Tuesday, December 11, 2007

We're Having a Little Technical Difficulty

So our computer has completely died and we will not be getting a new one until after the Holidays are over so please bear with us as we try to make posts whenever I can borrow someones computer. We hope everyone is doing well and can't wait to be up and blogging again soon!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Porter's 4th Birthday

Every Sunday we go to my parents house for dinner and when someone has a birthday
we have birthday cake for dessert. Porter was so excited to have cake with his cousins and couldn't wait for them to sing happy birthday to him.






Porter was lying awake inbetween Sam and I yesterday morning and when I woke up I told him Happy Birthday! He looked at me and asked "Am I four now?"




Porter has been asking for the longest time for the new cereal straws and I thought that would be the perfect birthday breakfast treat for him. He loved them!






Next on the birthday agenda was a trip to Disneyland with our friends the Smiths .
We went to city hall where Porter got to talk to Goofy on the phone and told Porter
Happy Birthday. Porter got a cool birthday pin so everyone could tell that it was his big day!!!




We had so much fun and at the end of It's A Small World Porter said
"Mom, this is So Awesome!"
Grandma Sherri even came to Disneyland for a little while
so she could wish Porter a Happy Birthday too!






Porter and Gracie were knocking on the door at the Haunted Mansion and saying
"Trick-or-Treat" and sat together on Pirates of the Carribean.



Porter and Wyatt sat together on Pirates as well and there was no way I could pull their attention away from everything that was around long enough to get a good picture but from this one you can kinda tell how intense their focus was on the ride. Sam said that when they were walking off the ride he said, "Dad, that ride was SO SO SO Awesome!"


All in all I would have to say that Porter had a wonderful birthday. We went to dinner
after we left the park and when the waiter came out with his ice cream treat
this was how he found the birthday boy!
(Carter couldn't have been happier eating his dessert for him).




Thursday, November 15, 2007

5 Things Most People Don't Know About Me???

Yes, I have been tagged. If you don't know this already I pretty much tell people my whole life story the first time I meet them so this makes for a very hard task. Here goes...

1) Just before Sam and I started dating, I was planning to change careers and become a stewardess.

2) My mom taught me how to play the harp and performed in the Palos Verdes Elemetary Honor Orchestra and also performed with my mom for a ward Christmas party. I had my own harp and everything. I sold it to someone in our stake and the first time she played in church I started crying because I regretted that I sold it in the first place. (Sam says that someday he'll buy me a harp and I can learn to play again.)

3) While most kids were watching cartoons during the summer, I was hooked on my soaps--All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. I know it is so sad but honestly was the only way I survived summers at my mom's house. Kinda strange 'cause now that I am a stay at home mom, I don't really watch Daytime Soaps.

4) I am very easily intimidated by people. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense because I would also say that I am pretty outgoing but if someone seems unapproachable or even a little bit on the abrasive side, I get super nervous and just try to avoid them. There have been a few people like this in my previous jobs and I would make sure to stay far, far, out of their way so as not to set them off.

5) Sam has told me that it isn't wrong to aspire to hold certain callings in the church so I hope it isn't bad to say that someday I would love to be a seminary teacher. It is definately something I would need to be more prepared for than I am now but as a youth I really enjoyed seminary because I had great teachers who made me want to be there to hear their lessons and learn more about the gospel and to just have a good start to my day. One year I even went to zero period seminary and then at the regular early morning seminary. Kinda strange--I know.

No pressure, but if anyone who reads this would like to share some things about themselves, I would love to read it.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

I have been dreading my 30th birthday for probably the last 6 months but it has now come and gone and so far, it's really not so bad. =) Sam planned a great day with our family and friends at Tom's Farm and I couldn't have a had a better time. My birthdays are always the best because everyone I love usually can be there to celebrate with me (the plus side to being born on a holiday). Now that I think about it, as long as I get to have birthdays as wonderful as the ones I usually do, well--bring'em on!!!!

Thanks to everyone for all the "Happy Birthdays", thanks to all for being there on Monday, and thank you Sam for making my birthday so special--it was a birthday wish come true.



Sam and his mom...



All the kids with their balloon animals & swords (thanks Leslie for keeping an eye on the boys)...


Dad, me, Charla, Deana, and Dru ( I love my family)...


Thanks to the Smith's for coming...


...and did I mention how much I love my family???

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Haircuts Again! Already???

(conveniently located in our master bathroom).



Carter is trying to spit the hair out of his mouth. (Sam never said he was a professional.)


I know they look like they are in a lot of pain, but I swear Sam didn't harm a single hair on their heads. =)


Mom with her handsome sons! I just love those clean-cut boys!!!

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Our Trick-or Treatin' Cowboys


Cowboy Porter and Cowboy Carter, dressed up and rearin' to go trick-or-treating!

I may be biased but that right thar is the cutest 2 year old cowboy in the west!

When taking pictures, Porter striked this pose- He's all business!

Carter couldn't wait to get those chaps off! But, he still kept the boots on.




Porter and Carter were so excited to be lots of things this year for Halloween but when I suggested that they be cowboys there were no other options. They both have popping cork guns from Knotts Berry Farm that they play with all the time and it only made sense that they finally have the get-ups to complete the image.


I think they done pretty good, dressin' up as them thar cowboys!

Halloween With Ms. Michelle


Porter was so excited for his Preschool Halloween Program! (Check out that little snarl)

The kids paraded around Ms. Michelle's kitchen...

They scared us when trying to act like scary monsters...

They sang lots of scary songs (including the Itsy, Bitsy, Spider)...

And they just looked oh so cute! (Cowboy Porter with his sidekick cousin Buzz Lightyear Kyle)

Thursday, October 25, 2007

We'd Rather Be...


Fishing with Grandpa Ken at Irvine Lake...
At Knotts Berry Farm with Snoopy...
Riding ATVs in Utah...
Hiking in Tenaja with friends or...
Feeding the Donkeys?
There are so many things that we would love to be doing outside right now but we're stuck inside because of all the smoke from the fires in Palomar and Fallbrook. Porter and Carter got to play with their friends Wyatt and Grace this morning and that is the most excitement they have had in a few days. Hopefully we can get away somewhere tomorrow for the day so we don't get too stir crazy.
Our thoughts and prayers do go out to all the people whose lives have really been affected by these fires throughout So Cal. Hopefully everything will be getting back to normal, er somewhat normal soon.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

The Pumpkin Patch & A Pony Ride







Yes, just like everybody else we made a trip to the pumpkin patch. Well we've actually made two trips now because we had to take our first pumpkin back because it started rotting after two days. I think Sam was a little disappointed because he couldn't find one as big as the first which weighed about 30 pounds. Porter and Carter got to ride the ponies which made them even more excited to be cowboys for Halloween. Porter also got to pick out his pumpkin to decorate at preschool, that turned out very cute but since then has been totally destroyed by Carter. What is it about those younger siblings???

Friday, October 19, 2007

Could this be why...


...both Porter and Carter have been getting in bed with us in the middle of the night these past few nights? Sam is getting very excited for Halloween this year and has decided he's going to make the older trick-or-treaters work for their candy by scaring them. He started out with a "Jason" type mask (which both Porter and Carter take turns wearing now and Carter ate his mac n' cheese thru it at lunch today) but has now moved on to this one. He came home from work one day this week wearing it. Porter hid under the table and was sobbing while Carter was crawling up my leg screaming. The boys weren't really bothered by the first mask, so Sam was really surprised that they were so terrified of this one...he feels pretty bad about it. I think he gets it from his dad though, cause when Sam and his sisters were little Ken would chase them around the house wearing a Frankenstein mask. All I know is that Porter isn't talking so much about Halloween and trick-or-treating anymore but has now found solace in the thought of Jolly old Saint Nick.

How It All Started


Where did you meet your husband? In our home ward, but never spoke to eachother till he got home from his mission and we first spoke at a party at our friend Tina's house
What was the first thing you said to your husband? Yeah. We're engaged. (In answer to his question about the boyfriend I had before Sam left on his mission.)
Where was your first date? Sam took me out to dinner at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
Where was your first kiss? At Aaron Corsi's house, before our first date...he tricked me into kissing him.
Did you have a long or short courtship/engagement? Is 6 months from first kiss to wedding day long or short? Actually, I think it was more like 5 months.
Where did you get engaged? No big story, Sam started talking about it like after one week of dating, proved he was serious two months later when he asked for my dad's permission and called the temple to reserve the date. I tease him about it though, 'cause when he gave me my ring he started with "I already know you're going to say yes...will you marry me?"
Where were you married? The Los AngelesTemple.
How did your reception go? We loved our reception!!!! Family, friends, beautiful decorations (thanks Deana),great food, dancing...what more could we've asked for? We still talk about how much fun we had.
How was your honeymoon? So much fun!!! We took the four day cruise to Catalina and Ensenada. The only thing that would've made it better was if it lasted longer.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Happy Birthday Grandpa Gene!!!


Carter Eugene loves to go to his great-grandpa Gene's house!
(And why shouldn't he when he gets all-you-can-eat ribs and
can play slot machines to his little heart's content.)



Grandma Sherri with her boys, oh and Branden too!
(He says he's not a boy anymore--he's a man)


Porter and Carter with their older cousins
Branden and Justin.


Grandpa Gene with all the guys.

Every October around this time we make a trip out to Palm Springs to spend a day with Sam's grandpa and celebrate his birthday. The boys are so always so excited to be there and have a ton of fun playing out on the golf course that his yard backs up to. Grandma Carol gets out a bunch of toys for them to play with as well. She tries to make sure they have plenty to do. We had a great time today with the family and were so happy to see that Grandpa Gene is doing so well.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Creating Memories & Re-living Old Ones

One of the things I regret most with my kids is being so bad about writing down all the cute things they say. There have been so many I've already forgotton but that's what our little family blog is for-- to keep a record of these everyday things. Which brings me to my latest funny. The other day Porter was singing a Primary song called "When I am Baptized" and sang "I know when I am baptized, my arms are washed away (instead of my wrongs are washed away)". Sam and I heard it at the same time and started laughing and Porter said "Don't laugh at me, I like that song". These little guys are so cute and I just can't get enough of them. Yesterday I put them down for their naps and Carter yelled through his door "Po-Po, help, I'm stuck." Porter yelled back "I know I'm stuck too, just take a nap Carter."

We also had a visit the other night from one of Sam's favorite mission companions and his wife and baby. It was so much fun to listen to them talk about the mission and all the memories they shared. Sam had a blast reliving his "glory days". Carter needs me to turn on Yo Gabba Gabba, so I'd better go.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Duck n' Donuts




One of Sam's favorite Saturday morning activities to do with Porter and Carter is to take them to the duck pond and then out for donuts. The first time we took Carter to feed the ducks he had a piece of bread in his hand and when a duck greedily took the whole piece, Carter smacked the duck right across the face with his other hand. (For those of you who don't know Carter very well he is extremely possesive when it comes to food.) Anyway, I'm not quite sure if the boys enjoy the ducks or the donuts more, but as for Sam (the littlest kid at heart), I know that he loves feeding those ducks!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Slip Sliding Away


Of the four of us, who looks the most scared? Me. I know.




Porter warming up after the fun!


For those of you who may not know, Sam's calling in church right now is as the 11 year old scout leader. Well about a month ago, while the weather was nice and hot, Sam set up an orienteering activity for the scouts. After navigating correctly they came to a cooler with ice blocks inside and they went ice blocking. I guess they all had a great time, but Sam felt that one element was missing...rain! So,last Saturday after it had been raining, Sam thought it would be an even better time to go so that we could pick up alittle extra speed going down the hills. We had a great time and the boys couldn't get enough of it.