Yeah for Ainsley!!!

Monday was a big day for Ainsley. It was the day we said bye-bye to her binkies. Chant and I had been thinking for a while about what would be the best way to get rid of them. With Brinnley, we had her plant them in a rock pile in our yard and then she watered them and they grew into a baby doll. But we knew that would not work with Ainsley. She would just want to unbury them. We tried to talk her into giving them to Porter and she said no. Chant even told her that she was a big girl just like Brinnley and Mommy. Ainsley said,"Yeah, I am a big girl." Then Chant told her that big girls don't have binkies. And Ainsley said, "I'm not a big girl."

Sunday night I was babysitting and Chant was home with the kids. He asked Ainsley if she wanted to mail her binkies to Grandma and then Grandma would give them to the Binky Fairy. Ainlsey said that she would do it. We were excited because that was the perfect situation. That way she would see them go away and she would know she couldn't get them back and there would be noone to ask for them back because the Binky Fairy would have them.

So Monday after Family Home Evening we gathered up all the binkies she had all over the house and then went to the Post Office. She got to pick an envelope and then she put the binkies in it. Ainsley wrote Grandma a letter asking her to give her binkies to the Binky Fairy because she was a big girl and didn't need them any more. Ainsley was just fine until we gave the envelope to the man behind the counter. He put the postage sticker on it and then took the envelope away and she screamed! On the ride home she would be fine and then all the sudden start screaming again for a few minutes and then she would be fine.

The past few days have actually gone better than expected. She only asked for her binky once and then I told her we mailed them to Grandma and she remembered about the Binky Fairy. Then another time she told me the man took her blue binky to give to Grandma. She did great! She didn't cry at all during the day time. Naptime and bedtime were the hard times. Naps took about 20 minutes of crying before she fell asleep. Monday night it took about an hour and Tuesday and Wednesday a little less. But yesterday was our breakthrough. She only took about 5 minutes to cry herself to sleep during her nap and last night was the miracle. She got into bed, grabbed Monkey, rolled over and went to sleep. Yeah! She did it! And I think she is happier now. She isn't constantly looking for it and worried about where it is. And we are not constantly helping her search the house for it. I am so proud of her. She was extremely attached, but she did it. She is a big girl!

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

So, anyone who knows me well knows that I am a Gilmore Girls fanatic. I got hooked on the show in December 2004. I had just graduated college and I was a month away from my due date with Brinnley. One day while channel surfing I found Lorelai and Rory having one of their insanely fast conversations and I was hooked. We didn't have cable so for every birthday and Christmas after that Chant got me the next season on DVD. Every time I opened the package and saw the new season, I would cry. I am such a sap! I now have all 7 seasons.

I know this is a little silly, but I feel an emotional connection to the show. I have a ton of memories flash through my head when I think about the Gilmore Girls. I think about 2 difficult pregnancies, a colicky baby and 4 different apartments. Lorelai and Rory are just as real to me as any friend I have. That show was there for me through a lot and I couldn't wait for the next season to see what would happen it there lives.

Chant and I always talked about going on a trip someday to see the town that inspired the show, Washington Depot, Connecticut. It was something that I have wanted to do for 3 years, but I always thought it would be just a fun idea that would never happen. But this dream is coming true!!! We are going to New Jersey in October for a pediatric chiropractic seminar. It is only 3 hours from Point Pleasant, New Jersey to Washington Depot, so we are going!!! I have been online all morning looking at pictures and planning all the places I want to go and things I want to see. I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am!!! My husband is so good to me. He is the one that pointed out how close it is. I cannot wait to go and I will for sure put up pictures when we get back!

Happy where I am

So the kids and I have been in Idaho since Wednesday evening. Life has been busy since we got here. First Brinn hurt her arm Thursday, Friday was spent at the doctor's office and the hospital, and then Saturday we spent the day at Whiskey Bay in West Yellowstone. (Whiskey Bay is a fun lake in West where our family goes every summer.) That was a fun time trying to keep Brinnley's arm dry. It was a great day though. Almost the whole family was there- we were missing Chant and my brother Kip and his 4 children. But we had quite the clan, 7 adults and 14 children.

It hit me hard last night how blessed I am. I am so blessed with an amazing family that loves me and supports me. They are always there for me no matter what. I had a hard time when we moved to Missouri. I missed Rexburg so much (I still do). It was my home and I was so close to my family. I didn't know if I would ever be happy in Missouri. Our first 4 months there were really hard on me. But then we moved to a home in a different town. Now I have wonderful friends and an amazing ward. We are taken care of by such wonderful people. I feel at home there and I am happy. The Lord has truly blessed us and has sent us where we needed to be. I am so excited for the day when Chant is finished with chiropractic school and we can move back home, but until then I am so happy where I am and I know I am growing and learning lessons that will be with me always and I am gaining friends that I know I will keep in contact with after we leave. Heavenly Father really knows what we need and blesses us with it!

Again!?! Are you kiddin' me?

So, I cannot believe I am writing this, but I am. Let me preface a little bit. August 3 my mom flew into St. Louis and then the 4th she, the 3 kids, and I started our 3 day drive from St. Louis to Ashton, Idaho. We are going to visit until the beginning of September. The kids did great! Ainsley got a little restless at times and she was definately done by the last day, but they really did great. (Thank goodness for DVDs!) So we have been in Idaho since Wednesday about 6:00 p.m.

Last night, Thurday, Brinnley was playing in my parents' back yard. She was running down the sidewalk and tried to jump over a basketball. She didn't quite make it. She landed on top of the ball and then rolled right off of it. She hit the grass and her right hand caught her. She instantly started to cry, but she was appeased after a while. But she really babied the arm and didn't want to do anything the rest of the evening. Last night was awful! Any time she rolled over onto her arm she woke up crying. It did look swollen just below the elbow and she was complaining of pain in that area. So we took her to Rexburg this morning to have it x-rayed. The pediatric doctor was in surgery, but the doctor that we saw put a splint on it and said that it was fractured and more than likely would need a cast. We go in on Monday to meet the pediatric surgen. We will find out then if it needs a cast. In the meantime, she has a splint and a sling. She is doing great now, with a little Tylenol. She is becoming a lefty very quickly! Amazing how well kids adapt.

Anyway, I promise my children are being taken care of. I guess they are just unlucky like their Aunt Jenny! (She was always getting hurt when she was growing up.) It sure doesn't do much for the mom self-esteem though. But we are doing great other than that!

Memories

So I got the idea from a friend, (thanks Carrol), to ask people to post memories that they have with Chant or me or us togther. I thought that would be kind of fun to see what people remember about us. If you would like to, leave a comment with your memory. Thanks! I look forward to reading them.

July 4th Photos

Just a few July 4th Pictures. The Story is below.
The bottom Two pictures are a motercycle decked out to be a buffalo. It was pretty cool in real life!

July 4th

We had a great July 4th. Our experience with independance day last year was a flop! We had heard of the best spot by people around town, so we headed to the local hospital parking (which is right on a lake). Lake St Louis is a fairly upscale area so we hoped for a great show. We did not get the best spot because all the fireworks were behind a tree line and the fireworks did not go high enough over the trees for us to see them. Plus it was so hot and humid we were melting like a snowman in the desert.
So this year we went to the next town over to a parade, we had great seats towards the front of the parade route so all the floats had tons of candy and water bottles to hand out. The girls had a great time chasing candy but Ainsley would eat it as soon as she picked it up. Brinnley had a bucket and she made a good haul on candy. In fact she is still eating it!
We went to this same parade last year and Brinnley got to meet a purple Hippo, the hippo gave her a hug and everything. So this year she drew the hippo a picture and made sure it came with her to the parade to give it to the hippo. I could not beleive she remembered the hippo experience for last year but I guess when you get hugged by a purple hippo this is something you just don't forget. So we made sure that the hippo got Brinley's picture.
We then went to a BBQ at a the Elders quorums Presidents house, there was about 80 people there, the girls took to thier back yard and played till we carried them away. Eating dinner was not as important as playing with friends in the grass UNTIL it came time for dessert!! As soon as I had cake and cookies I had two cute girls at my feet with thier mouths open just like tiny birds in nest waiting to be fed. They would take a bit and run and come back for more until my plate was empty and my cup of soda was gone. Mooching off your parents plates must be an innate trait in all kids. It is times like these when Kara and I realize we really are "living our dreams" and all the world some how makes sense until Ainsley pushes Brinnley and Brinnley steals Ainsley's toy and then the worlds reality of life with a three year old and a almost two year old hits you like a ton of bricks and you now have TWO upset, fragile, screaming girls.
We then went to a different firework show because last year, as you have read, was not the greatest. We went to Chesterfield where we had the insider tip as to where is the best place to watch the show. Ended up we were in the premier spot. We could even see the actual place where the fireworks were shot off. Parking was close, this was a high point because hauling three kids and chairs and blankets any amount of distance would have put a damper on the evening so I was excited about the parking situation. Any way we were right under the fireworks and it was so loud and amazing. Porter slept through it, Brinnley spent the first half of the show with her hands over her ears because it was too loud but loved the colors, she eventually warmed up to the noise and enjoyed it, and Ainsley watched the first half and then fell asleep. It was a Perfect day.

Familiy Pictures July 2008

We had a friend take some photos of us at a park. We wanted to get it done whlie Porter was still small. These are our favorites. We miss you all and hope to see everyone soon!