Merry Christmas!

Dearest Family and Friends,
Another year has come and gone. At the Chantry house we are in the midst of our Christmas celebrations and are enjoying this beautiful season of joy. It has been a wonderful year and we reflect on it with gratitude. Here is a short recap.
Megan has turned five and started kindergarten. She still loves animals and makes us smile each and every day. Mike is seven and in second grade. He loves math and is always amazing us with his arithmetic skills. Nathan is nine, in fourth grade and continuing to be an enthusiastic and diligent Bear scout. Liz is ten and in fifth grade (we can’t believe it either) and is still as creative as ever. Our kids keep us laughing and keep us on our toes, but we are especially grateful for the love they have for each other and for all they do to help each other. It is wonderful to watch.

Jen spent the greater part of the year working with the ten-year-old Webelos scouts, but since September has been working with the 12 and 13 year old young women at church. It has been a bit of a change, but is really wonderful. She attended Wood Badge scout training this fall and had an incredible experience. Perhaps our most exciting news of the year is that Brian has started a new job. He was asked to become an Associate Registrar. It is a job with new responsibilities, new people and a new location on campus. It has been a great blessing and we are excited for his future there.

We are looking forward to an extra special Christmas day as we get to celebrate Christ’s birth on the Sabbath. We are grateful for the infinite love of our Heavenly Father who sent His Son to this earth to make it possible for us to return to Him someday.

May you all feel the peace this season brings.


Love, The Chantrys

Christmas came early for Brian

So Brian's drill has been on its last leg for a while now, or rather his batteries have been. They just couldn't hold a charge and the drill didn't ever have power behind it. While working on a project he tried something to give it more power and it all ended up dying. So the other day, when he needed to fix something around the house for me I sent him out to get himself a new drill. I am very excited that he got such nice ones and I am sure they will be put to good use for years to come!

Christmas came early for Jen

I am so excited! This wonderful appliance was delivered to my kitchen this morning.

We have never bought a fridge before and have no idea how old the one is that has been with us since we moved into this house. We have been worried that it was on its last leg, and so we have been saving for a new one. We did a lot of looking as we saved, and became more serious about getting one in the last month or so. We saw this online for an incredible price and took advantage of it. We had to rearrange the computer area just a bit and trim a few inches off of the counter top to the left of the fridge, but it fit just right.

It is so clean and bright inside. I almost hate to put stuff in it. It also has tons of room! Brian and the kids are excited about water and ice in the door. That is not a deal breaker for me, but I do know that it will come in handy. Brian will get the water line hooked up soon.

I feel so very lucky! And it is here just in time for the holidays.

Halloween is here

So anyone that knows me probably knows that Halloween is not really my favorite holiday, but a few things have happened this year that have made Halloween special/easier/more fun.

1- My mom sent this table cloth to me. It is a table cloth that she would always put on the our table at Halloween time when I was young, and I have always loved it. I also love that we have a simple decoration and I didn't have to make it. (Also we bought some pumpkins and gourds for the table. Some are real and some are fake, but they are all fun.)

2- I didn't have to do any sewing for Halloween costumes. I actually really enjoy the dress up part of Halloween, once the work is done and this year I didn't really have any work to do. So nice!

Mike and Nathan opted for Luigi and Mario. And it worked out nice because some friends did this last year and let us borrow all of the little accessories.

And here is the inspiration for this next picture.

At first Megan wanted to be an M&M. I was OK with that. It wouldn't be hard to do. But when she changed her mind to Ariel I was thrilled. We have one of those costumes, and even a cute purple hair flower with pearls in the center it. "Mermaid . . . ocean . . . pearls . . . get it?" (Direct quote from the mermaid herself.)

And my leotard fit Liz this year. Then with the cute jacket and pants she got for her birthday and some of the medals from my last meet she is certainly a gymnast. And she and Molly once again dress up as the same thing for Halloween.

And speaking of Molly, here she is with the cute little treat bag that I made. And here are the little treats that Liz has made for her doll. Liz is so creative. (The smarties in the top left are my favorite. It is a striped piece of paper rolled up and then covered in plastic as a wrapper. So cute!)

3- I took these Halloween pictures of the kids last Friday, on a day that we had no school and no sort of Halloween celebration. It is always less stressful to get the pictures when we aren't in a rush to get somewhere. (I love this picture, especially how Liz really looks like a little gymnast. And she almost looks taller than Nathan, and he has shoes on. It might be time to measure those two again!)

4- And since I didn't have to do any costume sewing I was actually excited to make these Trick-or-Treat bags. I love how they turned out and I LOVE that now I can get rid of those awful plastic pumpkins that take up my entire crawl space for the whole year.

Here's to another Halloween season. We have a couple of fun celebrations this weekend and then a fun Halloween evening planned. It will be fun!

F is for fall, fun, family, five and fantastic

We had a fantastic day yesterday! As part of my personal goals to complete Wood Badge I had to do a five mile hike with a map and compass. We loaded the entire family up and went hiking at Big Springs (just past South fork, up Provo Canyon). We enjoyed a beautiful, clear fall day. There were many gorgeous views throughout the hike. We planned about five or six hours, knowing that many of our participants have little legs. The kids did great and we finished in 3 horus and fifteen minutes. There were some very steep parts, but many pleasantly easy portions of the trail as well. Despite the challenges I think we all had a lot of fun!

Here are a couple of the views we saw on our hike. I love the snow capped peak behind the slope of many colors.

Mike loved following my map.

Liz counted the many colors of leaves that she saw.

Nathan had his compass too. He even learned a bit how to use it.

Megan had a turn with the map too. She was so proud and she did great. She really is a trooper.

And here is proof that I was on the hike. It really was a great day.

Personal Progress

I was called as the 2nd Counselor in the Young Women's presidency in our ward only nine months after starting my work with the Webelos aged scouts in our pack. I love Cub Scouting, and Scouting in general. Over the last four years I have learned more about scouts than i ever thought possible and I came to understand that I want scouts to be important in our house because of what it will help my boys become.

As a scout leader I decided to attend Wood Badge, an advanced leadership training for adults. I was so excited, and a little nervous, for this new experience. A little ironically, I started my first three days at Wood Badge the same week I was called into the Young Women's program. Wood Badge was incredible; I learned so many things that will be valuable to me not only in any scouting I do, but also as a mom and a YW leader.

One of my Wood Badge tickets is work (on my own and with the girls in my class) on Personal Progress.

I HAVE LOVED THIS EXPERIENCE!

Personal Progress has changed a lot since I was a teenager. The theme has been added to twice and a new value has joined the seven I learned at the age of 12. And now there is so much available online. You can keep track of what you have done, record thoughts in an online journal, and even mark and annotate scripture verses online. IT IS AMAZING!

As I have read scriptures, conference talks and articles I have gained insights, have have learned things I should improve on and I have felt the Spirit teach me.

Personal Progress is an inspired program. I am excited for my own daughters to become Young Women and to have the amazing experience of learning, growing and progressing.

Allergies and the bus

The day that I hoped would never come, but deep down knew it would, came on Monday. I got a call from the school that Mike was having an allergic reaction to nuts. Megan and I headed down right away. He is fine (we treated it with Benadryl and brought him home early), but this is the worst reaction he has had since the first one over five years ago. The swelling under his eyes was purple and blotchy and just sad to see. The worst part for me was that he was so sad and scared that they would need to use the epipen. It was really wonderful to just hold him on my lap and help him know that it was all going to be just fine.

As much as we like to eliminate any worry from our lives, this experience was valuable for a number of reasons.

1- Mike (who is ultra careful because of his fear of the epipen) now has an experience that he remembers. I hope he remembers how things felt so that he can ask for help in the future, and also he has had an experience where things turned out OK. We want him to be cautious, not scared.

2- We have been able to work out a few kinks in how the school handles his situation. The medication will be kept in a different place now, the lunch situation has been adjusted some to keep Mike safer and everyone has a better idea of what should be done if this happens again.

3- I have an even greater respect for Mike's teacher at school. I know that she will do anything to take care of Michael, and it is wonderful to have that level of trust for someone who spends a large portion of the day with my child. (and she even had a great way to cheer him up once the whole experience was over!)

4- I am more aware again. I have become a little complacent as year after year has gone by without any problems. I forget the epipen A LOT when we are out and about. I am more vigilant once again, and that is important.

I feel so very blessed that all is well!

Also the bussing situation finally got figured out! Megan was a little hesitant as she headed out with the big kids for the first time, but by the time she rode home this is what she looked like.

Yep, she's a pro now!

The big kids are all used to it, and I am so grateful that we have this, especially once the weather starts to get really cold and really icky!

California: A Special treat

So we jsut got back from a wonderful trip to California. The trip was mostly about seeing Jen's family and being their for her sister's wedding, but we took the chance as we were passing through Ontario to stop and have dinner with Brian's Grandma and his aunts. We went to IHOP and it just so happened that the kids ate free! Afterwards, Grandma DuVall had surprises for the kids. These dogs are well loved and were a favorite part of our trip. Thanks Grandma!

Brian and his Grandma.

Me and Brian with Grandma. We sure wish we could see her more and hope that it isn't another two years before it happens again.

Random Pictures from summer

I have been enjoying of few of these every day for the last week or so. They are so good!Nathan enjoying his chemistry set. He thought this little bit of fizzing was much cooler once Brian explained he was breaking apart molecules and making new ones. Science is so fun!

Mike playing in a big bucket of water by the pool at Grandma and Grandpa Chantry's house. He ws so funny.

Megan fell asleep on teh drive last time when we went to Ogden. When we arrived and said she had slept she said, "No, I was just quiet."

Liz's in her new dress for aunt Michelle's wedding. It is even more beautiful in person. Can't wait for pictures of all fo the little girls.

Movie Stars

So while the kids were at Brian's parent's house for a week, his mom helped them to make a movie. The idea came to here earlier this summer and they had a great time carrying out her plan. The kids had such a great time and this weekend we were able to get the digital file. I spent today getting it edited and "just right". So here it is. The Chantry kids' first movie.

PRESENTING

THE TWINKIE SNATCHER

Stake Pioneer Day Celebration

Today was our Stake Primary Pioneer day celebration. They keep it simple, but it is sure fun. It is worth getting up early on a Saturday morning. The children all sang a Primary Pioneer song, and after the prayer, Nathan led the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the children paraded around the Stake Center. It is just the right length of time.

Liz and her friend Taya.

Nathan marching in the parade.

Megan and Eden

Taya and Liz

This was at the end, Michael is doing more running, than marching, but he knows that the fire truck is waiting.

Nathan enjoys this part to the fullest. The fire fighters sprayed into the air and the children loved running around and getting wet. Here are my two favorite pictures of Nathan. You can just tell how much he is enjoying himself.

Michael didn't really want to get wet, but we walked over tot he pumper truck. He loved looking at the controls on the side of the truck. Then a firefighter asked him if he wanted to sit inside. Mike was in heaven.

The fire fighter was pointing out their backpacks and other equipment. This sure made Michael's day.

Mike liked playing in the puddles once the water was turned off. There was a pretty good sized one, perfect for splashing.
The girls preferred eating popsicles and staying dry. They looked so cute in teh bonnets, even though they were a little bit big.