Potty Training (2/29/16)

2/29- 3 big accidents and lots of dribbles in the toilet.  "So much" as Porter would say referring to how much he peed in the toilet.  

We call it, Dribbling for fruit snacks since that's his reward of choice.

Asking, "What do I get for a toot?"

3/1- 2 accidents and lots of dribbles.

3/2- 1 small accident and he pooped on the potty.  Whoo hoo!  

Today our sweet friends the Murdock's brought him Star Wars fruit snacks to help with the incentivizing.

Warming Up (2/24-2/28)

The weather has been warming up which means we have been spending a lot more time outside. Jonas is in heaven.  We go on daily walks, have gone to the park several times and just spend more time playing in the yard.  Jonas is learning how to bat and actually is pretty good for an almost 14 month old. 

This little guy treks right along next to us on our walks.  He's a trooper.  And actually, he's perfectly content as long as I don't try to pick him up:).

And he tackles the slide like a champ.  

Porter went to his first play, Shrek the Musical at Hillside Elementary School, with me and Aunt Ash. We almost didn't go because he was freaking out about seeing Shrek and being scared.  After convincing him that Shrek was nice he just looked different, he finally decided to go.  He talked through the whole thing and every time the lights went off he asked, "Is it done now?"  I love going on little dates with him. 

There were so many people in the play and this was a middle school play!  The talent was impressive.

There was a Bobsledding competition in Park City, so we drove out to the Olympic Park for the morning.  It was fun to watch how fast the bobsleds travel and then to go through the museum.  Even the boys did pretty good looking around. 

Porter didn't love the loud noise.

Taking Dad for a walk.

Could you imagine this bobsledding duo?  Watch out world.

Or this snowboarder?

Porter has also enjoyed the warmer weather and spent some time the other morning building an airport, construction site and a zoo.  It was super windy so he was getting frustrated every time the wind blew his stuff over. 

Gayle bought the boys new shirts and Porter a new pair of shoes and if you ask me, these boys look handsome.

These boys (2/22-2/23)

There is never a dull moment with these boys.  Porter reads on the toilet, dresses up like an indian and lives it up at Jungle Jims.  Jonas is getting into the fun at Jungle Jim's too.  We met up with friends for a play date on $2 Tuesday.  Porter still is not a fan of the roller coaster.  He got off right before the coaster was supposed to start backwards.  They were kind enough to stop it for him.

Birthday celebration

The weather was great today, so we played at the park after David and Porter took a bike ride.  Jonas loved the park. We haven't gone as much this winter since its been so cold and snowy, but it was a great day to be out.

Then this afternoon we went to Gayle's for swimming and my birthday dinner.  Gayle made a delicious pasta with shrimp and a strawberry cake with cream cheese, white chocolate frosting.  Yum!  The boys decorated it to look like Mickey Mouse.  

Then Porter stayed to have a sleep night over with Gayle and he watched Star Wars.  I'm pretty sure he was more entertaining than the movie. He reminds me of when I was little and would jump around in front of the tv when I'd get excited.

Decorating the cake.

Mickey Mouse.  Porter had told Gayle he wanted a Mickey cake, so of course she bought all the stuff.

Blowing out the candles with my sweet boys.

Porter watching Star Wars with his light saber.  He was fighting the bad guys right along with the movie.  Seriously, there was lots of jumping around and light saber waving. It was pretty funny.

Night skiing (2/19)

David was taking the scouts skiing at Brighton Friday night, and we had planned to go up early as a family, but Jonas wasn't feeling well.  So Jonas and I stayed behind and Porter got to go up later with the Stahl's. He had a blast and just wants to go fast.  I love that he enjoys being out there and that David and him get to bond.  They will have special memories.

Blessed they are mine

Jonas looks a little scared:).

Taking the wheel together. Porter is definitely a wild man behind the wheel.

Our Dennis the Menace.

Jonas is a walker (2/19/16)

This post is really late. And poor Jonas seems to get neglected on updates and big events.  Good thing he's only 1 and forgives easily.  Just before he turned 13 months he really started walking.  He had taken a few steps, but on Jan 29th-30th he really started to walk.  At first he looked a little more like a drunken sailer, but now he's a champ.  He rarely ever reverts back to crawling.  He sure is proud of his new found skill.  When he first started he would look at us, make sure we were watching, getting a bag smile on his face and go for it.  I'm pretty sure he loved all the cheers he got.

Stake Conference/Valentine's Day (2/15/16)

We had a great Valentine's weekend.  Friday night we went with the Griffith's, Murdock's, Collyn Kirry and Randall to dinner at Trio.  All the kids had pizza and watched a movie at the Murdock's.  Jonas even did great! 

Saturday night was Stake Conference and Elder Keetch, an area authority came.  We talked about the spirit and being more in tune and recognizing the prompting we receive.  Then we went out for gelato with a bunch of people.  

Sunday was Valentine's Day and I got to spend it with my boys.  I love them.  David had the priesthood session early, so Porter and I made pink heart pancakes.

Oh to be 3! (2/9)

My little boy that made me a mom turned 3 this week. What a wonderful, stretching   3 years it has been.  I can't imagine my life without Porter.  He is smart, funny, silly, witty, tender, creative, hardworking, inquisitive, intense, strong willed and spiritual.  He knows how to push my buttons, work me over and then completely melt my heart.  I have no doubt he will do great things.  He pays attention when you don't think he is.  He perceives and understands things that are so beyond what you'd expect from a 3 year old.  He constantly amazes us.

I will admit he can be extremely exhausting with his boundless energy and tantrums, and some bad habits (saying "you're stupid" and "I don't like you" or even sometimes "I hate you", although I know he loves us so I kind of disregard those comments), but we sure love him and are glad he's ours.

For his birthday it was pretty much a party all week.  When I asked him who he wanted to invite for a party, he named three people: Annie (14), Kate (11) and Meg (8), the Murdock girls.  I decided since he didn't really care about a friend's over party, we'd bypass a big party and he could invite two friends to take to Chuck E Cheese.  Then we'd have cake and ice cream at our house.  It turned out perfect.  He invited Max Boothe and Tanner Mitchell.  Both boys are at least a year older.  He does much better with older kids.  He had a great birthday.  The day before his birthday we went to the aquarium. On his birthday was Chuck E Cheese and birthday cake and the day after his birthday was skiing at Brighton with dad and Aunt Ash.  Then since it was Uncke Randall's birthday this week we celebrated with him too.

On Friday night we went out to dinner at Trio with the Murdock's, Griffith's and Kirry's.  All the kids ate pizza and watched a movie at the Murdock's, so basically that was a party for Porter.  A lot of his favorite people were there.

Last night as a 2 year old.

For his birthday I decorated the kitchen so when he woke up he'd see everything.  When Porter walked in the kitchen and took it all in he said, "It's wonderful.  It's wonderful.  It's wonderful.  I love it."  So sweet.

He finally got a light saber!  It turns three different colors and makes noise.  He immediately had to get on his Darth Vader outfit and practice.  He looked like a natural...not a natural Darth Vader, but a natural light saber fighter.

The Chuck E Cheese gang.  Tanner Mitchell, Max Boothe and Maddy Boothe got to tag along too.

Jonas was perfectly happy playing with balls the whole time.

Porter wanted a Jake and the Neverland Pirates cake.  Good thing he has low expectations.  He was super excited at my ghetto cake.

Mimi and Papa sent him these magnets.  Now he can work on learning his letters.

Waiting for his next gift.

He loved his Star Wars sleeping bag.

Uncle Randall's birthday.

And even though most people won't agree this is fun, Porter got to help me clean the house this week.  Here he's cleaning the bathroom mirror.

It was a great week. I love this boy and am glad we got to celebrate him.