Halloween a little late

 It had been mentioned to me that I hadn't updated my blog in a while so I looked at it really quick and thought oh I didn't put the Santa pictures . . . .

Ok going back a little further I didn't add Halloween or anything else so lets get this blogging party started.

I made the girls Halloween costumes this year because I could think of spending $30 on a dress they would want to wear over and over that would last 1 wear.  So I looked on Pinterest and found a beautiful costume and the lady was selling it for $75 so I made it for $9. 

Eye Spy with my little Eye

We have been using Owen's harvest break from school to do all sorts of appointments today's was EYE'S!!!!

This was special because we got to go see Dr. Lisa Porter aka Aunt Lisa at her new office

A B See Vision Care!

We had fun terrorizing the office, using the restrooms over and over thanks to potty training and playing in the play area.  The kids got to dress up as explorers and use binoculars and telescopes to see everything.  They weren't ready to go back even though it was our turn.  Thankfully Lisa makes the visit fun and as it was Lily's turn Owen asked if he could go in the chair and play the games with Aunt Lisa.

Not to our surprise we did have to leave with one child getting glasses. . .

No, that was not her choice but awesome huh?!?!

These are the pretty princess ones we picked . . . 

There were a blue pair that aunt lisa had picked out that looked cute but since pink is Lily's most favorite I picked the pink ones since she wasn't putting in an opinion.  Little did I know she was FREAKING out that she was going to get blue glasses and she didn't want blue she wanted pink because pink was her favoritist. I heard that all the way home and all the way to naps.  

This will be a new challenge especially since Taylor was able to break a pair in the office in under a minute. 

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

This was the talk that stood out to me between the screaming and joys of being a mother with a husband working this Sabbath day.  While listening to this talk we sang the song 

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am.
I know God’s plan.
I’ll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ll honor his name.
I’ll do what is right;
I’ll follow his light.

His truth I will proclaim.

The reason why this one stuck with me is because it is one of my favorite primary songs.  I know it's a bit cheesy but it's an excellent testimony to teach your children through music.  

I have belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since I was born.  I was baptized September 5, 1992.  That day I was so nervous and the Bishop told me that they wanted me to wait on the steps for my dad to come get me.  I was the only one to get this message because everyone else thought that I didn't want to go through with it.  

The year I learned this song in Primary we also learned the song Genealogy I am Doing it! I loved this song too.  Why? Because of my mother. My mother has taught me and my sisters the importance of Genealogy since we were little.  I remember the fun we had in the Genealogy library one night when my mom was teaching me about my ancestors and she just had me chick on any name I wanted to until we got stuck the first time we probably made it 5 names and couldn't get anywhere because the work wasn't done yet so I started over and to our surprise we went all the way back to the King of England.  When we learned the song they picked a different one to sing for Mothers Day and I was so sad because I knew my mom would like this one much better. But then it was part of the Primary Program that year and when I sang that song I was so proud to sing it for my mom! 

I don't know if fun can describe Saturday morning session.  Worst potty training day EVER! I thought hey get up, do breakfast and the kids will be happy enough that I can catch some conference.  NOPE! They screamed and yelled and I sent them outside to play and even that didn't stop the fun so after retaining the fact that Boyd K Packer was in a maroon Lay-Z-Boy (yes that was the one bit of morning session I got) we took naps in hope for a better afternoon.  We woke up in time to get snacks and get set up for another go at hearing some encouraging words.

While I got Owen set up on the computer, Lily with my iPhone and Taylor with the baby computer we listened to a wonderful talk on how children are brilliant with technology and we should nurture that to help build up the kingdom. Yup true story.

Then we got to hear a talk about growing families.  Always a hard subject especially since when we announced Taylor we weren't met with encouraging words since she was #3 in 3 years.  I think the most poignant part of that talk was the emphasis on the fact that it is a decision between husband and wife and Heavenly Father. People shouldn't judge or make decisions for someone elses families.

The last talk we were able to catch bits and pieces of was the one on priorities I found this one hilarious from my view point because I was running around with a fly swatter with Taylor trying to 'smack that bug' then I was flipping over laundry, kissing injuries, getting drinks, trying to help a potty training child and so I barely heard the talk.

I'm glad I got to hear those little bits and I hope to hear more bits today!

Un-Welcome Haircut

When will we all learn that kids being quite is the exact opposite to kids being good. Lily chopped off Taylor's bangs :( Extreme sad face from Mom.  Lily got some time alone and a lecture on how only Kristin cuts our hair.  

 I wish I would have gotten Chet in this picture because that is who she is adoring. 

 My beautiful baby post haircut. 

I am of Worth

As I've been doing my normal blog stalking lately it seems that so many of my friends have been posting about how inadequate they are in the worlds standards.  It makes me so sad because this year I have been really trying to pull together my life from the turmoil that was having 3 kids in 3 years.  I don't remember if I thought what everyone else must think of me because seriously I was thinking it of myself.  


How come I can't keep up with laundry? 


Why is my house a perpetual mess? 


and the worst of all 


Why can't I just lose this weight?    


I am sure people have looked at me the last few years and wondered about my sanity some have even been bold enough to say how do you keep it together? Hahahaha! Take a glimpse at my life TOGETHER isn't there.


But I had a moment of clarity this week that brought everything together and made me feel complete for the first time in years.  I took a step back to really look at my blessings and my life is AWESOME! 


1. I have a husband that took me to the temple so that we could be married for eternity, loves me no matter what I weigh, works his butt off so that I can stay home with the kids and try to keep our home together.


2.  I have a son in Kindergarten that brought home a worksheet and READ it to me! 


3.  I have a daughter who follows me around when I clean just so that she can help.


4.  I have a daughter who when she wakes up in the middle of the night just wants to snuggle next to me to go back to sleep.  


5.  I have a home.  It may be a work in progress but its ours.  My family has a home that we can be together in and make memories and messes and fight and snuggle and read books in.  


6.  I have a family who cares about me and calls me all the time to check on me and to just sit on the phone together for hours. 


7.  Skype is a blessing for my childrens relationship with my parents. Owen got to read his worksheet to grandma this week. And he knew who she was and he knew her.  Without the computer my childrens relationship with my family would be so different.   


I have so many more blessings that I don't have time or you care to read. Yes as I look around my house the grass needs to be mowed, I REALLY need to mop, I have unfinished projects galore but you know what? I'M HAPPY!!!


As I was thinking about this post one of Janice Knapp Perry's songs came to mind that is just perfect.


Lovingly Jesus is watching
He knows I am worth all he suffered for me
So I will fulfill my own mission in life
Ever following him, faithfully
Line upon line I am striving
Not seeking the honor or praise of mankind
I will seek for the joy of celestial reward
Till all that God offers is mine

For I am of worth
Of infinite worth
My Saviour, Redeemer, loves me
Yes, I am of worth
Of infinite worth
I'll be all he wants me to be
I will praise him
I will serve him
I will grow in his love
And fulfill my divine destiny


No one knows my challenges and they don't need to and if you want to judge me go ahead but you know what I really don't care because this is my life and I am doing everything I can to keep it going. 

B.F.F.

Miss Manners

Before I took this picture she had just taken a bite out of the ice cream cone in her hand, an Little Miss Manners looked down chewed and swallowed and then said 'CHEESE!'

Kindergarten Cop

My little Owen started Kindergarten today and when asked what he wants to be when he grows up is a police officer. 

 He wanted to pose. 

 This just shows what a good big brother he is it makes me go aww. 

 And the big cheese! 

We made it through the first day of Kindergarten.  He learned the Humpty Dumpty song and the class has 3 fish.  He forgot to get off of the bus though.  He just wanted to go on the grand tour of Shelley and since he's not familiar with the system he didn't even know he was 'lost.' He got home about 20 minutes after the bus was supposed to drop him off the Bus Superintendent brought him home because they don't mess around with missing kindergartners.   

Happy Birthday Cheddar!

For Chet's Birthday we went to that skatepark and did a little movie making. 

He isn't a big fan of cake so we made him a birthday PIE! 

Can you guess how old he turned? 

It was a great family day LOVED IT! 

Anniversary

This year I wasn't planning on doing the cheesy I love my husband post because I didn't want to repeat the same things over again until I heard this song on the radio and I thought oh my gosh its our love song.  

I knew I loved you - Savage Garden 

Maybe it's intuition 

but some things you just don't question 

Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant 

And there it goes, 

I think I found my best friend 

I know that it might sound 

more than a little crazy 

but I believe... 

There's just no rhyme or reason 

Only the sense of completion 

And in your eyes, I see 

the missing pieces I'm searching for 

I think I've found my way home 

I know that it might sound 

more than a little crazy 

but I believe... 

A thousand angels dance around you 

I am complete now that I've found you 

I knew I loved you before I met you 

I think I dreamed you into life 

I knew I loved you before I met you 

I have been waiting all my life 

I never thought I would hear a song that matched our story since you don't always go on vacation and change your life because you saw a guy across the room and knew before you even knew his name he was going to change your life forever.  I am complete now 6 years later, 3 kids, 4 moves and I know this is where I'm supposed to be.  

Terrific Two!

My baby is 2.  These 2 years have flown by and she has definitely made her spot in this family.  She's a snuggler, she loves music, singing and dancing, and most of all mommy.  She has claimed mom for her own and does not want to share at all.  

 I made her cake for her birthday and Barbie (Darby as she is called in our home) was an easy, crazy challenge. I think we did pretty good! 

 Oooh ahhhh!

 WOW!

 And one of the favorite gift the keyboard! AKA NOISE MAKER!

She also got books from Grandma and Grandpa Porter, a nursery for her baby from Grandma and Grandpa Baltezore, a stroller for her baby, princess microphone, Barbie and Littlest Pet Shop. 

Absolutely ridiculous

Who knew you could try so hard and not get any good results.  Practice makes perfect means nothing to these 3. 

 Little would you know that behind Owen's head is Jace half naked! 

 A BUG!

 DID YOU SEE IT MOM!

 Singing a song

 Mom SERIOUSLY! 

Yup, story of our lives! 

Porter Reunion 2011

One of the things we look forward to during the summer is the Porter Family reunion.  This year all nine kids were there so they took the time take a pic. 

Keeping Taylor occupied, don't she look amused! 

This water faucet was the joy of the trip for the 5 and under crowd. 

 CHEESE!

 Super model! And daddy! And mommies glaring white leg! 

The kids favorite thing to do was walk in the spooky forest.  It was a daily walk around the beautiful campground learning numbers by finding all the campsite poles up to 30 :) Educational, exercise and time consuming good times.

 Isn't he cute! Love him! 

Emilee was the official photographer so when I get some pictures from her I'll be sure to post more. 

T-Ball

Whose the cutest T-baller ever? Oh yeah that's my boy! 

He was so excited to play can you tell?

Over half of his team we know from church so that made it easy to cheer when you already know all the kids names! :) 

You like that stance? Oh yeah he's getting ready to steal! 

Trying to get the other teams attention :) 

Oh look at the home run quality swing! This was a great way to spend our summer! But I was so glad when it was over. Who knew 2 days a week would seem like an intense time commitment. 

WATER!!!

Water is very important to my kids.  They love everything about it.  Then you add accessories and they can play for HOURS!!!

 $15 pool

 $15 slide 

$2 water torpedos

 3 hours of fun in the sun . . . 

Priceless!

And as a side note you know your kids are going to be different but they both look 

adorable in this swimming suit! Lily in this same suit!

Owen Daniel

Lily Elizabeth