Surviving the Heat

Lance and I took the kids to Busch Gardens last Saturday.

For once, it was neither raining, nor was it stifling hot. In fact, I was just about to say something about the "mellow-ing" of the Florida heat, but then I noticed just how hot my family looks in all of these pictures (notice: the red cheeks)

Lets just say-- it was a fun day-- despite the heat.


Zoie loves taking the train and seeing the zebras, giraffes, and rhinos up close.


Tobin called every single animal a "DOG!"


Aren't these boys handsome?


End of the day-- kids were pooped.

Swingset Mom

A few weeks ago, we were approached by a friend at church who knew of a swing set that was in need of an owner. We were only too happy to transplant the swing set to our backyard (for free!)



Zoie has been on cloud nine with her very own "park". The kids love spending their time outside each night.


Looking outside and seeing a swing set in the backyard has made me feel old. It is as if this one event has transitioned me from being a "young mom" with toddlers to being... well, a more mature mom. Within a few years I'll be getting kids ready for school, carpooling, going to PTA meetings. Oh boy-- who knew that getting this swing set would cause such an identity crisis?

Transformation

The first picture is for my Dad-- who although he does not wear his hair like this, actually LIKES the side part- comb over hair do:


And then, the old man do:


And finally, the haircut that makes all of my friends and family mad (but look how happy Tobin is with it):

Baby Shower

My sister Heidi and I organized a baby shower for my best friend Jen last weekend.

Jen is a self-proclaimed Parrothead (Jimmy Buffet fan, for those who are not in the know) who loves the beach and sun.

We decided on a tropical theme for the shower. It was not easy to meld the ideas of baby boys and the beach. But Heidi managed to find the perfect cake:



The shower was so much fun. Jen is hilarious and is wise enough to surround herself with hilarious friends and family members (myself included). We laughed the whole time while playing baby-themed Catchphrase and re-writing songs with baby lyrics.


Now that the shower is complete, we are all anxious to meet Baby Ryder Porter.

My New Favorite Quote

" No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance. "
Atwood H. Townsend

I am not what you would call an organized, Type-A personality.

Clutter and mess, while out in the open and visible, drives me crazy. I cannot function in a messy house.

The loophole I have discovered is that if I cannot see the clutter, it does not bother me. Out of sight, out of mind. From my mom I inherited the concept of a junk drawer. I have always had junk drawers. If ever I don't know where something is, I can always find it in one of my trusty junk drawers.

The other night a friend said, "If there is not a specific place for something in my house, it goes in the trash." I am sure most of you are thinking, "Of course... obviously." I, on the other hand, was completely aghast. I would LOVE to be that organized.

I have a desk area with no built in drawers. I have a few file cabinets. The desk area is a magnet for piles of semi-important papers-- the kind you can't throw out and the kind you don't necessarily want to file away with your completely important papers.

I have seen cute, practical ideas for organization in magazines, but don't know where to start. What I need is some help. Where do you keep your bills, office supplies, computer software, various chords, etc?

Please share your ideas with me and help me to get organized.

Teething

Tobin has been a "cuddler" from the first minute he was born. It is one of my favorite things about my gentle giant of a toddler. But he takes cuddling and raises it to an art form when he is teething. These pictures were all taken in the space of 24 hours:

Snuggling with Dad


And again



Clinging to his Aunt Heidi



And even our friend Ariel

About A Boy... well, okay a man

In the spirit of Lance's 31st birthday (yeah-- just say it, he's an old man!), I thought I dedicate a post to some little known "Lance Facts". Enjoy...

• Lance was Chef of the Year in his high school cooking class and is still a better cook than am I. (Shocking, I know!)

• Lance is a talented artist and has painted most of the abstract art that adorns our home.

• He is just about 6' 4. At the time of his high school graduation, he was 5'9 (Late bloomer to say the least.)

• Lance is a neat-freak. I am the slob in the relationship. Come to think of it, he is a better homemaker all-around (oh boy, he is going to hate that I said that)

• Lance made our bed and our entertainment center from some trees he and his buddy cut down in Utah.

• He used to raise prize-winning pigeons (Nerd Alert!).

• Lance is obsessed with music and classic cars.

• If he is watching television, chances are he is watching National Geographic or Discovery Channel.

• Lance loves 4-wheeling, off-roading, mountain biking, rock climbing and snowboarding.

• He used to have a saltwater aquarium that he was OBSESSED with-- it was actully quite beautiful.
  

• Underneath the "tough construction worker" facade is a soft spot for his family... including his dogs.

Old Man Lance

Today is Lance's 31st birthday. Lucky guy-- his birthday always falls over Labor Day weekend. This means that he gets a solid 4 days of birthday celebration. Last year, we spent it at the beach. This year, Lance decided that we would turn this weekend into LAZY WEEKEND. And it was... it really was.

Here are a few highlights:

The Cakes-


MarioKart with friends on the Wii-

Creating Games with my bored children (including the "Basket Toss" and "Spinny Chair")-

Heidi's dog, Harry was also celebrating his birthday. A picture of the B-day Boys-

Things have been a little hectic around here lately and it felt AWESOME to relax all weekend long.

Happy Birthday, Lance!