Happy Father's Day!

Daddy,
I love it when you play with me. You lift me up and roll around with me. You make growling noises that make me scream. I love playing with you.
I love how you’re the first one in when I wake up at night. You make me feel secure in your arms. You sing to me and hold me tight. I know you love me.
I wait all day to hear your voice. Every time I hear the door open, I hope it’s you coming home.
I love it when you stay home to be with me. You read me stories and do all the animal noises. It makes me laugh. I like it when you talk to me when I’m being changed. It’s way better than the way mommy does it.
You always seem to know when I’m hungry, and give me what I like to eat. I’m always in the mood for puffs.
You’re the best at putting me down at night. You talk to me, and wrap me so tight. Sometimes I pretend I’m not tired just to spend a few extra minutes with you.
You are more patient than mommy. I know you’ll take care of me when she is tired.
Sometimes at night when I’m asleep in the car seat, I try to wake up when you take me inside, because I want to look at you, but I’m just so tired. I guess your arms are too soft.
When you take me on walks I love when you do a wheelie in the stroller. Mommy doesn’t do that. You’re a cool dad. You do the right duck noises, and you love to sing to me.
Elder’s quorum is way better than Relief Society. I’m glad I get to be with you. You let me walk along the chairs and I love to play with you.
When I’m playing, I’ll come up to you and bite your knee, not because I think it tastes good, but because I can’t reach your face to give you a kiss.
You’re the best daddy in the whole world. I think you are the smartest, funniest, handsomest dad ever. I want to be just like you!

T-shirts

Our ward had a R.S. retreat this weekend. We went to Park City and stayed the night in our President's family's cabin. It was so fun! We (the presidency) got there early to get dinner ready, and after everyone ate we played charades, Truth or Dare, and ended up watching Mamma Mia until the late hours of the morning. About 18 people showed up!

While planning the retreat, our activities were themed around self reliance. We joked about making t-shirts to advertise our cause. Well, the joke became reality, and I undertook the project. After a lot of homework and deliberation, we decided on the phrases we all wanted, and they turned out so cute! We talked Fridaybriefly about the "virtuous woman" found in the bible, so that became the "unveiling" day for the shirts. The virtuous woman has silk and purple clothing. That's why the letters are purple. First of all, the shirts were purple, but when the iron-ons say, "for light colored fabric", that's what they mean. After trial and error, they turned out perfect!

On the back of 2 of our shirts we put "self Reliance Rocks!" I think our bishopric wants in on the deal too:)

The blessings of family

Baby Abigail

We went up to Evans sister's house for the blessing of their new girl, Abby. Porter has such a fun time playing on their big open floor with their toys, it's rather easy to take him there. Here he is playing with "Mater". He loved it so much, we got one for him. He plays with it non-stop. He'll just push it around, and play with the buttons. Actually, I think he'd be happy with anything this size with wheels. I guess the boy in him really is innate. He loves cars and all their noises.

Porter with Mater

He also has begun surprising us by his incredible strength. Evan went to set him down the other day, and instead of sitting, he just stood there- all by himself- for about 5 seconds, before slowly and gracefully planting himself on his bottom. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. Excited that he's strong enough and able to walk, but not ready for the new adventures in following him around. I guess just like potty-training, we're all on our own schedule, and eventually we all get it somehow. I sure do love playing with this little man. We can rough and tumble now and he giggles so much!

One of the best parts? He now sleeps 13 hours at night! Yeah! I'm a happy woman! Why this sudden change? A neighbor of mine shared her secret- black out curtains. I bought them the next day, velcro'd them to the walls and each other so NO light escapes, and voila! He'll get up around 6:30, play for a bit, then go back to sleep until 9. (Well actually, we're not sure when he gets up, cause every morning we go in there, he's playing peacefully by himself.) He still naps 4 hrs. a day and I can't complain even when he doesn't. I love him better, I think when we all get a good night's sleep. (I'd take a picture, but you wouldn't see anything!)

He's been a man's man since day one. He has this affinity for men- don't take that the wrong way-. Everytime dad leaves for work, he cries and cries, and when that door opens, nothing will stop him from booking it to the door. My friend was watching him today, and he cried when HER husband left for work, and P doesn't even know him! So weird. It gets me off the hook a lot, though.

We went on a hike to Big Mountain with Evan's brother and sister and their families a week ago. Here's some pics of Porter's cushy ride. He did so well for the 4 1/2 miles. What a trooper. All you need is a little snack, and all is well.

P's good humor
Our Family