3 parties for 1 ten year old birthday boy

Every year we are in Montana on Porter's birthday. So we usually celebrate with our cousins on the day of his birthday. This year we happen to be at my dads so we made him a cake and gave him a few presents. Then we went to see the cousins and Grandma Ila and Papa Bill treated Porter and all the cousins to a pizza place with games. So we celebrated again with cake,games and pizza. On the way home he mentioned he wished he could have a party with his friends and I figured 2 was plenty. Then I started feeling bad because you are only "birthday party worthy" for a short while so I decided to throw a surprise party at our friends Carol and Toms pool. Everyone I invited came and they all met at the house while Porter was at his Nana's house. Then we met together at the pool for a party. He was so excited and his comment was, I have so many friends here I don't know who to play with." Now Porter is ten aka "double digits" These are a few things that I love about him at this age.

1. Sweet sensitive personality
2. Loves his mama
3. Loves to play outside
4. aims to please
5. when asked to do something he almost always jumps right on it
6. is very spiritual and has so much faith
7. his prayers are so sincere and thought felt
8. he is 5foot 4 1/2 and wieghs 135 so he is a small giant
9. very considerate of others and their feelings
10. loves to play some sports and watch
11. very good big brother to Claire
12. he can not hold still and loves to talk (and the name still sticks,"Porter the Reporter")
12. he is very smart in math and it comes very easy for him
13. he loves Marvel Comic books,games and action figures
14. he got to shoot his very first gun this summer and loved it/ also loves his rubber band gun
15. he gets along with others and never wants to leave someone out
16. his love language is definitly spending quality time with him
17. loves to go on dates with his mom,dad or Nana
18. loves Sunny D orange juice
19. loves to build or create things
20. ssshh he still loves me to read to him and tuck him in bed every night

First Day of School 2011-2012

So this is the Freshman,Kindergartner and Fourth grader. They had a great first week. Hannah said,"yea I like it." Claire said, "Its BORING." and Porter said," one of my teachers has a twitch in her eye and I think it will drive me crazy all year."
So there you have it pictures and comments. I can't believe how fast they are growing up.

Being in Montana

I love love love coming to Montana. I guess because I came up here every summer when I was a child and now I take my kids and go every summer. When I come I feel like I reconnect with my Heavenly Father. I don't know if its all the family I miss so much or if its the beauty all around me. I just tend to stop and think of all the things I have been given. This year I couldn't ask for more perfect weather. Snow still in the mountains,tons of water in the creeks and rivers,green grass,summer rain storms,cool nights,clear nights full of stars and a moon that you feel like you can reach out and touch. My kids are outside all day. We open the windows and doors and let the breeze come in. I love catching up with family I haven't seen in a year. I have got to see some friends on the way too. This is the 37th summer I have been coming or close to it and I have MANY fond memories of this great state. So I guess each year I come I will continue to create more.

Claire turns 5

I'm backing up to last month. Claire had her 5th birthday. She was so excited because this is the age you get to go to kindergarten. I decided a Pinkalicious party would be so much fun. Claire was excited and then decided she wanted a blue rainbow party. I told her maybe next year. We had a fabulous Pinalicious party. They played Pinko (akaBingo), pin the cupcake on Pinkalicious, read the story about Pinkalicious and we enjoyed treats and cupcakes that were all decked out in PINK. I made bottle top necklaces and gave out wands to all the friends who came. Enjoyed every minute of it because she is growning up way too fast.

Mother's Day 2011

This is why I celebrate mother's day. These 3 beautiful children are such a blessing in my life and I
am grateful to be their mom. I got 2 cds from Hannah, an angel from my husband, a wind chime
Claire made in school and Porter made me a book of 10 reasons why I love my mom. It was all
sweet and made my day.

Looked What I grew!

I planted bulbs last November and didn't know what would pop up this spring. This is my first attempt and I was so proud of myself. Not only can I grow tulips and daffodils, I can grow three pretty cute kids too.

Our New Addition

This is it. It is a 1927 piano. It has all the original ivory keys and it just needed a little tuning and a home.The inside has been replaced pretty recently too. As you can see the front is off but it does have a front and is in pretty good shape. Porter just started piano lessons and loves them. I grew up with a piano and my mother would play often. I loved to listen to her play. So it is pretty neat to hear the sound of a piano in my home. I hope that Porter sticks with it. My mom said," finally someone in the family will play." She tried with all her children and no one plays. I can play one handed and read music. So maybe I will take lessons from Porter someday. It is one of the things on my bucket list. Oh yeah the best thing of all it was FREE!!

Proud parents

This is Hannah at her choir concert. She is on the left side bottom row. It has been so fun to go and listen to them sing.She has really enjoyed her teachers and choir in 7th and 8th grade.This is my Porter. He recieved many awards this day. Of course I forgot to take a picture just with him and his awards. He recieved awards for good citizenship, most improved, A/B honor roll, and student of the week. We are so pleased with him. Notice the height.

This is Claire's art work and writting. She wanted to make a book with her friends on the front(Hannah, Claire, Cousin Bella and cousin Ryan) and write a letter to her friend Emilia. As you can see she copied my hand writting and it was her own words. I thought her hand writting was pretty good for a 4yr old. This is the first time she has written her name backwards.


This is my Hannah showing her certificate from her induction ceremony into Avid. This is a program she was asked to be in and had to interview and be accepted. She also had to take two pre ap classes and also has to do community hours. She has stepped up and has risen to this new challenge in her life and we are so pleased.

Kindergarten and High School all in one year

I have been thinking about what lies ahead. Two huge changes will take place next school year. Hannah will enter high school and start early morning seminary and Claire will start kindergarten. Wow that is a lot for me to take in. It seems just the other day we were bringing Hannah home from the hospital.

Claire and I had the talk about her starting kindergarten and I told her I will be so lonely without my buddy. Her response was, "you still have Bonnie" aka the dog. I was thinking but the dog doesn't come and talk to me or dance and sing to keep the house from being so quiet.

I remember just a few days (years) ago I was begging for peace and quiet and now its right around the corner and I'm worried. Claire tells me all the time, "I want to grow up momma." How can you take that from her.

As far as Hannah I have her for 4 more years and then she is off to school. (I hope) Where did the time go? My worry for her is that, have I taught her all the things that I should?

So as my little girls keep growing I will continue to enjoy the journey and hopefully it will slow down just a bit.

Can we start 2011 over?

As you read this don't fall down from shock. It is really me. I am going to try to start blogging again.

We have started 2011 with a bang. All of our family got the flu bug and Claire had strep with it. It has been joyous. Lots of washing and cleaning. Lots of moaning and groaning. Now they are going stir crazy from being cooped up so long. So lets see SICK KIDS + CRAZY MOM = INSANITY.

I hope its all coming to an end. I can see light at the end of the tunnel. So soon i can say

WELL KIDS + HAPPY MOM= PEACE . As for dad he got it too but tends to run when throw up starts so need I say more.