Can't believe how fast time goes by. I missed blogging about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Not much happened, just the usual. Actually, I can't really remember so that's why I can't write about it. And, that's why I have to write as things happen or I will forget. I've read stuff on my blog from a couple of years ago and don't even remember some of it.
So to update...
About Madison--I hope she doesn't read this until she's older. We had a high hopes of her being our intellectual child. She is struggling at school much more than Porter. Her teacher talked to us about how slow she is with her work and that she is constantly having to nag her to finish. She has an uncanny ability to memorize, so she will memorize her book assignments instead of actually reading them. Which, I guess works out okay if she can learn to memorize each word. She hates sounding out letters and just wants to know what the word says.
She is still headstrong and loves Barbie and Princesses. She is determined that she is going to be a firefighter when she grows up. She is a total Daddy's girl and wants Jayley to be her older sister. Not sure why since she has only met Jayley a couple of times. Maybe because she heard that Jayley was Dad's first-best girl before she was born.
She can be extremely helpful--can be the operative words. She is either a pain in the arse or a loving, sweet little girl. No in between for her. I enjoy her the most when it is just the two of us. She loves to talk forever and especially to me. She has been planning the next Fathers and Sons outing for the last three months--yes it does not happen until May. Reason being, we were able to have a girl party while they were gone. She was so excited she can't wait for those boys to leave. I thought she was going to feel left out because they went and she couldn't.
P.S. She has developed a terribly annoying laugh.
Porter is such as sweet boy. He loves everyone and everything so much. He is complimentary, sensitive and caring. To illustrate, we were watching a music video on YouTube about the Savior and what if he came to your door today. How would you react, what would you do differently. Porter said, "I would do anything different. I would do the same thing." Truer words could not be spoken. He truly is living the way he should be.
Today I was showing the boys a faster way to butter toast. Porter said, "Mom, you are really good at buttering toast." He is always full of compliments. I feel bad about getting frustrated a Porter the most. When I lose my temper, I always feel like I should apologize to him. He is kind hearted. He hates to go to bed at night and hates to get woke up in the morning. I started playing a Christmas Cd for him at night to go to sleep. It has all Christian music which is very soothing and spiritual. Two songs are from Josh Groban, so you get the idea. Porter told me his favorite song was about the baby. (Away in a Manger).
Porter says he wants be a lawyer so he can protect people that need help. Not sure about that one, but he's going a couple more decades to decide.
Porter is doing great in school. He has caught on so quick and really digs into his school work. He is above average in most of his learning. He keeps asking me to teach him Spanish because all of the "brown" kids at school can speak it. Uh...what do you say to that. I am going to try to get a copy of Rosetta Stone from Grandpa Smith.
Both Porter and Madison want to know who to do everything. They are proud that they can rinse dishes, make toast/cinnamon toast, top ramen, oatmeal, and cold cereal by themselves. I am happy I can sleep while they do that. Their primary president stopped me in church and told me we could never move out of the ward. She adores the twins and said that primary would not be the same without the two of them. I don't know if she was just being nice or not, but I'll take that. Most people in the ward tell us that.
Lane, Lane, Laner. Where do I start? He is a handful. He is so full of jokes and laughs and giggles. The party really doesn't start until he gets there. The kids love him and we all could just stand around and watch him for entertainment. He is also very diplomatic. He tells me I am his best friend when he is alone with me and he tells Brant he is his best friend when he is alone with him. When we get together and call him on it, he snuggles between both of us, puts a hand on both of our faces and pulls us close. Then he says, guys we're all best friends.
When the kids are in school and I'm not working we get to have alone time. It is so much fun. I love to hang out with him. He will talk and talk and talk when he has my full attention. I usually take him on errands as one is much easier than two. We were out the other day and a security guard was talking to us. He looked down ant Lane and said, "Are you her bodyguard." I could tell he was mad when he didn't say anything and looked away. We chuckled. After we walked away, Lane said, "That guy hurt my feelings." I said, "Why?" He said, "Because he called me a Potty Guard. I don't potty all day." I tried not to laugh and explained what a bodyguard was and that he was giving him a compliment because he looked so big and strong.
Lane will sneak into bed with me any chance he gets. I wake up with him cuddled up next to me all of the time. I don't mind. Lane is the biggest Momma's boy--more so than Porter if you can imagine. He says I am his best friend...wait he says that to everyone. Lane is a touch little cookie, he takes a beating. He got hit in the face with a baseball bat. He has bruises from his eye to his cheekbone. I'll have to take a picture before the bruises go away. He was playing with the neighbor kids at Rhonda's. One of the boys was swinging a bat...and you know the rest of the story.
Other than that, Brant and I work most of the time. Thank goodness for Rhonda who takes the kids all of the time. The kids adore her. She is so amazing with them. The biggest problem we have is she so much more righteous than the rest of us. So the kids will correct us on our behavior because of what grandma taught them. Oh boy! We have a lot of work to do to get where grandma is. Good thing she's around to set a better example.
Madi came in very upset because Lane started dumping bowls of garden dirt on her. I'm sure she didn't do anything to deserve it.
Sometimes just the pictures tell the story...and give a quick update. Lane loves to wear sunglasses and sport a mohawk. I don't know why. He used to like his hair "spikey." I don't argue with him. He is so OCD that it is useless. Everything has to be a certain way.
The kids love to hang out at home in their underwear. Probably get it from their Dad who does the same thing. What can you do? Join 'em I guess.
Madison is so much like me...it is frustrating at times. She will argue with you over anything. Loves to prove that she is right...and she usually is. Thinks SHE is the boss of the family. Corrects Brant and I if we do things wrong. Tells me to keep two hands on the wheel while driving. Tells me that drinking soda is likely contributing to my weight problem. Asks questions about serious things--wanted to know the difference between a vaginal delivery and a c-section. Also, asked why people drink alcohol; why people drink and drive; and what a field sobriety test is. Also...loves to read on the toilet.
