7 years and 1 week

7 years and one week ago I was married to my Sweetheart in the Idaho Falls Temple. I couldn't have asked for a better man. He is hard working, kind, considerate, thoughtful, loving. He would do anything for me and our children. I love Chant with all my heart and I am so thankful to be his wife.

He's still making me laugh 7 years later. Happy Anniversary Honey. I can't wait to see what the next 7 years will bring!

One week is a milemark for another exciting event. We have been a binky-free home since last Sunday. I have to be honest, I cried when we decided it was time. I cried not because I am baby hungry. Oh no, I'm good :) I cried because my baby is no longer a baby. Diapers are the only thing left. Porter had been biting through them and it had become a safety issue. So last Sunday night we gathered them all up and threw them away. Porter cried but then Chant turned on a tape of him reading some stories and he was quiet. It was a miracle because the girls cried every night for at least an hour for the first week. Porter has done wonderful! He hasn't cried at nighttime at all, well, not longer than about 3 minutes. Naptime has been the hard one. He only napped two days last week. But we are on a three-day napping streak now, so I think we are good. Here's hoping! We love you Porter Boy!

Our Little Dancer

Ainsley started dance last Wednesday. She was so excited about it! She and I had a special Mommy/daughter date to go buy her leotard and tights. When we got home she wore them for two hours. She had been looking forward to it for a week. When the big day finally came she got a little nervous, but I reminded her she knows the teacher and a few of the other girls in her class. Once we got to Miss Tracey's and she saw Emmaline and Aubrey, she felt a lot better. We got the tour of the basement where she will be having dance class and then the mommies went back upstairs. She stayed right on her red piece of tape and she did great. She was all sorts of excited about her gummy bears at the end of class. I am so proud of her and so excited for her. She has never really had her own thing that's just been for her. I think this will build her confidence and maybe she might even find an activity she loves.
Before heading off to dance for her first class.

Ainsley and Aubrey
Grace and Molly

Cape Girardeau

Last weekend we had a Saturday that was completely empty. No patients for Chant. Nothing. So we took advantage. We decided to visit Cape Girardeau. It was such a fun day! We visited the Nature Conservation Museum where the kids got to touch and explore and then we took a walk following the paths through the woods behind the museum. It was nice. I only wish we could have gone further because it was a beautiful area, with the birds chirping and bridges over bubbling streams. We dipped our toes in the Mississippi River. And we wandered down Main Street through all the little shops, where I scored a few like-new church pants for Porter at Kids Wear Again for cheap cheap!

The first stop of the day was at a petting zoo. The goats stole the show. We bought two big bags of food for the kids to give them and it was worth the $2! Porter got right in there. And of course Brinnley was her her brave self.

They especially loved this tiny baby goat. SO cute!
Ainsley loved looking at the animals, but she didn't want to touch them or feed them. But this smile tells me she still had a good time.
By the time we got to the deer, the bag of food was almost empty. Porter just held the whole bag up for him to eat out of. That deer made every effort to get his tongue in there. Finally we ended up dumping the rest out for the chickens. Funny story. The chicken coop was right behind Brinnley and there were a few chickens and a rooster walking around. One came up behind Porter and did his cock-a-doodle-doo thing. Porter jumped so high and he had this look on his face like "What in the world was that!" It was a wonderful day and we are so glad we were able to spend all of it together!

Oh, Matthew!

Tonight was Brinnley's Kindergarten Open House. It was just for the parents. And oh am I glad Chant was able to go with me! Brinnley has been in school for two weeks and two days. The first day of school I started what I hope will be a tradition for a very long time. As soon as we get home from the bus stop, Brinnley and I go sit on my bed and she tells me all about her day. It has been so wonderful to have that one-on-one time with her and really be able to listen to her. Every day she tells me what she learned, what special classes she had (art, P.E., computers), and all about lunch and recess. The first week of school she mentioned a girl named Autumn everyday. They ate lunch together and played at recess together. The second week of school she stopped talking about Autumn so much and Olivia and Matthew entered the picture. The first time she mentioned Matthew was a week ago today. And he has been in every recess and lunch story since then. I asked what they do and she says they play on the monkey bars, the spider's web, or the swings. Last Thursday Brinn lost her hair bow and Matthew spent the whole recess helping her look for it. He even asked his sister if she would look for it the next day during her recess. Sounds like a good kid to me. And Brinn and I had a talk a few days before school started about not kissing boys on the playground. So I asked if she has kissed Matthew and she told me no.

I was excited about tonight because I was hoping I would be able to meet Matthew's parents. When the meeting ended Chant asked if I was ready to go or if I needed to talk to Mrs. Alton (Brinn's teacher) about anything. Just then Olivia's mom came up to me. I had met her during Kindergarten orientation. We were talking about how the girls are liking school and who else they are playing with and I mentioned that Brinnley talks a lot about Olivia and Matthew and that I was hoping to meet his parents. A mom standing in line to talk to Mrs. Alton said, "Are you Brinnley's mom?" Aha! Matthew's parents! She said on the first day of school Matthew came home and told her he had met a really cute girl at school but didn't know her name. She said from the second day of school on he has talked about her and he's got a crush. We talked for a while and shared some stories the kids have told us. I have to admit that I feel much better knowing who his parents are and that they seem like normal, nice people.

When we picked Brinnley up from our friends' home, we told her we met Matthew's mom and dad. In the car, Chant asked if she thought he was handsome. She got a big smile and said "yes." I asked her again if they have been kissing. She said, "No, but I hug him." Oh boy! I guess I deserved that because during our shortened version of the talk I told her that we can show people we like them by being kind and sometimes giving hugs. So, first crush? I think so.

In other news: we are signing Ainsley up for dance and she cannot wait! We bought her leotard and tights today and she wore them for an hour. Her first day is next Wednesday. And tonight we talked about signing Brinn up for Girl Scouts. And the fun begins! My girls are growing up!

Sorry for the longest post ever, if you are still even reading it :)

Brinnley's First Day of Kindergarten

Brinnley Beth started her first day of Kindergarten today! I'm in a mild state of shock and disorientation right now, but so far I am tear-free. That happened yesterday! Brinnley, Ainsley, and I were all on the couch with arms wrapped around each other bawling our eyes out. This is basically how it went:
Brinnley- I will miss you!
Ainsley- I don't want Brinnley to go! I will miss her!
Me- Just tears and saying "I know"

But we woke this morning with anticipation thick. I served a special breakfast of waffles and chocolate chips. Brinnley put on her new outfit and shoes. And I did her hair extra special- 4 braids pulling back into a barret.

Her backpack has two guitars on it. Very fitting for the future rock star. And a green frog watch! She's ready!

Standing in line waiting for the bus. Bye Brinnley, we love you!
IT is now 1:35. So far we have played Sorry, watched Blue's Clues, gone to the library and Target, read books, and sang songs. Man, 4:00 is a long ways away! In the meantime I penned a short note to my sweet girl:

Dear Brinnley,

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Buses are Yellow
And I miss You!

Learn a Lot
Have a good day
When you get home
We will play!

Love,
mom

All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth

Church was exciting yesterday! Porter started off mad about something so he and Chant were in the hall. The girls and I were sitting quietly on the bench as the bread and water were being passed. Brinnley leaned over to me and said, "Mom, my tooth is loose." I asked if I could see. When she opened her mouth, one tooth (the left one) was already gone. I asked if she swallowed it. She looked at me with a frowny face and said "no." So I asked her where it was. She didn't know. I looked around and spotted it on the floor by my foot. I picked it up and held it up for her to see saying, "That's your tooth." She instantly got hysterical saying, "That's not my tooth, don't show it to me again" in a high pitched, shrill voice. As soon as the young men sat down, we left for the foyer. I found Chant and we went into the nursery. She was oh so upset. We explained to her that it is okay for her teeth to fall out and that other ones would grow in. She calmed down a little and even got excited when we reminded her of the Tooth Fairy. Then came time for an inspection of the remaining loose tooth. It was really loose. Chant asked if he could just pull it. She was a brave girl and he reached it and popped it out. We were surprised because she hadn't mentioned that her tooth was loose and so we didn't even know to be looking for it. She was a pretty excited little girl!

She is taking a liquid antibiotic for an ear infection and when we gave her her nightly dose she instructed us to push it in through the hole. Funny girl!

When we called Grandpa to tell him the news, he asked if she had been kissing any boys because that's what happens. She said, "No, just Daddy." Well that's a relief! :)

With the excitement of starting school, we forgot to put them under her pillow. Guess the tooth fairy will come tonight!

One Year Older!

Saturday Chant turned 29! For his birthday one of his patients gave him 5 tickets to The Magic House. We were so excited because that is one of the places we wanted to go but didn't know if we ever would because it costs $8 a person.
Chant had patients in the morning but as soon as he got home we drove to St. Louis. We had such a good time! It is a fun, hands on place. There is everything from bubbles stations, music areas, model trains, magnets, a solve-the-mystery area, and a little village

The village was pretty cool. They had a bunny cage. Porter picked one of the stuffed guys up and fed it a carrot.

Me and Porter driving the recycling truck.
Brinn's favorite part was climbing up the lily pads that went from one floor to the next.
Making music.
Outside the Magic House after a fun-filled afternoon. We are so glad we were able to go!
For Chant's presents, the girls picked his first pink shirt and tie and I picked the cowboy style shirt below. (Dad, you would be so proud of me. It has snaps!)
Happy Birthday Honey, hope it was good! We are so glad we were here to help you celebrate! (The first time in 3 years!)

Vacation Wrap-Up

The weekend of July 24 my family went camping at Baker's Hole outside of West Yellowstone, MT. My kids had so much fun! We lived in the water. (Lily, Brinnley, and Porter)
While we were there Kasey thought Brinnley how to ride a two-wheeler. She caught on fast! She was so excited and so was I!
(This picture is out of order, oops!) Porter LOVES Callie Cat. Callie is my Aunt Jenny's cat. Here he is telling her "no, no." That poor cat put up with a lot. He misses her and still mentions Callie every once in a while. By the end Callie was able to tolerate her.
Dalton, Ainsley, and Porter at the dinner table.
Kirk, Christi, Kasey, and Ainsley
(Out of order, another oops.) A few days before coming home we spent the evening at Adam and Randi Huntsman's home. I just love this picture of our boys. They are only two days apart. Thanks for having us guys. We miss you and can't wait to come when Chant can be there too!
Back to the camping. Mom and Dad were the master chefs. Thanks for keeping us well fed!
Porter thought he was one of the big boys just playing a game of football.
Our last night in Ashton we were able to enjoy a cooler evening outside. The kids ran through the neighbors sprinkler and got Grandpa all wet. They miss you Grandpa!


We had such a wonderful trip. We are so grateful for the quality time we had with everyone. We love you all and miss you.

Now we are home and things are in full swing here, with school starting tomorrow! Oh man! Many new adventures to come!