Family pictures

We had our family pictures done in Oct 2010 in Lehi, Utah, by my cute sister JoRae who does a fabulous job. I can't believe how popular this site was. We actually had to wait for 15-20min for the people in front of us to finish their pictures. I think we captured a few good ones!

A little of everything....

I am so behind....going back to May, Tessa had a birthday and turned 6 yrs old! I can't believe how big she is getting. We had some of her friends come over and we went roller skating. They had a blast! Tessa by far is my outspoken, animated, and very observant child. She keeps us laughing daily.

Reese had to have tubes placed June 18Th due to the 5 ear drum ruptures. Poor boy! This was a hard morning for him and especially for me! He did great and continues to do great now that the tubes are placed.

This summer we added another animal to our so called "farm." Hailee and Tessa saved up their money to buy a bunny. I told them they are responsible for feeding and making sure the bunny has water. They along with their sister Afton were elated! So we brought home Tickles and that darn rabbit keeps getting out of its cage! The girls have fun chasing him all over the yard!

Reese celebrated his 1st birthday and we had a lot of fun with him. He loved the animals his grandparents gave him! We had fun watching his cute expressions and devouring his birthday cheesecake! He is starting to say words: Momma, Dada, bye, ball, balloon, uh-oh. He is the life of the party and makes his sisters smile constantly.

Hailee and Tessa started 3rd and 1st grade this year at Xavier Charter School. They were so excited to see their friends. Tessa was excited to eat lunch at school and ride the bus with Hailee to and from school. They both are doing well and continue to amaze us in what they know and can do. Afton and Reese get to stay home with mommy and I'm loving it!!

It is all good....

How time flys by....our family is doing great! As you can see Reese is growing up and is already 10 mo old! He is so much fun! He loves to play "Patty cake" and clap his hands, he waves bye, is crawling and pulling himself up to everything, has eaten dog food 3 times now, has 8 teeth, loves animals especially our dog Rexie, poor Rexie! He definitely keeps us on our toes! He also LOVES balls. His little eyes light up every time he sees a ball. It is so cute!

Watch out Reese is here! He is into everything!

Hailee has been taking piano lessons this year and this was her first recital. She did an awesome job and we love her piano teacher Donna Cox.

Also, Hailee turned eight in April and was baptized by her dad. What a special daughter she is! She is growing up way too fast. This was a wonderful day with family and friends. Hailee's Grandpa and Grandma Nance came all the way from Oklahoma to be there!

I love my family! Our kids each have a unique way about them and keep us laughing day to day. They just grow up way to fast!

I'm Back!!

Okay so I haven't blogged in such a LONG time I know! I'm a slacker lately I have to say. Hey but I've been out of control busy with four kids! Whoever said having four kids is easy doesn't know what they are talking about, or they are the most patient person ever! Ha! My life might be a little crazy, but it is a new adventure everyday:) Reese is growing up so much. He is 4 1/2 months and weighs a whopping 15lbs! I LOVE chunky babies! He is such a good boy too. He still wakes me up to eat at night which we need to nip in the bud like yesterday! His smile is so contagious and he is laughing and having fun with his sisters. I think we will keep him:)

Hailee is such a great older sister at 7 1/2 yrs. She doesn't complain (okay maybe sometimes) but helps me sooooo much! She is liking her new school Xavier Charter School and doesn't mind wearing uniforms daily. She loves her 2ND grade teacher Mrs. Archibald. She is very artistic and creative. None of that comes from me:)

The girls love their little brother to death! Tessa is always telling me "Mom, you had such a cute baby" She is the little mother in the home. She can't bear to see Reese cry. If I don't get him right away she is bringing him right to me. They can't wait for him to get bigger so he can play with him. I on the other hand don't want him to grow up!

I'm so not a Halloween person! My kids love dressing up and I'm a little bah hum bug about myself dressing up. Hailee was the Ice Witch off Narnia, Tessa Minnie Mouse, Afton was a pink poodle, and Reese was a dinosaur. They had fun at our ward "Trunk or Treat" and going to our neighbors homes.

Needless to say we are all fine and well. Now if life could just slow down a little!

Tessa's Day

Tessa started Kindergarten on Mon the 24Th. I can't believe I have two children in school now. She has been looking forward to this day for awhile. She was up at 6:30am and ready to go. Her dad had fixed her breakfast and she had her teeth brushed. I told her to lay by me for 10 or 15 min and then we would get up. She kept saying, "I get to go to school!" She loves her teacher Mrs. Olsen and has already made bunches of new friends. She is my social butterfly, and very observant. She comes home and tells me all about her day, and about all her little friends. I just LOVE her to pieces!!

Summer Has Gone...

We have had a pretty okay summer. Having a baby in June doesn't let us do a lot of things. We would of liked to have done more camping, but it can be difficult with a newborn. Oh well!! Next summer we have plans to have more fun:) We have had family come and visit. And I LOVE that! My sister JoRae and her two girls Emma and Olivia. They had a great time together. Afton keeps asking when Olivia is coming back:)

My sister took these pictures of Reese and they turned out GREAT! He was only 4 or 5 wks when these were taken. I can't believe how fast they grow! We love him to death!!

My sleeping boy.....

The girls wanted to ride Daisy Mae so daddy went out to help. They love the horse and had a great time. Hailee led her around and combed her clean. What a great dad to help them:)

This is Reese about 6 or 7 wks. He is getting so chubby as you can see. He weighs about 11lbs. He loves his food and is not about to skip a feeding. I'm still up with him 2 times in the night. I feel like a zombie most days, but it is amazing how you still make do with little sleep. I'm looking forward to a good night sleep one day....

My Baby Boy..Reese Porter

So I finally had my baby boy! What an exciting adventure it was. He is 2 wks old tomarrow. Where does the time go?? So I thought I would fill you all in on my labor adventure....My water broke in my kitchen as I was making chicken tacos on the stove(I'm so glad I was at home and not in public). I thought I might have peed my pants but it just kept coming, and I knew that my water broke. This happened on June 29Th and my due date wasn't until July 4Th, so needless to say I was totally not ready to head to the hospital. I really thought I would have a July baby not a June baby! Got to the hospital around 7:00pm and walked and did things that would progress my labor. This time I was determined not to have a C-Section, so I wanted to go VBAC and deliver vaginally. I tested positive for the group strep B so I had to be on antibiotics every 4 hrs till I delivered and then stay 48 hrs to monitor the baby after he was born.

I decided I wouldn't have an epidural until my contractions were 1 min apart and really strong, so I waited as long as I could and had the epi at 3:30am and that lasted until around 8:00AM, I could feel the contractions quite hard and was MAD that it didn't take longer and that I was in a lot of PAIN!! I went from a 6cm to 9cm pretty quickly and they thought it might be too late and I told then NO I want something now! So I had an intertheccal thinking I would have the baby in 2 hrs(that is how long the medicine works) But the baby didn't want to come in the 2 hrs so I had to "buck" up and just get through it. I pushed for 50 min and he finally came out weighing 8 lb 1 oz and 21 in long on June 30Th at 11:54 am. The nurse I had was the best nurse in keeping me focused and breathing techniques. I couldn't of asked for better. She was so excited when Reese came out she told me to look down and all I can remember is saying "I don't care just get it out of me!" I really wasn't thinking clearly, and being in the hospital for 17 hrs with little sleep I was definitely delusional! :)

Even through all the the pain and torment of natural labor, I do have to say now that Reese is here he is totally worth it!! We just love him to pieces and can't get enough of him. Tracy was awesome though it all. After if was all over I asked him if I was cursing at all or yelling too loud where everyone on the floor could hear me. His response was "no" you did great and I'm so proud of you! He was even teary eyed and that NEVER happens! He was great!

We have our 4 kids and we feel complete. I have to say that I really don't want to go though that again EVER!!