Love of the Scriptures

Brianna says to me the other day:

Mom, I love to read the scriptures!

Keep in mind she is just learning her letters so she really isn't 'reading' the scriptures yet, but "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

G-ma Fisk is having her mark "God" every time they run across it in the scriptures. She is really enjoying her involvement during scripture time.

We recently went to pick her up her own scriptures at the Deseret Industries (I got a Bible, Book of Mormon/D&C/Pearl of Great Price for about $4!), and she used them for her first talk in Primary this past Sunday.

I think she is well on the way to becoming a lover of the scriptures.

3 out of 4, Dentist agrees he likes Porter children

Ok, so I'm not sure if this is really such a great thing to post about since it will reflect poorly on my parenting skilz.

We went to the dentist last week to find out that three out of our four children needed some work ranging from very mild to semi-extreme.
Today we did the work on all three*...
and are now anxiously awaiting our Income tax returns!
Although we still have coverage through the military there are some overpriced expenses (sedatives) which are not covered that had to be paid for TODAY.

We learned a few years ago that it is easier on everyone involved if our child(ren) is/are medicated for dental work. This is also my opinion, Greg would differ on the "everyone" part. He had a very tough time watching sedation effects on his then three year old son. This time he was dreading having Elizabeth (his precious baby, almost 18 months) go under. He didn't sleep well, not that he does anyway. He has now announced that it was better to go in prepared for the worst because then it wasn't so bad.

We were told that the children would probably sleep the rest of the day away.
I got gypped, I want my money back!! OK, how about half?

*Kaitlynn is our "NO cavities" winner this round. Yea!! Kaitlynn!!! I think she was glad too.

For Rose and Fiona

The other day Brianna got a package in the mail. This package was from her favorite (blond) aunt, Rose, and her cousin Fiona. The instructions in the sweet letter from her cousin (who, by the way, had spent her Christmas money on the gifts) read:

"Share with your sisters."

Here is the long promised picture of the girls "sharing" some of the stuff in the package. They love to dance! And they love all things girly...

Thank you Rose and Fiona, they loved your package!!

Don't ask

Here is a snack Brianna "cooked" up.
Ritz crackers and faux fruit loops.
I didn't try them, but I have to give her an A++ for presentation!

Name this Porter baby

Ok, so for those of you that can get this one right there will be a prize, I just haven't thought of it yet.

Can you tell which of my four children this is...I'll even give you a hint: This beautiful baby weighed over 8lbs at birth (that only rules out one of the four). You ask for another hint?? Ok, ok, twist my arm. Since the picture is in black and white and you might not be able to tell...this one doesn't have red hair. Now, if I give any more hints it wouldn't be fair.

Good luck to all that try, even mom and dad have trouble telling these two beauty's pictures apart.

Under My Umbrella

Under My Umbrella - Rihanna

One of every color

While getting my military ID extended a lady next to me wanted to chat.

Lady: "You have one of every color, don't you"?

Me: "Yes, I do, and they all have the same father"!

Lady: "I think you are one of the first people to talk back to me, most people ignore me".

Me: "I know, Vegas is a difficult town for making friends. What made me more approachable"?

Lady: "Well, you don't have your arms folded in front of your body for one thing".

Me: "So, if I did this," folding my arms, " you wouldn't have talked to me"?

Lady: "Yes, it's all in the body language".

She was so approachable my red head came up and pointed to her arm where she had a tattoo of a cartoon like bunny.

Red: "What's that"?

Lady: "That is dumb, dumb, dumb. Can you say that"?

I love that there are people who are fine with themselves and can make fun of the silly choices they've made in life. She said she got the tattoo when she was 14-15 and hid it from her mom for 3 years, just making sure to put a sweater on every time her mom came around. Once her mom saw it she told her that one day she would be a grandma and her bunny would sag with her skin and she could make it hop. She is still trying to get the bunny to hop. Her skin was not yet sagging though, maybe in a few years.

She was a very nice lady and helped the hour and a half wait time to go by pleasantly. She had two "Kyle Bush" m&m bracelets she had made for some other little girls, who had since gone, that she gave the girls to play with. Later she ended up giving it to the 'one of every color' girls.

Ode to Brianna, My big 4 year old

Happy Birthday Brianna!! You are four years old! I can't believe how quickly time flies since I've become a mommy. It seems just yesterday I held you for the first time at the hospital. You don't remember that day, but Joseph, Grandma Johnson, Daddy, and I remember it well. When Dr. Ivie pulled you from my tummy she said, "Wow, she got her hair done, like mommy, with highlights and all!"

You weighed 8 lbs 4.5 oz., were 19" long, and redish-brown highlights in your lush dark brown hair. The hospital staff couldn't stop "ooooing" and "ahhhhing" about how pretty a baby you were. Some people say it was because you didn't get squished coming out since you were born by c-section.

I thought you were perfect, because God made YOU and blessed me with a girl.

Some things you've been doing lately, cute and not so cute, some down right frustrating. But, that is the job of your mom and Dad, help you grow, learn, and become a better person.

• You almost always wake up happy, your little cheerful "good morning, mom!" makes mornings better.
• You enjoy going to church, singing church songs, and love your primary teacher.
  
• You love, love, love your daddy. You have said you want to marry him.
  
• You have been such a good little mommy's helper with your little sisters.
• You love to carry Elizabeth, bathe her, feed her, and play with her. It is very sweet!
  
• You love to dance. You will often ask me to put some music on for you.
• If I'm not fast enough to put music on you'll find it yourself on my computer.
• You absolutely love and adore Joseph, who consoles you when you've been disciplined and who plays babies/dolls with you. You've said you want to marry him too.
  
• You've been sneaking things out of the fridge or freezer. I'm sure I feed you enough, but maybe not, you are always wanting more food!
  
• Hiding your contraband under your brother's bed. Hiding it is a sign you know it's wrong, and are disobeying the rules intentionally.
  
• When caught you'll always try to convince me it was someone else mostly Kaitlynn (what else are little sisters good for?).
• If something is put up high for a reason, you can still find a way to get into it. Nothing is safe from you if you want it.
  

We love you pretty little girl. You are learning and growing normal. You've been such a joy to have in our family! Our family wouldn't be complete without you!

Where has all the hair gone?

This is Brianna at the beginning of the day. Isn't she pretty?! Don't you just love her pretty LONG hair? I know I do. I know Daddy does. I know Brianna does too. I have to remind myself at times that she is only three...and although three year olds are smart, sometimes they still do dumb things...heck, I still do dumb things (and I haven't been three for a LONG time)!

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As I tried to reassure her father after he told me he was sick to his stomach over HIS loss, it could have been worse! Even now he says he wants to cry when he sees the before picture.

Brianna and I went on a date to get her hair FIXED. I probably could have done it myself but I couldn't bring myself to make the first cut off the length of the hair she still had in the back. We'll see how fast it grows back.

At Cool cuts 4 Kids the hairdresser said just the other day a little girl had come in after cutting her hair too, only this little girl didn't leave anything where she cut. Apparently she was giving herself bangs, cut it all the way to the scalp. I was counting my blessings at that time!

I have been wanting to cut her hair in a cute little A-line bob but really couldn't bring myself to cut that much off...so, she helped me with my dilemma. We just can't do the A-line right now till the spot she cut right over her ear grows out some...

And wouldn't you know it, just a couple of days ago my friend and I were talking about little girls who cut their hair one too many times and what should be done about it. She had mentioned that she heard one mother actually shave her little girl's head after the second cutting incident. A little brash, I thought, and was grateful my little girls wouldn't do such a thing!! You'd think after all my experience I would know better than to say/think such a thing. Tisk tisk tisk!

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This is Brianna at the end of today. Isn't she a pretty little three year old girl?? Don't you just love her pretty blue eyes? I know I do.

Dancing Princess Brianna

Brianna is a little princess! She is such a girly girl who loves to dress up in pretty clothes especially princess costumes. When we go to our friend's house she was always dressing up in their dresses. Up until Christmas we were just wearing hats and boas and gloves when we played dress up. Thanks to her Grandma Johnson and Momo she now has her very own princess dresses. She loves to have tea parties. Her Grandma Fisk taught her how to pour when Brianna was only two and enjoys having tea parties with her when they get together.

Brianna also love to dance. She asks me to play music on the computer so she can dance every day. I think she would dance all day long if I let her!

Her Aunt Rosie, who just adores her, has handed down some very sweet ballet leotards, a couple of tutus, along with wrist scarfs. Dressing up and dancing will be even more fun.