Our Crazy Life!

Up in the air... its a bird!  its a plane!  No, just Adam getting  a last flight in on the ultralite before his big flight back to Portland for session 3 of rotations.  So my title of "single married mom"  has resumed.  Yippee!!!   

Well I wanted to post a video of Asher saying "uhoh"  but it wouldn't work.  So I'll have to be satisfied with this equally adorable pic of Asher riding Jackson's bike on our camping trip to Snow Canyon last weekend.  Asher is changing so much lately, just blooming before our eyes!  No, no walking yet, but I really don't expect it anytime soon.  Both brothers walked at about 16 months, but Asher is definitely on his own time and I'm not feeling pressure to hurry him, he'll do it when he is ready (funny how I've learned that philosophy with him but I still feel the need to pressure Porter, poor guy!)  Here's what Asher has been up to:

Dear Internet Connection,

Several weeks ago my parents came to visit here in Puerto Rico.  They came in on Father's Day, what a special treat that was to share my dad's special day with him.  We spent there first day relaxing with a swim and a walk down the beach, and the kids showed them around there favorite pool, ending with a traditional Puerto Rican meal of rice and beans and chicken and birthday cake with Asher.  It was such a great start to a great visit!  The boys just fell right in step with my dad, who was so energetic and engaging the entire visit!  He's such a happy boy when he's on vacation, and it was a special treat to share this time with him.  Jackson was so funny that day!  Our neighbors, Carlos and Tata were also having a get together with there families for the holiday.  Jackson walked right into their open door and sat down on their couch playing his leapster. He just made him self at home there!  We were all cracking up over it. He said he likes over there better because their house is bigger and ours in puny and old (they're the exact same floor plan), what a character! Later on, he mooch not one but two pieces of cake from them!  This is actually a common occurrence for our little Jack, people just love him and always want to give him things, he is just so irresistible!

I'm quite behind again on my blog updating.  This seems to becoming the story of my life.  But anyways we've had important fun things happening and I feel I need to give them there due.  

I've been trying to post this slide show for about a month now.  Our Internet connection at the rental home has been very sporadic.  We began with nothing for several weeks, then we finally received the software from our cell phone co. to access the web via our cell phones.  Though we were excited that we no longer had to take the laptop to a nearby park, and sit at a bench to get a signal, we were very disappointed with the speed, or lack there of.  Anyways that ended up not working out. And we lost internet again for about a week.  Hence no post of the birthdays. But we now have a much better connection thanks to our kind neighbors who gave us permission to use there wireless modem.  I literally tried uploading this slide show about 5 times, each time taking several hours, that's how slow it was.  It would always freeze up towards the end.  So I made it shorter and finally it works!

2 days ago my parents celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary.  That's right, THIRTY-FOUR YEARS!  I just wanted to share my gratitude for the example they set for Adam, my sister and I. As all of you who are hitched know, marriage takes work, dedication, loyalty, love, compassion, understanding... and the list goes on.  34 years of persevering in those qualities to make a marriage work is phenomenal.  But my parents don't just make it work, they actually still love each other, enjoy being together, and plan there life around the priorities they both share.  They really are so cute!  That is the example I want to follow, thanks Mom and Dad, for this special gift of your example you've given to us.  I cherish it, and love you so much!

Ahhhh, baby Jack... Jackson's 4th birthday is in 2 days.  I thought I'd take a moment to catch up on memories of him these past 4 years.  We were very excited to have another baby and got pregnant very quickly.  My pregnancy with Jackson was excellent, and definitely my best!  I felt great, hardly ever sick and labor/delivery was a breeze.  At one point the doc told me to stop pushing because he was coming so fast.  He weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 21 inches long.  I just have lots of memories of feeling very confident and happy with the whole process and the time period.  Jackson was  a great nurser and slept ok, though he had a hard time going back to sleep after the midnight feedings.  I did find my patience at these moments to be thinner than ever!  I over-stressed about not getting enough sleep and having to care for 2 in the morning.  Even though our life was challenging with Adam in summer school and me taking care of 2 babies, Jackson was the oil that filled my lamp!  He was described very early by many as angelic.  Thats exactly what he was  a sweet angel baby!  At about four months old he got very sick, and was actually hospitalized for several days.  After blood cultures and a spinal tap (yikes!) it was decided  he had a nasty virus.  Nursing ended about a month later, but I was grateful for the time we did get in with nursing.  I decided with this baby that I was going to hold him as much as I could.  If it was dinner time, and Jackson was  fussy, everything would stop and I would hold Jackson.  I'd rock him to sleep, any chance I got, I wanted to spend it holding my sweet angelic baby.  That backfired a bit, when his sleeping patterns were not so good.  But we found a healthy balance.  At about 7 months we moved in Adam's parents to prepare financially for Optometry school.  Then I was competing with Grandma to hold the baby!!  Jackson was the most physical of all my babies, crawling,  well before 12 months, yet not walking till much later!  With Jackson I wasn't a new mom anymore.  I felt confident, and that helped me enjoy the experience more! 

This is my Easter dress!  Adam thinks its lame to post a picture of the model and not me.  But unfortunately, I'm usually the photographer and never the photographee, hence no pictures of me in this dress.  So back to the dress, I love this dress, I love the classic fit and how beautiful I feel wearing it, not to mention its perfectly modest, a great combo!  I love this company for providing us modest and modern dressers with great options to feel beautiful and modest at the same time (not always an easy thing with modern clothing).  So hats off to Down East Basics you've changed my world.

Well if you don't know by now, our first Optometry rotation beginning in May is at the Optometry school in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  We've secured ourselves a great little place on the beach in a town called Loiza.   Its a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom, looking out to the ocean, plenty of room for our family and guests (hint, hint!).  Heres a link to check the place out.

This is Char, my best friend, here in Oregon.  And I say best friend with pride, because she is exactly what a best friend should be:  Fiercely loyal, thoughtful, kind, spiritually uplifting, respectful, confidant, adviser, sister, and a party to boot!  When Char and I get together, its always a grand time!  You can expect extremely loud laughter (from both of us!), high energy, tons of talking, and 4 little boys having just as much fun as we are. I really don't know how I would make it through optometry school without Char.  As the clock ticks down the remaining time we have here at school, we both are getting nervous of what the future holds without each other.  But we've come up with a few solutions:  A.  Char and Easton stow away in our luggage to Puerto Rico (actually they do have plans to come for a visit; I'm absolutely elated!)  B. I stay here in Oregon (very unlikely) or C. Char and Derek and Easton come live in St. George (actually a small possibility).  As you can see I love this girl; if everyone had a Char for a best friend the world would be a happier place.

This is our little super-duper hero.  Part batman, part superman, part spiderman; his own concoction!  Well little super-duper hero, is missing his Grammy, Boppa, Grandma and Grandpa very much lately.  Last week at the grocery store he said "I wish Grammy and Boppa  and Grandma and Grandpa were in Oregon."  Yesterday, he mentioned wanting to see them again.  I guess on the bright side my children are understanding geography a little better, since we have to explain the concept of countries, states and cities to explain why we live in Oregon and the grandparents are in Arizona!  We all sure could use a dose of family right now, though.  Luckily Grammy has planned a visit for the end of April, and we'll be counting down!

I have to say, I think Porter had a wonderful 6th birthday.  From the traditional breakfast in bed to the VIP treatment at a very tasty restaurant on the Columbia River, it was fabulous!  All this blogging about his last 6 years has made me feel so close to him and for me that made his birthday even more special.  I have to say though, he was very meek about all the attention, and if you know Porter, he is not one to be meek.  Nonetheless, he enjoyed the calls, and presents and treats! 

I think this past year has been Porter's best yet!  He just keeps growing and maturing, and getting smarter and sweeter and funnier.  He is very much the "big brother," in every sense of the meaning and all its glory.  He's bossy and loud, yet isn't that his role?  Even better he is a leader with compassion for his family and all around him.   It is so interesting to watch how different Porter and Jackson demonstrate love for Asher.  Porter is the nurturing caring big brother, making sure Asher is happy and his needs are cared for,  its so wonderful as a mother to see tenderness in my son.  Porter played soccer for the first time this year.  Adam and I were very nervous for him.  We just prayed that he would enjoy it; who cares about being a natural athlete.  And he did!  He loved it, and wants to play again, in St. George (wow, what a breakthrough!).  Porter started Kindergarten this year too.  This was something he was really looking forward to all summer long, not to mention riding the bus (Adam and I were not excited about that).  It got off to a rocky start, with a minor trip to the principle's office.  Again with change and handling it well, its just not his forte!  But I'm happy to report that last month Porter caught the attention of his teacher in a very positive way and earned "Student of the Month!"  We couldn't be more proud of him.  He is so excited to learn new words and how they're spelled, he's always sounding things out to figure out which letters are in them (Jackson, of course is following suite).  Numbers are a bit more challenging for him,  but still doing so great!  He is also making huge advances is learning to swim.  The confidence and bravery he has demonstrated is so monumental for him!  He is finally enjoying it!  Now if he could only do the same in the bike riding department!  One step at a time.  Porter's major interest this year are by far Transformers and some crazy cartoon called Ben 10, which has totally taken over our lives.  Holy Cow he just can't get enough of those two.  Friends are very important to Porter also, particularly, Levi and Jaron.  I hate to sound too positive and upbeat like everything is perfect.  I believe in being real and preserving real memories for Porter.  But honestly the good really does out weigh the trials, and we're all learning so much from each other.  Unfortunately Porter will always be the curser that we learn on for the ones that follow.  Hopefully he won't hold that against us!  All I desire for him is to feel loved!  Happy Birthday my sweet pea, I love you with all my being!  Love, Mom

I found this blog for a "bishop."  I'm completely shocked, it is SO irreverent!  I can't decide if its real or a mockery.  What do you think?

Well if your not bored to tears, hang on, we've only got 3 more days.  Honestly I'm doing this to hold myself to it.  I never scrapbook, journal, preserve of any kind.  To say on a blog that everyone looks at that I'm going to post an entry for each year, just kind of puts it out there and knowing that people are expecting it, helps me stick to the personal commitment.  Like I said before, this exercise of reflection, has been such a phenomenal blessing!  My mother-in-law pointed out that I'm doing my genealogy by making these entries.  So thats got to be good right?  So after all that, my point is, I'm doing this for me, my family, Porter; so bare with me!

We're half way to 6!  I'll need a big emotional rest after Porter turns 6, this is an exhausting daily trip down memory lane!  Especially after last nights entry.  OK, here we go...