Roar!

 Lately Porter has been into taking our family photos.  He will position us, press the (timed) button, and run his long legs into the shot.  He will take millions of these, if allowed.  We laugh at Porter, therefore, we smile, and he thinks it is way more fun this way, so he smiles.  A win, win, win if you ask me.  This is after pumpkin carving this year, next year I think we will just paint our pumpkins for more toddler participation.

 I have never seen anything cuter than a boy/lion.  He even let me give him some whiskers for the trunk-or-treat.  Porter ate massive amounts of candy, and learned all of the candy bar names.  "Butterfingers"  were the funniest thing to him, in name, and just as enjoyable in flavor.

A photo shoot by Porter, all rights reserved.

 These next few picts are from our trip to Utah.  I would say that Jeff and I documented about one day of the entire trip.  We just never seemed to take our camera.  Anyway, here is Porter and Paul after "flying". 

Porter flying solo

 Daily 4-wheeler rides, both Jeff and Porter are sure that we need one of these.  I am sure that we don't.

Porter takes his life quite seriously at times.  This was one of those moments.  This is the first real baby Porter has ever held, his cute cousin Lincoln.  He sat there and didn't move a muscle the entire time.  He looks a bit shocked with the current event.


In terms of travel-logs.  We went to lincoln's blessing, went swimming, out to eat at our favorite places, went on a bike ride in Ogden to one of the coolest playgrounds ever, and went to the Treehouse museum.  Porter was babysat while we went to the temple and out to dinner with family.  We were truly spoiled by our families while in Utah.  I won't recommend a road trip with a toddler while in the last trimester of pregnancy, but we enjoyed the time we spent with family and friends.

Sept/Oct 2011

We frequently rented a puppy dog to drool and let his hair blow in the wind while boating this year.  This is after he had been retrieving items out of the water at the beach with the other real dogs.  

Jeff and Porter fishing at Moose Lake.  After quite a few failed attempts, Jeff caught a tadpole for Porter to pet.

Hiking to Moose Lake amongst the huckleberries.  We enjoy playing "I spy" and "Red light/Green light".  Except when Jeff spends too much time on the green lights.

Becca on the way down, this is the last time that jacket zipped up, and it is not because the zipper broke.

For some reason I can never remember the name of this waterfall.  Ah, this is Char Falls.

Porter loves to conclude the last 30 minutes of his Sunday nap being cradled.  I love that I can still rock my 2 year old while sleeping (evidence that he will even let Jeff at times).  Even if he does say things like, "I'm laughing at you Mom" or "I'm gonna eat your children".

The perfect age to play in leaves.

August: Jeff Jensen style

 As many of you know Jeff doesn't waste a weekend.  In fact, weekends are the one and only thing that he will plan for in advance (with detail).  August in Sandpoint is remarkable to say the least, and we have truly needed the weekdays to recover from our weekends.  Here are just a few things we crammed into August.

This one is Harrison Lake, approx. 5 miles round trip, mucho elevation gained. Jeff and Porter sliding in some remaining snow.

 Grouse Creek Falls:  We swam in the pools and slid down some of the falls.  Jeff jumped off a cliff into some deep pools.  We stayed until Porter's lips were purple and the shivering became too apparent.  Porter has no fear of the water, he was mad cause Jeff couldn't swim him up the current to the more dangerous falls.

 Lionhead rock slide near Priest Lake.  We hiked to this one with some friends, and it was really quite fast.  Jeff tore his new swim shorts on his first run down.  Good thing there were some garbage bags available so that he could slide this thing about 100 more times without shredding anything more.  You land in a shallow pool of water at the bottom, the funniest part is that nobody thinks the small pool will stop them so their faces are of sheer terror.  Yes, this is my baby bump in a swimming suit.

 Porter just hung around playing with sticks on the side lines.  He didn't care for the slide much, or maybe it was the frigid water.

 On the way down Jeff took a dip in a couple of pools,and slid down a few more slides.

 We have spent lots of time on the boat.  We always stop at dog beach so Porter can wake-skate and see a train go across the bridge.  Jeff often ski's in the mornings and will take us out in the evenings throughout the week.

 Porter jumps off the back of the boat to Jeff about 15 times, then plays with the water ski rope.  Then they swim in the deep water and Porter begs for Jeff to drop him in the water then catch him at the last minute, until they are both freezing.  They just giggle out there like a couple of school girls.

 

Some nights we just go to the beach for an evening swim to relax our tired bodies.  This night, the moon was orange from a nearby fire.

Like I said, August in Sandpont is remarkable to say the least.

Just in Case you didn't know

I decided I should probably include some exciting news from our house.  We are expecting a baby girl January 6, 2012.  I am both excited and nervous.  We had our ultra sound yesterday and she looks cute and healthy.  Last night was the first time Jeff could feel her moving, although I have been feeling her for some time now....especially as I attempt to sleep.

Catching up.

So I know each and every member of my family will not be thanking me for posting this picture, including myself.  Just celebrating Porter's B-day in Bear Lake, all of the coolest sisters/nieces looking attractive in double french-braids without makeup.  Porter had tons of fun in bear lake and asked to go to grandmas house for a week after.

He got a tricycle/motorcycle/tractor/riding lawn mower all in one for his birthday.  Either we are stellar parents or he just has an incredible imagination.

 We finally made it to Canada.  We spent a few days camping and hiking throughout Banff National Park.  Our every expectation was met!  I want to go to there...again.

Me and Porter

Hiking up past Lake Moraine

 Lake Moraine, as we hiked it started raining.  We could see steam and waterfalls start to form off the Glacier, so beautiful.

Porter at Lake Louise.   According to Porter, his most memorable part of the trip was loading and unloading gear while changing camp locations.

SAND- EIGO AS PORTER WOULD HAVE IT

 A little fish taking a break from his natural habitat to drive truck up his mothers arm while eating only the M&Ms out of the trail mix.  And those hand-me-down shades, those beautiful shades I sport.

 This time he took me fore a spin on this Sea World boat, and no, he will not be finished with his turn until all waiting children are angry.

 I am sure the starfish are hardy and can hold their breath very well. Otherwise, I am sure we killed a few.  Porter just couldn't resist pulling them out of the water each time he got one.

 Jeff, Porter, and huge fish.

 The best sand castle demolition boy on earth.

 Sunset with Porter, Becca, Jeff, Grandma Pam, Jonni and Max.

Porter and Aunt Weesa (lisa) at moo times ice cream, it isn't california unless there's moo times.

May Events

 classic car parade

SO, I got mother's day candy and Porter was the happiest boy ever.  He opened the package and started grabbing all the goodies.

JEFF AND PORTER SNOW CREEK FALLS

SNOW CREEK FALLS HAS ITS OWN WEATHER SYSTEM THIS YEAR.  IT WAS SO HUGE THE SPRAY WAS WAY TO RISKY TO TAKE ANY CLOSE PICTS.

Oh Mother's Day

Nipples:  Whenever Porter hops in the shower with Jeff the first item of discussion would have to be nipple identification.  Porter loves to put his towel around his waist like Jeff and dance, run, or shave (with the Mr. Mustache).

 I am unaware as to why I think a dripping banana milk mustache is so funny, but it was.

 A beautiful end to Mother's day.  Homemade crust, hand sliced strawberries, fresh whipped cream, and a touch of love....made by Jeff P Jensen.

 And proud of it.

I'm sure glad we have someone willing to fix this lawn mower about ten times a day.  My rug would never stay groomed otherwise.  I think my favorite part of this would be his grunting in a willfully awkward position as he works. 

Hair do you do?

 Porter's lunchtime fort, I love how my child never looks dirty...he is so neat and clean all the time.  What an angel :).

 The mullet/bull cut it is kinda a new trend.

The tennis ball brothers.  After cutting Porter's hair every three weeks and Jeff's nearly every nine months.  They decided to get twinner hair do's.

Our never ending winter fun

This is part of our ice skating pairs routine. When it gets cold really fast here we get the equivalent of a zamboni cleaned ice rink on the lake. We have had a couple of great nights this winter, we can ice skate under the bridge while a train is running across it if we dared.

This is a snow cave that jeff built in our front yard for Porter, he loves his new house as he referrs to it.

When we have to shovel our drive way more than once a day Porter typically gets to take a snowmobile ride down road while one of us shovels. He is really into snowmobiling on this vintage thrift shop steal.

Porter and Jeff in front of our house (yes it is teal) and no it is not the brightest house or trailer on the block.