Christian at 9 months

Christian loves climbing on this bear that Aunt Nicole gave to Chase.

Christian has got to be the messiest eater out there!

My boys are usually not ones to get into trouble because they tend to migrate to whatever room I'm in. I guess Chase is getting older and more creative because here he is surrounded by the couscous that he was throwing on the bear as well as all around the room. Christian was laughing hysterically. Oh, boys...

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Here he is climbing into our dresser. Don't you love our school desk dresser. That thing is sturdy!

My Sweet Boys

Isn't this picture so sweet.

 

Lake Powell

We drove down to Lake Powell with Kayla and Steven. They were very kind to let us catch a ride. Steve's parents let us stay the night at their home in Antimony, UT. We loved our night on the farm. Chase was enthralled with all of the animals especially the goat named Crash. They had fainting goats whose muscles freeze when they panic. Steve scared them, they froze, and then fell right over. It was hilarious! They also had a horse, cow, lots of chickens, roosters and peacocks. I'm probably missing something else. We had steak for dinner, and eggs fresh from the coop for breakfast. What fun!

 Lake Powell is undeniably my favorite place on earth. I was able to go with my family one last time before they sold the boat. I like this quotation from Dr. Seuss: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." I was smiling the whole time I was there.

 Chase loved it too. This was his first time in the water off of the boat. My mom was finally able to coax him in. Here he is with grandpa, dubbed Skipper (by Steve).

 Look at that five star sand castle. I should mention we didn't build that.

 Could someone please pass the popcorn to Royce? This was actually a very bumpy ride, but so much fun.

 Look at how adorable Christian is! I must say he was the main attraction. I don't think he was ever set down. He looks a little grumpy in this picture. I don't think he loved the life jacket.

 Here I am wake boarding.

 This is how I got up.

We met Dayne at This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City. Dayne worked at the saddlery this summer. Chase helped him stamp leather to make a bracelet.

A Favorite Quotation

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good
fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less
distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their
home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of
the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more
time eating together, more time working together, more time

reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying.
These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their
goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the
gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare
future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom
for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power."

-Julie B. Beck

Service

I'm so grateful for opportunities to serve and for a Relief Society president who felt inspired to ask me to do something nice for somebody else. "When ye are in the service of your fellow being ye are only in the service of your God." -Mosiah 2:17

Apple Picking

We went apple picking with Mimi and Papa. We love going fruit picking any time we can.

Kimball's Farm

Family ice cream trip to Kimball's Farm

Franconia Notch State Park

We went camping at Franconia Notch State Park. Here we are at The Flume Gorge. We learned that a gorge is a narrow cleft with steep, rocky walls. The landscaping was unique and quite breathtaking. I quickly forgave the State Park services for charging us to hike after seeing the view.



Christian did great.



What little boy, or girl for that matter, doesn't love to ride on dad's shoulders.



The Flume Bridge was built in 1871.

Christian is 6-months-old

Christian weighed 16 pounds at 6 months. He is in the 33rd percentile for height, 22nd for weight, and 33rd for head circumference. He's pretty proportionate and very cute.

Castle Island

Castle Island On Memorial Day

Christian is 5 months old

Little Angel





One more for good measure. :)

My First Little Pony Ride

Behind the Wheel

Brotherly Love

Beautiful Cape Ann

City Chase and Country Chase

Country Chase

City Chase

I love Washington D.C. !

The Capitol

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." -Franklin D. Roosevelt.

When the secret service tells you to move you don't dawdle; but luckily, we were able to snap a picture before moving. It was actually on the other side of the white house that they told us to "MOVE!"

Christian, Grandpa, and the Washington Monument

Happy are we!

Vietnam Veterans War Memorial

My mom was enamored with the Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees. They were given to the U.S. by Tokyo as a symbol of friendship.

"If you're happy and you know it...okay, I'll stop singing."

I'll claim those two! Those two can make anything look good.

Christian's Blessing

Christian was blessed on Easter. It was a special event. My dad, Steve's dad and Steve all stood in the circle. The greatest part was that we took up an entire pew. We are so happy that my family was able to take part in the blessing.

Our family

Dads and Christian

Moms and Christian

Porter Fam

Nothing is Child Proof

We have been to the hospital quite a few times in recent months. Chase had a seizure about a week before his second birthday and went to the hospital via ambulance. They said he had pneumonia and the seizure was caused a high fever. I had just taken him to the hospital that very day and started him on the antibiotics. He actually came down with pneumonia a couple of months later and had another seizure. This is Chase with the nebulizer breathing treatment--he wasn't a fan of that. We wrapped Chase's head with this huge ace bandage after he fell off our bed and cut his head open on the heating vent. He looks like a war victim!

Christian also went to the emergency room and was hospitalized for a night. He had bronchiolitis, which means that small air passages in the lungs are surrounded by mucus. We are healthy now and hope to remain that way for awhile.