June 2-3: Lake Powell Day 2-3

 Porter's birthday is June 6, but Chant wouldn't be with us that day and so I brought Porter's presents so he could open them while we were all together.  He got a few Marvel action heroes, Spiderman, Superman, and Batman.  I opened Spiderman right away so he could play.  Watching his face was so funny!  He was really getting into it, doing voices and everything.

 "I'll get you Hulk!" (He's a little confused on who the green guy with claws actually is.  It's ok, we just go with it.)

 The kids loved pulling each other around in this little raft.  It was the perfect size.

 Firing up the grill for dinner.

 Brinnley had quite the collection of shells going.  She searched all over and compared shapes, sizes and colors.  We have a huge gallon Ziploc gallon bag full.

 The full moon made falling asleep interesting.  But I was so glad we had the breeze because oh man was it hot!


June 3:

 About 10:00 or so we packed up a lunch and then got in the speed boat to go exploring.  It was kind of funny because the girls took turns sleeping.  Brinn didn't last very long before she was out and Ainsley didn't sleep very long.  Once Ainsley woke up her mouth was moving constantly.  At first I thought she was talking to me.  When I asked her what she said, she looked at me like "Why are you bothering me?"  And she kept herself company the rest of the ride.

 Uncle Layn took us to this place called Cathedral.  It was amazing!  That bright light on the rocks is the sun reflecting off of the water.  It was dancing and making it look like flames on the wall of rock.  Uncle Layn said in all the times he's ever been there he's never seen anything quite like that.  It was beautiful!

 Once we got back inside the rocks, Chant found this rope and went climbing.  There was a pool at the top that drops really far down.  He said he couldn't tell how deep it was.  I told him not to find out :)

 Grandpa

 Waving at Daddy who is taking pictures from his perch up on the rocks.

 This is on the way back out.  I thought it was pretty fascinating and I wanted to share.

Lake Powell

 Ainsley's last day of school was May 31st.  She had a pajama party and watched a movie.  I was lucky enough to be able to go and help out in her class that day.  It was so much fun and I hope that I will be able to help again next year in her class.  I cannot believe that next year it will just be Porter and me all day long.  My kids are growing too fast!

Brinnley's last day was June 1st.  We pulled her out of school an hour and a half early because Grandpa and Grandma were here ready and waiting to take us away on vacation to Lake Powell.  I think she was okay with it, but she will miss school.  She loves school and her friends and her amazing teacher.  She had a great year!  I hope her second grade teacher is just as great as the one she had this year. 

We got to my Uncle Layn and Aunt Anne's house around dinnertime that night.  While we settled in and did some cooking the kids explored the wide expanse of red dirt.  And of course we took them on a few 4-wheeler rides. 

 Anne and the kids got into a sword fight with hot dog roasting sticks.  Don't worry, no one was injured in the taking of this picture.


The morning of the 2nd we loaded the boats and headed out to the water.  The kids sat on the bed in the back of the houseboat while we searched for the perfect spot. 

 And Grandpa let each kid take a turn driving the houseboat for a while.  Rather brave of him I thought.

 It took a while to find THE spot, but once we did it was perfect.  We had the best beach ever.  It was shallow for quite a ways out and we had a perfect beach to put our our camping chairs.  Seriously could not have asked for a better spot.  The kids had so much fun swimming.

 Uncle Layn came with us, Anne had to stay and work, and he brought his dog Mitzi.  The kids had a lot of fun playing with her.  She was really a good dog.

Day one was a huge success!

Love and Acceptance

www.girlydohairstyles.com/2011/08/ideas-for-short-hair-1.html

 I live in a house with a 7 year old girl and an almost 6 year old girl.  These are impressionable times.  They are starting to take an interest in things like fashion and have more of an opinion about hairstyles and accessories.  I love it.  It has been so much fun to see what their preferences are.  But lately I've noticed that they are watching me as well.  They comment on my hair and my clothes.  I have always been insecure about my looks and so I tend to seek validation from others that I look alright.  My girls have done that a time or two lately.  I don't want them to take after me in that way.  I want them to know and believe that they are beautiful.  So I am working hard to be a better example, trying not to worry so much that every hair is in place, because really it doesn't matter. 

I have been growing my hair out over the past 2 years and it is finally past my shoulders.  I had been looking forward to all the fun things I could do with it once it was long enough.  And now it is, but I have been holding back because I am self conscious about how I look with my hair pulled all the way back.  But lately I have decided that this is silly.  I waited too long for something this trivial to keep me from doing what I want.  I have decided to accept the way I look with my hair pulled back and find something to love about myself when it is.  I have this little freckle on the top of my right ear and I love being able to see it.  I also find that I enjoy wearing earrings more because they can be seen instead of hidden behind a curtain of hair.    

I have been trying to be a good example to my girls in other ways as well, helping them love the things that they can't change and do something about the things they can.  We've been exercising (they laugh at my crazy videos and join along), eating more fruits and veggies, cooking.  I hope that the changes that I am making for myself will also positively affect my children, not just my girls but Porter as well.  

Here are just a few of the hairstyles I have been trying out on myself and some on the girls too.  I am loving being more creative and so are the girls.  At first I was intimated because they looked too hard.  But I have watched a lot of tutorial videos and I am learning that it's ok if I don't get it perfect.  Brinnley, queen of the half-up ponytail, has even let me try new things on her.  She gets excited to look in the mirror after I am done.  I love that we can share this together!

 www.thesmallthingsblog.com/p/hair-styles-tutorials.html

 saralynnpaige.com/style/simple-gibson-tuck/

 www.flickr.com/photos/luxyhair/4770055015/

 www.dearemmie.com/?p=128/

 slhairstyles.com/12/the-return-of-formal-hairstyles-in-the-workplace.html

www.girlydohairstyles.com/2011/08/ideas-for-short-hair-2.html

Language of Love

Sunday I was on Pinterest and saw a quiz to find out what your love language is (from the book The 5 Love Languages).  I took the quiz and my love language was overwhelmingly "Acts of Service."  I hadn't really thought much about it before, but now that it has been pointed out to me I can see it is true.  Chant helping me hang my collection of plates on the wall was much more swoon-worthy for me than getting any bouquet of flowers.  Chant is constantly helping me with my projects, taking care of the yard, helping with the dishes, whatever I ask or he can see needs done.  These things mean more to me than any gift ever could.  He works hard for me and it shows me he loves me.  He's my Mr. Perfect.  What's you language of love?

Smother's Day

Mother's Day has been pretty fabulous so far.  I got breakfast in bed modified (I was getting ready for Church so they brought it to me in the bathroom).  The kids made me some beautiful cards and I got an I-Tunes gift card.  Yay!  I've been smiling all day long, especially when I hear Porter say, "Happy Smother's Day!"  Is he trying to tell me something?

Thanks Mom!

 Decorating on a dime part two- thanks to Mom.  Way back in when we lived in Rexburg when we were first married, Chant worked at BMC West.  They were changing out their displays and Chant was able to get these door knobs and cupboard door.  He created this cool wall hanging.  I've used it in almost every place we've lived, but I've had it in storage the year and a half we've lived here.  I decided to pull it out.  Mom was at Porter's Craft and found these cool glass jars for $1.50 a piece.  Perfect.  I am on the hunt for something to put in the jars, but I think they look pretty cool by themselves.

 I found these Mason jars for 75 cents each at Deseret Industries.  Mom sent me a few limbs cut off of a tree in her yard.  Looks pretty awesome I think!  Especially with our unique, twisted candles.   

 Mom also cut these vinyl letters for me.  The tiny letters say Pablo Picasso.  I love this quote.  We had this green rope and I got a few sheets of scrapbook paper that I mod podged onto clothes pins to hold up the kids' masterpieces.  The girls were so excited about it.  They got drawing right away to have something to hang up.  So fun!

I love all these things that we were able to do for cheap.  It's added a lot of personality and changed things up. 

Only Just Beginning

 May 2 was the one year anniversary of our business.  This year has been one of the hardest of my life, but also one of the most rewarding and testimony building.  We have been so blessed, both personally and in our business.  I know we are being watched over by our loving Heavenly Father.  We wouldn't be where we are without the love and support of our family and friends.  I am so grateful to all of them for all they have done for us. 

We wanted to celebrate, and celebrate we did.  After all, I think it's a pretty big deal.  The guest list included us, Teran, Jess (our massage therapist), Kyndel (our licensed clinical social worker), their families, and our family.  It was quite the party!  We were lucky to have some beautiful weather.  I was grateful for that because our party wouldn't have fit inside the house!  See, that's not even half the crowd and my kitchen is full. 

 We set up all the chairs in the garage and put the BBQ in the driveway.  Worked perfectly!  Then the party migrated out back for some jumping on the trampoline and cupcake eating races.  I didn't get any pictures of that.  I was too busy laughing my head off.  So what they did was set cupcakes up on the sidewalk behind Jen and Kerry's heads (in the picture below).  They started at the house and ran to the sidewalk.  They had to stop and completely eat the cupcakes before racing back to the house.  So funny!  And we had cupcakes aplenty (I made 60+ in strawberry, mint, peanut butter, and coconut frosting).  I was glad they were put to good use!    

 Above:  Jen, Porter, and Kerry
Below:  Kristy, Mike, and Margi

 Jess and Teran

Chant had to show off his flips for everyone.  He's still got it!

The party didn't completely wrap up until 9:15.  Sorry neighbors! 

It was the perfect evening.  The only thing that could have made it better was to have my parents there.  Thank you so much for making this a fabulous year.  And it is only just the beginning.  We are ready for what's to come in the next year! 

Decorating on a Dime

 So I am seriously addicted to Pinterest.  And not just for recipes.  I am getting some great ideas that I have been tweaking to make my own.  Both of these frames we got at Deseret Industries for a couple bucks each.  Then we bought the sample size of paint from Lowe's for a couple bucks each.  The top quote was actually done opposite on Pinterest.  The original idea was to find an old framed picture, put the letters on top, then paint everything white.  Then the letters are peeled off so only the letters are in color.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I thrive on color.  So I chose to do it opposite.  Plus the scrapbook papers was 25 cents a pieces, half off.  Yay!  I love the way it turned out! 

The family photos in this frame where framed in their own individual 8x10 frames.  I like the frames but I had them standing on top of our entertainment center and a shelf in the kitchen.  They took up all my space for decorations, so I needed them to move.  I love the way this turned out.  The original "pin" was to have the pictures still framed in their own frame and then mounted inside the larger frame that has no glass.  I like that idea but this frame wasn't big enough for that.  I still like the way this looks.   

 Last Labor Day weekend my mom, sisters-in-law, and two of my nieces went to Midway for the craft fair.  I found these rosette decorations that I fell in love with.  There were two, one larger than the other and much bigger than these.  I asked how much they were.  $400 for the large one!  I about died!  No way was I going to pay that.  I made up my mind I could do it myself.  I have this extremely crafty friend that knows how to make rosettes, so I asked if she could show me.  So that was back in September and I just finished these beasts Thursday.  Now I understand why the craft fair ones were priced so much.  Totally worth it!  Even though some of them are not perfect, this was my first time making them and I feel pretty proud of them!

And this is my "freed-up" shelf in the kitchen.  I had two Fossil tins and found the other 2 at D.I. for 50 cents each.  Love it.  I am on the hunt for more to add to my collection.