My name is Bill

Yesterday a woman came over to buy a table that Geneva listed on Craigslist. She bent over to Porter's level and said, "What is your name?" He responded, "My name is Bill." I was over by the kitchen sink and not sure that I heard him correctly. Sure enough, the lady repeated, "Nice to meet you Bill. My name is Cheryl." I'm thinking, "What? Bill? Must be a mistake." When she is leaving I call Porter over to me. I stoop down and said, "Porter, what is your name?" He holds his hand to his chest and says, "My name is Bill." I said, "No it's not. Your name is Porter." He looks at me as says very surprised, "O-o-oh!" I don't know why he thought his name was Bill.

Lane is so cute in the morning. He giggles, laughs, and kicks his legs. He actually throws his legs and thumps the bed. I call him Thumper. However, as soon as he saw the camera he totally stopped everything! He was passing gas all morning (at 4:30 a.m.) and I went to change him and he had nothing! But he was wearing his all night diaper so I changed it. Two minutes later, I heard an explosion! He pooped the new, clean diaper.

I sure made up for my "day off" on my birthday. I didn't feel like I was ever going to catch up. Today, I am taking all 3 kids in to the doctors for shots. I am not excited about it. Poor little guys. It's so sad. They don't even know where I'm taking them until we get there.

Porter and Madison are basically potty-trained. Madison will get mad at me and pee while she's in time out. Such an attitude. But, for the most part they are on their way. I'm so glad. It's so awesome to have them going to the bathroom by themselves and saving on the diapers. Not too mention the loads of trash we took out.

Rhonda and I go walking every evening. Last night the twins stood at the door and waved good bye to us. Grandpa yelled out, "Don't come back until you're skinny!" Madison just said, "Have fun on YOU walk." They're so cute. For you cold weather people--you may be jealous to know we went walking at 7:30 p.m. in shorts and t-shirts.

Prayer Time

Okay...Vicki I am not copying your post. I had every intention of posting this. It's just funny that it is the same time you already posted yours. That said--the other day Porter said a funny prayer. The twins take turns praying and it was actually Madison's turn. However, Porter was sitting next to me having his own prayer. He said:
Dear Heavenly Father. Thank Thee for this day. Bless us to have fun. Bless us to have fun. Bless us to have fun. Bless us to get bottles. Name of Jesus Christ Amen. It was so funny--funnier in person.

Turning 38

I have so many things to write I hope I remember them all. Very likely, I will come back and edit this post and add everything.

When Madison woke up this morning, she came into my room and said, "You back from you birthday Mom?" I had a great birthday! I gave myself the day off yesterday. It was very fun. I didn't do any housework (except for a couple loads of dishes and some necessary laundry.) I got emails, facebook notes, and calls all day. It was fun. I heard from friends, family, and even old, old, old friends from back in college. I loved hearing from everyone. Thank you. Plus, my father-in-law gave me 50 bucks. Then my brothers Jake and Travis, and my Dad called and sang Happy Birthday over the phone. I am so glad they have a real job and don't have to sing for a living. :) But, it was thoughtful, fun and cute. My sister-in-law made me a German Chocolate Cake that was very yummy. I loved it.

My husband is the best guy to have around for a birthday. He has always been a wonderful, perfect gift giver. I have gotten so many perfect gifts in the past. Of coure that was in our Life Before Kids. These little buggers are the most expensive, best gifts ever. They're the gifts that keep on costing. I've never heard the song, "Happy Birthday Mama!" But I did last night.

Anyway, Brant took me to Carrabbas. We go there twice a year now. Once on his birthday, and once for mine. That used to be our place. Like every weekend--before kids. We can't afford it now. So the nostalgia for me is almost better than the food. I had a Steak Marsala and Brant ordered his usual--Chicken Parmigiana. It was so good. And so unusual for us now. We really took it for granted that we could eat out all of the time.

THEN--we went to Fry's and bought a new digital camera/recorder. It was awesome! Brant knows how much I like photography and we found a cool camera. Mine is big, bulky and hard to carry around. So we wanted something we could use more often. Okay, I use mine a ton, it's not like it doesn't get used. Anyway, it was just a very frivolous upgrade.

Just Stuff

Here's a glimpse of the weekend. Twins brushing their teeth. Madison getting her first hot roller hair-do. Unfortunately, her hair was like mine was. It straightens out way too fast. Porter followed Lane around this morning. They love playing together even though it's limited. Porter found a roll of paper towels under the sink. Porter was flexing for Brant.

"I can do it!"

Porter insisted he can... "do it myself!" He wanted to dress himself, so I let him. That's pictures one and two. Then, I helped him fix it. He's so determined.
Porter sees me taking pictures all of the time so he wanted to use my camera. He took a million pictures of the floor, but managed somehow to get this one of me and Madi. I don't look so hot...my hair wasn't combed and no makeup and I was wearing the same clothes I had on the day before--a baggy t-shirt and elastic waist pants. Madi and I both have the famous family double-chin. I kind of like the picture though. It's because that's what I really look like in my unglamourous Mom job. I have puffy bags under my eyes and I look so tired. But, there is a distinct genuineness in my smile. At the very moment this picture was taken, my baby was sleeping; I was next to my girl, my only daughter; Porter was taking pictures and laughing; and Brant had just come home. It's a great moment and some day I will really miss that moment. Thanks for the picture Porter.

Yeah for Saturday!

This is a little blast from the past. The first photo was taken in April 2007 when the twins were 9 months old. The other picture was just taken this morning on their way out with Dad. They were going to the Park. Brant takes them to the park for a couple of hours when he's not working on Saturday. The twins are 27 months now.

Just Stuff

* Me and all three kids took a bath this morning. Madison grabbed my razor. I was explaining to her how it can be dangerous and can cut. She swiped it across Porter's head and cut a chunk of hair out. I was holding Lane, so I had to try to grab it from her. I was showing them how it cut hair and it is so dangerous. Porter grabbed the hair and put it back on his head. He said, "It's okay, I put it back!"
* Potty training has been going well. Porter is on day 2 with no accidents. Madison does well overall, but peed her pants yesterday morning. She still asks me for a diaper to poop. Hmmm... Oh well, it's better than going in her pants. Porter was on the toilet pooping and he said, "I need a book!" Hmmm...wonder where he gets that from. :)
* Lane can sit up, but is still a bit wobbly. He is so happy. He is just grinning from ear to ear when he wakes up. He is very talkative as well and has the cutest little coo.
* Me--I am still trying to lose weight and have been walking 5 times a week. It's coming off very slowly. I guess I am going to have to start giving up chocolate too. :)
* Brant is working so much. He is administering crane testing this weekend so we won't see much of him on Saturday or Sunday.

I used to hate Barney...

...but now he is one of my best friends. I can sing most of the songs by heart. And he's the best babysitter ever. This photo was not staged. They love watching Barney and it gives me a 30 minute break. Yeah!!! The precious minutes you get.

It was another all-night party

Lane woke up with giggles and happy chirping at 1:30 a.m. He was so happy, he stayed up for two hours. I was so tired. I kept thinking, why? Why? Why? The twins woke up a couple of times during the night as well. So, it was just one big whammy of a night. Sometimes I wonder why we have to be sleep-deprived as mothers. I would do a much better job if I could get a decent night's sleep. Plus, I'm not crazy about the puffy, baggy eyes.
I was feeding Lane and watching Porter in his room. He was dancing to a barney video. It was so cute. I suddenly had this feeling that he would be a grown man so quickly and I wanted to capture that sweet moment of his light-hearted dancing. I thought, "Wow! You really do have to treasure every moment!" I reminded myself of my motto, "I'll sleep tomorrow!"

I Got Tagged By Skeeter!

8 Favorite TV Shows
Biggest Loser
Nancy Grace
Hannity and Colmes
O'Reilly Factor
Dr. Phil
Law and Order
Extreme Home Makeover
Days of Our Lives (but it's only to prove that Soap Operas are so stupid!)

8 Favorite Restaurants
Carrabas
Outback
PF Changs
Pei Wei
Chilis
Robertos
Sonic

8 Things that happened yesterday
Madison pooped in the toilet by herself (Yeah!!!)
Porter pooped in the toilet by himself (Yeah!!!)
I walked twice (one hour each)
I cooked dinner
Lane wore jeans for the first time (so cute)
I signed Vicki up on Facebook
An old friend contacted me on Facebook (cool)
Brant watched all 3 kids so I could have some free time

8 Things to look forward to
My sister Kimberly is having her first baby very soon
We are going to Utah for 2 weeks to visit my family for Thanksgiving
Brant is receiving the Melchezidek Priesthood on Sunday
Going through the temple in April
Losing weight
My Mom and sister Dona coming to Vegas for a week in November
Going to that great Chinese restaurant alone on a date with my husband when we go to Utah
Watching the twins experience all of the upcoming holidays

8 Obsessions . Collections
Chocolate-any
Coke/Dr. Pepper
Reading
Business Management
Blogging (Reading and Writing)
Photography
Gossiping...I mean keeping in touch with my 5 sisters
Brant, Madison, Porter, and Lane

8 Things on my wish list
Be debt free (including Ron)
Get our own house
Lose weight
Start my own business
Make lots of money
Go on vacation with Brant w/o kids
Get our Christmas Family Photo taken

8 People I am tagging
To anyone who feels the urge to share

"Rear" View Mirror

This is what you call a rear view mirror. Madison sat down on this sticky mirror and walked around with it all morning. She didn't even realize it was there.

Kids Pics

I haven't put any pictures of the kids in awhile so I thought I would put some that I have collected over the last couple of weeks.

Quips

I know this is small and insignificant, but it will be really fun to read in the future. Porter is such a vegetable fanatic. I have never seen a kid like vegetables so much. We will eat dinner and he will only eat the broccoli. Yesterday, I caught him getting in the the refrigerator. He had pulled out a tupperware container of cold green beans. And, he was eating them at the table. The other day we had asparagus for dinner. He and Madison always sit next to each other. When she was looking the other way, he stole her asparagus and ate it. Last week he ask me if he could have a bowl of peas. I said, "Sure!" He wanted to eat them cold.
Madison on the other hand is a sugar bug. She likes her candy and chocolate. She asked me if she could have a cookie for breakfast. I told her she could have one after lunch.
Madison is my Little Mama. She is so responsible and came down the stairs yesterday looking for me. She said, "Mom! Porter is making a mess!" I went upstairs and found him naked on the bathroom counter. He said he was taking a bath.
They have both been doing great on the potty-training. We still have little accidents every day, but it's getting better. Madison was doing really well, but she wet her pants yesterday. I started working with Porter about a week after Madison so he's not as good as she is. Some days they give up and want me to put diapers on them. Actually, they have both been sick with fevers this week so I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed. Anyway, we have really cut down on the diapers which is great! Madison was also modeling her new underwear to Porter. She kept saying, "Do you like my underwear, Porter?" "They're pretty." Porter would just shrug and walk away. They're "so boy", and "so girl."

4th Picture Tag

I was tagged from Vicki's blog...OK here's the deal...you open your picture files...choose the fourth file and then the fourth picture in the file and post it and tell us about it!
This picture is of me the day I was in the hospital having Lane. I was terrified in this shot. We were doing all of the preliminaries before going in for the c-section. Dr. Lewis hadn't shown up yet and Mom and Brant were taking turns visiting with me. Only one of them could be in there at a time. Meanwhile...out in the lobby, Jake, Brian, and Mom/Brant would wait.