First Video

I found a video that Brian and I made for my Dad about 4 years ago when he lost his job. I think it was the first one we did. It was a hard time for my family. This video was special for me and I didn't know we had a copy of it and they erased it off their computer, but I came across it today. So if you want to see some old pics of the Porter fam, take a look. You'll probably have to pause or mute the music at the bottom.

A Few Christmas

Here are a few pics from Christmas. The girls had so much fun opening presents. It was like a marathon to see how fast they could get through them. One day we'll enjoy it a little longer. The kids pj's were made by Grandma Chudleigh. They turned out really cute.

For Mom's Christmas Letters

What???

So there I was sitting in my parents bathroom half laughing, half crying. I mean, are you serious? This can't be real. But it was and still is. I sat there with the stick on the sink trying to steal a peek out of the corner of my eye, but who was I trying to fool? No one else knew what I was doing. I'm sure some of you have done the same thing. You want to know, but you're afraid to know, because what if it showed the opposite of what you were hoping for. Well, as I sat there half looking, half pretending not to, I saw that sign I didn't expect to show up; and boy did it show up fast!!! Even though I wasn't ready, I still would have been disappointed if the negative showed up. So if by now you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm pregnant. Again. I know, I already have a baby and those of you who know me have seen me stressed out and to the point of insanity, but we are here again, and grateful. The due date is July 18th, so we have a long way to go, but we're excited. We had a doctor tell us once we'd have to have "help" with all of our babies Caroline on, but he was clearly very wrong. Both this one and Cooper we're both au natural. TMI. I know, but that's why you read these things right? To find out everything that's going on in someone's life without having to be nosy and ask, so now you know. I know some of you already know, but it's open info now I guess. So if you don't post and say anything to me, I'll hate you. Just kidding.

Falalalalala

Thought this turned out fun.

9 months old

Cooper was 9 months last Sunday, but it's taken me this long to get a picture of him. He wasn't a fan of the Santa hat so I had to bribe him with a candycane. Whatever it takes to get a good picture right? He was just over 21 pounds and I can't remember the inches tall, but he was like 83% I think. Anyway, healthy as a horse and growing so fast. We sure love him!

I'm Okay

So I put the kids to bed at 6:30. That doesn't mean they went to bed then, but I had moments of peace here and there. Caroline has been having issues going to bed so I told her if she got in the bed I'd give her a surprise. She went in her room and I brought up their Chrismas tree that had lights on it and put it in their room. A little later Liz was yelling to me because Caroline was getting out of the bed, so I made them a bed under the tree. A few minutes later Liz came out and said they wanted Christmas music to listen to, so I did that. A few minutes later Liz called me to tell me she wanted to sleep in the Santa hat. So that's what the picture is of. Our sweet little Liz sleeping under the Christmas tree with her Santa hat on listening to Christmas music. One of the little things that I do love about being a Mom. Seeing sweet little innocence like this and the joy and excitement of a child. Notice, however, that Caroline isn't there. She didn't go to bed for 3 hours after I put her in bed the first time. :) Anyway, so the kids slept until almost 8:30, basically unheard of without Caroline coming in our room several times during the night, so I feel well rested and ready for the day. Amazing what a nights rest can do. Change that, a nights Good and Uninterrupted rest!

Emotional Break Down #2

So here I am on another night trying to hold in the tears that just won't stay back. I'm a horrible person. I wish I was one of those Mom's who said being a Mom was the best thing ever, but I just can't say it. I'm burned out. I'm tired of the girls fighting, the yelling, the crying, the bad (but not really bad) words we have to keep saying "don't say that", the disobeying, the talking back, the messes one after another, the rounds of stinky diapers, the craziness while shopping, the teasing, the sensitivity. I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about. We had all of those today and then Bri left me home with the kids and went to work. I now understand why some women say they have to work. I mean, I'd much rather be at home with the kids at work, but there are some days I wish it were me going to work instead of Brian. I mean seriously, our oldest is almost 5 and I'm burned out?!!! There's still a long way to go. How am I supposed to make it? I want to be one of those Mom's who says I love being a Mom, it's the best thing ever. I thought I was a good Mom with Elizabeth. She was a great baby and I loved it. We hit about 18 months and that's when I started feeling a little of my patience go. I have never really been a patient person, but with her, I was amazed. I was amazed at how much patience I had and how I could go hours with her crying or screaming and handle it well. Now, I have probably the tiniest shred of patience left and by about 9:30 in the morning it's gone. How did I get to be such a horrible person? Or even worse, a horrible mother? I love my kids, don't get me wrong. Elizabeth is the most forgiving child, thank goodness!!!! The problem is that now she's getting old enough to remember things I say or if I yell about something or just scream 'cause I've hit my point. Yesterday I asked her to pray for me because I needed the extra help. Today she said, "remember that you asked me to pray for you?". At least I'm teaching her principles on prayer, but how sad that they have to be used on me. Caroline is so sweet. I love how I'll come home after even 10 min and she'll run up to me and hug me like I've been gone all day. It amazes me that she wants to hug me. Cooper is the happiest baby I know. He's always smiling and really, I have no qualms with him. He is near perfect. But they all were at this age. I suppose it's only time. I need to sleep. Maybe that will help.

Here we go again!

Potty training. Gotta love it. We're on round 3 with Caroline. First start she got the pool bug with the straight water diarreah (sp). So we stopped. The round 2 we were getting ready to go visit Bri's family and she wasn't trained yet, close, but not good enough to not bring any diapers. She stayed dry the whole day on the plane though. Every Sunday during Sacrament meeting she'll say she needs to go potty, and sure enough, she does go. So, round 3 starts today. She gets this nasty rash and so I showed it to her and now she wants to wear her underwear. Her treat today is chocolate chips 'cause we're out of our other treats. She calls is twacket. Pretty cute. So, we'll see if we can seal the deal this time. As I write this, she is playing in her tinkle. Geez!!!!! How quickly an accident can happen.

Ever wanted to be a dancing elf?

Some of you may have seen this, but if not, check it out. So fun!!!
I can't figure out how to just have you click on it, so copy and paste in task bar.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1128558325

Rub a dub dub.... 3 kids in a tub

Some of my favorite pics of the kids are ones in the tub. Thought these were cute. I cropped the girlies so they were "modest". I couldn't get Caroline to even look at me, so I pulled out the video camera and turned the screen around so they could see themselves. Works every time! Plus, I hadn't done any video-ing for a while. 2 for 1.

Growing Up

The other day I picked up Elizabeth from school and she said " Mom, I want to kiss Brock on the lips." The ladies that work there heard and started laughing. I asked her why and she said, "because he's beautiful." Of course I did my best to explain to her that that wasn't okay and she wasn't old enough to kiss yet. Well, yesterday she came home and said, "Mom, I kissed Cameron on the cheek". So much for our little talk? They sure grow up fast don't they! So for that purpose, here are a few pics to remember how sweet they are when they're little.

November 16th 2001

Six years ago on this very day...
Does anyone know what I'm going to say?
This girl and this guy decided to be
Together forever through eternity
How funny it is the way that they met
Most of you don't remember I'm willing to bet
So I'll fill you in as quick as I can
On how the wonderful life of these two began
Brian went to visit a girl next door
It was a girl he seemed to really adore
But while he was gone on a trip one day
This girl packed up her stuff and moved away
When the door opened up after he rang the bell
He saw the girl of his dreams, her name was Michelle
Their courtship it happened so quick, so fast
And many had thought it sure wouldn't last
But they had so much in common, they loved the same things
And so one day they started looking for rings
A trip to New York to meet all the fam
And see the city, all the glitz and the glam
They drove to a small town in PA called Springville
Where the family all lived on a hundred acre hill
Brian surprised Michelle with a beautiful ring
After a song he had written for her he did sing
He asked her to marry him on that hill on the farm
When suddently the coyotes howeled because of the fire alarm
They quickly ran home to share the news with all
And their plans were to get married later in the fall
So on November 16th, 2001
The adventure of these two had finally begun
Now 6 years later, who knew that they'd be
A family of five, their kids numbering three
With more ups than downs I know they would say
They're still glad they married on that November day.

Love you Brian!

Visiting PA

Well, we decided to do a blog on our family since the other blog we have is mainly just the pictures I take. I'm going to reformat it to be more like an online portfolio. This blog will be more filling you in on our family and what's going on.

We just got back from a trip to PA to visit the family up on the farm. It was a nice time. We just hung out and played games the whole time. Brian's dream come true! The kids had fun playing with their cousins and running around.

The trip home wasn't much fun. Caroline threw a few tantrums, Cooper spit up all over some lady in the aisle as we were walking to our seats, and we had to wake up at 4:30 that morning, so of course we were all past the point of reasoning with eachother. But, we made it home and all is well. The colors were beautiful up there, so we'll have a few pictures on here from all of that.