Our home sale should be final this week. We looked at a couple of homes on Saturday, and will see more tomorrow night. It is fun and surprisingly nerve racking. G and T promise they are not getting tired of us being here. We are so blessed to have them and the rest of our great families.
Good friends are blessings that our Heavenly Father gives us to help us through all the different stages of our lives. It is a blessing to remember old ones (TR), keep close ones, and make new ones. I love you all :)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Thoroughly Modern Millie
This is Karli again. I'm home and over the jet-lag. I have plenty of pictures, but i'm having trouble uploading them for some reason. Here's some from Thoroughly Modern Millie though. Layton and I were both in it with Actors Youth Theatre this year. Thank you to all of you who came and supported us. It was so much fun.
pin curls! they took hours...
take out the pins and....BOING!
Tucker and Layton...no comment :)
20's Flappers...oh yeah
high class 20's
Very exciting and fun. Sorry I have no stage shots...
Sunday, July 5, 2009
K IS alive and well. We were beginning to wonder, having not heard from her since LAST Sunday. My dad felt bad that we have finally learned what it is really like to have a teenager. $ problems solved, so no need to call the parents. Hmmmm. We did end up checking on her and she is just sooooo busy seeing sooooo many amazing sights. I am glad.
Getting into church, today, was much harder than usual. K is in Austria. L, Ja, and Lu are with Granny and the aunts and uncles in Pinetop. R went early for meetings. I only had the babes. Tr and Tr fell asleep right before time to leave. I carried them to their carseats one at a time, loaded in The Bag and my nursery box and headed out. When I got there, I balanced Tr and Tr (still asleep:)) and The Bag and the box all in one load and locked the car and opened the door to the building! Of course when I got to our row, they both woke up. Dang. I was so looking foward to a quiet hour of testimonies. It ended up really nicely. With so few people in the ward, the regulars were not there to fill the time. It was nice to hear from so many who don't usually get up. I enjoyed each testimony even as I sat with R and we passed babies back and forth. With the recent color job, i'd like to think we almost looked like newlyweds! HAHA.
The boys are on their way home, now. K will be home tomorrow evening. All my little froggies will be back in the pond. Just the way I like it.
Getting into church, today, was much harder than usual. K is in Austria. L, Ja, and Lu are with Granny and the aunts and uncles in Pinetop. R went early for meetings. I only had the babes. Tr and Tr fell asleep right before time to leave. I carried them to their carseats one at a time, loaded in The Bag and my nursery box and headed out. When I got there, I balanced Tr and Tr (still asleep:)) and The Bag and the box all in one load and locked the car and opened the door to the building! Of course when I got to our row, they both woke up. Dang. I was so looking foward to a quiet hour of testimonies. It ended up really nicely. With so few people in the ward, the regulars were not there to fill the time. It was nice to hear from so many who don't usually get up. I enjoyed each testimony even as I sat with R and we passed babies back and forth. With the recent color job, i'd like to think we almost looked like newlyweds! HAHA.
The boys are on their way home, now. K will be home tomorrow evening. All my little froggies will be back in the pond. Just the way I like it.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thanks!!!
This is Karli, by the way. Just a few more short hours before I get to board a plane! Yay! So basically, before I leave, I just have to say I have the best, most talented aunts in the whole wide world!!! Because I'll be gone for my birthday on Sunday, they surprised me today with this gorgeous cake! Yes, they really made that themselves...fondant and everything. And as amazing as the outside is, the inside is even better! They used the chocolate cake recipe from NieNie's site. Absolutely Amazing!!!
That's all. :) I'm going to see if I can upload my pictures while I'm in Austria. We'll see. Tchus!
my cake...
notice the resemblance to Bella's cake in New Moon...:)
That's all. :) I'm going to see if I can upload my pictures while I'm in Austria. We'll see. Tchus!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Where are we?
Hi all! Yes, we have moved from "the compound". We now live with our wonderful friends, the "Pinnteroas" (Pinnt/Figueroa) family. They have lovingly given us a couple of rooms for as long as we need them. It is wonderful here, and with their kids 20, 16, 15, and 13, our littles get a lot of attention. It is fun for us all. We are in the neighborhood kiddy-corner from Mt. View, so we are closer to everything we do, except family.
Loula and Matt welcomed Edson, #6 and their 1st son the weekend we moved out, so it was perfect timing. He is wonderful! Earlier that week, I helped Loula make 30 meals in a day to put in the freezer for the upcoming new-baby busy weeks to come, so again, perfect timing.
The rumor is true. (Not that one, I just have some weight to loose.) We do have a contract on our house. Nope, no exclamation marks or anything. Hopefully, all will go smoothly in the next few weeks and we will actually close as scheduled. I am aware that anything could happen in this market and economy, so we will just believe it when it happens.
And finally, Karli and Layton, along with some friends, are in a great musical this week at Legacy school in east Mesa. They will be performing Thoroughly Modern Millie, Monday through Friday. Tickets are still available for $12, so plan a date night and come on out. We are mostly happy and healthy, knock on wood, no complaints here. Now I just need to convince my sweet children... Have a wonderful day!
Loula and Matt welcomed Edson, #6 and their 1st son the weekend we moved out, so it was perfect timing. He is wonderful! Earlier that week, I helped Loula make 30 meals in a day to put in the freezer for the upcoming new-baby busy weeks to come, so again, perfect timing.
The rumor is true. (Not that one, I just have some weight to loose.) We do have a contract on our house. Nope, no exclamation marks or anything. Hopefully, all will go smoothly in the next few weeks and we will actually close as scheduled. I am aware that anything could happen in this market and economy, so we will just believe it when it happens.
And finally, Karli and Layton, along with some friends, are in a great musical this week at Legacy school in east Mesa. They will be performing Thoroughly Modern Millie, Monday through Friday. Tickets are still available for $12, so plan a date night and come on out. We are mostly happy and healthy, knock on wood, no complaints here. Now I just need to convince my sweet children... Have a wonderful day!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Pictures!
Karli's teaching me how to add pictures. Here's some from the things we've been doing the past 2 months...
These are the worlds funniest Mother's Day flowers. This was just the day after I got them and they really made us all laugh and laugh. The company felt so bad that they sent an amazing boquet of lilies that are still blooming as I type!
Here is Karli in all of her glory! Her choir did a great broadway review of CATS. I'm not sure if she liked the singing, dancing or doing the make up the best... It was so fun to watch.
Ta-da! Only a week after she learned to crawl and she is standing. This was a couple of weeks ago, so she's really good at it now. 
I think her cousin is her friend for life for giving her this lollipop! It provided an hour of enjoyment and then I got to mop up a huge slobbery sticky mess.
This is the first time that Ron and his sisters had all been together with their cousins in 30 years. I love that family can get together and it's like they were never apart.Friday, May 15, 2009
The Compound
Ok, so I told you this would be next and now I have other things to tell, so here goes... I grew up near Westwood. My family moved there from Washington state when I was 10 because my grandparents, aunts, uncles and most of my cousins were here. When I was in jr high, my family built a home only 1/2 a block away from the original one and that is where they still live, in the culdesac of Orange Street.
Last year, my parents decided to downsize from the 5500 square feet and bought the smaller older house next door. After a beautiful renovation/remodel, they moved in and my sister and her husband with their bouquet of 5 daughters returned from Pennsylvania and bought the Big House.
I know that sounds like a party, but it gets even better. My older brother with his family bought the house behind the pool and one of my younger brothers with his family live in the house behind the swing set. Block by block, all the fences between the yards have been taken down and the perimeter enclosed... yes, by white pickets:) That means lots of room to run and play!
At last count there were 9 adults, 15 children, 3 dogs, and 1 cat all calling this patch of heaven their home. They share a sandbox, climbing trees, 2 tree forts, a pool, a swing set and all the lawn equipment. There are lots of trees... pecan, peach, apricot, apple, orange, lemon, tangerine, persimmon, pomegranate, misc. shade, date, olive, and mulberry.
So the 8 of us have been blessed to live in the basement of the Big House since the end of January while we try to sell our home near Poston Jr High. We have loved playing in the irrigation, picking and eating mulberries, helping and living so near cousins and grandparents. This is an amazing time that our family will never forget.
Last year, my parents decided to downsize from the 5500 square feet and bought the smaller older house next door. After a beautiful renovation/remodel, they moved in and my sister and her husband with their bouquet of 5 daughters returned from Pennsylvania and bought the Big House.
I know that sounds like a party, but it gets even better. My older brother with his family bought the house behind the pool and one of my younger brothers with his family live in the house behind the swing set. Block by block, all the fences between the yards have been taken down and the perimeter enclosed... yes, by white pickets:) That means lots of room to run and play!
At last count there were 9 adults, 15 children, 3 dogs, and 1 cat all calling this patch of heaven their home. They share a sandbox, climbing trees, 2 tree forts, a pool, a swing set and all the lawn equipment. There are lots of trees... pecan, peach, apricot, apple, orange, lemon, tangerine, persimmon, pomegranate, misc. shade, date, olive, and mulberry.
So the 8 of us have been blessed to live in the basement of the Big House since the end of January while we try to sell our home near Poston Jr High. We have loved playing in the irrigation, picking and eating mulberries, helping and living so near cousins and grandparents. This is an amazing time that our family will never forget.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ramblings
Conference Sunday Tressie scooted for the first time, and then enough to blacken the pj'd toes of one foot, and wear a hole right through the other. The gummy bears on Jace and Luke's conference bingo boards were great incentive!
Easter Sunday, as I baked the egg and sausage breakfast casserole and helped ready the kitchen to feed 20, (Porters, Porters and Wests) , Karli announced that Tressie had cut her first tooth. Disbelieving, I felt for myself and then burst into tears. Unexpected, at least this soon. After all, she is the baby.
Attending Primary with my boys was a huge eyeopener! They can really be stinkers, in school too, apparently. What to do? Ron is a genius. He gently pointed out that the 2 in the middle don't have a schedule like the older ones did or the younger ones do. Hmmm... Boys who are acting out need more attention.
Nikki's ipod was heaven sent. Picture this: Ron and I and the 2 little ones at the Franklin spring sing, standing room only. A 2nd grade solo: the prince, a 5th grade trumpet accompaniment, no problem. We heard and saw it all thanks to an hour and a 1/2 of Disney Shorts and old Mickey and Donald cartoons. Not a peep out of Troy for the entire concert and he didn't even have his magic tall brother with him. First time. Now to get all the shows copied to MY ipod!
New calling for me: Nursery Leader. Yeah!
Tonight during family prayer, Tressie caught sight of the cool orange toggle on the knee of Ron's shorts. Again, the proper incentive. Hand up, knee up, very deliberate, she did it, crawled, and I got to see. I didn't even cry. I grabbed and "videoed", actually digitally recorded, after the prayer, so Karli could see too, when we pick her up from the all state choir concert in Tucson tomorrow. I miss her. She is having a wonderful time out of the nest. She will want to go again, I am sure. This is great practice for Austria. Now to figure out how to make a countdown for her trip...
Next post: The Compound
Easter Sunday, as I baked the egg and sausage breakfast casserole and helped ready the kitchen to feed 20, (Porters, Porters and Wests) , Karli announced that Tressie had cut her first tooth. Disbelieving, I felt for myself and then burst into tears. Unexpected, at least this soon. After all, she is the baby.
Attending Primary with my boys was a huge eyeopener! They can really be stinkers, in school too, apparently. What to do? Ron is a genius. He gently pointed out that the 2 in the middle don't have a schedule like the older ones did or the younger ones do. Hmmm... Boys who are acting out need more attention.
Nikki's ipod was heaven sent. Picture this: Ron and I and the 2 little ones at the Franklin spring sing, standing room only. A 2nd grade solo: the prince, a 5th grade trumpet accompaniment, no problem. We heard and saw it all thanks to an hour and a 1/2 of Disney Shorts and old Mickey and Donald cartoons. Not a peep out of Troy for the entire concert and he didn't even have his magic tall brother with him. First time. Now to get all the shows copied to MY ipod!
New calling for me: Nursery Leader. Yeah!
Tonight during family prayer, Tressie caught sight of the cool orange toggle on the knee of Ron's shorts. Again, the proper incentive. Hand up, knee up, very deliberate, she did it, crawled, and I got to see. I didn't even cry. I grabbed and "videoed", actually digitally recorded, after the prayer, so Karli could see too, when we pick her up from the all state choir concert in Tucson tomorrow. I miss her. She is having a wonderful time out of the nest. She will want to go again, I am sure. This is great practice for Austria. Now to figure out how to make a countdown for her trip...
Next post: The Compound
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Justifications...or excuses...
Ok. This is Karli. Now I feel like I have to justify myself. I really do know how to do laundry...somewhat. I know how to sort stuff and how much detergent to use and where the fabric softener goes, which buttons to press, what settings to turn the knobs to...all that stuff. Or at least I did at MY house. Since Mom's a little slow with the whole blogging thing (she's determined to get better..last night was lesson #1: how to customize the background. hopefully tonight will be lesson #2: how to post pictures) a lot of you don't know that we've temporarily moved into my aunt, Louisa Porter's house. Well, she has 2 washers and dryers and 3 of them were full of clothes. The buttons and knobs are foreign to me...no little green Sharpie marker dots to tell me what settings to use. Note: I never opened the machines to tell which was which and I didn't read anything on the settings so I'm not completely stupid. I just chose to not put as much effort into exploring the machines as I could have. I admit it! I was being totally lazy because getting my laundry dry means folding laundy and I HATE FOLDING LAUNDRY! Most of the time I just end up laying on the floor next to the pile and falling asleep. It's just one of those things that takes forever and just happens to be a little bit necessary. Personally, I don't think I'll care that much when I'm in college and have no room for a dresser and am forced to hang everything in a tiny closet. I'll live.
But just for the record...I'm not retarded.
haha! she called me an "adorable child" thanks mom.
But just for the record...I'm not retarded.
haha! she called me an "adorable child" thanks mom.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Karli, Karli, Karli...
Ok, so when I have time to blog, I never can remember how to get into this site. I guess it's not something my brain has thought important enough to remember, like for instance when it's time to buy ice cream. But, suddenly, when serious things happen, it's like the adrenalin kicks in and I suddenly feel the NEED to blog and the password is in front of my eyes...
I love when i read adorable child conversations in the blogging world. Well, I finally have one of my own to share...
Karli: hey mom, are my clothes dry, yet?
Me: not yet, but you could go put them in the dryers...
Karli: um...ok
30 minutes later I notice that the dryers are not running.
Me: Karli, did you put your clothes in the dryers?
Karli: (running to the laundry room) Um... no...which ones are the dryers?
OK, seriously, I promise her gpa is above a 4.0 and she is always really naturally good at everything, but wow! this left me speechless. could I really have neglected this simple lesson? I guess we really have alot of work to do before she thinks she is ready to leave for college. Yikes. These are even the basic washer loads in the top and dryers in the front. Wow.
I love when i read adorable child conversations in the blogging world. Well, I finally have one of my own to share...
Karli: hey mom, are my clothes dry, yet?
Me: not yet, but you could go put them in the dryers...
Karli: um...ok
30 minutes later I notice that the dryers are not running.
Me: Karli, did you put your clothes in the dryers?
Karli: (running to the laundry room) Um... no...which ones are the dryers?
OK, seriously, I promise her gpa is above a 4.0 and she is always really naturally good at everything, but wow! this left me speechless. could I really have neglected this simple lesson? I guess we really have alot of work to do before she thinks she is ready to leave for college. Yikes. These are even the basic washer loads in the top and dryers in the front. Wow.
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