Dishwasher Monitor

Hayden is our little dishwasher monitor. He makes sure there is always an electrasol packet in the dishwasher ready to go.

Any time the dishwasher is open, he checks it to see if he needs to put a packet in. He opens the cupboard under the sink and gets the packet.

Opens it up and throws the wrapper away.

Closes the cupboards.

Puts the packet in the slot.

And slides it shut. What a good little helper. I can't remember the last time I had to put soap in before running the dishwasher.

Here are a few random pictures. Kari and Hayden are just loving their little brother like crazy! Always wanting to hold him, and give him hugs and kisses.

We saw Shrek Forever After the other day in 3D, and somehow a pair of glasses made it home. Doesn't he look smart!

My first pedicure. Buck gave me a gift card for Mother's Day, and I got it done a week before having little Rocky.

Our handsome guys with their new summer hair (or lack thereof).

Kari and I built her puppies a dog house out of a tissue box. She loves doing crafts and is very creative!

What's his name?

This handsome little guy arrived on Thursday May 27 at 1:00 pm.

He weighed in at 8 lb 13.8 oz and 22 in long.

We weren't allowed to take pictures or video until 5 minutes after he was born. So here he is just after he was cleaned off.

Kari and Hayden meeting baby brother for the first time.

We sure appreciated having visitors. Amy, Kalei, Elise, and Stanton.

An extra thanks to Kristen, Mikey, and Tessa for coming to stay with us and watching our kids while I was at the hospital.

Proud Papa!

Hayden finally looked at the baby when he came to visit the next day. He didn't want much to do with him before that.

Kari loved this little guy right from the start. She calls him baby Stein even though we decided to name him...

ROCKWELL DAVID PORTER!

Volleyball anyone?

We had some major thunderstorms last week and nearby tornadoes. Luckily all we got were some super loud crashes and an extra kid in our bed. A day or two later, Daddy took the kids for a walk, but didn't make it too far before they found some fun!

This is our volleyball court back behind our building. For a while it doubled as a pool/ beach for the kids.

Here are the kiddos enjoying our real pool. I think they liked the mud better.

A few weeks ago, we went out and took some pictures in a field by our house.

Apparently, it's a pretty popular thing in Texas to take pictures with blue bonnets.

Mother's Day

We hope all our mothers had a Happy Mother's Day even though we couldn't see you all!

We did get to go down near Dallas and spend Mother's Day weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Holt

Hayden fell asleep in the car on the way home from church and did not want to wake up.

For some reason Grandpa's icecream was much better than his own. Thanks for sharing.

Happy guy! It was a great mother's day. Kari made me a coupon book and some pretty flowers out of pipe cleaners and they were in a beautiful vase. Plus Buck gave me a certificate for a pedicure so I can have beautiful toes when this baby comes out next week!

Playing in her sleeping bag. Our kiddos had lots of fun running around their house. Thanks for housing our monkeys for a weekend!

Grunt man!

This is a bit of a random update, but there are a few fun things to share.

Here is Kari in her ballet leotard. After her last class, they had the parents come in so they could perform for an audience. Kari just stood there and cried. Her teacher said she was just fine until she saw me. Hopefully she'll get over that before her recital on the 23rd.

Since we moved, we got into a bad habit of how we were putting Hayden to bed. I would usually lay by him for about 5 or so minutes or until he fell asleep. I quit doing that, now I just sing them each a lullaby and say good night. I did the Supernanny method in getting Hayden to stay in his bed. This method is to put them back once and talk them back to bed. Put them back a second time and just say good night. Any more times, you don't say anything and just put them back.

The first 2 nights, I had to put him back 3 or 4 times. When I checked in on them after about 30 minutes, this is how I found them. He had found comfort in sleeping by his sister. It was so sweet. We've had great luck since then, and they both stay in their beds without a fuss, throughout the whole night.

Hayden is doing very well in his potty training. When we are at home we let him wear his grunts (underpants) instead of a diaper. He has now realized how much more comfortable they are than a soggy diaper, and I think it has motivated him. He has stayed dry the last 2 nights! He does pretty darn good during the day, especially when we remind him to go.

Grandpa Porter requested a picture of my belly, so here I am at 8 months. I know I poke out really far. The doctor thinks I am measuring big because the baby hasn't dropped yet. Hopefully he does soon becuase I would like to deliver a few days or a week early.

Hayden doesn't always want me to take a picture of him, but if we are taking one of someone else he stands right in front. I guess he likes the attention. He is such a goof ball and developing quite the personality.

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter a few weeks back. We had plans to go down to Dallas, but poor Mary got sick and was in the hospital. She ended up having surgery and is recovering well now. Luckily, we still had some wonderful family right here in Wichita Falls to celebrate with.

We enjoyed decorating some eggs Saturday night. I had the table covered in plastic, and a paint tarp on the floor. Carpet isn't really condusive to coloring eggs, especially with a 2 year old.

Here are a few of our fabulous looking eggs. We had some face stickers and hair that we went a little wild with.

That darn Easter bunny hid our baskets. Hayden was very excited to find his hidden in the toy room closet. He didn't waste any time digging in.

Kari found her basket in the dryer. What a crazy spot, but she was super good at hunting it down.

Sunday after Conference we went to Stanton and Amy's for a wonderful dinner followed by an Easter egg hunt. The kids did very well! As you can see, it was a bright sunny day (Kari, Kalei, Elise, and Hayden).
We all ended up finding our baskets. Mine was hanging on the shower rod, and Buck's was hidden behind a bookcase in the corner. He was the last to find his, the Easter bunny must have thought he would try to peek.

A Day of Green

I know I'm a little late to be doing a St. Patrick's Day post, but I'm doing it anyway. I also added some funny pictures of my cuties!

This is Hayden's "Harold" face. He loves a show called, "Harold and the Purple Crayon" and this looks just like a face he does in one of the episodes, especially with his shaved head.

Kari being goofy playing with some food.

They made use of the laundry baskets after I put laundry away. Kids make anything into toys, if only I could still be as imaginative!

I'm trying to teach Kari how to write her letters and numbers. Hayden likes to join in when we play school.

Here is us all in green for St. Patrick's Day! Hayden wasn't much in the mood for smiling.

Kari just could not figure out how the Leprachauns got into our house and turned all our food green. I know these are quite random items to eat together, but it was fun!