Soccer Mom

Our car went to car heaven, although I prefer to think it went to car hell where it deserved to go. As a result, we just bought a Honda Odyssey mini van. Lane thought he was too cool for a mini van but when you have a family and SUV's are for the elite, a mini van is the next step in life. Lane has since looked at the brighter side of things and has re-named the Odyssey the 'Silver Bullet'. That's positive thinking.

This past Saturday, April 25, was Porter's first soccer game. He is in the NSD league on the Cougar team. Get this, his jersey is navy blue and he's a cougar...a little BYU action anyone? Go Cougars! Riding in the mini van for the first time as a family, we headed to the soccer game. Wahoo, soccer mom, soccer dad, soccer star, and darling baby arriving in the Silver Bullet. We had some good friends of ours who have their daughter in the same league mock us all day long for our cliche. What's there to dispute? It was a great day though despite the cold weather. We were so proud of Porter seeing him play soccer. I love this time and this age. They're starting to be able to develop so many talents and experience and enjoy so much more.

He got two goals with the help of Pappy. Lane and Porter are going to practice soccer in the backyard just to reconfirm the idea of kicking the ball in the right direction. The tricky thing is you tell them to share all the time and then in soccer you're telling them to take away the ball from the other kid. Tricky, tricky.

Tons of fun though! I couldn't believe how much fun I had watching him play soccer for the first time! It's official, I am a proud soccer mom who drives a mini van....and who is supercool.

Sewing champ!

You know, for the past year I have been endeavoring to learn how to sew. In my mind it was something much too difficult, strenuous and detailed for me to consider. My last memories of sewing was the unfinished Laurel project and my mom and I having a loud (a.k.a yelling) conversation. I'll admit, although not always, this was my fault. I had no patience for details and mistakes, take a look at my handwriting for proof.

Well, all of that is in the past for as I hit the year 25 of my existence, I'm a new gal. I like being able to personalize things to my taste and I enjoy sewing. It's rewarding to see something I did being used and looking cute! My friend, Stephanie got me started and convinced me it was possible. I'm a believer. I started slow with a pair of slippers that I never completely finished for almost 9 months. I think because I took so long, the satisfaction was more of a relief instead of a giddy, clap your hands, kind of a moment. Observe. Well, there will be a picture up soon. Adorable! My first present for Grady began before he was born and finished 3 months after his arrival. My personal favorite is the button touch. Precious!

Next, I did two projects at one. I'll reveal I was feeling a little risque and confident. But guess what? I finished them! This would not be possible without Marna Martin, one of the great sewing teachers of our time. :) I did a purse for my niece for her birthday out of pink, jersey knit camoflague. Unfortunately, my plain bag that I put my heart and soul into and spent hours on (due to my lack of skill), was no match for princess Jasmine and feathered plastic shoes. It's okay, I understand that when you're 3, handiwork is no match for pink clad action figures.
I still need to get a picture of it. I forgot to get a picture of it before I gave it away!

The other project was a pair of turtle pajama pants for Porter. What a success! He loves turtles because a good friend of ours, Erin Walters, has two adorable turtles named Watson and Crick. We call his pants the Watson and Crick pants. I was over sewing with friends and our great teacher and finished them up at 10:30 pm. I got home at quarter to 11:00 and showed Lane my MASTERPIECE and then despite the late time, I had to show Porter! It couldn't wait! My joy had to be shared and well, they were his anyway. I ran into his room, woke him up out of bed and showed him his turtle pants. He was very happy in his incoherent state. I quickly changed him into his new, amazing pajama pants so he could bask in glorious sleep for the rest of the night in his new pants.
Note the strewn matching pajama bottoms on the floor in the background. Good riddance because they are no comparison to the best turtle pants in the whole...house!

Mom, Relax!

Geesh! Who knew a girl could be so wrong? I'm surrounded by boys in a 3 to 1 ratio. We're driving along as a family heading towards some unimportant destination when Lane and I start discussing finances. Just because I raise my voice, does not mean I'm yelling...it just means I'm passionate. I was always so confused when people said I was yelling, it made me get all defensive because I felt they were totally embellishing! I think though, I've had enough people tell me that that it has worked sort of like a comment box. I've tallied them up and there's been enough feedback that clearly I was missing something. Apparently, I talk 'extra' loud when I get excited about something but the heart of the matter is, I'm not really aware that my voice has gotten louder. It's not out of anger but out of my own persuasion! So as I was saying, Lane and I were discussing finances and I was reasoning my way through it when my three year old pointedly says, 'Mom! Relax!'

That was a first ever! Lane and I were shocked without words for a moment before Lane burst out laughing. Lane didn't have to say it out loud, all over his face was the expression, 'awesome.' I'm surrounded by laid back boys and I stand all alone here. Clearly, I need to tone it down for the boys or I'm not going to fit in this crowd. My first thought after I had a chuckle...though not as hardy a laugh as Lane's, was, 'I need to have a girl.' Mommy needs back-up! ahahah

I am the one and only over-exciteable mommy.

I get calm reminders and perspective now from my nearly old, adoring redhead and my ready to raise his folks, three year old.

So funny!

Announcing...

It's amazing how going from a family of three which feels so complete, goes to four and feels that much more whole and complete. This may sound cheesy but it's the truth of the matter: who would've thought that when you felt your heart was so FULL for your own little family, that it just grows that much more with another addition. No scientific measurement required or equation to prove it, so people will just have to take my word for it that love for others grows exponentially and there's no end point. I'll call it the 3.14.... version of endless.

Not only that but I cannot believe how good looking my kids are. Why should I play it down? They are quality cute! Mary Poppins thought she was practically perfect in every way, well she has nothing on my kids.

A little bit more on our new addition. He was born on January 4th, 2009 at 8lb 6oz. His name is Grady Daniel Kae Trim. Grady because it's a cool name. Daniel, after my uncle who I've always looked up to. And Kae, an ode to brothers.

A few days ago, I was just looking into Grady's face and I can't quite describe what I saw. He is so special to me and being so tiny in my arms, I just see how pure he is. At this point in his life, everything he learns will be taught by me and Lane. We are trying to do more to teach Porter and soon Grady, the things that will help them gain a testimony of the gospel.

MOTHERHOOD....NO PRESSURE. ;)

I Will Always Love YOOOOUUUUU!

What can I say, the little guy has music in the soul. Errands with a three year old often makes me want to bang my head up against a wall. I was printing off pictures for Christmas cards. Let me re-phrase, I had to print off the same picture 40 times for Christmas cards. Seeing as how it was only one picture I had to choose, it's a relatively quick process...if your darling child does not run off to be prey of kidnappers! I couldn't even select the picture before he would run off again! Being nine months pregnant and lacking more patience than normal, my 'public face' was disintegrating and my composure less than the merriment the Christmas season desereves.
Thankfully, he ran off to the same place over and over again. The Porter Trim destination of interest was the electronics department in London Drugs. Finally, the electronics manager came to me and told me not to worry because he and his co-workers were watching Porter. He said, 'He's hilarious! He's really good at karaoke. He's just belting it out so we like watching him.'
Time for me to abandon the picture post and watch my performer. There he was, in front of the big screen holding on to the microphone singing his heart out to Whitney's classic, 'I'll always love you.' I came in during one of the long 'oooooo-ahhhhhh'. When Porter saw me, he said excitedly, 'Come on Mummy!' and handed me the other microphone. I couldn't turn down an opportunity like that so I sang along with Porter and Whitney (don't worry I let them out sing me).
Sometimes my schedule isn't the one that matters but just taking time to enjoy my son's curiousities and fun. In the end, it was so much fun...even though at the close of the soulful tune Porter pooped in his underwear which made the mood quickly turn BUT it was still the most precious thing to watch him continually migrate to the mic to go sing his heart out. I can't believe I was printing off pictures and didn't have my camera to capture him in action! Next step is choreography...but I don't know if Lane's input in the parenting would agree with Step 2, but I mean come on, it worked for Zac Efron! Porter has a lot going for him. ;)

Frosty the Snowman

Porter loves to serenade me, the wall, whatever, with two of his favorite Christmas songs: Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman. We have a Frosty the Snowman picture book that we sing along to and now he is quite fluent with the lyrics. At this point, singing Christmas carols are the most complete sentences he says. He is thrilled with the splendor of snow (I am not a big snow fan but because he is, snow seems a little more fun all over again...ahh, blissful children...mostly blissful children). Porter loves to walk in the snow whether or not his feet get cold and soaked. Lane and Porter went out and built the best snowman EVER! Porter loved how he could create something and make it look however he wanted. Frosty, for that is what every snowman is named, had enough arms to be an arachnid and he atennae ears. Only the face a 3 year old creator could love. :)
Once he was built, Porter was actually afraid of Frosty. Wouldn't give him a hug, wouldn't even give him a high fiver. He did; however, sing Frosty the Snowman to him and put particular emphasis on hollering 'STOP!' as the law enforcing officer does in the song. Like papa, like son. "He led them down the streets of town right to the traffic cop. He only stopped a moment when he heard him holler, 'STOP!'"

3rd Annual Date at Spruce Meadows Christmas Market

Not that we go on dates annually, but we make sure we go to the Spruce Meadows Christmas market every year. It's the perfect way to get excited about Christmas! Lane always wants to put up Christmas decorations the day is snows or when the last hints of warmth leave in September but I try to hold strong until December 1st. Well, Lane has been painting his pa-tooshie off so we can switch Porter's room and the new baby's room. Then we go to the market and he gives me googly eyes, and then I say, 'sure lets put up the decorations'. That's how it works around these parts.

The market has carolers, fire pits, roasted chestnuts (which are disgusting, how could they get so much merit as to have a carol written after them!?), ice sculptures, tonnes of pine, old carriages, and great homemade food. Sometimes I can't decide what I like better: the old glory of the traditional Victorian Christmas or the rustic beauty of the country Christmas with homemade, distressed decorations. I like them both. Both are Christmas imagery to me.

We bought a Santa Claus policeman decoration. We like to say we buy a decoration every year on a date as part of a tradition but seriously, we don't need anymore decorations! In fact, we have a surplus, a saturation of Christmas tackiness on our tree but when I saw the St.Nick policeman, I couldn't pass it up. We're proud of our blue brotha. To serve and protect. What a pal.