Fun stuff

A couple of weeks ago we went camping at Torreya State Park even though rain was coming. We were able to set up camp, eat dinner before the rain started. Mom and Frank came to visit us and brought us marshmallows. It rained all that night and we got a little damp. The next morning it wasn't raining. We ate breakfast and went for a great hike. Uncle Michael came to visit us on the hike and help keep us on the right path. We then played hide and seek with the walkie talkies, soccer, played on the playground, played sequence (we had never played this before and now have one to put under the Christmas tree). At some point we were driving by where we had earlier walked and Brandon said stop I see a snake and I didn't want to hurt the snake so I carefully backed up and it turned out to be a rattler. I tried to downplay it for the kids, "oh, if one of us got bit we would just need to get to a hospital, the chances of us dying would be minimal, la dee dah, I was freaked!, but we weren't leaving. A lot of work goes into camping and it has to be serious to leave after one day. Well, later on the second night mom and Frank had visited with us again and taken Hannah home with them. We were ready to have a great night. The kids were so exhausted from our hike and activities that day Cole was begging to go to sleep so we got the kids down and we were enjoying the campfire. Mom calls to tell us our weatherwoman Carmen said there was a tornado watch out for our area. We were like well we'll wait and see, there had been rain all around the area and it hadn't hit us hard yet. A little bit later mom calls back and says there's 100% chance of rain, there's going to 1-2 inches and having been through less rain the night before and mom's only 10 minutes away we decided to head in. So we pile up and go sleep in civility. The next morning Brandon and I went to break camp and there was all of two drops in our tent and all seemed well. Better safe than sorry I suppose. We enjoyed ourselves and loved the time w/o other distractions, we played with each other...it was fun! We're looking forward to going again as long as we don't think about the rattlesnakes too much!








Recently Scott, Julie and Scotty came to visit and it was so good to see them, we went down to St. George Island for family pics and we got some good shots. The beach was wonderful, the kids were dying to play in the water and of course it was my Laura who ended up soaking wet before long, at least it was after pics.

'Tis the season

to fret, to budget, to worry that the kids will like what they get - will they feel like they got enough? I don't want to be a debbie downer, but it would be so nice if so much commercialism and materialism weren't wrapped up in Christmas. I love the Spirit of Christmas, everyone's excited, more kind, more thoughtful, more giving. It seems that it would be more enjoyable if our customs leaned more toward tangible but not touchable acts of service. Instead of giving a gift from from one hand to another, we could create bonds through lending ourselves to one another.

I realize it's a pipe dream. I'm the world's worst of wanting to get one more present for the kids. But how would it be to live in a world where the homemade gift truly was enough? For the giver and receiver. That we were aware of the richness of having one another and the simple things in life. I believe that that Christmas is out there waiting for us, maybe not as a nation or culture, but maybe for a moment as a family. I hope that I can give my kids a piece of what I think that feels like; peaceful, grateful, loving, safe. So adored that a Father would give His Son that we might live this life to become more and then return home to be greater, even beyond our imaginations. A homemade gift that's tangible but not touchable, so real, but can't be wrapped. It's how Christmas started out to be and will be once again.

In the mean time I'll wake up early the day after Thanksgiving and help the economy, hoping to get some good finds for the kids. I'm already excited about decorating, the music, not sleeping on Christmas eve, all the fun parties, eating too many sweets. But! I do hope to reserve a few moments to slow down and experience the Christmas of my dreams and be extra grateful, peaceful, and sit in awe with the knowledge that I was adored enough for a Son to be born, His life to be lived in service and His death in suffering....what a gift to us all.

Tag

10 years ago I . . .
1. was loving my new hubby of a couple of months
2. getting used to being in a family ward
3. fretting over my Valiant 11s, Lori B., Heather R., Sarah M., all grown up now
4. working at Homes & Land
5. wanting so badly to have babies

5 things on my "to do list" today . . . (probably won't get to it all)
1. exercise
2. decide on dinner
3. play with my kids
4. go to Sears end of season sale
5. lipo

5 snacks I like . . .
1. twizzlers
2. chips & dip
3. cheese
4. pretzels
5. popcorn (from publix)

6 things I would do if I were a millionaire . . . (the first two Kim had and it's true for me too so I let it be)
1. Invest most of it
2. Use it to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate (cliché, you may say, but true)
3. vacation home in Idaho, near Orlando and Manhattan
4. some cash to my family
5. travel to new york every other month and other great places on the month's in between
6. a baby grand for my sweet baby (and space to put it in :) )

3 places I have lived . . .
1. Potter Road, Sycamore, FL aka "the sticks"
2. Port Orange, FL
3. Tallahassee, FL

5 jobs that I have had . . .
1. Babysitter
2. Grocery Cashier
3. Drycleaner assistant
4. Executive Assistant
5. Mom

8 favorite TV shows I love to watch . . . love is probably a bit too strong of a word
1. The Office
2. Ace of Cakes
3. Scrubs
4. ER
5. 17 kids and counting
6. Oprah (the good ones)
7. American Idol ( I caught the bug the season before last)
8. Sesame Street, might as well

8 things I did yesterday
1. woke up and went to church
2. played with kids
3. ate lunch.....mmmmm
4. napped
5. calendared
6. went for a walk with the fam
7. watched Savannah Smiles and ate popcorn with the family
8. played on computadora

8 favorite places to eat (in no particular order)
1. Los Amigo's
2. Macaroni Grill
3. Firehouse
4. Riccardo's
5. Osaka
6. Tastee Treet
7. Miami Sub's I miss it (great burgers)
8. Melting Pot

8 things I am looking forward to (again, in no particular order)
1. Camping trip
2. Christmas
3. Cole's Baptism
4. being fit again...it will happen!
5. watching my kids grow
6. living through it all with Brandon
7. the kids playing soccer
8. time to myself (not too much, just enough)

8 things on my wish list (n.p.o.)
1. Happy grown kids
2. to be able to lose weight/eat better
3. Nikon D40 or similar item
4. automatically clean home
5. NYC
6. a 65th wedding anniversary full of bliss
7. new dish washer
8. ice maker


3 people I tag . . .
1. Tricia P.
2. Rachel C.
3. Melody S.

Halloween and a little more

We had pumkin carving party at the Tew's last Sat.
Laura's fall party, couldn't make Cole's, sorry Cole... next one's yours!
and trick or treating at Publix and our neighborhood with
dinner at home in between. The princess, cat and ninja enjoyed it I think.

the kids drew and helped carve our pumpkin

Hannah just wanted loves

on her way to the guidance office to accept her say no to drugs art contest award

an owl

Hannah occupying herself at Laura's party

Cole was seriously into his role as a ninja

serious shot

this dress up is the result of serious sugar bribery

Hannah loved everything about trick or treating

Cinderella lost her shoe but still wanted to walk up to the doors

Laura pulled Princess Hannah in her chariot most of the way.





when she wasn't jedi dueling with the ninja

Laura one an art contest for red ribbon week, just say no. She was the only kindergartener to get a prize and I was lucky enough to be there with her when it was announced on Springwood in the morning and go get her prize. Ice cream coupons, Laura's love. Yeah!!!

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:).

My kids

Two funny stories, not the ones I couldn't remember the previous post, fresh new ones.

Today we spontaneously institued the popcorn/family story time. We eat popcorn, the kids color and we tell family stories from Brandon's life, my life and the kid's lives. Brandon was telling some story about his uncle that involved explaining the flammability of gasoline. Brandon ask "what do we know about gas"...Cole "it's expensive" !!!! Spoken like a true son of Brandon Porter.

Yesterday Laura and I went on a date to Wal-mart for necessities and for her to spend her gift card that she got as a bday present. We get to the checkout and she wants a bag of gummy worms and gummy bears and I explain she only has enough money for one. She quietly puts one in the buggy. She's kind of bouncing around and says excitedly and all surprised, "Mom, I'm not panicking, I'm wanting to panic, but I'm not panicking!" So proud of herself as was I because if it has to do with sugar and Laura not getting it, it can turn into a serious pitch a panic hissy fit. My baby's growing up.

Speaking of babies growing up.... my Hannah slept into a big girl's bed last night. Laura and Hannah share a room, but last night Laura moved her sleeping quarters in with Cole, so Hannah felt this was her chance. So I let her get in there and thought it would last for a few minutes. She stayed in Laura's bed the whole night and rode to church with her Daddy this morning by herself while I took Cole and Laura and today this mommy's girl had very little interest in me. My heart was breaking. I get that it has to happen but does it have to happen so fast? She did go back into her crib today after I gave her a chance to go to sleep in Wawa's (Laura's) bed, so maybe not so fast. sometimes you wish you could stop the clock and other times it can't go gast enough. Parenthood I suppose. I love it.