Compliments

A few weeks ago Porter learned about compliments during FHE.  He is great at compliments.  This morning he gave me 4.

"You look pretty."

"You are a good mommy."

"You are a nice mommy."

"You're a good girl."

I'll take it!

He has also been know to say, "Thanks mommy. That's a yummy dinner."

Who says being a mom is a thankless job?  Porter says thank you all the time.  

Experiments

Testing out the facial hair look on the boys.

And doing some real scientific experiments.

Dancing Raisins and Making Secondary Colors.

Catch up

Porter got his first bad Owie while he was in AZ.  A chair fell right on his toe.  He has been so tough though and did not let it slow him down.  He would hobble/run around.  It has healed nicely and he's back to his crazy self.  Actually, that never stopped his crazy self.

Painting yet another masterpiece.  

Me and my sweetness.  He is attached to me.

 Building together.  

Building the temple and putting Moroni on top.

 We had a car wash.  This led to Porter deciding he needed to go through the car wash too.

The duck pond at Fairmont Park.  Porter would say, "Boom ducks!", as he threw them bread.  Jonas liked watching.

Then Porter would point to a specific such and say, "That one needs bread."

Urban Art Festival at Gateway Mall.  Porter really liked this truck and the splash pad.

Testing out his old eating joint.  He is so big now!

Jonas is not thrilled.  He would much rather ride in the stroller by himself.

We had the neighbor dog over for a play date.  Porter loved it.  He would run around saying, "I'm having a play date."  He also asked me, "Can I get my own dog."

Jonas and Porter worked on one of their first projects together.  They "sawed" down a tree.

Our good friends, the Goldsmiths' came to town, so we met them at Temple Square.

We went back to Temple Square for the sealing of an adopted son to our friends Gerald and Lisa Williams.

Because he is a busy body, he doesn't eat well when we go to parties.  We had gone to a Boston Reunion and when we got home he was starving so he dug in, ginormous spoon and all.

Bailly Family Reunion- AZ

We traveled to AZ for about a week to attend the Bailly Family Reunion in Tucson.  Fortunately the weather was actually not too bad.  I think it never got much above 100.  Hallelujah!  Then no one had to hear me complain too much.  It was great to see almost everyone and to introduce Jonas to the family.  That little kiddo wanted me to hold him most of the time.  He is experiencing a bit of stranger anxiety I think.  We played at the pool a lot.  Porter is getting more and more brave.  Maybe almost too brave.  He now thinks he can swim, but he can only do it with a life jacket on, so you have to make sure he has one on or he will jump right in.  Yikes!

One of my favorite things during the reunion was when my little family went back to our room and rented a movie. "Cars 2".  Porter was in heaven.  It was so fun to watch him as he was so enthralled with the movie.  He was jumping around, screaming.  "He got it.  He got it."  I had no idea what was going on in the movie, I was too busy watching him and laughing.

Porter and Sami watching construction trucks.

On the way back from the reunion we stopped by a CAT site so Porter could see all the trucks. Too bad they were closed!

We got to see Grandpa Tryon and have a special FHE with him.  David asked him a few questions so we could learn more about him.  It was really sweet to see him.  We don't know when/if we will see him again. He is almost 91!

Jonas and I left AZ a few days before David and Porter.  When Jonas and I got back in town, we met up with Ash and went to Seven Peaks.  I didn't know you could take 1 kid down the slides on your lap, but once we figured that out, we took Jonas down.  What a big boy.  He went down a big water slide for the first time.  Now we are going to have to get Porter on board.  Can't wait to try it with him.

While the boys are away, Jonas and I are trying to get lots done.  He had his first trip in the shopping cart.  There will be many more to come :).

Favorite past times

Porter LOVES to swing.  We finally bought him a swing and he now is getting closer to pumping his legs.  He at least is saying the correct words even if is legs aren't doing it :).

"Out and in" or "Back and out".  So cute.

And, Porter loves to use his trucks to play with play doh.  There are all kinds of projects that need to be worked on.  But, this particular day, the projects were on hold while Porter made ear plugs out of play doh.  I guess he is preparing for when he works on those noisy jobs sites.

Chores

Is it too young to start my almost 2 1/2 year old doing chores?  Here he is putting away the silverware.

My boys (July 3rd)

I love my boys.  They are the best part of my life and they bring me so much joy.  And, David loves being their dad and really makes an effort to do special things with them. 

I went shopping one night in preparations for the 4th and I came home to Porter and David eating popcorn, drinking Rootbeer and preparing to "camp".  They had the tent all set up in the basement.  Porter was soooo excited!  I heard him jabbering away until at least 10:30pm.  Who can go to bed when you get to do something so fun with your dad.

Fourth of July

Over and over again I sang, "I am proud to be an American."  I am so grateful for the country that where we live.  I am grateful for our freedoms and those men years ago that were brave, inspired and fought for freedom and independence.  I am grateful for those that continue to sacrifice and fight for these same blessings.

We had friends over for a BBQ and watched fireworks in our front yard.  Porter had a blast.