4th of July

Left side top to bottom: Grandpa Pay with Samantha and Lincoln - McKinley and Lincoln - Mom, McKinley and Lincoln at the Kaysville Parade

Right side: Porter cousins before the parade - Alli and McKinley at fireworks - Grandma and Grandpa Porter in the parade - Lincoln thinks the parade is loud

Late Summer

Labor Day - St. George Temple
Layton Park - Multiple trips during the summer
August - Bear Lake
July - Lagoon
July 25 - Riding Frontrunner/SLC Temple/Tour of the Conference Center

McKinley

Here are a few pictures of McKinley. She is getting to be such a big girl! This is from 5-8 months. I can't believe she is already 9 1/2 months!

Lincoln is 3!

Lincoln's presents - Scooter, jeans, church shirt/tie, toy helicopters and airplanes

Lincoln's birthday was on a Friday this year. As luck would have it, Jefferson and I both had the day off! We hung out and did a little shopping in the morning. In the afternoon Lincoln got to play at Grandma Porter's house. He asked all morning to go and play at her house! For dinner we went to Iggy's in Centerville. Lincoln wanted pizza for dinner and they have that on the kids meal and it comes with an ice cream sundae. On Sunday we went to the Pay's house to celebrate with my side of the family. Lincoln had chocolate cake and ice cream - his favorite! He got lots of fun toys - a Buzz Lightyear car, a big "dumpy" truck, playdoh, a Buzz/Woody kickball and a soccer ball. We are heading to the Porter's on Sunday for the October birthdays. So much fun to celebrate!

More pics:

St George Trip

This year we went to St. George for Easter. We drove down after school on Thursday and came home Sunday afternoon. On Friday we drove through Zion Canyon (it was free entrance at National Parks). We stopped here and got out to walk on the rocks. Lincoln loved climbing the rocks and looking for sticks. He still talks about the "beach" as he calls it.

Lincoln, Mom, McKinley

Ganges

Saturday we went to the outlets to look at the kids clothes and then headed to the Farm for the McArthur family reunion. We missed the treasure hunt, but made it in time for dutch oven and potluck salads. SO GOOD! Lincoln got to look at the bunnies and chickens. He also went on a tractor ride with Jefferson. I heard it was a wild ride! That evening after naps we went to a park by the Porter's house. Lincoln loves the park! We went for a drive around town that evening.

Sunday was church. Before church Suzanne hid eggs around the house for the kids to find. Lincoln picked right up on the game. I left his Easter stuff at home, so he got it when we returned. Church was really nice. Here are the kids dressed up for Easter.

Lincoln doesn't like to look at the camera and smile :) He had a great time and talks about Grandma's House, the Farm and the Beach constantly. McKinley was a great girl and just hung out the whole time. So glad she is such a happy baby.

Lincoln Dancing

Here is Lincoln dancing with some of his cousins at Grandma Porter's house. It's his favorite song to dance to. Sometimes he will throw a fit if it's the wrong song :)

Catching up: Christmas 2010

Christmas was a little stressful this year, wondering if McKinley would be coming early. Fortunately, she stayed put and I was able to enjoy Christmas out and about with family.

On Dec. 23 the Catlin clan got together in Bountiful for dinner, games and catching up. It was fun to see all my cousins and their families. We were missing the Washington folks, but everybody else was there - even the Schwabs from Virginia. Here we are trying to get the kids to take a picture. Lincoln was crying and Corbin is hiding. Thanks to Maren for trying!!
On Christmas Eve we went to the Porter's. We had dinner and games, along with the Nativity (words and songs!). Of course there were presents. We usually take a family picture each year (on a timer on someone's camera - nothing fancy) but we didn't this year. We will have to remember for next year.
Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents before heading to the Pays. Lincoln got a "bike" and loved it from the moment he saw it. We had to wake him up so we could leave on time so he was slightly asleep when we started down the stairs. The first thing he said was "Bike!" It was cute.
He got some books, a shirt and a little car as well. I gave Jefferson a remote helicopter and trick car. He gave me cash :) [I have since bought some clothes with that money!]
We got dressed and headed to my parents for presents and breakfast. It was a little more low-key this year since we only had our family and my Grandma/pa Pay. Usually we invite more family, but since we saw them Dec 23, we didn't. It was nice! We didn't take any pictures at the Pays.

The next day was Sunday. I tried to get a nice picture of Lincoln. I think this was the best one. He doesn't like taking pictures. The other ones are pretty hilarious :)

Dog Food

Today I was feeding McKinley upstairs and Lincoln was running around. He went downstairs and was being very quite. I started getting nervous. When McKinley was done I headed downstairs to see what Lincoln was up to. I met him at the top of the stairs with a guilty look on his face. He had dog food on his face and shirt that he had spit up. The rest of it was on the stairs and the tile. Bear came and ate the big pieces (gross) and I cleaned up the rest. What was that kid thinking? :)

On a completely unrelated note, here is a picture JP took the other day on his phone. It's a fun family picture (minus him).

McKinley Kate

McKinley Kate arrived Monday, December 27, 2010 at 7:52 a.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.

McKinley, you were a scheduled c-section because your brother arrived that way. With 3 weeks to go, while the doctor was checking your heartbeat he noticed it was irregular. It would beat fine and then miss a beat. I had to get hooked up to a heart monitor and he did an ultrasound. The heart monitor didn't show anything to get too worked up about and the ultrasound showed you were breech (good thing I was okay with a c-section!). Because the doctor wanted to be extra cautious I went in twice a week to be checked on the monitor. You were always doing okay, even though every once in awhile a beat would drop.

We made it to the scheduled day, 2 days after Christmas. With Lincoln I was induced and labored before having him the next day. With you, your Dad and I got to the hospital at 6 a.m. and got checked in and headed upstairs. The nurse had me change and started hooking me up to machines and prepping me for your delivery. It was all very smooth and quite fast. When I had my IV and had talked to the anesthesiologist I was ready to be wheeled into surgery. They took me into the room and I got my spinal tap. The doctors came in and then they brought in Dad. A few minutes later, just before 8 a.m. you were born! The doctor said, "You have a little princess!" and (even though I knew) I was so excited.

They took you to the nursery to get cleaned and tested. Dad went with you. I had to be sewn back up and taken back to the recovery room. The drugs worked really well on my left side. I could feel things on my right. So the anesthesiologist kept moving me and trying to get the drugs where they needed to go. Finally they were done and I was ready to go back to the room.

We all met up a little while later in my room and got to spend some time together, just the three of us. We took some pictures...


Around 10 or 11 a.m. they were ready to move us into my "permanent" room for the next 4 days. You stayed with me during the day and only went back to the nursery to be checked and so I could sleep at night - although sometimes they couldn't get you until midnight or they would bring you in early to feed and I just kept you instead of sending you back. You were a great eater and sleeper. The nurses knew you were breech because you loved your legs sticking straight out :)

We had a few visitors, but not a lot which was great for my recovery. Dad and Lincoln came every day to hang out with us. Lincoln watched movies and didn't really get that you were his sister until we told him you were his baby. He loved you from that moment! He calls you McKinley-baby and loves to give you kisses and toys.


We went home on Thursday, December 30.

St. George

For Fall Recess (UEA weekend) I talked Jefferson into going to St. George. We left Thursday afternoon (Oct 14) and came home Sunday afternoon. We didn't get there until late Thursday. On Friday morning we went to the town square and walked around. Lincoln really liked the splash pad area and we spent the most time there after walking around. Since Lincoln was wet and we had no dry clothes we headed back to the house for lunch and naps. That afternoon we went back by the water to check out the International Festival going on. It wasn't too international and we didn't stick around too long. We also did some shopping. That night we watched a movie and went to bed.

On Saturday we drove to Grafton which is a small ghost town on the way to Zion. It was a long drive and Lincoln wasn't too happy being stuck in his seat the whole time. It was interesting to see Grafton, but I would call it a historically renovated town - not a ghost town. There wasn't much to see and nothing you were supposed to walk into. But we saw it. All those pictures are on Jefferson's camera. I got a picture of the bridge.


We stopped and ate lunch at a park that we passed on the way. Lincoln had a nice long nap when we got home. That night we ordered pizza and drove around the city at night. It was a relaxing vacation and I had a great time! It was also nice and warm (80s). I am glad we went.

Halloween

This year for Halloween Lincoln was a fireman. Just like last year. Cause it still fit. And he doesn't care! We went trick or treating with some neighbors. At first Lincoln wasn't sure what to do, but Tyson totally helped him figure it out! I didn't get pictures of us out and about (in the rain) but we did get some pictures of the cousins and Lincoln dressed up before the trick or treating.

See Bear in the background in her Happy Halloween shirt

We didn't make it very far. With the rain and the cold Lincoln wasn't up for being out for very long. We went down the street and back up half the other side of the street and headed home. Lincoln would have preferred to just jump in the puddles in the street. My parents came up to hang out with us, so when Lincoln looked miserable and I saw their car in my driveway we went home. His candy was pretty wet, but I don't think he even knew he had candy. He only got a few pieces and I think Jefferson and I have eaten them already.

I am pretty sure next year he will be way more into it and that will be fun!

Porter family pictures:

Mom & Lincoln (with a sucker) @ Porter's

Sanford & Laurie

Ganges

Fireman, Chicken, Cat, Pirate, Witch

Lincoln's 2nd Birthday

Lincoln turned two this year! I didn't have to work so we hung out during the day. He got some balloons at the grocery store. I wrapped his presents during his nap. Jefferson got home around 6:30 and Grandma & Grandpa Porter came over to take us to dinner. We ended up at Boston's for pizza. Lincoln at 3 pieces! It was a fun day.


Presents from mom & dad: puzzles, book, shirts
Grandma & Grandpa Porter: truck, clothes
Greatgrandma Catlin: card & $10
Greatgrandma/pa Pay: card, $2 & 2 books

We went to the Pay's Sunday evening for cake and ice cream. Lincoln got a toy motorcycle that makes noise, hotwheels, race track, tootsie pops, and a ball. He loved them all! Jefferson helped me make the Boston creme pies. YUMMY!!


The Porter October B-day party was the following Wednesday (Lincoln, Darrin & Suzanne are Oct b-days). He got more hotwheels and a car launcher, more fun balloons, and lots of clothes. I didn't get pictures for some reason, but we had a good time.

#2

In September we were able to find out the gender of our second child. We are having a little girl!! I will try and find some time to scan the ultrasound pictures. This time we got a DVD of the ultrasound, too. Everything looked good! My original due date was 1-11-11 and it was moved up to 1-4-11.

Summertime 2

In July we went to Lagoon. We got tickets for $10 thanks to Mitchel working there. Every once in awhile they get family deals and we decided to take Lincoln. The first ride we went on was the Puff the Dragon roller coaster. He loved it! Then we went to another dragon one that went really fast. He didn't like that one. So after that it took some convincing to get on the rides. There weren't many he could go on and the ones he could we couldn't go with him. It will be better when he has someone to ride with. Next time we will have to go with cousins!

favorite ride

walking around

on the ferris wheel

We went swimming at my Aunt Carole Ann's house. Last summer we went a few times, but this summer we only made it once. I liked this picture of Lincoln. I didn't get any while we were in the pool. Alyssa, Natalie, me and kids were there.

On the 24th we went to a BBQ at Natalie's house. It was also to celebrate Maren and Corbin's birthdays. The kids had a great time playing outside. Lincoln finally started liking the trampoline!


In August Lincoln was running around outside and tripped on the pavement. This was the lovely result. He also fell into a chair last week (Oct 24) and bruised his cheek pretty bad. Can we say accident prone?

In August we went to Bear Lake with Jefferson's family. Lincoln and I went up on Thursday and Jefferson made it up Friday night. We left Saturday evening. It was short but fun. We spent the mornings at the beach playing in the sand and water and went back to the condo for lunch and naps. In the afternoon we went back tot he beach and hung out. I only took one picture. Lincoln loved digging in the sand and filling up the trucks. Good thing we had buckets and shovels for all the kids! We all had a lot of fun.

Summertime

I finally pulled some pictures off my camera. We will start with a summer catch-up.

When I came home from YW one night in early June, I came home to a little boy with a band-aid on his head. Jefferson wasn't exactly sure what happened, but thinks Lincoln fell into the corner of the entertainment cabinet. It was a pretty big cut, but all we did was neosporin and band-aids. And then some scar medicine. He does has a small scar :)


I went with the youth to Logan to do baptisms.


4th of July (on the 3rd). This year the 4th was on a Sunday which meant a weekend full of celebrating. On Saturday Kaysville city had their big celebration so we started the day at the Porters for breakfast and then went to the parade. Mitchel was doing all the sound for the carnival/Kaysville Idol/fireworks for his Eagle Project so his family was there early and had some good spots for the parade. Lincoln had a good time walking around with his sunglasses on! He like the fire trucks and police motorcycles. We got lots of candy and toys. The Kaysville parade is definitely a crazy parade.



That night was fireworks at Eaglewood Golf Course with my family. July 3 is Taryn's birthday and it's become the family tradition to do fireworks that night. Jefferson had to help Mitchel with the sound for the Kaysville fireworks so Lincoln and I went by ourselves. Grandpa was a trooper and ran around the golf course with Lincoln before the fireworks started. Lincoln liked the fireworks and still calls them boom's.

Me, Lincoln & Jordan

Samantha, Josh & Ashton

Taryn *in the middle* and her friends

Grandma & Grandpa

Monday was the Layton city celebration. We went to the parade which wasn't nearly as long or as crazy as Kaysville's. We got decent seats for just showing up and saved spots for the Ganges and Grandma Porter. We had a good time just sitting and watching the parade (instead of running in the streets for candy and prizes).

Lincoln ready to watch with his breakfast of cold cereal in a bag