Energy to Expend!

Today after walking home from a neighbors house Porter couldn't hold in his excitement that it wasn't absolutely FREEZing outside and that he REALLY NEEDED to expend some energy outside to celebrate the (bit of) warmer weather.
He proceeded to run up and down the sidewalk more than a dozen times, laughing the whole time.  I love this happy kid!

Happy Birthday Chloe ~ 4 Years Old!

After a fortunate snowstorm that delayed Ted's scheduled flight on her birthday, we're able to celebrate all together on her actual birthday! 

Chloe's first birthday wish was to celebrate her birthday with her cousin's. So, after Ted left early the next day, the kids and I headed up to Davenport to celebrate Chloe's "real birthday".

My sister Alexis made the party possible by providing the decorations and games (THANK YOU!)

Per Chloe's request, she wanted a "Pony-Princess" party.  I wasn't sure what she meant by this and finally asked her what her expectations were and what exactly a pony-princess party consisted of.  Thankfully, her reply was, "having princesses and ponies on my cake".  

I can do that.

 

 After looking online for weeks on what kind of cake to do, this was the outcome...

good enough for me.

 The cake was fun to look, but the cake was much more fun to lick and mess-up for the kids!  It was hilarious and pure enjoyment for them

 The finished...FINISHED product.

Daily Fun

This has been one of Chloe's and Porter's favorite activities lately.  Porter gets his head drenched with water and Chloe proceeds to style her little bro's hair. 

 

I love this look of, "I'm not sure I came to the right hairstylist".

At Christmas time I braided Chloe's hair like this and ever since then she asks for her little braids to whip around.

 Porter loves to walk in the snow, he really finds particular joy in squashing snow clumps and kicking snowman.

For Chloe's early birthday present and a Christmas present for Ted, they both got some ice skates!  Iowa is a perfect place to have ice skates, ponds everywhere!  Lucky for us, our previous Branch President has a pond in his yard and he and his family are more than happy to share their frozen pond.  

 While Dad and Chloe were on the ice, Porter was thrilled to find some sticks around Pres. Pence's yard AND to whack the snow with them.

At one of the family's homes that Ted home teaches at, they had these little bats that Chloe fell in love with.  So, naturally Ted came home and made some with his kids.  Dad is the best!

Words can't describe...

An unreal and unthinkable tragedy happen Sunday night.  Ted and I were playing a game and when done I realized that the computer's screen saver had been repeating the same 2 pictures for the past few hours.  Thinking nothing more than, "oh, the computer froze", we turned it off and went to bed.  In the morning I turned on the computer to see this:   

"This" sign turned out to be the last "picture" I'd see off our computer.  After taking our computer in to the Apple store for "surgery" as they call it, and waiting 2 painful days, the dreaded news came back that EVERYTHING (baby/vacation/special occasions pictures, documents/files), everything was gone... 
I thought my 3 year old Mac was immune to this and had put on the "to do eventually list" of getting my computer backed-up, but alas, I had never done it.
My heart broke, honestly, I can't keep back the tears even now...it's still broken.  However, and thankfully,  I have a remarkable and wonderful "big-girl" that has truly helped me through this. 
The morning we got the bad news, Chloe ironically asked if we could sit down and look at her baby pictures.  I explained as best I could to her that those precious pictures and videos were gone.  She said, "that's sad mom, I really liked looking at those pictures", "me too", I replied. 
Then, a few hours later while driving to an indoor play area and all the while, me- quietly mourning,  Chloe piped up from her car seat and said:

"Mom, I know that losing all those pictures is sad thing, I really liked those pictures.  

But, you know, people are what are really important in this world. 

And we are a family forever.

and look at the world that Heavenly Father made for us, 

it's beautiful and we get to enjoy it". 

Thanks to my sweet and ever in-tuned angel , I know I can make it through this...because I still have forever family and it's true "people are what are really important".  Thank you my darling Chloe, thank you.

**However, let this be a reminder to you all to back-up and "save" your info.  

Believe me the $100 bucks for a external hard drive seems pretty trivial right about now.**

Happy TWO years Porter!

Porter turned  2 last Thursday and we had a blast celebrating our little P-man's special day.  Porter is so full of life and always has something to say about everything going on.  His "cheez'er" is unmatchable and his hugs are irreplaceable. 
We love you Porter and we're SO grateful for the life you brought to our family.

"Truck Mania"

Fun in cooler weather

In order of events, this is what we've been up to the past week.  

Playing outside enjoying Fall weather

 Going to the Blank Park Zoo

 I actually went across this bridge...and yeah, the kids made it look easy, I totally almost fell on my face.

 I think this is a new addition to the Zoo, you'd better believe Chloe was thrilled!  (for those that need a nudge of a reminder, it's a monarch caterpillar)

Did you know the word "Iowa" means: WINDY? Well it does...

(at least in my book)

When our little Maple Grove Branch was created months ago, our Branch President came up with the idea to plant an actual Maple (tree) Grove, in his yard.  Well, despite that he, our Branch President, was released a month ago, he still went through with his idea.  It was so much fun to be at the Pence's house again, enjoying their lovely and paradise of a home and yard.  Planting the trees was fun for everyone, especially because the hole's had already been dug :) (thanks President!). 
Now when we make our way through Iowa years down the road we can stop by the Pence home and visit the Maple Grove we helped plant.

 Such a wonderful yard!

 I love this picture of Ted and P-man

Cold, but happy family :)