Star Wars Birthday

This year was Xander's first birthday party. He was so excited all week! He could barely stand it as he watched his dad make his pinata throughout the week. Everyday he would ask if he could have the candy from his pinata. See Ben's blog for directions on how to make your very own Darth Vader pinata.



Xander and his friends had fun eating pizza and using the force to destroy Darth Vader. This year I thought I was so smart getting things here and there before Xander's birthday. I found a great deal on craigslist for Star Wars coloring books and Darth Vader masks and I got some cool light saber like swords from Amazon.

It was too windy so I wasn't able to keep the candles lit. That didn't stop Xander from blowing them out. He knows how it's done!



Check out Xander and his fellow Jedi Knights:

Disneyland

Disneyland was awesome this year. We invited some of our friends who live in the L.A. area to go with us. We had a great time with our group of 9 kids, 6 adults, and 2 pregnant ladies! Kristen and Kori were such troopers being pregnant and due in just a few months! In the picture above, Ben suggested we stand by the "R" in "California" and make it into a "P" for Porters. He's so smart.

It was great taking turns watching the sleeping kids so that everyone had a chance to ride the rides. Zoey even got to ride rides like "Pirates of the Carribbean" and "The Haunted Mansion". She IS the perfect baby!

Some of the funniest things. . .

1. Ben complaining about the pink blanket he had to put over Zoey while carrying her in the baby bjorn. He whined, "Isn't there a more manly blanket?"

2. Xander, while entering the elevator in the hotel, went straight up to this man he did not know. He took his toy caterpillar (or "snake" as he calls it) and ran it up one leg and over the other while making animal noises. I had to tell him to "stop" or I think he would have done it the entire time. I had to hold my breath to keep from bursting out with uncontrollable laughter. The man just smiled and I could tell he was trying to hold in the laughter. After we got off the elevator, I very slowly let out my giggles as I heard the man behind me chuckling.



3. Ben took this picture the after the second day at Disneyland and California Adventure. Xander was so tired that he didn't even wake up while putting him on the tram. I love that Mia is trying to be-head CJ's dog! And the look on her face is so realistic.

Some of the Best things. . .

1. For months, we have had the girls save their money for Disneyland. CJ couldn't wait to spend that money. She had even saved her birthday money. It was great because she bought things that I would have probably said "No" to like the 3.00 bottle of pop. Mia bought a sword. She is our Kung Fu girl.

2. This year, we remembered the kid's bathing suits for the Bug's Land.

3. Getting the "stroller pass" so Ben and I could both go on a ride.

4. Mia and Xander being taller this year and being able to ride more rides.

5. Buying squirt bottle fans before we went to Disneyland. I got 3 of them at Walmart for about the price of 1 at Disneyland.

6. Going with friends!

Happy Birthday "Moo"!

Shortly after Mia was born, her Grandma nicknamed her "Moo". I still to this day can't remember where it came from. She did have several outfits with cows on them. . .

Yesterday was Mia's birthday and I was crimping her hair and she said to me, " Yesterday I was four and I was this tall (she bends her knees and crouches down) and today I am five and I am this tall (as she stands on her tippie toes)."

All day she would end her sentence with, ". . .because I'm five." I asked her to put something up high and she says, "Yeah, I can reach up high because I'm five."

We went over my friend Tina's house and we had pizza and cupcakes with the kids. Adrienne and Tina got Mia the perfect gifts. Bags to put things in. She carries them around all day and keeps her important things in them.



I think Cael and Sam won the messiest cupcake eater award.




Later on, I took Mia out on a photo shoot with me. I liked how CJ's turned out and I've been needing some updated photos of everyone. I'm just going to put a few here and more on my photo blog.

Happy Birthday Mia Moo! We love you!

Losing it

Things I've lost over the years. . .

My dad's hammer in Milan, Michigan at my sixth grade fossil hunt, my senior class ring, 20 lbs. after I married Ben, my citizenship papers, my favorite bathing suit at the pool, my phone everyday. . .

And most recently. . .my mind.

I can say that I am a pretty happy person 99 % of the time. The other 1 % of the time I'm going crazy. I've decided that lack of sleep and exhaustion are to blame. Today I tried to take a nap when the two little ones were napping and was interrupted several times for one thing or another. Needless to say, Crazy Mom resurfaced. She's been absent since Zoey was born and I thought she was gone for good.

I hate when I get that way and I feel so bad and awful. CJ, my thoughtful daughter, got the little kids together and made me happy cards. I love her and how she observes situations and sees how she can make them better. Mia's facial expression is because of the flash and Xander's because that's just how he smiles for pictures these days.



Thank goodness for kids with a forgiving heart.



I've decided that I need to look at what I have gained. . .

Most recently. . .this little chunk who is wearing 3 month old clothes in this picture. She's 6 weeks old and as cute as can be.

Yay for Family!

Some of Ben's family came out to visit us last week. I can't tell you how much my kids and I were looking forward to their visit. We have been literally counting down for months now.

Here are some of the highlights of their visit:

SWORD FIGHTING

Sword Fighting was a workout especially if you fought Caleb or Mia. I think the best match to watch was Ben and his Dad. Ben's Mom got some really cool "jump" pictures of Abby and Caleb that I hope she'll post on her blog.

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND

We had to take them to one of our favorite discoveries. We built an extension and Abby called it the "Porta Potty".



(Sorry Jim, this was the only picture I had of mostly everyone)


(I'll try to make up for it with this one)






We also went to Fentons and got icecream. Swam ALOT at their hotel pool and had a picnic at the beach.

ZOEY'S BLESSING

We were so lucky that they were able to stick around for Zoey's blessing. I loved having them around and it made me miss having family close by even more. One of the things I loved the most was them loving my kids and playing with them. I loved that Kathy (Mom) just grabbed Zoey and took care of her and gave me a little break. I think that is what it takes for someone to help me. They can't ask, they just have to do it! I loved that Xander told everyone that they were his best friend and that he loved them.

Thanks for coming and for not forgetting about us Californian Porters! We love you and can't wait to see you again!

CJ

It's amazing how exciting taking pictures can be for me. It's almost like therapy. I guess that's how it can be with anything that you love to do. Out of the blue, Ben will tell me to go take pictures. I think he knows that no matter what mood I am in before I go, that after, I will be happy no matter what.

Out of all of my kids, CJ is the hardest to get on camera. Mostly, because she was in school and when I would try to take candids of her and the kids, she is one of the toughest to keep in one place long enough to take a picture.



Today, when Ben came home from work, I took CJ out all by herself for a special photo session with me. She was so excited to spend time with just me. Most of the time, she is the one that doesn't get the attention because someone littler needs my help.

CJ is growing so up so fast. CJ is a very thoughtful and caring young girl. She is the one who will always remember when it's my birthday or when it is anyone's birthday for that matter.



She is a great helper and loves to be the "mom". Sometimes, I have to tell her to let me be the mom. She watches out for her siblings and especially for their safety. I always tell her that she is going to be a great mom someday.



CJ has said on many occasions that she doesn't like it when people think her name is a boy's name. We've told her that she can decide what she would like to be called. She could be "Cynthea" or "Cindy" or even "Jayde". Maybe, she'll do a Betsy and want to be called "Audra".