They're Always Watching

I bet Aaron used to watch his Dad mow the lawn. I know I watched my Dad. Now he's the one mowing and Porter is watching.

{Waiting for Aaron to get back from dumping the bag.}

{Look alive! Leaning on one hand. Awww... so cute.}

{Finally, a wave!}

Our little man makes me happy!

Monday was a lovely day...

We went to the Zoo in the morning while it was cool, overcast, and occasional lightly drizzling. Perfect weather for the zoo! Because it was cool and many of the animals were just getting breakfast they were very active and close making Porter one happy boy.

{All day long}

{That darling white outfit didn't last all day long however. It's white again, don't worry.}

{Glass or no glass I don't like it when wild beasts get that, "I want to eat you" attitude towards my kid. Porter described him as a, "Big Kitty". Yep}

{This experience helped Porter add "Tiger" to his vocabulary}

{Looking, learning... I love this photo}

{"Wait for Daddy, Porter!"}

{I asked Aaron to take a picture of Porter on the horse... Not what I had in mind.;)}

{Too interested to look at the camera}

After the zoo we went for a yummy lunch at Tucano's Brazilian grill. Porter pointed to most everything at the salad bar and said, "let's try it!" and we did.

We headed home so Porter could nap. We thought that would be the end of our day, but we found out our Kaleena was in town. Kal invited us for a FHE swim night at her hotel and how can you pass that up? You can't. So, we finished up our finance (we're still grown ups) and waited for Porter's nap to end. I finally went in to get him and he was wide awake, but silent; weird. We got some CPK for dinner and visited with Kaleena. Then Aaron, Kal & Porter swam until 9 p.m. Sadly no pictures. Needless to say Porter slept well that night.

I've got a Question... I know SHOCKING

I just found out that a tots and me class I was excited to have P go into is changing this year. The new format of the class will still be a good experience for us, but I'd also like Porter to still get the experience the tots and me class provided. This class used to be set up so the kids in intervention services would go with their parents to a preschool like class with typical developing children and they'd be engaged in educational tasks. Eventually, the kids start going on their own more frequently.

I'm looking into Montessori schools. I like their adaptive philosophy and the idea of learning through every day tasks, but I'd like to find one that is comfortable working with special needs kids. Here's the other thing I don't really want him in preschool yet, but I would like to get him into a program where he goes once or twice a week. He's still young and I want him to get the chance to be young but a little bit of class wont hurt (in my opinion). I'm more interested in exposing him to the social experience and structure then kill and drilling the ABCs.

I have no idea where to start and wonder if we can even afford it, but I'd like to explore my options. Experience and recommendations welcome.

Luba Luba

I think about this often and while it's forever left a print in my heart I want to remember it so I'm writing this for me.

There was a day after giving birth to Priya that I was all alone at the hospital for half a day. It was painful for me to get in and out of bed so if I was awake I was holding her. She was in my arms and started to cry. Bouncing didn't work so I did what I do with P, I sang to her. My door was wide open and I hesitated as I started to sing it felt so natural, it was just me and my baby. This is what I do with my children hold them close and sing a melody. I saw a nurse stop and smile before I looked up. She was catching the first of many lullabies. I sang the lullaby that is the prelude to all lullabies in our house-

Luba Luba Luba
Luba Luba Ly
Luba Luba Luba
Hush now don't you cry.

Luba Luba Luba
Luba Luba Ly
Luba Luba Luba
Let me sing you a
Lullaby.

Priya heard the first line calmed down and smiled. You can believe what you will and say it was only gas but it was a beautiful smile at the perfect exact moment anyone else would smile. I believe she felt my love for her and my welcoming heart. She had heard that song every night when I was pregnant with her and I think it was something familiar in the new and scary place. I still sing it every night and when I do she quiets down, relaxes the muscles in her face, and cuddles in like, "Oh, I love my Mommy."

It's such a tremendous blessing to have children. I love them more than I could have every thought possible. Along with that love I feel a strong desire to keep them safe, protected, and happy. This week I've had impressions that I can't do this on my own. I must be close to the Lord or it's never going to work. There is something pushing inside of me to be a better Mother by inviting the Lord into my life more. I'm a perfectionist, but I'm not one of those perfectionists that actually does things perfectly. No, I'm the perfectionist the expects perfection and never forgives herself for falling short. I think Heavenly Father can help me with that and that's part of the reason He's pushing me to do better. Because He knows I wont only be a better mother if I keep Him near, I'll be better all around. This past week I've stumbled into sad story, after sad story these things are happening to people I love and know well. Life is too hard without our Faith. I'm going to try harder, I'm going to fight for my faith a little more because I deserve to have the Lord near and I know He wants me safe, protected, and happy... He's my Father... He wants me close.

So Random

I have a smart phone and having a camera that close is at times too convenient. Instead of taking pics with my nice camera a lot of times I just take them with my phone thinking oh I'll post that and don't. These are all my phone snaps as of late.

{Blurry, but Porter loves to dust with the dusting mitt! So do I, it makes my least favorite chore bearable. It's great that wanting to be like Mommy & Daddy can lead to tear free labor.}

{Cucumber love!}

{Our new favorite chip, Tostitos Artisan Recipe. Letting Porter eat chips on the sofa, not a favorite!}

{This cup (the nosy cup) is helping Porter make leaps and bounds in learning how to drink independently from a regular cup. He can see the fluid coming at him and it makes a huge difference.}

{Porter's best buddy Braxton! We got to have Brax come play one afternoon and I can't get enough of these two together, SO CUTE! I can almost hear Braxton saying to Porter, "Why does your Mom keep saying our names? Can you get her to let us eat in peace?"}

{Now if you feel the need to turn us into child services for this one I understand. It's sad, yet I laugh. Aaron and Porter were playing like every morning and Aaron decided to see if Porter would fit down his pant leg. Porter did quite well until the fun of shimming down ended and he was stuck.}

{Then there was this and me yelling, "Stop taking pictures and get him out of there!"}

{We got to go to the children's Museum because Braxton's grandma had some extra tickets and invited us! Braxton's Mom Kristen saved my life, no way I could haven't kept up with Porter without her help.}

{This was Porter's favorite. You pushed these and they played different music.}

{We were there for at least 30 minutes!}

{Porter loved this. The little girl standing next to him kept stealing his drum stick and finally got frustrated enough she took it and hit him in the head with it. AH! It was unsupervised children's day at the museum. Oh and there was an irresponsible mother's support group going on out in the lobby. "I don't even know where my children are right now!" It bugged me, obviously. I shouldn't be so judgmental maybe I'll get there one day when I've got 4 and it's summer time.}

{Aaron's Father's Day Gift... told ya I'd get it to him. Cologne... what were you thinking?}

{Napping in Priya's carseat at church}

{Priya napping with Uncle Landon Bear after church.}

{Priya was crying and Porter was trying to comfort her through the monitor. Sweet and clever boy!}

{Hangin' with Auntie Rach while Mom slept off a migraine.}

{Indian Style... after gym class. Love it!}

I'm always saying it's the little every day moments the bring me the most joy and these are just a handful of them. Everyday, we live life everyday! I'm so grateful for it.

Bear Lake

We can't afford to take a big long family vacation this summer so instead we decided to take several mini weekend vacations. When the chance came up for us to go with our ward to Youth Conference up in Bear Lake we decided to make it one of the vacations.

We left Thursday morning and the plan was to stay until Saturday afternoon, but we left Friday night because I didn't get much sleep between the 2 kids the first night.

We had a great time! I don't have a ton of pictures because there was lots to be done and with 2 kids in the great wide open our hands were always occupied. This trip showed me that I really am comfortable camping with the kids, it just has to be a lighter form of camping. :) Our camp grounds had bathrooms and easy access water.

The highlights:

• Seeing the youth's excitement to be there. We had Felicia, Jaden, Brooklyn, Zach, Jade and Spencer come.
  
• Zach eating a triple double decker at Angie's... 2lb of beef in one burger... nasty.
• Setting up and hanging out at camp. {Aaron doing a stellar job tending the children}
  

{She loved lounging under the trees}{Porter scoping out the grub}

{Ready for bed but it was still light out. Love the dinosaur pjs and cowboy boots!}

• Waiting for dinner to cook around the campfire and the amusement of hungry, tired people. 2 truths and a lie, most embarrassing moments, and ghost stories written by the group (I was in bed for this but heard the laughing).

{Campfire and a full moon}

• Eating dutch oven dinner at mid-night. I prepared it without any experience cooking in a dutch oven without solid instructions and the nice thing about the miscommunication about dinner was that everyone was so hungry by the time we ate it tasted like Heaven. Who knows if it was actually any good.
  
• Getting to know the youth and ward members. GREAT people I tell you, all of them!

Day 2:

• Watching Audrey freak out when she discovered the earwigs in our bagels. It's alright we still had plenty to eat.
  
• Porter fist pounding with everyone.
  
• The youth getting to know Porter and playing with him constantly. I've got a pool of new babysitters for date night! Sweet!
  
• North Beach- Porter loved playing in the sand as usual.{Beach Baby}

{Happy in the sand}

• Boating, oh my body hurts, FUN! We went out tubing and even took Porter with us. He was a little unsure if he should enjoy it or not and would spontaneously giggle then get right back to uncertain. We took him back to the boat and went faster without him. It was fun, totally outside my comfort zone, and left us soar but happy. Aaron went out with Bishop Winn and the Young Men's President Bryan while I headed back to camp with the kids. It's my understanding that they mocked Ryan (it's was his boat and he was driving) to the point that he declared war on them and brought a world of hurt to the 3 cocky tubers. They never fell off but had to hold on for dear life and I can't speak for the other 2 but Aaron has a bit of whiplash from it. He doesn't care though it was right up his ally and he had a ton of fun. Poor Brooklyn turned green after the crazy boat maneuvering and the group headed back to camp ASAP because she was so sick.

{Porter climbed in and said, "Go vroom, vroom, GO!"}

• We all wore tie dye shirts and I got wet in mine, my belly is still blue and pink.
  
• Getting back to camp and finding Bryan's tent annihilated by the wind. So sad. The bottom tarp was still staked into the ground but the tent had ripped away from the bottom and scattered every where.
  
• La Beau's Raspberry shake on the way out of town.
  
• We packed up what we could and headed home. It was sad to miss out on the fireside by the Bishop and his wife but my children were happy to be home. A 3 hour trip took 5 with our colicy little Priya. But we made it safe and sound, considering how exhausted we both were that was a major blessing.

I love my calling with the Youth; at times it seems like a lot of work but I love all of them and it's such a blessing to know them!

I posted!

I posted about the 4th it's just showing up below the previous post because I started it on Saturday and am now just finishing it.

Scroll down to see it. Glad I got something up.

Summer Time=No Time

Here is my lame weekly update from my phone, in the car on the go. Because we never seem to be home long enough to do any blogging... which is kinda sad because that means there's a lot to blog about... I'm taking a sec to formally apologizing to our Grandmothers. There are stories and pictures to share and I hope they'll get done soon, but who knows. I'm sorry. :(

If any one still reads this and has been camping with either a toddler and/or infant I'd love any comments with your tricks and tips to a safe and happy experience.

Happy Summer! Hope you're lovin' every minute of it!

The 4th

We spent the 3rd at my parents house visiting with my siblings including my two brother's Couper and Landon who we don't see as often. There was yummy food, lots of laughing and we watched the sunset on the back lawn. It was so relaxing.

We got up early on the 4th to rush to Aaron's parents for the traditional activities. It was a nice and very busy day.

{Porter's first parade, he really enjoyed it.}

{Priya cuddled with her grandma}

{We were surprised to see my sister on this float. She was pretty embarrassed, not something she considers a perk of being and ambassador for her school.}

{the boys did some swimming}

{and splashing}

{Porter made this dessert for everyone. It was so fun to do with him. He made the jello the day before. He had to taste it of course and added two new words to his vocabulary while working on it HOT & MESSY. Adding the final touch of whipped cream was probably his favorite part.}

{the complete product}

{He would finish one, clap for himself and look around to make sure everyone else was clapping for him as well.}

{Proud Porter. He passed them out, giving each one a good squish in the process.}

{After all the really good food was eaten there was a wiffle ball game. This is Porter's first at bat. His daddy helped him get a hit.}

{They ran to first together}

{This is Porter leading off... in the wrong direction. :) He had fun but he's got a short attention span, it's like he's 2 or something.}{Porter playing in the puddles. I like that you can see his reflection in the picture and Karli rounding 3.}{This is my fireworks picture. I stayed in with Priya because I didn't want to over stimulate her or upset her. She sat in my lap and Toby (my puppy-in-law) sat in Priya's lap. Porter didn't like the noise of the fireworks so we drove home and watch all the different shows across the valley.}

Very good day indeed!