Oh Christmas Tree 2012

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, everyone decided that they wanted to head up on the mountain to get a Christmas tree. This was great for us because cutting down our own tree has become on of our favorite traditions. The weather was beautiful and there was just a light dusting of snow on the mountain, which made it perfect for snowball fights and added to the festive atmosphere. We cut down 3 trees and then stopped to enjoy some great pulled pork sandwiches and cups of hot chocolate. It was a perfect day.

Last year, I distinctly remember saying to Blake, "Next year when we do this, I will have to sit in the car with the baby because it will be too cold." Haha! Looks like I was wrong!

 Finding the perfect tree:

 In this meadow, there was a random log that someone had carved out into a bench and then put some red flannel over it...Looks like the perfect spot to take a picture of grandkids...only 6 are missing

Steph and Kurt got a ginormous tree that we had to wrap and secure on top of their car

Cousin J. was awesome with Porter...she wore him in the backpack the rest of the day!

 Snowball fight!

Danielle vs Blake

everyone gang up on Blake!

Perfect spot for a game of pine-cone baseball!

 Of course when we got our tree home, the kids were eager to help us set it up :)

Bring on Christmas, we're ready!

Giving Thanks 2012

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Blake's parents were here, as well as his two sisters and their families. My brother also drove out to join us. Brooke was in heaven playing with cousins and Porter was spoiled by all the attention he got (that happens when you're the only baby cousin). I loved chatting with my sister-in-laws, eating delicious food and just hanging out. I love Thanksgiving because there is not that expectation of presents--you just come and enjoy one another. Everyone helped out and contributed to the meal, so no one was stressed and it was just a very relaxing, enjoyable day.

Turkey Bowl

Porter and cousin K.

Brooke with cousins J. and K.

First Thanksgiving!

The feast

the dessert

The kid table

Blake and Kurt went rabbit hunting one morning

Thankfuls:

• My little family of 4 as well as our extended family. We are blessed on both sides with love and support
• My testimony and knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the atonement
• That families can be together forever
• Our jobs
• This wonderful country we live in

Brooke's Thankfuls:

• Heavenly Father and Jesus
• dancing and singing
• coloring
• towels and blankets

9 Months

This little guy is 9 months old! And as my friend K. aptly said about her 9 mo old, "I think he is finally decided it's okay to be on earth" Porter has been so different from Brooke. Brooke was so patient, easy going, played by herself or was content to sit in her high chair and just watch, rarely cried when she woke up from a nap or in the mornings (things obviously have changed since she has entered the toddler years). 

Porter does the opposite of that. If he is in his high chair he wants to be eating. When he's done eating he lets you know by screeching at you. He also wakes up from his nap and in the mornings by crying because he is so dang impatient and wants to eat RIGHT NOW! A lot of people comment to me that Porter seems like such a happy, easy-going baby. I just smile and think to myself, "Yes, he is because you are holding him right now and giving him undivided attention." At home, He wants my attention all the time. That is why Brooke has been such a huge lifesaver in that department. That, and his jumperoo have saved me. 

But, that being said, I wouldn't say he is bad. He's just a baby. He's just himself. And since Brooke's toddler personality is the exact opposite of her baby personality, I am hoping the same will be true for Porter and we will have it easier than we have with Brooke :) And he has been getting better about being more content and patient about things. Like I said, I think he's decided that being on Earth is not so bad.

9 month milestones:

• is 28.3 inches long (50%) and 18.8 pounds (25%)--long and skinny, just like his sister!
• army crawls! This happened as of Tuesday (Nov. 13). He does the "wounded Indian  crawl as my mom calls it. He will stretch forward with one arm, then dig his elbow into the carpet to kind of propel himself forward. He only will do this if there is something he really wants that is out of reach. I think being able to get to where he wants has also helped Porter feel more content about life.
• is eating lots of table food--in fact, he prefers table food to his baby food most of the time
• is FINALLY sleeping until a decent time in the morning. And by decent, I mean 6am. But seriously, this is so huge that it feels like a huge luxury to be sleeping in this late. Daylight savings set us back for a few days, but now he's back on schedule and I love it!

Porter decided this week that he was done nursing. It definitely was his decision and not mine. I think his giant appetite caught up with him and I just don't produce enough for him. 

There are many things I love about our backyard. One of them is that anytime I feel the urge to do a photo-shoot it offers the perfect backdrop, no matter what time of year.

Serious Face

This past Saturday (Nov 16) Porter was able to meet some new baby friends. Two of my best friends and I were all pregnant at the same time. We aren't able to get together very often, but were excited when a weekend worked out that we could introduce these kiddos, post-utero, for the first time.

BEFORE: September 2011

AFTER: November 2012

Our original plan was to meet at the new outlet malls at Traverse Mountain in Lehi. With 5 kids between the 3 of is, that was an ambitious plan. We quickly found out that there was only ONE place to eat in the entire area--it had a 40 minute wait and the line stretched outside. In the chilly November weather, no thanks. Luckily, the outlets share the same parking lot as Cabela's. We walked over there and ate lunch, then the two toddlers (Brooke and Monroe) had fun looking at the fish and all the animals. We were all laughing that on our first girls weekend in over a year, we ended up at Cabela's, a place our husbands usually have to drag us to!

Lochlan (8 mo), Porter (9.5 mo), Elliot (11mo)

Someday...Today

In the craziness of life, sometimes it's good to me to take a minute to remember some of the little things that make me smile. Life goes so quickly and I'll never have "today" again.

Someday...in the distant future Brooke and Porter will be riding in the car with earphones in and cell phones out not even acknowledging the existence of Blake and I.

Someday...in the near future Brooke and Porter will be riding in the car poking each other and driving us crazy with their fighting.

Today...they are riding in the car, and although Brooke is making the most obnoxious noise on earth, it makes Porter laugh his sweet baby laugh so Blake and I look at each other and smile and let it go on.

Someday...Brooke will fight us on doing her chores and Porter will not be her "best friend" as she says he is now.

Today...Brooke loves to help out. She sweeps, checks the mail, sets the table, wipes counters with a rag, and is eager to help Mom and Dad. She also is so, so good with Porter. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without her help sometimes.

Brooke reads Porter a story

I found them laughing behind the curtains

Someday...Brooke will want to wear name-brand clothing, earrings and makeup.

Today...she is happy to wear PJs, boots, and a silly hat. She pretty much changes into her PJs everyday when we come home from school. I have hidden her dress-up clothes because they are starting to get too small for her.

*LOVE*

Laughing together when Porter was supposed to be taking a nap

Someday...Porter will be mobile. He'll be all over the house and be one step closer to being grown up and no longer my baby.

Today...I will be grateful that he is still (mostly) immobile, even though I don't think it's going to be for too much longer! Blake and I have a bet going that he'll be crawling by Thanksgiving. We'll see.

Someday...Brooke will realize the things of her imagination are not real. That magic will be gone.

Today...She things a simple fort made from blankets is her secret cave where she has a picnic of plastic food with her imaginary friends and a cardboard box is a boat for her and Porter to sail across the sea. And instead of complaining about the mess, I will jump right in and create the mess right along with her.

Someday...Blake and I will be alone in an empty house waiting for our kids and grandkids to come see us.

Today...we will enjoy the mess, the noise, and the craziness because time goes by way too fast!

Today, and always, I am thankful for my family!