Happy Five Month Birthday Jonas Boy!

I love this little man.  I love to kiss his squishy cheeks, make him giggle and watch his eyes take everything in and give that look that says, "Don't forget me.  I want to be involved."

He loves to eat real food and leans forward when he wants more or fusses if you stop feeding him.  He scoots himself backwards when he is laying on his back.   He still giggles freely and grins so big if you kiss his cheeks.  He is incredibly strong and will stand up almost by himself it seems.  He is close to sitting up by himself.  He is a mover and a shaker.  

I just can't believe he's already 5 months!

The climb (5/30)

I went for a run this past week with a friend.  She has been pushing my limits and making me stronger as a runner.  The other week she took me out for 10 miles. I had just done 9 the weekend before, but I haven't run that far since before Porter was born.  Part of our run included 3 1/2 miles up Emigration Canyon and then back down.  I felt pretty good the whole run and our overall pace was 9.02.  Well this week the run wasn't as long, but we did 6 miles up Emigration  to the start of the start of the switch backs and then back down about 2 1/2 miles.  What a sense of accomplishment.  I am feeling strong and know that as I push my body and am diligent in my training I can do better and better.  Running outside rather than at the gym has been amazing.  

Busy Saturday (5/30)

We played hard today.  We went swimming in the morning with Gayle.  Porter is getting so brave.  He'll get in all by himself, is kicking his legs and his "no" screams are almost gone (at least when he's swimming.  And, he even asks David to put him under water!

  

Jonas got to go swimming for the first time too!  The water was a little cold, but he did good except he was not thrilled when David put him under water.

Being comforted after the "dunk".

Later in the afternoon we hiked Donut Falls.  It was a perfect afternoon/early evening activity.  Porter hiked most of it by himself with an occasional shoulder ride or swing from mom and dad.  He posed periodically for a picture at his request, skipped or ran along the trail and jumped in mud puddles or the river.  Jonas was chill the whole hike and just took it all in.

Be Prepared

On Sunday evening we took a walk to deliver treats to a few neighbors.  Porter had just gotten a Home Depot apron. He had to wear it and bring along some tools: 2 drills, a hard hat and a tape measure.  You never know when you'll find something that needs fixing.

Memorial Day

Ash was up for the day and fortunately the rain stopped early on and the rest of the day was beautiful.  We went on a little hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon, played outside, had a picnic and did some yard work. Nothing big, but it was a nice relaxing day.  

This kid was super excited about a picnic.  He still couldn't sit still long enough, but he sure was amusing to watch.

I am thankful for this day to celebrate those who sacrificed their lives to fight for our country and our freedoms.  And I am thankful to their families who also sacrificed and lost a loved one.

A sealing

David has a good friend, Alex, from his Philly days.  He was just sealed to his wife this past weekend in the Salt Lake Temple.  

Alex and Lourdes Quistberg

Some of the Philly boys.  Jeff, ?? and David.

Sunday handsome

Shopping buddies

Shopping with my boys is not always a joy:).  I try different ways to keep Porter content.  They work for at least part of the trip.  Usually he eats his way through a store:).  

For the first time he got to push his own cart for awhile and he did so good at the beginning, then he saw toys all the way across the store and bolted when my back was turned.

But he was the cutest shopper around.

And going to Toys 'R' Us is a whole other beast.  He loves running around the store and checked bag everything out.  He is literally sprinting through the store as if he's on a game show like Supermarket Sweep.  Leaving is a different story if he's leaving empty handed, which usually he is.  This last time we were there the worker actually pretended to call Santa on her walkie talkie.  It was hilarious and he stopped his tantrum.

Playgroup with neighbors

Construction trucks

Porter loves construction trucks.  He likes to play with them, watch them work at the construction site, read books and watch videos about them.  So we often search for trucks when we are driving or stop by the nearby construction sites.  The other day David took him and a steam roller fell into a hole and was pulled out by an excavator.  When David told me the story he accidentally said a bulldozer fell.  Porter quickly corrected him and said, "Actually it was a steam roller."  

The guy on the steam roller then told Porter to stay in school.  David asked him later what the guy told him and Porter said, with his sly smile, "He told Porter learn to drive fork lift so good, carry boards."  

Then when I took him to see the site another day he said, "It's amazing."

This boy

Porter is so smart and has quite the sense of humor.  He changes up the words to songs we sing all the time.

Correct version: Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday

Porter's version: Sunday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Monday

Correct version: When my mother calls me, quickly I obey

Porter's version: When Porter calls his momma, quickly momma obeys

Is this kid really only 2?

Sweetness

This little guy has started to reach up for my face.  I love it and this picture shows his tenderness. (Ignore my post pregnancy baldness)

Redemption

He totally redeems himself falling asleep like this:

Or he redeems himself by saying with his sweet, sweet voice, "I want to be nice."

Ahhhh!

I love Porter, but he can send me to the point of utter frustration where I want to scream and rip my hair out.  

He has been on a roll lately and David and I are trying everything to reign him in.  He goes to time out.  When I go to let him out he says, "I don't want to come out.  I want to make bad choices."

He has started saying, "Dang it" all the time.  Well today I told him he was getting soap in his mouth if he kept saying it.  He then said, "Dang it" over and over again.  I put soap in his mouth.  He said, "I want more soap."

What do you do when no punishment works?  He just laughs.

Ransoms

Rob and Jami Martinsen and family are staying with us.  Porter loves having people to play with.

I took Porter to my dentist appt so he can start getting used to the dentist for when he is big enough to go.  He was so curios.  He watched and talked the entire time and then got to play when I was all done.

I still love my Jonas snuggles.

Going for a drive.

Mother's Day

I was blessed with a mom I loved to spend time with.  I never went through that period when I disliked my parents.  I always enjoyed them and still do.  My mom can make me laugh till I cry and she is a friend to all.  I hope I can be like that too.

My greatest joy is being a mom. I love my boys.  I hope they always want to hang out with me too.

Gayle had us over for dinner and it was so nice to just hang out and relax.  Ash came up too.

I taught my first Relief society lesson on "The Power of the Word".  It was great studying and preparing for the lesson and it started out good, but then I felt like I stumbled and disconnected.  It was frustrating.  I need to focus on becoming a better teacher by being close to the spirit.

Vacay

We took a trip to IL to see my sister Kari and her family.  My niece Morgan was getting baptized, so Ash and my parents were there too.  So fun!  

Porter got to go in the cockpit and help the flight attendant with the flight instructions. Then she gave him a big bag of gummy bears.

My sister's family lives on 20+ acres of land so it's a perfect place for a little boy to explore and get dirty.  They had baby turkeys, a riding lawnmower, a creek, a swingset and lots of land to run.  We played in the creek, we played softball, roasted marshmallows and hot dogs and just hung out.

Making Morgan's baptism cake.

First hot dog and marshmallow roast.

We had a little fun attempting to hit clay pigeons.

Morgan's baptism.  After Morgan got baptized, Porter said, "Porter get baptized.  Mama baptize Porter".  He is very progressive.  I had to correct him:).

Playing during free time at the gym.

Hanging out at the park feeding the fish.