March Madness

March seemed to be a VERY busy month for us, so I decided to post pictures from the major events (some have already been posted from recent posts, but most are new).
Porter had his first experience with blood being drawn. See his two owies :(


It was our anniversary, and so we decided to spend a night away from Porter. We rode the gondola (sort of: the bigger boats are called the gondola, we rode in a smaller boat)


Joseph and Kelly took care of Porter for us.

We hosted a How to Host a Murder Party. That was a blast. I recommend it to everyone.

It has been so nice here down in southern California that we have spent alot of time outside playing in the grass. We have great neighbors who have a daughter who is 3 and a son who is a month older than Porter and they watch their nephew who is 3 days older than Porter so we play with the kids a lot. This picture is of Porter being "gentle" with Marek.

Marek, Levi and Porter enjoying the grass together.

The boys with Rylee.

Porter enjoying the sun.

We had friends from St. George stop by when they were visiting Disneyland. Here Porter is with Koufax.

Porter, Koufax and Reagan

I have been watching the beautiful roses bloom by our front windows. I just had to take pictures of this rose after it opened up.


We had our ward Easter Party. Porter enjoyed chasing the balloons around and discovering eggs.

Porter got to meet the Easter Bunny.

Discovering more eggs I put in front of him.

He can practically fit the whole egg in his mouth

Here is a recent video of Porter. He is learning to shake is head no

The Last Train From Paris

THE SCENE

You are aboard the private Pullman Car Desire attached to a military train headed from Paris towards the south of France. You and the other guests arrived at Gare d' Austerlitz Station between 2:30 and 5:00 pm, boarding the train car by passing through military sentry station at which your identification and transit authorization were demanded. No one but authorized guests were admitted to the private car.

Aboard the train guests were greeted by the conductor, Jean-Pierre, who showed each to his or her cabin and arranged for luggage to be brought on board by the soldiers. Many of the guests asked pointedly if 'Number 9' had arrived and who he or she was. Jean-Pierre had no reluctance in disclosing that Number 9 was the notorious Fiona Fae Tahlle, and whispered that it was rumored that she was an international spy. He informed each guest that their hostess was not to be disturbed.

The train departed promptly at 5:00 p.m. and passed quickly out of the beleagured city. Seven hours later, a few moments after midnight, German troops marched into Paris.

REPORT OF INVESTIGATION

Pursuant to orders, an investigation was undertaken of the following circumstances:
1. Body of a nude woman found in large canvas sack, hanging from railway bridge. Woman of medium build, blonde hair, approximately 25 years of age. Died of a knife wound to the heart. Identification papers with sack in name of Fiona Fae Tahlle, resident of Paris.
2. Message received by Generalle de Rearre at about 6:30: "Look in Pullman cabin 9. There's been a murder."
3. Examination of cabin 9:
a. cabin in disarray. luggage and clothing strewn about. cabin window shattered and glass lying on carpet. table and chairs upset. bottle of napoleon brandy broken. closet doors flung open. blood stains on carpet and berth.
b. narrow hole sliced by sharp blade in wall between cabin 8 and 9 over berth.
c. newly drilled hole in wall between cabin 9 and conductor's station. open umbrella stuck through hole. knife blade protruding from tip of umbrella into cabin.
4. Soldiers on platforms at each end of Pullman Car report: no one entered or left car since leaving station other than Jean-Pierre, Pullman conductor, who left at 5:10 p.m. and did not return.
5. Conclusion: 1 of the 8 other occupants of the Pullman Car murdered the occupant of cabin 9 by stabbing her with a thin bladed weapon after a vicious fight. The body was placed in a large canvas sack and thrown from the train at 6:00 p.m. as the train passed over a railway bridge. The sack, caught on the bridge, was discovered by passing troops.

THE MURDER SUSPECTS
(Justin and Anna White) Mal and Mary


(Job and Brittney Jones) The Duke and (Princess) Idelle


(Nick and Sarah Dockett) Wey and Belinda


(Joseph and Kelly Jones) Khover and Barbra


THE CONCLUSION
Idelle is the murderer, but she isn't really Idelle and it wasn't Fiona that she murdered. She is Fiona Fae Tahlle, disguised as Idelle, and she murdered the Princess.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA

I Love You. Love Porter

Dear Porter

Dear Porter-

I took you to the doctors' today. It was awful. Besides the fact that you are a big, healthy boy, you had to have a shot. On top of that shot you had to have your blood drawn to see if you were anemic.

I thought I could handle it because after your first set of shots I was okay with you getting shots. You would cry and tears would come and I thought it was so sad, but I would pick you up in my arms and hold you and you would settle down and become happy again.

This was not the case today when they drew your blood. We walked into that room and I sat you in my lap was the "mean" lady got things prepped. She told me I would have to hold you tight so you would not move. You are a strong, determined little boy. You wanted to hold onto everything until she poked you.

I watched as she moved the needle in your arm trying to get it into your vein. I just held you tighter, kissing your head and feeling the tears well up in my eyes. You were not the only one crying in that room today, mommy was crying with you.

It seemed to take forever until it was done. At one point I just wanted to tell the "mean" nurse to stop it and take the needle out. Before she was done you got a hold of the tubing and almost pulled it out of your arm. They had to tape a cotton swab to your arm.

I think you are going to have a bruise.

I am sorry. Mommy loves you very much. I will hold your cute self a little bit longer today.

Love Mommy

Dear Love

3 Wonderful Years of Marriage to the Most Wonderful Man Ever. Wonderful Husband. Amazing Father. Best Provider. It really would be A Long Trip Alone if I didn't have you in my life. Happy Anniversary Honey

"It's a long trip alone"

It will be Job's and my anniversary this wednesday so we decided to getaway on friday night. Thanks to Job's brother and sister-in-law, we were able to go alone for one night. Job tried to make things a surprise, but he is not good with surprises. We drove out to Long Beach and enjoyed a dinner at Joe's Crab Shack and a lovely ride on a Gondola.

These first two pictures were taken from our Hotel room. We had a room with a balcony and a gorgeous view.





This was taken on the Gondola with our gondoleer. The gondola ride was at night and it was beautiful with all the lights from the homes and the bridges. We went through the canal and under 5 bridges. It is tradition to kiss under each bridge and under the fourth bridge our gondoleer sang to us. This picture was of him singing his first song and then he sang one other song during the last few minutes of the ride. The ride was about an hour long and definately worth it. If you want to enjoy a ride
go to www.gondo.net


This picture is of the cool lantern and one of the bridges that we went under.





We brought a bottle of sparkling cider and they put it in ice for us.





At Joe's Crab Shack they made us walk around the tables dressed like this while everyone sang "Happy Anniversary" to us.


Here we are with our bibs. We didn't need them, but I thought they were so cool. I watched on older man with one on trying to crack his lobster legs.


This was the view we had from our table in the restaurant.