Arbor Day Picture

This is the picture that Brinnley got from Arbor Day in Ashton.  She took great care coloring it and she was so proud of it.  This is for you Grandma!

Last Leg of the Trip

Playing catch with Gabby.

Picking out crystal to make rainbows in the living room.

Thursday, May 7th started the last leg of our trip.  That day we left Utah and drove to Grand Junction, Colorado.  We stayed in a motel. We were there because Friday Chant followed a chiropractor he met through a conference he attended at Logan College.  He finished up at 11:30 and then we got in the car again and drove to Denver.  Chant's sister, Kristy, and his Aunt Linda and Uncle Gary and cousins live there.  We stayed Friday and Saturday night with Kristy.  Friday night Chant's cousin Josh came over to make us dinner.  He is attending chef school.  You make a mean sweet and sour chicken, Josh.  Thanks!

Saturday we visited Linda, Gary, and cousin Amy.  They have 3 dogs and the girls were outside the whole time playing catch with the dogs.  One of the dogs, Annie, kept stealing the ball and hiding it because she doesn't like to play catch.  Getting the ball back from Annie was a game in itself.

During naptime, Chant stayed with the kids at Kristy's while she and I had some quality girl time shopping.  Thanks Honey, I needed a break!

After dinner at Cici's Pizza, we went back to Kristy's apartment.  When we walked in the door we were hit with the smell of gas.  Kristy called her apartment maintenance staff.  They had someone over there pretty soon.  He had this whistle thing that can detect gas.  When there is a leak it goes crazy.  He found 2, one coming from a main gas line.  Well great!  But he tested outside of the closet where the gas line is and there was not enough gas to make the thing go off, so he said we were okay to stay there.  He sent someone from a gas heating place over.  He worked while we listened to music and watched videos of American Idol and Brian Regan.  Lots of laughs were had.  About 11:00 the man told us he had to shut the gas off because he found 3 more leaks and he wouldn't be able to get parts until Monday.  So, no heat for us.  Which was fine because we didn't need it.  Crazy though!  Hope all is well now, Kris.

Sunday morning at 8:15 we started our trek home.  The kids did really good.  I was impressed.  No melt-downs till about 8:00 and it didn't last very long.  The biggest problem we had was Porter wouldn't sleep because he was too busy looking at all the scenery.  But once we hit Kansas he was out.  Not much to look at I guess.  At 8:30 p.m. we saw the beautiful site of our home.  It was amazing to see everyone, but it was good to come home too.  We love you all and thank you for everything you do for us!  We couldn't do it without the love and support of family and friends in Idaho, Utah, and Missouri.  Thank you all!  Now we are back in the swing of things with school started yesterday.  Four more months and we will be back!   

P.S.

Thank you Linda for the buttons and the crystals.  The button jar is proudly displayed in the living room for all to see and we will be hanging the crystals today.  Thank you for making our home more beautiful with the wonderful treasures!

Opa, Oma, and more driving

May 5-7 we were in Utah.  We stayed at Chant's Dad's and stepmom's house.  We lovingly call them Opa and Oma (grandpa and grandma in German).  On the way to their house Tuesday we did some driving around in Sandy.  We are considering moving to Utah when Chant graduates and we wanted to look around at some areas to see if we could start a business there and happily live there.  We got there in time for a nice dinner at the Spaghetti Factory.  Sooo good!

Wednesday Chant followed Opa's chiropractor.  While he was gone for the morning, the kids and I got to enjoy some time at his stepsister's, Amy, house.  The girls had fun playing with Isabel who is 4 and their tiny new puppy, Madi.  Thanks for entertaining us for the morning.

That afternoon we spent 4 hours driving around with a street map carefully looking at the area.  It feels good there.  We will see what happens, but I could be happy there.  (When we got in the car to start our drive, Ainsley asked where Oma was.  We told her she had to stay at the house because we didn't have enough room in the car.  Ainsley said she could sit in the back with the suitcases.  I thought that was sweet!)

We had an enjoyable evening talking and eating amazing Mexican food.

We love you and thank you for letting us visit!  It was wonderful!

P.S.

Sorry about the lack of pictures!  I don't know what was wrong with me!

Time with Gran

Bedtime song with Gran

Before

After.

He's not quite sure what to think.

Fun at the park

May 3 and 4 we were with Gran (Chant's mom) in Burley.  Sunday was nice and relaxing.  The girls enjoying playing with Gran and all the toys in her toy bin.  Brinnley loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  We also got to visit Patah (Chant's grandpa) Sunday and again on Monday.  You look great Patah!  That night before bed they even got a song from Gran while she played the guitar.

Monday we did some shopping then spent some time at Storybook Park.  It is such a fun park!  The girls were everywhere.  Brinnley became instant friends with a little boy and girl at the park.  Porter even enjoyed the swing for a while.

Margi had to work a little while Monday.  When we went back to pick her up, the fire truck was just pulling back into the fire station from being out on a call.  (The station is right next to her work.)  Margi took the girls over and they got to see the truck.  Very cool!

Monday Porter got his first real haircut (we had used the clippers on it before but more to even out parts that were growing in uneven).  He had been scratching his neck and his ears for quite a while, we think because his hair was tickling him.  So we decided it was time.  He didn't like holding still, but we made it.  I loved his soft, wavy, fluffy hair but he looks very handsome with his new haircut as well.

Thank you for a fun visit Gran!  We love you and we promise our next visit will not be so short! 

Twin Falls, Idaho

Lance and Lacey building their bottle rockets

Chant paying close attention to the directions

The man helping Brinnley fill her rocket with water

Time to pull the string and send the rocket flying

The girls and Lacey inside a hut

Yeah Lily!  Your rocket flew high!

Brinn and Luke playing horsie

From May 1 to the 2 we stayed at my brother Kasey's house.  He has 4 children Lance, Lacey, Luke, and Lily.  Lily is 6 months younger than Brinnley, so they have a lot of fun.  Saturday the 2nd we went to the museum at the CSI campus.  They were making bottle rockets and the kids wanted to do it.  Making them was a little boring for Ainsley, but she loved shooting them off.  Kasey helped Brinn build hers and Chant helped Ainsley.  They did an awesome job because those rockets flew!  After quite a few times of shooting them off, we had to go.  The girls gave the man helping them a big hug and said thank you.  

We had a lot of fun playing at the house too.  The girls loved playing Littlest Pet Shop with Lily and Lacey.  Thanks for entertaining us!  We love you all and can't wait to see you again in 4 months!

The Huntsmans

Madi, Brinn, and Ainsley

Noah, Adam, Chant, and Porter

April 29 we spent the day with Adam and Randi Huntsman.  Chant was following a chiropractor for the day so the kids and I were at their house from 1:30 to 9:30.  The kids played and had a great time.  Their daughter Madalyn is a month older than Ainsley and their son Noah is 2 days older than Porter.  It was so good to see them.  They are our second family.  We love you guys!

Adventures with Grandma and Grandpa

Porter and Grandpa checking out the Bears at Bear World.

The girls at Bear World

The Baby Bear we got to pet.

While we were at my parents' house, we did a few fun things.  It rained everyday we were there except Saturday and part of Sunday.  We took advantage of the good weather and spent Saturday in Yellowstone Park.  The kids did good with being in the car again, for the most part.  Porter was excellent.  We left the house at 8:00 and we didn't get home till 4:00.  That whole time he only slept for the last 1/2 hour.  He was too busy looking out the window and playing with Ainsley's baby doll.  Brinnley had fun seeing all the animals.  But Ainsley had a little bit harder time.  She couldn't really see out the window so I think that was part of the problem.   But all in all we had a great time.

There were a ton of buffalo.  We were lucky enough to have them walk right by our car a few different times.  They were so close we could have reached our hand out the window and touched them.  Brinnley thought that was pretty cool.  And we got to see a grizzly bear!  He was really close.  We actually saw him twice, once going and once coming back.  The first time he was playing in the water.  The second time he was digging in the snow.  While he was digging a couple birds landed close by.  When they would get too close to him, the bear ran after them to chase them off.  It was pretty awesome!  People don't really get to see bears in the park much anymore.  And when we got to Mammoth, the elk were everywhere.  It was an awesome day.  And while we were there we saw Bishop and Sister Hall (from our student ward in Rexburg).  That was a surprise!  It was great to see them.

Our next adventure was Bear World.  I know, more bears.  But who can get enough?  First we drove through to see the animals, but then we got out to go to the petting zoo and ride the rides.  Ainsley was reluctant to get on the rides, but she loved the train and rode it 3 times.  Brinnley was brave and tried every ride but the one that shoots you up in the sky.  I wouldn't let her try that one.  (Too high and too scary!)

Brinnley loved the petting zoo.  But our favorite were the baby bears.  They had 4 tiny babies.  The trainer actually takes them home with her at night and they live inside her house.  They curled up against her just like a baby would.  When baby bears are happy they make a clicking sound that is the same thing as a cat purring.  Brinn has that sound down now.  The trainer let us pet them and the girls loved it.  Pretty cool! 

We had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa seeing things we don't get to see too often.  

We're Back!

We got home yesterday after a 2 1/2 week trip to Idaho, Utah, and Colorado.  It was so wonderful to see everyone!  The kids loved playing with cousins and grandparents.  It was definitely a busy, whirlwind trip.  This was our travel itinerary.

April 22- Drive from Missouri to Denver

April 23- Drive from Denver to Ashton, ID

April 24-30- Visit Grandma, Grandpa, Christi, Kirk, and cousins in Ashton and Rigby

May 1-2- Visit Kasey, Tracy, and cousins in Twin Falls

May 3-4- Visit Gran in Burley

May 5-6- Visit Opa and Oma in Utah

May 8- NIght in Grand Junction, CO

May 9- Visit Kristy, Aunt Linda, Uncle Gary, and Amy

May 10- Drive from Denver to Missouri

So in 2 1/2 weeks we slept in 6 different beds.  It was an amazing trip filled with family, friends, animals, and driving, lots of driving.  Pictures and stories to come, but for now we are surrounded by piles of laundry and other items needing to be put away.  So, ta ta for now!

Okay, one quick story.  Earlier today we were at the grocery store with 2 carts full of food since we had nothing in the house.  While we were patiently waiting for the cashier to ring up all our items (which took forever because she kept pushing the wrong button and had to get help twice), Porter was playing with a box of cereal.  Well, I guess he wasn't really playing with it but instead was snacking on it.  He was hungry!

Later when we got home and we were putting the groceries in the fridge, Porter climbed inside it and was trying to reach something on the shelf.  Someone get that kid some dinner!