Porter's 9th Birthday (2/9/2022)

 We have a 9 year old!  That means we became parents, became a mom 9 years ago.  We have loved this journey as parents and love our kids so much.  You know that feeling where you want to explode you love them so much.

Porter really wanted us to wake him up at 6:56am when he officially turned 9, so that's exactly what I did.  I wished him a Happy Birthday and then told him he could keep sleeping.  

He was so excited and happy all morning before leaving for school.  On his way out the door he told us how much he loved us and then while running off to school Jonas and him kept turning around and waving.  Brooks and Mason ran to the door too so Mason could tell them bye and he loved them. Brooks yelled, "Happy Birthday!"

David brought donuts to his school so he could share with his classmates and he called us before lunch to see if we would bring him Wendy's.  So, I brought him Wendy's for lunch.  

After school David took Porter, and his friends Tanner and Finn to play basketball at the church.

Then we went to dinner at Red Robin with our family, Ash and Tanner.  The boys all got rootbeer floats like they've wanted.

We opened presents with Mimi and Papa.  From us Porter wanted ESPN for a month and to go snowboarding.  Mimi and Papa got him a fun Lego set.  Ash got him a Patriots sweatshirt.

After dinner Porter had Tanner come over and they played Madden.

We love Porter.  He continues to be the best "only" child.  He had all the plans for how he wanted his birthday to go.  When he is happy and excited, he is a joy to be around and his excitement is contagious. He loves sports, especially football and basketball.  He has gotten pretty good at basketball and scores every game for his team.  He's great at defense too.  Porter has loved having baby Cam around.  Porter still loves to read and we can't keep up with how fast he goes through books. I'm pretty sure he's read more books in his 9 years of life than I've read in my almost 42 years.

Brooks (11/19/21)

Tonight as I sat by Brooks and sang to him before bed, I was overcome with love for this little man.  He is such a joy and a character.  He is definitely a lot of work, but I could not imagine our world without him.  His favorite songs are: I Like to Look for Rainbows and I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus.  He loves Jesus and notices every picture of Him.  When he folds his arms for prayer it is so precious and he squeezes his eyes closed tight.  When we drive by church buildings he often yells either church or temple depending on how big it is.  He knows who "Prophet Nelson" is and recognizes his picture.  He counts to 10 and sometimes beyond, although he might miss a number.  He also counts down to zero. He loves to tease, be tossed, run around, dance to music the second it comes on.  He'll also sit at the piano and play.  Most of the time he plays with just a finger or two and doesn't pound.  He's definitely watching his brothers play.  

All the neighbor kids love him and sometimes will ask to play with just him.  The girls even ask if they can "babysit" him.  Usually he'll tell them "no way" or "go away", but sometimes he'll go swing or jump on the trampoline with them.  He loves our neighbor Thomas and his mom, Sara.  He'll yell out the window at them when he sees them.  

His still loves his momma best and wants me to put him to bed every night, but he has started going places with David and hanging out with David more.  

Today I took him shopping and I couldn't keep him in the shopping cart.  We were in the make up aisle and he'd pull things off the shelf and say, "Buy this."  Unfortunately he is not super easy to shop with, but if I wasn't in a hurry, I'm sure it would be a lot more fun :).

I love watching him dance, sing, run and laugh.  Lately Mason and him having been playing dress up when the boys are at school.  They both get in their super hero costumes and "battle".  He will say "punch", "kick", etc as he does those actions.  

My life is full because of these boys.  Tonight we had Rebekah Barlow over to make homemade corndogs and french fries.  Then we all played games.  The spirit was in our home and there was minimal contention.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a piece of heaven on earth.  I love this family of ours.

Jonas (8/27/2021)

 Jonas got through his first week of school and did great.  After day one, he made friends and has played with people at recess.  He says first grade isn't so bad.  I am so, so glad that he has found people to connect and play with.  This is definitely an answer to prayer.

Tonight Jonas and I went on a date.  It was so fun to spend time with him and hear him chatter non stop.  We tried Coldstone because he's never been there before.  He ordered peach yogurt with gummy bears.  I was surprised by his choice of ice cream.  

We talked about school, the kids in his class, and then I told him that I had realized earlier in the day that my jeans had holes in them.  But, I'd forgotten to change them before we went out, so I was hoping no one could see my underwear.  Earlier in the day, I had walked by Pres and Julie Hall.  Jonas said, "Who cares if they see your underwear.  They already know what it looks like.  They wear the same ones."  "I guess some people might wear underwear with hearts all over it."  Then we started talking about garments and why we wear them.  I told him they remind us of covenants we have made with Heavenly Father.  He said, "So, you pull out your pants and look at your underwear so you can remember your covenants?"  That made me chuckle.   He is such a funny kid. 

We also went to the pet store and checked out any animals they had.  He walked and talked and held my hand the whole time.  It was so sweet.  He really wants a pet.  Every time he saw one he wanted, he check out the price and then say, "I can afford that."  

Tonight while we were reading the scriptures, Jonas started us out with 1 Ne 1:1.  We are starting over again.  He read the entire verse perfectly.  No hesitation with words, no sounding out the words.  It was so impressive.  I had not realized how good his reading had become.  So fun to watch our children learn to read, read and then love it.

Jonas talked about how he feels good when he reads the scriptures.  He recognizes that this is the spirit.

First day of School 2021-2022 School Year (8/24/2021)

Today was the first day of school for Jonas and Porter.  Jonas started 1st grade with Ms Gianelo and technically this is his first year of going in person because of the pandemic.  Porter started 3rd grade with Mr Johnson.

Before today Porter was really concerned about Mr Johnson.  He had interactions with him during 1st grade and he was positive that Mr Johnson was mean.  We had several people recommend that I request him for Porter.  They said he was a fabulous teacher and they all loved him.  After learning a bit about him, I also felt like he would be a great fit for Porter. Well, when we picked him up from school he said his day was great and he loved Mr Johnson!  He said he was funny and he learned more today than he had learned in other classes.  

Porter had also been nervous before today because he said he forgot what it was like to go to school.  David said Porter's last parting words to him when he dropped him off were, "People remember me."  I think he thought since he wasn't at Beacon last year that maybe the kids wouldn't remember him.  I'm so glad that he had a great day and I know this will be a fantastic year for him.

Jonas did not seem as nervous for school today, but when I picked him up after school and asked him about his day, he said, "I didn't make any friends."  That broke my heart.  I thought about the Father's blessing David had given him that he would make a friend this year that would be a friend for life.  Then tonight while we were reading in the Friend at bedtime, I had the thought that maybe a friend that he would make this year that would be a friend for life was Heavenly Father.  We were reading a story about a kid that prayed and knew Heavenly Father heard and answered her prayers.  I told him about my thought.  I hope that he makes friends at school, but I loved the thought that he would develop a relationship with Heavenly Father that would last through out his life.  

I love my boys.  I'm grateful that Porter had such a great day and I hope and pray that Jonas will make a friend.  He is so tender and observant.  I'm sure he sat back and watched the kids play.  Unfortunately he isn't as great at making the initial connection.  This is something I hope I can help him figure out so that he can build confidence in his ability to make friends and be a friend.

Today Jonas had to fill out an About Me page.  One of the questions asked him to list his best friends.  He crossed that question out.  As a mom I wish I could help him make a friend at school, but I'm not there.  I'll have to figure out another way to get him engaged and connected.

While the older boys were at school, I enjoyed Mason and Brooks.  We played outside a bit and Mason showed me how fast and good he is on the scooter.  Brooks ran around and kept ringing Tamara's doorbell!

We met Ashley for lunch at her work downtown.  They had a few food trucks in the parking lot.  Everyone was so kind to the boys and I.  They gave us a food voucher so we didn't even have to buy our own food and then the ice cream truck worker asked if she could give the boys ice cream.  It was so sweet.  Mason and I had talk about how when people are kind and generous, you are inspired to be kind and generous also.  Then we talked about the ways that people were kind and generous there.  Mason brought up that Tamara Evans was kind and generous because she invited us to her cabin and let us ride her horses yesterday.  I love that he made the connection.

August 1st, 2021

Where does the time go?  I have been writing little short blips in a paper journal, but there is so much more I can get out if I type.  Today is Sunday.  Sacrament meeting was fantastic and I taught Sunday school.  I loved getting to prepare and study D&C Sec 84.  This section could be studied for weeks and months and still feel like I was just scratching the surface.  Seeing how all the dots connect, how God's plan is laid out from the foundation of the world and is deliberate.

Tonight there was a big thunder storm.  We have needed the rain and Jonas decided to run outside in it.  Once he came back inside, Jonas, Mason and Porter and I curled up by the window and watched the rain and talked.  Brooks was already asleep, so we really got to talk with no distractions.  We talked about the word of wisdom.  The boys asked questions and I answered.  

Then Mason was ready for bed, so I took him into his room and the next thing I know I'm telling him about what's going on with the baby right now.  This obviously intrigued the other boys so they all gathered around to figure out that the baby is about the size of my closed fist, it has reflexes now and it's developed it's gender parts.  From this conversation somehow we started reading my old blog entries.  We were laughing and the boys loved to hear about themselves.  As I read through them, I was reminded of why I blogged.   It was to record their stories, to remember their sweet personalities and mannerisms and it was to record my feelings, experiences and spiritual experiences.  I really need to get back into the habit.  There is power that comes from reading my own testimony that I'd forgotten I'd written years ago.  And hopefully one day my boys will read it too and know that knew my Savior and loved him.  

I am 13 1/2 weeks pregnant.  I should find out this week if we're having a girl or a boy.  My heart wants the chance to raise a sweet little girl, but if not, we will love and adore another boy.  It will be interesting to see how the dynamics in our family continue to change.  

Last night we had dinner with Kumeh, HehReh and Paul and Irene Torres.  Kumeh and Hehreh are refugees from Burma.  They have been here since 2009.  She was in the refugee camp from 1996 until 2009 and he was there from 1989 until 2009.  They both arrived in the refugee camp when they were 11.  Hehreh was all alone and Kumeh went with her family.  Their story is remarkable.  A few months after they arrived in Salt Lake, the missionaries knocked on the door.  It was their first introduction to our church.  They were baptized and I love that know in their home, prominently displayed, is a picture of the Salt Lake Temple and our Savior, Jesus Christ.