My Insightful Boy...

Who doesn't love to brag about their kids? Well, here we go... We're driving one morning and the sun is in Porter's eyes. I tell him to wait a minute and I will turn and the sun will move. So, we start talking about the sun and he tells me Jesus made the sun! Several weeks later, Piper declares that she is a queen and Porter is a king. Porter says, "No, I not king, Jesus is king!". What?!!? WOW! This week...my mom is playing with them in the back yard on a rare, but slightly warmer day, and as Porter lies on his back in the hammock, he looks up into the sky and says he can see God! My 2 1/2 year old little boy has got some spiritual insight! Amazing. I'm not taking credit because I fall short in teaching him what he needs to know all too often...I see this as he comes up with these things and I realize I didn't tell him, but should have! God is at work in little children...He loves them so and draws them to Him even at this tiny age!

Can we possibly get more snow and colder temps, please?

Ah, I remember that first magical snow this year...early December, running out to play in it, making a snow man. Only two months and countless snows later and I'm done. Today the weatherman actually said we had a "mini-blizzard"! A BLIZZARD? What the heck? Snow was blowing sideways as we watched out the windows. When we walked out of the gym and the freezing wind blew hard on our faces, we could hardly breath!! Porter started crying because he was too cold. Poor guy. Piper was just opening her mouth trying to catch some flakes on her tongue. Opie will hardly go outside which makes potty training a pup, oh, so much fun. I never thought in all my life I would live in a place that got so cold and so much snow. I can't believe that SNOW is no big deal to me anymore! I'm sure the first snow next season will bring that magic back, but now...I'm ready for some rays in San Diego. I enjoy the season and am not complaining--don't get me wrong. I'm just saying...I need some more sweaters.

Happy Birthday, Tyler!

We like the birthdays in this family! Lots of celebrating. I like to say in September when it's my turn, that it's actually my birthday month! So, we started Tyler's celebration Friday night at the Plaza. At his request, we had a yummy dinner at Kona Grill. Very cool atmosphere and yummy food!! Then, we saw Juno at the theater and had dessert and coffees at Classic Cup Cafe. The kids were with my mom, so we had a nice time out while they had a nice time with Nana and Pat. Monday night we celebrated at my mom's house. She made a nice, home-cooked meal and a delicious-o chocolate cake from scratch! Then, tonight, the fam all went to Cheesecake Factory on his actual birthday and stuffed ourselves. Good times. Porter and Piper each gave Daddy a shoe and together they make a nice pair of new dress shoes that he desperately needed - since it doesn't get above freezing here lately and his old shoes had holes in the soles...bbbrrrr! Piper announced that they were shoes as she gave them to him, but then remembered and said "It's a secret". So, we're done celebrating for a while...until next week when we go to San Diego!!! Happy Birthday...32 and still lookin' 25!

Opie

So, my mom is here in Kansas now and has the cutest place to live. However, it just so happened that she had squirrels in her attic. She was so upset, but it was to our benefit in the long run! The super-friendly wildlife man from Wisconsin who wears shorts in the snow, came to help her. He happened to have the coolest looking dog with him that we were ooooing and aaahhhing over. Matt (wildlife man) said he had a litter of puppies if we wanted one. German Shorthair Pointers...smart, hunters, family dogs, and the perfect size--not too big and not too tiny. We weren't planning on getting a new puppy until the summer, but we took a trip out to see the litter just in case. The puppies were 8 weeks old...two boys and two girls. We were thinking about going with a girl this time, but of all four puppies, only one came right to us...frisky, but so cuddly when we held him like a baby. He was our pick! We went home, stocked up on puppy supplies and returned two days later, with Porter and Piper, to take our new puppy home with us. His name--Opie. Opie's dad is "Otis" so we stayed with the Andy Griffith theme and since our pup is freckly, "Opie" fit perfectly. For the first day and a half, Piper kept asking his name, but I think she's got it down now, as well as made a new best friend! I was a little worried about Porter at first...I asked him what if Opie got his blanket (that he calls "ki-ki" and can't live without) and Porter said "kick it!" (referring to Opie!). Well, there has been no kicking and the kids love him and he them. He is so sweet and loves to be near us. Potty training is in the works and we've almost accomplished "sit". Welcome to the family, Opie!