Twinkle Toed Paige

Paige had her very first dance recital today.
I'm very proud of her for trying her best and having fun.

Porter Family Riddle

My mom had 7 kids.
She was pregnant 5 times,
but we only celebrate 4 birthdays.

[All of the kids are alive. Can you figure it out?]

Rumor is we had our first-ever slumber party

Paige has always asked if she could have a slumber party, and I've always said, sounds fun, but you'll have to wait till you're older. Paige's birthday is this Tuesday and I couldn't figure out what to do for it. While I still think Paige is too young to have a sleepover, I thought we might as well start with a cousin slumber party. Needless to say, Paige was thrilled with the idea.
So we invited Annika Boyack (nearly 7) and Anna Penrod (nearly 6).

We began with a craft of decorating picture frames to take home.

Paige's favorite game of Don't Eat Pete - birthday edition.

Anna gave Paige a bucket of linkable beads. They all loved it and played for about an hour making all kinds of jewelry.

Annika got Paige a new bucket of Lego's - so exciting. Paige is really getting into Lego's.

We painted and decorated toe/fingernails.

Bedtime stories - its nice to have a little bit older cousin willing to read to other kids.

Fruit Loop and GummiSaver necklaces.

A trip to the family fun fair at UVU for breakfast and some fun booths -
including an inside look at a fire engine.

The kids really did a great job. Although I did end up sleeping on the couch next to them, I was impressed with everyone's attitude, helpfulness and obedience.
It was a very enjoyable slumber party!

Rumor is we live in a war zone

Every September I feel like we live in a war zone.

Here is a picture of the enemy. There are hundreds of them and they surround my home. I have to run and dodge and keep a prayer in my heart...

...a prayer that I won't get hit!

Judge not, that ye be not judged

When did I become so judgmental?

I used to be so easy-going. Nothing bothered me. I trusted everybody and gave them the benefit of the doubt.

Now all kinds of little things from all kinds of people have begun to bother me. I find myself rolling my eyes, and letting things fester inside of me and I hate this feeling.

When I was young, I thought adults had it so easy - their life was already figured out. But now I'm realizing that as you get older you interact with more people which means there are more opportunities for people to rub you the wrong way.

I miss the young, innocent, naive Tara.

Rumor is I'm a runner

This week I started to run willingly.

It is definitely not my preferred method of exercise. Pretty much everything trumps it. I don't know why I got the urge - probably the perfect fall weather.

I have always been a sprinter, and I hate running long distances. In 9th grade I was on the track and softball teams and their seasons corresponded. I was so grateful that I was allowed to race in the meets, but keep practicing with the softball team, so I didn't have to do all the long distance conditioning.

Unfortunately, I think this week I will also stop running willingly. My shin splints are extremely painful and everyone says the only thing I can do to help them is stay off of them. I will however keep playing softball, that's running that is worth the pain.

Bird Sanctuary

For Labor Day weekend our family drove up to Clearfield to visit with the Palmers. We spent the morning exploring the bird sanctuary near their house.



Its a neat preserve off the shore of the Great Salt Lake. It tells lots of information about different wildlife that can be seen. I think next time we will have to remember to bring out binoculars and bird field guide.



Although we didn't see very many birds, the kids loved running around the boardwalk, and climbing the observation tower. It was a very enjoyable day with family.



Taryn (1), Levi (1), Evan (4), Paige (5), Ashby (3), Zion (2)

Rumor is Paige finally started school

No tears today. But my heart did leap.

Nobody told me to never have a baby in September

5 years, 11 months, and 17 days. This is how long we have waited for Paige to start school.

We had really hoped that Paige would start Kindergarten last year. Heaven knows she was ready for it. I talked to my older sister and she said, "Paige has to start school. You march into that school district office and you don't take no for an answer." So we went, and asked what our options were. They said, sorry the law is age 5 by Sept 1st, and there was nothing we could do about it. Guess things are different in Utah.

I feel like we have waited for this day forever. I feel like Paige is the last one to start school. I even see on Facebook all her little baby friends (that were really still babies when Paige was walking around) starting Kindergarten before she does. Even my same sister's 4-year-old starting school in Arizona. [sigh]

I know Paige will love school, just as I did as a kid. And I know she is ready for more learning and stimulation than I have been able to give her.

Well tomorrow is the big day. Everyone asks me if I think I will cry when Paige starts school. I just shake my head, doubting...because I have been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Rumor is I have one of "those" kids

You all know "that" kid. The one that the teachers always hope is absent. The one they sigh about when they think its time to go to church. The one the leaders have to rearrange seating to separate and accommodate.

I just saw the seating layout for the Primary Program. Paige is sitting between her teacher and the stake president. And I frown, because I know it's true.

That was Fun

Did you know Utah County has a beach?
I didn't until yesterday.
We took the kids to a secluded area outside of Springville on the Utah Lake shore. It was a sandy (or muddy) beach where we could play and wade in the water. The shore was so shallow you could walk out into the lake for hundreds of feet and still just be waist deep. The kids could run around between sand bars and I felt like they were pretty safe. They even got to jump over waves.
It really was so much fun, and a great way to spend the last warm summer day.

Eyelashes

I feel like my eyelashes are my one redeeming physical characteristic. They help build my self-confidence.
Some people have good/bad hair days. I don't really worry too much about that.
I have good or bad eyelash days.
Today is a good day, and I feel like I can take on the world - or at least sacrament meeting with three kids.

Rumor is I'm a big spender

I wish I could spend money and not even think about it.

I never used to think about it when it was my parent's money - I mean, why shouldn't I get the $100 shoes? or the $60 jeans?

I remember a few years ago Brian and I wound up with a large amount of money and I used some of it for a shopping trip to Ikea - things that had only ever been on our wish list. It was very exciting. I only got a few items, but it added up to over $300. I couldn't believe I was actually going to spend that much money. I walked up to the cashier and the floor began to spin and I literally felt ill.

I am always worried about spending money. I love to browse the store ads each week and mark the things I would like to buy. Then the ads go in the trash because I know I'm fooling myself.

I never buy clothes for my kids. I feel very fortunate to have older siblings willing to pass along bins and bins full of out-grown clothes that my kids can use. I can probably count on two hands how many outfits I have actually paid for myself.

The other day I went through all the hand-me-downs in Paige's dresser to see what kinds of stuff I needed to get before she started school. It seemed like she had pretty much everything she needed, but I wanted to give her the fun of just one special outfit she could wear on the first day of school. Like she even cares - its probably more for me. I loved the first day of school and laying out my outfit carefully the night before, complete with socks in shoes. Love, love that feeling.

So I headed out to find a cute outfit. My plan was Ross - because I feel like I can get a good deal there. They didn't have much to choose from and I was pretty disappointed. So I went next door to Old Navy. I have not shopped there for years. And this was absolutely the first time I have been in the Girls department (I think I've been to the toddler section at some point). They had lots of cute things and I wanted all of it. Why does everything have to be so darn expensive? I was pretty disappointed. But Paige tried on a few things and we came away with some very cute pants and a top and some leggings - $50. I tried not to think about it. Afterall, this is my first-born, and her first day of school, and she deserves it. I feel guilty all the way home.

I won't buy myself anything unless it is under $10 -- 6 is more like it. And I just paid $20 for a pair of pants that she probably won't even fit into next year...but they were really cute pants.

Well, today I did a little more shopping - Burlington, Kid2Kid, and Shopko. I am pleased with the results, and feel much better about the use of my money. Old Navy will have to wait for my business another year. I think Paige will look very cute for school ... now if she would only allow me to do her hair ...