dwtf

that's don't want to forget:

Cole read 'To Kill a Mockingbird', possibly my favorite book, for evoking a greatness of emotions and other good stuff. Anyway, he didn't want to read it because there was no fantasy and basically because I suggested and the first couple of chapters are hard to get through. I figured if he's going to be reading 24/7 and books that are above his age, he needs good ones like these tucked in with the others.  We did comtemplate the mature nature of parts of the book, but have already decided he needs 'the talk' stage 2 and possibly 3 before he's taught it at school.  So Iasked him to read the first two chapters and then if he was done, he was done.  He finished it on our trip to Orlando this weekend and we often use the 10 scale to rate experiences, books and such. So I asked, alright Cole 1-10? He replied 8-9.  This made me happy. I love that he can appreciate a good read, that doesn't include dwarfs, dragons, werewolves. :)

Laura is impressing me more and more with her confidence and unshyness.  She loves swimming soooo much. So we've decided to try her fall activity to be on the city swim team.  This meant she had to try out and swim 75 yards.  We are not naturally water people, so it's not like she's had a lot of time to improve her skills.  We did do a lesson this summer that helped her out a lot.  Anyway, she had to try out in front of other people and was ready to the be 2nd one to do it.  She did it!!!  Now we have to decide if we want to spill out the block of gold they want for fees. ugh!

Hannah was upset on the way home from Orlando we told her we knew she was tired. And while sobbing she said you don't cry because you're tired.  You cry because someone has hurt you (sob), or something is beautiful (sob), or someone died and you were there.  Sadly for her later she was upset...again and her daddy asked...is someone hurting you, no, is something beautiful, no, did someone die and you were there, she did not appreciate this.

Hannah keeps up cracking with things I'm sure she doesn't think is as humorous.  But she is also very thoughtful.  Recently a great man in our ward passed away and we were all very sad.  Hannah continually prayed for him and his family and she also came up with the idea and carried out a fast for him to be ok, she was really still concerned for him even though we told her he was just fine, so she added his family to the fast as well. Very sweet stuff.

def. stuff we don't want to forget :)

Dinner and Conversation

So tonight's dinner is bloggable and around here that's usually not the case, so I'm not going to let it pass. It was really just tacos, I found this on pinterest...

http://www.makeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com/cafe-rio-chicken/

and had the ingredients. I really wasn't sure about it, but it was yummy and Brandon agreed. Usually if I like something he doesn't so much.

Then I was supposed to make crepes for Cole yesterday, but we got a dinner invite and took it. So we had them today and they did not fail us. I had nutella, raspberries, whipcream and if we're being honest...powdered sugar. It was divine.

The conversation part was really a one liner. Cole is really good at many things, finding/looking for things is not one of them. He's severely colorblind so I often left him off the hook with that although I don't think it's as much of a hindrance as other possibilities.
Tonight he was looking in the refrigerator for strawberries, for said crepes. I said Cole they're right there, no luck. I get up and get them...right there! I think he then compliments my finding skills and says... I am going to marry a woman that "looks good".....get it...looks...good.. It's hokey in type, but it was so funny at the time. :) Hope you had yummy fun dinner.

Cole Ps Stories

Cole has been writing for a long time. He used to make little books and write stories. He's come up with some creative stuff in school lately so I decided to document them. This is just a start...

http://cpsstories.blogspot.com/

Soccer

had a bunch of pics of cole's soccer, just deleted them, must be too late,

Sayings...

from my kids..

Hannah as I pushed her on the swing, "Push me higher, I'm smiling at Jesus".

Cole looking at our bathroom mirror that has random pics (one of our engagement pics, one of Cole and Laura when they were 3/2) that I find and just stuck up there and there wasn't one of Hannah, there happens to be one of the temple. So Cole says, you need one of Hannah up there, then thinks about it for a minute and says with a sly grin, "If you want our whole family up there you need a picture of the temple and of the Earth."

And Laura has said something, but it's not coming to me right away..next time, I gotta write these things down!

More updating to come :).

Regata

It's so funny to look at the pics when we're sweating like pigs when the very cool weather is sneaking up on us.

This was the Regata, Cole built a boat with Gary K.'s help and blew on the sails, I failed to get good pics that were focused on him instead of the background.

Caught Hannah being a good friend, I love this pic!

Princess and the pea

Cole was in the school play, The Princess and the Pea. He played the role of Young Harry (the prince) during a flashback. He wasn't on stage long, but did a really good job. He got the biggest laugh of the night because his opening line he was supposed to be out of breath and it was a really exaggerated out of breath. We're trying to figure out how to get our outdated video camera footage put on the computer, if so I'll post video. Til then here's pics.

Young Harry













Young Harry and the Peasant Girl
I think his line was "You wouldn't understand"













Curtain Call, taking a bow













after the play with two of his favorite things,
candy (bouquet) and David

Spirit week

what fun...Monday was messed up Monday/wacky hair mismatched etc., Cole loved not doing his hair. Tuesday was Career Day, Cole said he wanted to choose which books got printed so he said editor, I added owner...dream big I say! Since you couldn't tell by just looking what Cole was, we made him business cards and the teachers and kids loved them. I have fun making those and Laura's name tag to be 'Dr. Laura'. Wed was field day (another post). Thursday was retro day which puzzled me because the kids have lived a decade how can they choose to go back to one. We were given to shiny clothes so sent Laura as 70s disco and Cole wore a video game shirt with sweat bands on his head and wrist to represent the 80s .. I know a stretch I did take pictures, but they must still be on the camera, cause I'm so up to date on the blog and all My period key is not working. oh now it is.... and Friday was pajama day and we were running super late, because it was Friday, and didn't get pics. The kids enjoyed the week

On to March...

Father/Son Campout, Wallwood. Brandon and Cole took a friend Joe and camped alongside the Knudsens. They ended up coming home early due to no watch and the camp next to them staying up all night. The boys woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to get up. Brandon thought it must be morning because people were up...then Cole was cold and Brandon being the good dad, got up to make a fire, someone comes by and Brandon asks the time...4:30 They came home earlier than expected because the boys were so tired. I've never seen Cole so tired. They made some memories though :).

This expression is Cole's general feeling about getting on or near deep water.

Joe David

Last of the Mohicans !!!! well I guess they didn't have swords (??), but that was the first thing that came to my mind.

There are no pictures of Brandon, but plenty of other father and sons, cause Brandon's an amateur professional photog.

Static

Cole asked me for the second time of late if the tv stations go off at night. I told him that now they do not. The majority of them stay on all night, but WHEN I was growing up all of the television stations signed off around 1-2 am. The last show would air, the national anthem would play with the flag flying, the colored bars the beep then ....static. Ah good memories. It was a very nostalgic moment that gleaned how I watched too much tv growing up :).

Cole then asked why they would keep the tv on all night (pause for a moment of gratitude and appreciaiton for him not wanting it on all night) and I explained about people having different work schedules/lives, people who are in the hospital, etc. He seemed satisfied.

I'm thinking technology might be caught up enough when Cole's a teen that I could install a program that signs the tv off for the night...I know I'll need it.
I would love to have to explain why only our television signs off at night. hmmmmm the more I think about it the more I like it.

The day after Christmas in July ;)

My sweet Cole's bday is the day after Christmas and like I tell him all the time there are advantages and disadvantages to just about everything in life. For the most part he always looks on the bright side of having a birthday the day after Christmas. He likes that he gets to open more presents...he really likes presents.

This year we decided to have his "friend" party in the summer. We knew it would be a water party and I decided it would be a surprise water party......fun, fun, fun!

So today was the day. I thought maybe Cole was onto us, because he knew it was supposed to be in July and we're nearing the end, but I was able to put him off. And he was surprised. One disadvantage of having a party in the summer, for us (this is our first party in the summer) is not having a connection with the kids at school. We did have two of Cole's friends from church come, and it turned out great.

They had water gun/balloon wars, a horseshoe type game, then I found (what turned out be a huge hit at play group and Cole's party) in Family fun Magazine an erector type set where you use pvc pipe and joints and connect with the waterhose and build whatever with water coming out. Turns out it's for all ages as the pics will show.

Oh and the cake......some may say it was underdone....some may say it was overdone....some may say it was just plain heavenly (I'll go with those)! I don't know if I'll do it again, but it was great for a son who is continually begging for some KK and strawberries. Happy Surprise July Bday Cole! I loved tucking you in tonight and seeing the love and thank you in your eyes, so sweet! Can't wait to surprise you again !!!!!


Cole being surprised, blurry, but noteworthy.

Mother's Day

Yesterday Brandon and the kids brought me tulips (my favorite!) and two bags of powdered donuts, Brandon said they had a hard time distinguishing between the things they wanted and what I might want, so I guess they found a happy medium. Do you know those sweet kids helped me open both bags of those donuts when they gave them to me? ...

I'm tearing up.

I got to take a nap and then Laura and I went short/skirt shopping for her. We could of done better there, but then we ran by Wendy's for her and she took me to Osaka for Mother's day (Brandon is not fond of the place, so we don't go there and I usually love it although trying to eat healthier makes all that oil less appealing). Laura said she enjoyed eating with me, but not watching the guys cook.

This morning Brandon and the kids made me breakfast for a queen and everyone ate on the bed with me, sort of, it was fun. Then the kids brought me the crafts they made while Brandon made breakfast.

Hannah did some cutting and was so proud...

and Laura made me some 'heads', this is my favorite b/c of the button on it

My son.......

He brings me coupons that he made...all on his own, a free hug, a free kiss, 20 minutes of just you and me time (one of my faves). Then I come to 'some money', and he's there holding a hand full of dimes, my jaw drops. Cole's love affair with money is well I'm speechless, it's huge. So I looked at him and said Cole you're giving me money? For real? He smiled big and said yes.

I teared up.

I moved on to other coupons and was still stumped about the money so I asked Cole are you really giving me your money? He said no, Laura gave me some of her money so I could give it to you (Laura is much like her mother and cares very little about money until it poofs into something worthwhile :) ). Life began to make more sense again, everything was as it should be... sort of.

I said Cole why didn't you give me your money...Cole says, because I'm saving it and didn't want to waste it, besides I think it's all in savings.

There was probably a teaching moment here, but I didn't take it.

Another coupon was "anything built out of legos". Cole kept asking what I wanted built, "mom, don't you want to turn in one of your coupons? What do you want built?"

I told him I didn't know yet and finally after church he said mom have you decided and I said well, I was thinking of an ice cream cone (go figure). He said, oh so casually and sincerely....oh I was thinking of a temple...we're going with Cole's suggestion, I'm left wondering who is raising this kid....oh yeah, Brandon.

Sacrament meeting.......

Today I'm sure I asked the kids to be reverent during sacrament. As some point I may have noticed Cole being very quiet, not really doing anything. I thought something may have been wrong with him, but figured I'd let it stew silently until after Sacrament meeting, no sense in rocking the boat. By the end of the meeting Laura has ended up in Brandon's lap on the stand and I have to go out with Hannah to potty. So Cole was left to fend for himself.

Cut to the parking lot and I notice a friend of mine who we usually end up sitting behind in Sacrament meeting is leaving and stops her vehicle just behind ours and is coming to talk to me. She says I don't know what you are doing in raising the kids but you're a great mom (okay who doesn't want to hear this stuff on Mother's day, but I'm puzzled still, oh yeah and did I mention Brandon's raising them/me). She explains they were sitting there singing the closing hymn and she looked back and there's Cole sitting by himself with his little hymnal singing the closing song. She gave us kudos and I thought how nice for Cole and me that there wasn't a different ending to that story.

So on the way home I'm telling everyone what Sister Torgesen told me, to give Cole full benefit. And he says, yeah I made a promise to myself that for Mother's day I would be good during Sacramnet meeting and listen and sing all the songs. ............................... he continued, yeah, Hannah pulled out some books that I really wanted to read, but I remember I promised myself so I didn't read them.

I tear up every time I think of it.

I really appreciate that he thought enough to make this commitment for me. The best part is that he made a promise to himself and even when it came down to being difficult he kept the promise. I am still in awe. I realize it's not the end all be all and we hope that all children learn this self mastery, but the kid's eight and I can't say that I keep many promises I make to myself. Could a mother ask for a better gift on mother's day? I couldn't. Thank you Cole.

Laura looked kind of forlorn (I love when she gives these looks, hard to describe but so precious) after Cole told us this and I was praising him, so I told her...when you're eight you can give that to me for mother's day too.

So this afternoon we went to mom's and got to spend good time with her while Frank and Brandon took the kids for a hike.

Then we came home and I got to spend time with my hubby.

It was a great mother's day.

No tears, just smiles, I have a great life!

You're never going to believe it!

Well, you probably will....
In cub scouts on of the achievement thingees in Duty to God is to tell two way that you can practice your religion and then do them. So Cole and I were driving along somewhere and he decided the two would be fasting and testimony. He didn't get that the testimony went with the fasting (he'd done that before...for one meal). So on Sunday I was talking to him about it and he said nu uh. I said he could testify to our family at home but he needed to bear his testimony as part of the practicing.

So sacrament meeting I'm trying to encourage him, in my mind because I dont' want him to be afraid of it, or as afraid or realize everyone's afraid but that he was strong enough to concur this. So I mentioned he could sit with Brandon on the stand if he went up (only a little twinge of guilt for this). He kept talking about it and I said it was okay to just do it at home, he said he wanted to but there were so many people. I tried to assure him that he didn't have to go up, he wanted to sit with daddy, but evidently Brandon had already told him he couldn't go up, but I said if he bore his testimony we could ratify that, but only under those circumstances. Good stuff for Cole's therapy later.

So Hannah's potty training and I tell Cole that we have to go out to potty and he can think about it and decide after I get back.

That's right folks, I missed my son's first testimony in church. Apparently there was only one person too many in the room. Serves me right.

He really didn't mean to he said he just decided to go (probably cause he didn't have anyone to debate it with) and that the people went fast in front of him. Brandon said he stood beside him with is hand on his shoulder and Cole said the basics, very quickly.

Brandon said the reason he didn't want Cole sitting with him was b/c he was having to raise and lower the podium and was needing to concentrate but he did give him snuggle love time right after he bore his testimony and let him sit with hime for a minute. That's our defense for future therapy.

I just can't believe it all went down that way, can you?

Stuff

On Tuesday Cole received his bob cat award from his den leader Sister Hair. He is loving doing all the scout stuff. He has his mother's competitive nature. When his friend David got two beads he wanted to know how he could get them and has been working hard and I have been working hard to remind and help him, we're a great team ;).

Mom offered to have the kids come spend the night, so Brandon and I went to Cabo's for yummy yummy burritos and then to Sam's to stock up on some food storage and said we'd spend the day today organizing our laundry/food storage room, that looked like a poster child for such rooms. We dowloaded 'Don't Stop Believing' for Rock band and jammed like young people and quickly crached like old people, it was like 11:00, some rockers we are.

Yesterday and today I have awakned at 4:15am and not been able to get back to sleep, this is not like me, so today I tried to stay in bed because I was planning on and was registered to run in a 5k., I really want to know if I've gotten better since going to the gym.

I already had sore throat so I was debating about going. Alas I got up at 5:00 because it wasn't working and I knew I wanted to do more in the laundry room than just organize. So I started and created a huge mess by moving everything around, but realized that I could paint the depressing brown paneling walls during this. So I found my favorite green color in the shed and went to work. And decided with the painting decision I would be running a different race today.

Brandon got up at 8:00 and was oh so pleased to know that I was up to my antics...love you babe. He handled it graciously, helping get a shelf down that's services were no longer needed. He then went about his plans for the day. We did get back together to reorganize our food storage. The laundry room may look weak, but the precious few that saw the before are appreciating the after....organization is my weakest link. Here's a pic of some of the progress.

so we went to Bianca's to have a calzone because riccardo's wasn't open and just for you Tallahasseans, never settle for Bianca's..wait for Riccardo's.

We picked up the kids and being the good parents we are brought them back home, fed, bathed, scriptured and then ....

that's right folks, the Porter kids played rock band!!!!!!!!!!!!! They loved it a little too much, I'm only feeling slightly guilty about that, it was only Eye of the Tiger...rising up.....

So one more family milestone. Two days ago, I told my sister I wasn't going to try to potty train Hannah until after our trip to Idaho. Not two hours later Hannah is asking to wear panties and I thought well if she asking I probably ought to pay attention. She's pretty much worn panties since and had one accident. She went at Cole's school, grandma's. She went by herself with no one telling her to go I just found her looking for toilet paper. Laura is to credit for this I think, she's been working with her. So of course I'm having day dreams about not buying more diapers, this being it, but I keep telling myself...you just wait until she realizes how much power she has here. She insisted on wearing her panties to bed..... I'll keep you posted.

don't forgets

Much still to catch up on but didn't want to forget these things that possibly only I will appreciate in the years to come, but it's my blog the kids just have to live with it.

Laura talking to my three year old niece, at my sister's in North Caroling getting ready to head back home to Fl. "Ready to go to America"?

Cole on the trip back in the van, "Mom ,you know what? you know how in cartoons they make cemetarys look ugly and creepy, and really they're beautiful." His tone was so sweet and sincere, but also saying the joke's on the cartoons.

Brace yourself

so I still need to catch up, but didn't want to forget the details on this one. Cole has extra teeth. He has two permanent teeth in and has not lost one tooth yet. So for whatever reason his dentist referred him to an orthodontist. I guess to see how necessary removal of the teeth would be. Anyways, we go there and I'm taking Hannah with our Sunday bag for entertainment and I wondered if they would have something for little kids to play with, cause really 8 year olds should not be visiting the orthodontists. We get there and the place is beautiful, very eclectic. They have a computer screen with kid's names and photos for them to touch and check themselves in. They have small chairs with disney playing at their eye level, little adirondack chairs and a sitting area with a full length beach mural on the wall. They have complimentary juices, hot choc/coffee, cookies and of course the good ole fish aquarium. That was just the beginning. The gave us color print outs of Cole's mouth and his xrays (very alienesque). After Cole got his xrays done he was hanging out in the game room (pinball machine, couple of gaming stations. She said he could have a gameboy while he waited as well. Then we saw an even bigger aquarium and then we saw they have aviaries on either side of the big room where the kids can watch the birds while they're getting the teeth done. They gave him a tshirt that advertises their office and if he wears it to his appointments he gets a token and gets more tokens for being on time, clean teeth, etc and the kids get to spend it at the ortho store. All this and no charge...until he gets braces which I'm sure will require it's on mortgage. I was very impressed. Although I kept waiting for someone to come take me away for a massage during the appointment and it didn't happen, all of my kids would have braces at the age of 8 and keep them through high school if that were added in. Of course the dr. just said yes we need to take the teeth out, huge surprise which our dentist will do and then we got back to see the ortho in eight months. I mentioned I took Hannah with me and the dr. said come back anytime and then actually looked at me and said it's okay if they come it gets them used to coming! Starting to early is not a problem I suppose. So i don't like that I'm now going to have to fight that battle or cancel all appointments but it was so nice I can't wait to get back there. Smart business I say :)!

The Reason for the Visit

Cole's Baptism!!!
Cole's bday was 12/26 but we waited for Grandma and Grandpa to come and this was the week it was the cheapest. Cole was seriously nervous, but played it cool. The only time I really could tell was when the curtains were opened and he was in the water. Afterwards he said it wasn't so bad. The baptismal service was great. See program below. I know it was my son so I would be more emotional but I felt the spirit very strongly and know Cole has great things to do in this life and I believe his confirmation/blessing furthered that notion. I love hime so much, he is an example to me and I love how his heroes are those from the scriptures and his dad. He is amazing. Hopefully we can keep that in tact for a while :).

An Eight year old

We started a new tradition this year that on a child's birthday they get a date with mom and dad to the reasonable destination of their choice. So Cole chose to go to funstation and Sonic. We played golf, some games and enjoyed a yummy lunch. I can't believe eight years has flown by. Wowser. I still remember bringing him home. It's been a great eight years.

Christmas and Cole

Well, more on Christmas update will come later. We had a great day. Having a child who has a birthday the day after Christmas makes one very conscious of trying to make sure that their birthday is not forgotten because of the busy ness of the season. So on to Cole's birthday blog.


Cole being our first baby we decided not to find out the gender, but there were some tell tale signs. These are balloons a week after my shower they were used for, we thought it was kind of odd that only a blue survived and stayed even longer than a week.




We did not have a very good camera back in the day and quite honnestly we were finding our way with having a new baby and didn't take as many pictures those first few weeks, but here's one and of his blessing, and thru the years....

Cole is one of the kindest, smartest people I know. He started laughing heartily and easily at four months old and hasn't stopped. His memory is crazy good and he is a very dynamic thinker. He gives the most thoughtful prayers and loves to learn from the scriptures...the stories anyways. He seems to relish in the Gospel, but he's still glad for Sacrament meeting to be over :). He more than adores his dad (and who can blame him?). He loves legos, Star Wars, reading Narnia and other good books, has found a passion for soccer, still loves to laugh, play jokes and be tickled. It does not matter what's on the tv, he will be glued to it. He loves board games and video games. He loves to snuggle more often than not and I love that. He's more than I could have ever asked for in a child. I more than adore him (and who can blame me?). I love you Cole, Happy Birthday!

Just jabbering

We were reading scriptures the other night and it's where Alma is saying the desire of his heart is to be a missionary.... So Brandon asked the kids what would be the desire of their heart. Laura said 10,000 toys, Cole said to rule the world so he could have whatever he wanted.

Cole said mom did you know that holding up your middle finger to a person is bad and laura says yea like this and commences to demonstrate. Cole says yes that's called killing the bird or killing the man. And we got in to curse words and how we don't say those things. blah, blah, blah. It was one of those moments ya know. Not your most proud as a parent, but a milestone none the less.

As we were getting ready for school one morning last week, Laura was looking at me seriously and said, Mom, parenting is hard isn't and I just said yes, sometimes it is. She got all whiney and said that's why I don't want to grow up and have babies.....then she said but it is nice to have birthdays!

The kids had their primary program on Sunday. Our performance shy Lauraloo was promised two tickets to spend at "store" for each song she sang and she did a great job. She loved singing Called to Serve. Cole loved performing and is so sweet. You can hear him above all the other kids. He said he wanted to sing more. They were both adorable, Cole said five people told him he did a good job and it was well deserved.

So I have my little Target job and had a little money and saw a little YMCA membership for sale on Craigslist and was about to get it for less than half it's worth. Then the night before I was ready to give the go ahead I went to Stake leadership and was reminded of being thrifty, saving, food storage, blah, blah blah :). And I was reminded that the Bishop challenged the ward council members to have a three month supply by Nov. 1st. Sooooo, we went to Sam's the next day to finish that off (well almost) and let the Y pass us by. I was hoping I would feel better about it. I did feel better about it as we organized, arranged and I know I will feel better about it if/when the time comes to use. Although w/o the Y I'll have so much fat stored it won't matter for me specifically but the kids and Brandon do need to eat. I know it's all worth, just having a moment .I am thankful to know I am thankful to be blessed to have had the money, I am thankful to have kicked my rear and choose the right:).