Finally

I have avoided it long enough... more than that I think I have kind of caught up with sleep because usually by now I am starting to fall asleep. Here it is the long awaited post to catch everyone else up:

The week before the 4th of July Leigh and Joyce came down and stayed at a resort in Scottsdale, so we went and hung out with them for 1/2 a day. Porter loves the pool so we swam and played and had a blast. Thanks for the invite!!

Loved the splash playground... we are going to have to go to the one at

San Tan Village or Tempe Town Lake... he clearly is ready!!

Playing with dad... Porter loves to be thrown!

Check out that little plummer... I mean swimmer!

Porter is one determined little boy who knows what he wants these days...

he always likes to drink out of our glasses.

This night he put his sippy cup into one of our cups and would not drink any other way... adorable!

For the 4th of July we decieded to escape the heat and headed up to Lakeside (plus Bryce had work to do!) Porter's favorite part about grandpa and grandma's... he can play outside a lot! They really have a fun yard and lots of grass... which we lack both of at home!

that little spec in the center of the picture is Porter while the rest of us were eating dinner, contently playing way out in the yard!

playing, playing, playing

Porter even got his cousin Lauren (who is almost 2) to give him a ride in the pink jeep... which gave her mom Caroline a scare, we weren't worried she seemed to know what she was doing. Caroline knew better... she knew that she didn't know how to steer! oh well fun times!

(sorry no pictures we were busy helping her steer!)

On the 4th we went to the Show Low Parade... it was a lot of fun for the kids. It was different than the parades I remember from home... they had tractors, cowboys, horses, fire trucks... lots of small town fun and candy being thrown for the kids... Porter enjoyed it as you can see from the final picture... he was exhausted!

waiting for the parade to start Bryce saved the day (Porter was grouchy) with a little game of throw the ball in the cowboy hat... worked like a charm!

He had such a long day we didn't make it to the fireworks... maybe next year!!

PS- for those who know my little sister, she got engaged this weekend... despite what she may think by my reaction we are excited for her!