Animals

Update

Porter and his new best friend. Our families went to a free event that included pony rides and a petting zoo

Not too sure of the bunny yet

Cheese

Who's out there?

So close, yet so far

Our view and Luke's ride from work

On their way to catch the short bus...

Luke babysitting Mr. Potato Head


I am SO proud of how well he eats. I know that's so retarded, but he ate all of the contents of this veggie sandwich (albeit separately). I've worked hard to pack our meals with as many organic veggies as I possibly can, and make his "treats" fruit or homemade Popsicles. Seriously though, what 2 year old comes running when he sees wheatgrass juice???

Like Luke, he's always such a ham

Awww

Porter brought Afton his favorite toys, one by one, and was so proud to show me the end result of his sharing.

Okay, no joke, we came into the kitchen after we heard Porter climb up and click the tray onto his chair....to find him reading one of Luke's German books.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...



then what is a video worth???

My Chunky Little Monkey

Schnappi

Oh my goodness this is SO super cute! Luke introduced Porter to the German language with this video and Porter LOVES it! To take a "break" from the daily grind of school and studying,Luke will practice his listening skills by playing some of these with Porter on his lap. He's such a great dad!

Tuna, Rocks, and Crayons

Ah, She took it like a man!

Well, the moving company moved us in on Monday of this week so I had to entertain the kids and keep them out from 9am - 4p.m. Well, we finally had to come back around 2 so they could get a break from me. Porter, Afton and I camped out on one of the bathroom floors and watched a movie while the movers finished up. Not even 30mn. had passed when we heard a knock on our door and it was one of the movers asking "is that your Volvo?" (mind you, parked a block away on a random street) I said, "uh yes" and they sheepishly said "we hit it trying to get out of here." I told Luke he needed to take care of it because I was going to cry, as this would put me above my maximum stress capacity :) We still are not 100% sure how this accident was remotely possible! (Luke said the driver must have been drunk and mildly retarded)



Just wait, it gets better!

Tah dah!


This is the front passenger tire...because it was dragged 25 yards from a parallel position to the curb ending up in a perpendicular position

Tag

Becky started this...thanks, Becky. I think it'll be fun!

1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

A little bit of everything

Okay, here it is. I took the lazy man's route and just put a bunch of pictures into a slide show instead of posting individuals.

So, I'm writing this for a little sympathy "awww" and maybe a comment that tells me "it's okay Steph, I've been there, you'll get through it."

We're in the middle of a "permanent change of station" move and we've not yet found a place to live. Though, in the matter of one week, we've had to unpack and re-pack all of our belongings that didn't get loaded onto the truck (i.e. everything we need for a 2yro, 2mo, and 2 adults to function)3x. Why have we had to do this 3 times in one week you ask. Well, there is not enough room at the inn. A day here, a day or two there. There are 3 military lodges in Monterey and because we did not have time to make a reservation well in advance, they are all booked up with vacationers and other PCS moves. It's odd because when we were vacationing in Hawaii and staying at a military lodge, we were told that at any time we could be asked to leave for PCS moves because they get priority. Hmmmmm. It's been fun.

Luke started classes last Monday and he is gone from 7a.m. to about 3p.m. so, the poor guy, has had to cram a lot in between that time and the time property management companies leave for the day. The most challenging part, I think, has been sharing a room with the 2 children. Afton sleeps in the closet near the bathroom, and Porter in the Kitchenette area. So there's no escaping to make phone calls, shower, watch movies, have nice discussions with the spouse, or for Luke to get ready in the morning without waking one of them. On top of this, it has been GLOOMY and cold! I definitely suffer from seasonal affective disorder (I've diagnosed myself)and we heard nothing about the weather being like this up here, only how much everyone loves it. I've paid my dues living in the states of Massachusetts, Utah, and Misery...oh, I mean Missouri. Oh, how I miss AZ. Oh! And the icing on this cake has been Porter's discovery of poo in his diaper and that he can now access it. A few days ago I found him with it all over his fingers, clothes, and bedding. And because he now has a "thing" about having dirty hands,there were also long, poopy streak marks up and down the mesh sides of the playard. How do you clean poo out of mesh?! I don't know, but I figured it out...then, and again today!


Okay, I think that's it. I feel better already:) I miss my YW in the Del Cero Ward, not only for the babysitting benefits, but because they are all so special and I love being around them! It will be nice to make friends in our new ward...I'm ready for a little break, even if it is just a few hours ;)

Blessing

We had sweet Afton blessed on July 6th, 2008. It was a beautiful blessing and (thank you Di!) we have it recorded for her baby book so she can look back and see how her life played out. She looked so beautiful! Please note the shoes :) with big satin bows (awwww)

It was very bitter-sweet as we closed the San Diego chapter of our life to begin a new. (Although I'm still in the "bitter" section of the chapter...yea, yea, it will be sweet soon, I know.) Just so all of you in S.D. know, this was the first time in a VERY long time that I wasn't ready to move. I love new adventures and living new places but I really became attached to our friends and ward family! It comforts me knowing we still own our home in S.D. so I can, theoretically, return tomorrow :)

Apologies

Hi all!
For those of you who are unaware, we welcomed our second child on May 22nd, 2008 at 1:48a.m. Her name is Afton Paige and she weighed 7.12 lbs, and measured 20.5 inches. It was a Crrrrrazy night! I will get around to filling in details and posting pictures, I just wanted to post something in the mean time to let you all know I have not forgotten about you or the blog. In fact, it weighs on me more each day (and no one is to blame but myself). With a 21 month old, a newborn, and an impending move three weeks away (of which we were given 3.5 weeks notice), and a condo to worry about renting out, the blog should be the LEAST of my worries, but somehow I still feel guilty for not finding the time. Heck, I am LUCKY to find the time to shave my armpits. So, this is just to let you know there will be pictures on the way...however slow it may seem to the outside world ;)

Love to all!

Our Getaway

Luke took me on a much needed vacation upon his return from Indiana. My sweet Mom and lil' sis came down to watch and entertain(or rather,BE entertained by)Porter so that I could rest easy leaving him for the first time. It was difficult pulling out of our drive, knowing I wouldn't get to run into his room the next morning to see his face light up while he said "hi". It was difficult knowing I wouldn't get to feel his soft, chubby cheek against mine when he gets in his "clingy to mommy" moods. Or to know I wouldn't be there to be his first and last kisses of the day. I was teary for, oh, 40mn. or so, but when we arrived at our cabin in Big Bear, I realized how much I needed the getaway not only for my relationship with Luke, but for me, myself, so I could be a better me. A better wife, mother, friend, and leader.

After 2 nights and 2.5 days in Big Bear, we headed down to L.A. for 2.5 more days and nights. We visited Universal Studios, the Citadel, Hollywood Walk of Fame, L.A. LDS Temple, Bel Air/ Beverly Hills, and in Long Beach, the Queen Mary. (The Queen Mary was a lavish, British passenger cruise liner that was converted into a troop carrier during WWII. My Grandfather Walker rode the ship from New York to England in 1942.)

My Little Buddy

He always keeps a smile on my face!

Reading

I love that he loves to read!
It's so rewarding to see your efforts haven't been in vain!
...just like the sign language. That has been SO rewarding!

Pre-Christmas and Christmas Break

Well, there are a ton of excuses but to some of you, it wouldn't matter what they are. There is no excuse for not keeping in-touch, right? So here are a few pictures from our Christmas vacation and before. We spent Christmas with my grandmother and great aunt in Florida, then traveled through Utah to hit the slopes and see my mom and siblings. Unfortunately, we forgot the camera everyday we were up on the mountain so there is no proof of me riding down the backside in knee-deep powder while nearly 5 months pregnant. (sigh) Guess you'll have to take our word for it :) I also had a chance to teach my Dad how to snowboard! And if being able to teach a total brainiac doctor who is 54 years-old, how to snowboard successfully AND enjoy it, doesn't say something about my skills, I don't know what does! ha! (take it as a huge compliment, Dad :) These pictures aren't too exciting and I'm not in much of a mood to play catch-up on the journaling aspect of it all, so hope this will suffice :)

Ferryboat tour through Wakulla Springs, Florida. Porter was infatuated with all of the birds! The last time he and I went (nearly a year before this trip) we saw tons of Alligator, but none this time due to the cold weather.


Porter LOVES to read. He'll stop whatever he's doing if you offer a book. This moment was cute...Granny was prepping Christmas dinner and these two were in the back room reading.


I love how little porter looks in the picture. It puts things into perspective. And it's easy to lose it when you're with such a smart(=always keeping me on my toes) kid day in and day out. You expect them to act older than they really are.


Luke shot this picture as well, of "Aunty" and Porter. I love this picture because there is one eerily similar of myself with Aunty when I was his age(she is my great aunt, Porter's great, great aunt).


Picking Daddy up from his deployment...a little shy at first, but he remembered.


Personality!

Saying Goodbye to Daddy ...again

Luke deployed back in October. I know, I know, why am I blogging about it now? Because I'm very LATE. First there were the fires that lasted way too long. And lasted up to his deployment date. Then there was me thinking I was someone else being able to juggle three callings at church (ward primary sec., stake YW sec., and in-charge of an enrichment group in R.S.)... now only two callings and two Christmas program commitments. Oh, and not to mention one VERY busy 15 month old and my visiting teaching which has been anything but stellar for November :) Oh! and I forgot the best part on top of all this! We're PREGNANT...again :)

On Our Way


Saying Goodbye

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!