Bring it on

2012 that is! I am ready for this new year. I can't wait to see what it holds for us. Lives can change in a year and I am excited for some positive changes to come our way! I am in the middle of packing up our house right now. And as I was doing so I had an epiphany; I have too much CRAP. I don't need it. I don't need undershirts in every color of the rainbow, I don't need my high school basketball shoes, I don't need half of the stuff I have. So I made a new years resolution (which is different from a goal) I am going to rid my life of the crap. I am going to get RID of the things I don't NEED. I am giving myself an intervention. There will probably be tears and possibly things from 10 years ago that I just can't give up but I am going to do it. And you know what? I'm really excited! I want to become a minimalist. I don't want clothing to be something that I am attached to, or that I do to fill a void ( I am a shop-a-holic). So any of you out there that have any tools, tricks or advice please share! I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Have a Very Merry Christmas

Let's be real

Do you ever read peoples blogs and feel like you have no idea who they really are, or that the seem to have the picture perfect life? Well I do. And that's just not my style. So here's whats going on, on my side of the fence:

We've been busy. Friday night we went to the BYU basketball game at the Energy Solutions and sat on the court. It was awesome. We have been able to do this a few times and it is really fun. And ridiculous. They herd you back during half time and feed you fancy treats and soda and candy and have little goodie bags under your chairs. You can literally smell the players sweat. You can get in fights with the refs. It's been fun and I hope we get to do it a few more times.

Sunday we went to The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. My friend got tickets and took us. It was amazing. The building is always awe inspiring and sitting in the same room as the prophet is always exciting. Plus the beautiful message of the true meaning of Christmas is always a welcome topic. We had a blast.

Monday we went to dinner with friends, it has been too long. So long in fact that the owner of our restaurant sold it and we didn't even know. Prob wont be going back. Tues I had my hair done. Wed we had Caleb's work Christmas party.

Yep, his work Christmas party. Right now I can easily name a 1,000 things I love about the Q. It was really fun and we sat with the best people. We may not have won one of the 6 cruises they handed out but I am grateful Caleb has a good job. I'm pretty sure there will be a movie about Q in a few years. One of the owners talked about gratitude, and how he was grateful for his employees. It was so nice and weird. We should be the ones thanking him.

I want to move. NOW. We found a dead mouse in our kitchen when we got home last night. We are so grateful Porter didn't find it first. I hate sharing a laundry room. I hate hearing things I shouldn't be hearing. I do love how big it is. I know it could be worse. I'm just ready to move on. I found a house to move to. It was big and cheap. It was a scam. I can't stand dishonest people.

The Doctor thinks I may have Celiacs disease. This would totally suck. But I have kinda gone gluten free until I can see the GI Dr. Wow. It is not easy but I totally notice a difference. I can't wait to know. Hopefully I will get an appointment soon.

Porter is growing like a weed. He has so many words AND signs. He is saying 3-4 word sentences and questions. He cracks me up. He loves to sing and dance. But let's be real here people. He learned how to punch. Not sure how, just sure I hate it. We are working on that. Poor kid got my bad temper. Yikes. But really this is my favorite stage. I'm loving almost every minute of this time.

I'm working two days a week and I love it. I love staying on top of my skills and being part of the professional world. I love the students I work with and the staff I work with. I feel like it's the best of two worlds.

Well I guess I'm done ranting. Sometimes I just need to get things off my chest. I'm still itching to move, we are still in Limbo about our future (SO JUST DON"T ASK) I may have to give up a staple in my life= bread. And our sweet little man has learned a new skill. One that hurts. So there.

Four years ago...

Four years ago we spent our first Thanksgiving as a married couple in Taiwan. This is what we ate. Hot pots. Then we had a hot fudge sunday and saw a movie. I didn't feel like Thanksgiving but that didn't matter. We were together and in Taiwan. Four years later we still aren't with family (though I will be with my sister to go shopping at midnight) and we have our sweet Porter Boy with us. I have a lot to be grateful for. My family is on the top. I don't think I will ever care where or how my Thanksgiving is spent, as long as I have my boys with me.

P.S. I'm ready to go back to Taiwan now.

Boys just want to have fun

This little boy totally rocks my world. He is so funny. He is very personable and social. He loves to say "hi" and will say it until you respond. He talks with his hands. He loves to give kisses and hugs. He says "wywa (Lyla) dinky (binky) wawa (water) upeaz (up please) cracker, cookie, doggie, efnt(elephant) bed, socks, soes (shoes) off, on, whasat (whats that), elmo, tweet (bird) oh, no, yes, ok, cold,hot, do (two),bubble, ball, book, hat,apple, nana and that's all I can think of. He is starting to use sentences, he will say "wana cooookie, wana cracker, wana off" He signs: signing time, water, elephant, chicken, pig, horse, dog, cat, more, all done, cold,baby, milk, food, and few more I can't think of. He loves to tell you things are hot and have you blow on them. He loves to dance and jump. He also loves to hit me in the face. We're working on that. He gets Time Out in his room with the door closed for one minute. If he is starting to hit and I say you will go in time out if you continue he will say no and stop (sometimes). He is getting some molars and that's always rough. He climbs on everything now. Everything. He understands almost everything I tell him, and if you ask him a question he will answer you. He has a lot to say. I am really loving this stage...

Provo Halloween Half Marathon

Remember when I ran the St George Marathon and I said I was going to take a break from running? I lied. I have heard so much about this race over my past few years here in P-Town and I really wanted to run it. So I called my sister and she said no, I posted on facebook and my friends just laughed and then I kinda harassed my other friend and she said yes! I knew I didn't want to do this one alone. I was so happy to have a friend. I was the baby from Breaking Dawn. My bib says "My mommy loves a blood sucker" and Janelle was Batgirl. Good times.

Neither one of us trained for this and we were kinda worried it would hurt. And it did. It starts at the BYU lodge up in Sundance and you run down the canyon. And run all the way down Provo Canyon to the Riverwoods. It was definitely a fast course. I couldn't help but run under 8 min miles down the canyon and when it finally leveled I thought my legs were going to break. Then Janelle caught up and said "it's going to hurt anyway, mine as well make it count" And I was like "H-YES!" That's Halloween Half Yes for all you naughty minded people.
So we ran almost the entire way together and I was so glad to have someone to run with. We did some silly posses and talked a bit.
I finished in 1:49 52, a PR. I was 66th in my age division and ran an average pace of 8:22. I always feel like I could have done better but I am so happy with my time. I haven't worked on speed, ever, only distance and for not training I'm happy and proud. This is the first race that Caleb didn't see me finish (but not the last. He also missed me at a 5k a few weeks ago :). The course was beautiful,and the people were entertaining. The only thing I would change would be my wardrobe. I was confused. I thought it would be warm. I was freezing until 10 am the next morning. I even got a cold that turned into a sinus and ear infection. It was seriously cold. Happy running.

Happy Halloween 2011

These pictures are completely out of order, and that's ok. We had a blast this Halloween. It started early, with a super cute fun Halloween ity bitty party at my sisters house, then I had a Halloween party at work and then our ward trunk-or-treat and then trick-or-treating and then the Beach Resort Halloween party.

Here we are at the Beach resort with some of our favorite people, the Prices. This was the last activity of the night.

They had activities for all the kids, and Porter really loved the bean bag toss.

Porter got this in his trick-or-treat bag and we had a good time with it.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!! We walked in and they asked if we wanted to enter Pman in the costume contest, I said sure why not. And guess what. He won first place!!! Can you tell I like to win!

This was the moment the announced the winner. I was really excited.

Porter did the catwalk like a real tiger. He walked out waved and blew kisses. I felt bad for the other kids, they didn't stand a chance.

In case you couldn't tell we were the Rubbles from the Flintstones. I was Betty and Pman was BamBam and the Hubs was Barney. (I need to live somewhere warm, I was kinda bugged that the Hubs made Pman wear that shirt under his costume to stay warm. He also made him wear pants to go trick or treating. Unreal)

Here we are Trick or Treating. Porter got the hang of it right away.

His favorite stop was at his girlfriend Kami's house. Kami is the cutest little thing and made an adorable bumble bee. They kinda like each other too.

Walking from house to house. This kid walked right up the door, knocked, attempted to say "trick or treat" stuck his hand the bucket and said "Tank you" Such a pro.

The Boys Club (aka The hubs place of work) had a Halloween lunch and it was fun to visit daddy!

Best trunk ever!

Pman didn't love the Panda....

Here we are with Brianna and Jack (short for Jaquilinn but I don't really know how its spelled) Brianna has become a dear friend and our most common play date, her other little girl Ella is out getting candy.

Porter really got into Character....

We had a wonderful Halloween! The house was decorated, we passed out stickers, playdough and toys ( I don't pass out candy...) and we celebrated all month long. I loved watching this little man of ours figure it all out. I hope we can always do a family theme, but I know he will have his own opinion soon enough!

Qualtrics Halloween Party

The team Caleb is on at work decided to have a Halloween Party. I was sure it was going to be lame and was already kinda bugged because I had to work that day and felt like it was just one more thing on an already full plate. It ROCKED! Scott, the hubs co-worker and friend planned it and it was better than any ward party I have ever been to. They had Malawi's Pizza for dinner, pinata, pumpkin carving contest (with awesome prizes) and loads more. This is Pman with his favorite lady that night. He was screaming for her to hold him. She was so cute. Please notice Pman is trying to lick the cupcake, proof he really is my kid.

Each kid got a Tick-or-Treat bag full of treats! Porter loves his.

This is our pumpkin. I carved an Owl on a branch. The hubs put hand sanitizer on it and lit it on fire. It was awesome. Wana know how awesome? FIRST PLACE AWESOME! We won $50 bucks to La Jolla Grove at the Riverwoods.

My pumpkin, prior to the lighting...

Porter had a blast with all of the other little people.

Getting the goodies from the pinata!

Pman taking a swing. He has a great arm!

F.H.E

Also known as Family Home Evening. It's something we do as a family once a week. This week we went to Jack's Pumpkin Patch. It was in Springville and we had a blast!

We got a Papa sized pumpkin, mama sized pumpkin and a just right sized pumpkin. (maybe two)

We went on a hay ride and loved seeing the farm.

Love these boys!

This cow was crazy! It was charging the gate!!

These boys are the best of friends. I love them.

Not sure why Porter looks so worried...

Looking at the animals...

We had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch!

Thanksgiving Point

Can you tell Pman is teething? Hands.in.the.mouth.all.the.time. Still too cute.

This little lady is so cute! One of Porter's favorite gals.

Only group shot? Not sure how that happened. But there is Corinne, Scott and Lucy, Caleb's brim of his hat, Pman and my giant head. Fun times.

I do Speech Therapy. No way I'm passing on a picture of a uvula! This was a haunted house and we made it about three steps deeper into the throat before we turned around. I went later with Corinne. Or rather I went while Corinne shoved me in front of every possible scary turn.

Porter LOVED the corn mazes. I loved following him around in it.

They had a hard core farm rock show that Porter loved.

Went for a little cow ride. It was so great, we wouldn't have ever seen the parking lot from that angle otherwise...

Ahh my sweet little man. And notice little Lucy at the bottom right. They loved sticking their faces in the slits.

Best family picture ever, courtesy of sun in our eyes.

This one is for my Pa.

Porter "How you doin?"