The Incredible Bendable Girl

Ben stayed home from work yesterday and so I got to take Mia to gymnastics all by myself. Normally, while Mia is doing gymnastics I'll take the little ones for a walk or go to a nearby store because Zoey wants to run around on the mats.

I was so excited that I brought my camera. I was having tons of fun taking pictures from the sidelines until one of the teachers told me I couldn't use my flash. Dang it! I still got some good ones though.

They sort of do this circuit training where they go to different stations. Today Mia jumped on the trampoline, dove into the pit (a hole filled with cubed foam), practiced handstands and doing a backbend using the wall.

On the other side of the gym, they practiced balance on various balance beams. You know how you watch someone do something and for so reason, you have the foolish notion that you can do it too? I went home and tried to do a back bend because back in the day, that was cake for me. We almost had to call 911! It was so tough and my body was so stiff. I couldn't even go half way!

SCIENCE FAIR

I love to give Ben the assignment of helping the kids with Science Projects. He always does such a good job and the kids love doing it with him. Mia chose to do her project on fingerprints. She learned about the different types of fingerprints. Then, she took each member of the family's fingerprints except Zoey's. We did try to get one from her, but it was almost non-existent.

After taking everyone's fingerprint, she practiced her skill of identifying each one as an arch, whorl. double loop or loop. Our house then turned into a crime scene where each member of the family touched an identical mug. Ben put the person's name on a folded piece of paper inside the cup so Mia wouldn't know whose was whose.

Mia then dusted the fingerprints with graphite and using packaging tape they removed the fingerprint. Ben laid out the fingerprint from each cup as well as the fingerprints from the very beginning. Mia then guessed whose fingerprints were on each cup. She got all of them right!

Mia was so excited to take her Dad to the Science Fair. On the way she told him, "My teacher is a fan of you and so is Ava and. . .she went on listing everyone." Apparently, Mia told her class that Ben works at Pixar.

We had told Mia beforehand that she may not win anything and to not be upset because she did a wonderful job. We hoped that preparing her beforehand would help any disappointment that may come. Mia has a hard time losing. We've been trying to work with her on that.

We enjoyed walking around with her and especially looking at her project. The moment came where they had all the kids and parents gather around the stage because they were going to award ribbons to the science projects.

I was all prepared mentally on how I would console Mia when she didn't win because, really, what are the chances? I thought to myself that this would be a great opportunity to teach Mia about being a good sport.

Then, all of a sudden I got really nervous because, deep down, I really wanted her to win! I hoped that she would just get an honorable mention. She has talked and talked about the Science Fair and was anticipating this night for days.

Her friend Mason's name was called and he got a 3rd place ribbon. And I got even more anxious for Mia! Why was I feeling this way? What is wrong with me. . .? Am I becoming an obnoxious parent??

Then, they called Mia's name for second place! I was so happy for her!

I guess we'll teach Mia how to deal with disappointment and being a good sport another day.

If she would only stop winning. . .

Zoey and her Best Bud

Our Gifts for Val-Day

Ben and I have made the tradition of making gifts for each other for Valentine's Day. Last year you may remember the tie cake I made for him:

Not straying much off that path, I decided to turn this mess:

Into this:

I made everything myself. I even used the drill press for the first time with success! I organized Ben's ties by putting the ones that I thought were ugly up high hoping that he will just grab the ones that are easier to get to!

Ben was hoping that he could use the Anniversary music video as my Valentine gift too. No such luck is what I told him. No rollover gifts! Here is what he made me:

Check out the heart:

He also included a ticket for a free day where I can do anything I want! I love making gifts for Valentine's Day!

Goals

Along with millions of others, Januarys get me into the mood for setting family and individual goals.

The mark of a new beginning.

A time to start over, to start anew.

Ben and I were discussing goals that we would like to set with the family. One of mine is to read a General Conference talk with Ben every Sunday when the kids go down. I feel like I miss quite a few talks while tending the kids during Conference and thought this would be good time for us to catch up. We've done it for a few weeks now and I really enjoy it.

Ben wanted to have the family write in their journals together. Sarah's family does it every Sunday and I've always thought it was neat. Ben said that his family used to do it when he was younger and that the only journal entries he has are from those times.

We've tried it a couple of weeks now and I hope we get into the habit. It always seems hard at first but if we can do it consistently, we can make it stick.

One of my personal goals is to read my scriptures better. I always read it at night and I am always tired. One thing I have tried is reading my scriptures out loud at lunch time to Xander. It's been hard to remember to do it, but when I have, it has been so much better.

Watch out 2011, here come the Porters! We will be triumphant!

Photo Blunders

Ben and I celebrated our 9th anniversary by going on an Alcatraz Cruise. We listened to an auto tour while wandering around the cell house. The escape stories and history of the island were fascinating. I brought the big mama camera because I wanted to get some good pictures. I normally leave it home when I am on an outing with the kids and need all hands on deck. It's giant and too hard to carry and take care of kids at the same time.

I put it in my smaller camera case, checked the battery which was fully charged and giggled with excitement.

I took some beautiful pictures of the outside of the buildings which were aged perfectly, the cells, San Francisco at night, and anything else that stuck out to me. Half way through the tour, my camera died. I didn't have the spare battery because I left it in the giant bag. I thought I would turn the camera off and on and see what would happen. I did it and it battery came back to life.

I took more pictures and then we were on the boat to go back to San Fran when the screen went black with the words, "CF card unformatted." Unfortunately, when I switched the on/off switch I unformatted the card and lost ALL of the pictures! AHHHH! I was so sad.

No pictures to document our fun date. Bummer!

I was using my new flash and I think that drained the battery faster than I expected.

We still had a great time and tried out this diner off of the Embarcadero called Fog City Diner. The food was good but way overpriced for what was served. Ben ate his first 17.00 burger! It was fun to just go out. We don't do that very much.

I commented towards the end of our date, that Ben and I hardly talked during most of the date's activity. Ben says it is sign that we are comfortable with each other.

Since, I have no pictures from Alcatraz, I thought I would leave one with you that might make you pee your pants. Ben may kill me for posting this, but I'm willing to take the chance.

It Works!

Ben found a way to post the video, music and all, using my domain.

Pretty cool.

Check it out to see the cutest kids in the world!

Anniversary Music Video

Happy Anniversary

Last week I posted a video that Ben made me for our anniversary. It was only up for a little bit because the music was disabled by You Tube. Anyways, if you want to look at it and listen to the song, "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars you can check out myAnniversary Music Video.

This year Ben and I are celebrating our 9th anniversary! Time flies when you are having fun! I thought it would be fun to post some pictures from when we met to now.

Here is Ben and I at a single's dance. My friend Eric was really into Halloween and every year he would get a group of people together to dress up. We won 1st prize and I remember Ben being a big hit! I think he even won a prize for his outfit. I remember the ladies flocking around him.



This is one of our engagement pictures. We thought it would be neat to include CJ. We even had CJ announcing the wedding on our invitations. Isn't she so cute?



The happiest day of my life is next. We were married in the Bountiful Temple by his grandfather. I wore tennis shoes with my wedding dress and I LOVED my hair! Ben looked so handsome in his tux and CJ was the minature bride.



I thought it would be fun to post the next picture. 3 of his sisters weren't married at the time and everyone looks so young. His now 16 year old brother was only 7 and Andy and Sarah who have 1 child in the picture now have 5 kids each!



This is Ben and I shortly after we were married at one of his Advanta Christmas parties. Ben worked at Advanta for a year or so after we were married, until he decided to go back to school. He was a valuable asset in his department. He was just someone who answered phones and somehow ended up being sent to Philadelphia to introduce a new program to the company out there.



In 2005, after many struggles, a bad thing turned into a good thing and we were able to take CJ to the temple and get sealed. I also was able to adopt her. This is the second best day of my life!

On a side note, this past year while looking at CJ's birth certificate that I ordered after I adopted her, we realized that I changed the way her middle name was spelled. It used to be "Jayde" and I spelled it, "Jade". So now it is legally Jade and Ben says that just fine because CJ kept spelling her middle name without the "y" anyways.



This was taken a few months after Xander was born. Ben wore his glasses all the time because he worked at UPS and it was just easier for him to keep them on.



This was taken a few weeks after we bought our first house in California! Ben was going through a "I want to grow my hair out as long as I can" stage and I was going through a "I bet I can grow my hair out to the middle of my back" stage. Neither Ben nor I made it. We both cut our hair within months of this picture.



The most recent picture of Ben and I together. We've had a wonderful 9 years with so many good things that have happened to us. We've been through many struggles and tears that have made us stronger and better.



Can't wait to see what adventures are ahead! Happy Anniversary Ben!