty of time outside in the snow. Porter wasn't a huge fan. He had to work his way into going outside in his snowclothes. He started by helping Grandpa shovel the snow away from the door.

Finally he made it outside and had a good time playing. Brinnley flew through the air a few times.
The last time didn't go so well. She face planted. But she still enjoyed the snow after that.

We always have a program before we open our presents. Kasey's whole family sang together and it was beautiful. Brinn sang "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" and "I Want a Hot Cup of Cocoa." She did a great job!
Porter even sang "You are my Sunshine." It was so cute!

Dalton and Ainsley had each others' names. Ainsley picked out a shirt and sunglasses for Dalton and he got her a beautiful black horse.
Brinnley loved the magnet dolls that Lily got her. Thanks Lily!

Porter got horses from Ashley and he didn't say another word besides "horse" for the rest of the evening.

We had a great time and we are so thankful we were able to spend the holidays with family. We are excited to be closer to home and see you more. We love you all!

Cousins

The cousins were a huge part of our trip. Well, they kind of made the trip. They were always there to play with and entertain the kids. And they are fabulous babysitters! (Ains, Z, and Brinn the day before we left for Missouri.)
Here is Dalton, Ainsley's first crush. The day we were shopping at D.I. for our fashion show, she and I were wandering through the kids clothes and she randomly said to me, "Mom, I wish I could marry Dalton. He's so cute I just want to kiss him." I about died!
She was attached to his hip, but occasionally he was able to play with Brinn and Porter.
Z is so good to them! They love her! We miss you Z!
Porter was a sucker for anyone with a phone. If the kids wanted him to play or snuggle, they would just whip out their cells and he was hooked. (Easton and Porter.)
We had a fun week with Kasey and his family. (The girls and Lacey.)
It was nice when the big boys came around because the kids got their need to tackle and roughhouse taken care of by someone other than me. (Ty and Dalton.)

See, I told you all you needed was a phone. (Ty and Port)

We love you and and can't wait to see you again! Ty, when you come home that little man will be 4. Crazy!

Z, Logan, and Maddie

The kids and I arrived in Ashton July 5th. That first week we spent a great deal of time with cousins Madison, Logan, and McKenzie (Z). The kids had so much fun with them!

A few days after we got there Mom was in charge of a Relief Society Activity. The activity was focused on bargain shopping and specifically at the Deseret Industries. We went to D.I. and shopped for outfits to model at the Bargain Shoppers fashion show. Here Z, me, and Maddie are showing off our finds. It was so much fun shopping with all the kids and the excitement that comes from getting a $3 shirt.


Maddie and the girls slept in the playhouse a few times, and Z joined once. They put a TV with a built-in DVD player in there and they fell asleep with popcorn in their hair to the sound of their favorite Disney movies.
Logan is such a sweet young man. He was ordained a Deacon today. We are so proud of you and we love you!
Z, Ainsley, and Maddie watching a movie.
Porter and Z.
Brinn, Maddie, and Ainsley in the playhouse our first night. (The next morning is when the girls were awakened by the siren calling for the volunteer firefighters.)