The Fakest Fit Ever!

This is great! Porter has learned that he doesn't get much sympathy when he truly cries to throw a fit so he's decided he needs to put his dramatic acting skills into play. For those of you who know Sign Language, you'll notice that towards the end he's trying to do the sign for "all finished." This was his first attempt at the sign without any prodding.

Baby in a Bag 2

What is it about babies and small animals that make us see bags as an opportunity and not merely the book-toting canvases they are?

What's another word for "cute" ?????

'Cause I think I've over-used that one!

White Boy Dancing and saying "Please"

We captured Porter doing what he LOVES to do when we play music...dance! We also captured him signing "please". Sorry the video is so dark, we're not sure how to change the camera settings to fix it. The sign for "please" is rubbing your hand in a circular motion on your chest. We've been teaching him to say that whenever he wants something and it finally clicked about a week ago! YIPPEE!

Never mind my hair and outfit! It's cleaning day :)

A Day in the Life

Well, since most of you visit for picture updates, I decided not to subject you to anything other than happy, family postings :) I started another blog where I'll put my thoughts about everything else.

Here is a little video of Porter in the tub entertaining, as always. We'll get a better one up soon.


This picture is post-YM/YW Luau. I was informed later by attendants, that Porter was the hit of the party. Shucks.


Inevitably, after he's fed, the tray is removed, and he's waiting to be released from his chair, the leg gets thrown over the side of the chair...he's just "kickin' it."


This is one of the new things he's trying out. A fit. He doesn't throw it for any length of time because he realizes it's in vain. But he's so dang cute to us with that lip and face. (I know, I know, it won't be so cute a few years from now.)


He LUVS his Daddy


Anyone up for some surfing???


He enjoys washing his hands...and feet.


Ready for bed, and this is how happy he is 99.9% of the time! We feel so blessed!

Poor, poor mom and dad!

Don't get me wrong, she is BEAUTIFUL! But come on...Iraq? Is that REALLY a part of the U.S.? Where has she been for the past 6 years? I mean South Africa I could MAYBE understand since it sounds similar to "SOUTH America" and maybe she somehow thought that the question included both North and South America because she forgot what the "U" and the "S" stand for???
...(oh gosh, I know this one. ::smile:: u= united s= souths ...no, that doesn't seem right{just keep talking} I know we're South of Iraq and that South Africa just became the fifty-somethingeth state and I know they can't read since they live in the jungle...so maybe they can't get their maps delivered to them by the postman. That's it! That's why They can't find...wait, what was the question?)

Happy Birthday!

Luke was able to return home for 48hrs this past weekend to celebrate Porter's 1st birthday, before having to return to IN. It was Luke's birthday on the 12th and Porter's on the 18th so we had a lot to celebrate! On Friday, Luke and I met another couple at the BODIES Exhibition in La Jolla to see what all the fuss was about. It was definitely something to talk about but I'm not sure "fun" is the right word to describe it :) Educational, yes!

Saturday morning I dragged Luke to my favorite instructor's class so he could get a beating too. He was actually impressed and thought it was hardcore...(satisfaction to my ears. Though in NO way am I saying I can keep up with his athletic abilities!)

After we got our beating and changed out of our totally drenched clothing, I surprised him with his first ever, professional massage and he LOVED it (we actually had a couple's massage so it was totally fun)!

We then returned home, whereupon Daph and I made one of his favorite meals that consisted of Spicy Green Chicken Enchiladas, White Jalapeno Sauce, Green Tomatillo Salsa, and a special "cake" (made especially for him by Daphne)that was Sticky Sweet Rice with Mangoes. All I have to say is "MMMMMMMMMMMMMM"! I am STILL in-love with the food from that night!
***A little side note; Porter has officially spoken his first word. I don't count "Dada" and "Mama" even if they are said with purpose. It was the day of his birthday. When I approached him with a towel to get him out of the tub, he said "no," shook his head, and turned away from me.***

My Personality Quiz ...this is right on!

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you are very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's Your Personality Type?

All you kneed is exercise

As some of you are aware, I finally joined a gym that meets my need for "extreme". I joined The Boxing Club and am in-love with it! I don't know if I would even call it a gym per se because of the usual stereotypes that go along with the word "gym". Thus the word "club." In fact, Luke was pretty convinced that he couldn't get a better workout than what he was already getting and I definitely wasn't going to be able to convince him to join a club. I told him to just come and try it out. After all, the two times I had trained prior to convincing him to check it out, I had to summon every ounce of strength in me to keep from hurling into the bushes after each session. After his first session and while I was still boxing, he was signing up. :) They offer Muy Thai, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, and Kickboxing. I stay on the safer side and stick with the boxing and kickboxing while Luke, well, pretty much goes without saying that, he doesn't stick with what's "safe".

Yesterday I FINALLY paid for a babysitter so I could get my much-needed beating. I don't know why I always feel like I'm "stuck" when Luke is gone. I feel like it's selfish of me to spend money when it's not a MUST and money that could potentially be used for our children..guess that's the frugal side of me coming out. Since Luke has been gone I've only used the club a handful of times because the club doesn't offer daycare (the ONLY down-side to the place). But I'm sorta glad they don't because I think that would bring in an entirely different crowd...you know the type; those coming to socialize and look like they're working out but oddly, not a drip of sweat has protruded from a single pore of their freshly made up face! Huh! So weird. Anyway, this club is HARDCORE!!! The only people that teach classes are dudes...and I think teaching comes second for them. Fighting first. What I learned after paying for a baby sitter was that it is important and a must for me to take care of myself. It's worth every penny for the way I feel afterwards!

It's difficult to see well in this photo, but here's what my knees looked like just after returning home from Steve's wrath. Nice!

Bathroom fun!

Okay so NOW I understand why, when I used to live in apartments, they would tell us that bathroom mats with "sticky" undersides were prohibited. Technically it's NOT "sticky" it's just rubber. Enter our "sticky" sided rug that's been so good to us for almost 3 years. We live in a nice condo with travertine floors and haven't had a problem with any of our other rugs. But because this one is the step-out-of-shower-with-damp-feet-rug, it has taken it's toll. Guess the sticky part of the rug, with enough moisture, eventually forgets which side to stick to...the floor or the rug on which it came. I went to move the rugs from the bathroom for the annual bathroom cleaning. (HA! just kidding) And to my dismay, had to use some brute force to pry it loose from the floor. Here's some of what was left (I didn't think of the photo op. until I was nearly finished scraping the residue off the floor)

A hero in my book

If you are unaware of Operation Red Wing that took place back in 2005 over in Afghanistan, please take a moment to watch this 8mn. interview with Marcus Luttrell...he is SO humble. His response to Matt's question regarding his vote to set the goat-herder free, breaks your heart. It is rare to find such humility among our generation...especially from guys of this caliber(though, I know of one more). He does a great job of deflecting and correcting any liberal propaganda Matt Lauer throws at him. What a good ol' boy.

I Enjoy Watching Myself

So a little preface to this video:
I recorded Porter a while back on our digital camera and was talking and playing with him(so you'll hear both of us in the background on the video that Porter is watching). I then played the video on our computer for Porter while he was playing in his crib. And this is his reaction(...or interaction?) to it. It's funny how he'll mimic what he hears himself saying or doing...like "bababa" and waving. I'm aware that some(no, probably most) of you might find it annoying, but it's cute to his parents :) Heck, his dirty diapers are "cute". ha

Where IS that "black hole"?

Ever wonder where that ever-illusive "black hole" is? Well, wherever it is I know it's gotta be pretty well outfitted with footwear and underwear, and equipped with all sorts of odds and ends from the home...like stamps, pens(oh the pens!), hairties, keys, cellphones, any cords that you rely on to view or download pictures, videos, and the likes, and let's not forget tampons! You swear you JUST bought a box of them, you put them right under your sink in their usual spot, yet where are they? You ARE the only female in the house, right?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm




AH, HA!

The Whole Clan

Our little family was fortunate enough to get to visit our family back in the mid-west over Independence Day. Porter and I had not yet met everyone in Luke's family because they're spread out from coast to coast. It was so much fun watching Porter interact with his 14 cousins! He's number 14 of 15...the oldest cousin is in the Airforce and the youngest hasn't yet had his 2 month birthday. I feel so fortunate to be a part of their family. I have to pinch myself during visits with them because I feel like it's a dream that will surely end. I always had the dream of being part of a large extended family, with so many relatives that you lose count. I am the oldest of 6 children in my family as well as the oldest cousin...that goes for both sides. I have one cousin on the maternal side and three on the paternal. And we've always been so spread out it's been difficult to keep in touch. I can not wait for Porter to enjoy all of his relatives!

(In this first photo, we have everyone but 2 of Luke's siblings and their spouses, as well as the newest cousin. Also, note how strong some of the family genes are!)

Kansas City's Crown Center

After Luke left Mo. to head out to the course, Porter and I met up with one of my childhood friends from Columbia. We met up at Kansas City's Crown Center and took our kids to Kaleidoscope which is a really fun, interactive, fairytale-like "imagination machine" as they call it. The kids loved it...okay, we totally loved it too! Afterwards, we ventured outside to the "dancing water" and let the kids play until they were ready for a nap.It was a fun-filled day!


















This was as close to the water as he'd get.

America the Beautiful

Please take a moment to reflect and listen to this Canadian broadcast by Gordon Sinclair given back in 1973. It's one of my favorites.

To live in America is one of the greatest and most precious blessings one could have. I am so blessed to be a part of this great nation; a nation prepared by God for us. A nation whose Founding Fathers were so inspired by God to compose the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence some 200 years ago that it still stands as a model to other nations as well as our own. In composing those documents (as well as others) they secured Liberty, Freedom, and Independence for generations upon generations. Our freedom is not something to which we are entitled. Our freedom is a gift. An unfathomable number of men have paid for the freedoms that we have today with blood and sacrifice so great, we may never come to comprehend.

Not a day goes by that I don't thank my Father in Heaven for the freedom that we have to worship freely, to travel, to buy homes and cars, to teach anything, to learn anything, to choose whatever profession interests us, to speak freely, to bear arms, and most notably, to bring children into the world and have the peace of mind (that we so often take for granted) that they won't be exposed to war or tyranny, but will enjoy the same freedoms we enjoy.

So get out there and do your part to preserve what we have by voting (we've gotta keep those politicians in-line), and being an active participant in this country's (and our children's)future. I encourage you to find a Hero this Independence Day and thank him, and to thank our Father in Heaven for this blessed land in which we live.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." -Preamble to the Constitution

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness..." -Declaration of Independence

Blue

Is it just me or does he look more like a 5 year-old than a 9month-old?

Not for the Liberal Eyes

Luke ran a shooting activity with the Laurels and Priests of our stake. We all had a blast out in the mountains shooting clay pigeons and steel targets.

Baby in a Bag

Why can't we, women or mothers, be this creative? What is it about men that instinctively makes them see bags, laundry hampers, or even book shelves as places to hide small children and animals? They keep us young and on our toes. Without them we'd be ol' sticks in the mud that forgot what fun was!