for the girls at work.

Testing out a new sleeping bag

Weirdo!

Rene and our brother in law Marc!

The secretaries that Rene works with asked for some crazy pictures of him. Here you go!!

It's been awhile.......

new jammies

she's walking!

I love my push up!

I haven't updated in a while! Things are going good. Porter started pre-school and LOVES it. He is a little dissapointed that he dosen't get to ride the bus but once he gets there he is fine. Stela is still thriving. She can walk! We are so excited and proud of her. Porter asked me the other day if he could change his name to Stela is my princess. He loves her so much. Anyways, hopefully I can keep up with this thing! Here are a few random pictures.

update on Stela

Stela has been doing so well! She had an ultra sound on her kidneys, ( she had surgery on them at 6 months old) and they look great! Her right kidney still has a lot of fluid in it, but they said that it is to be expected. Her ENT said her ears look good as well. She had a well baby check up and she is on the charts! She is in the 20th for her weight and the 5th for her height. I know she is still small, but she is on the charts and that is a hupe accomplishment for her! Poor, thing, we can't even walk into a place that even remotely looks like a doctors office and she crys from the second we open the door until the second we leave! She is also about to walk. She is very fiesty! She loves to tease her brother and do whatever he is doing. She is surprising a lot of people, but Rene and I knew she was stubborn and determined- and that she definately is!

Porter's 4

Porter turned four on August 3. We had a party planned for him, but our plans changed so we had a little get together at my moms house. Our entire family was there-all 26 of us-for my brothers setting apart. (he became an elder) Then, we had a get together at Rene's parents house. We were a little late and had a few people upset with us, but all in all Porter had a blast and thats all that matters! I can't believe he is 4. He is my little buddie and he loves his sissy so much and is such a good, sweet, caring boy.

Finally!

I hope my sister dosen't mind, but, We are so excited that my sister Marcie finally had a boy! For the last 4 years, Porter has been the only boy among 10 girls on my family's side. Little Marc Hudson was born on Friday and he is so cute and definately a little Lopeman!!

Porter

What can I say about this boy! I was asleep Sat morning and I'm usually up before my kids. But this morning Porter was awake. When I got up I noticed that is face was all read and scratched. I asked Porter what happened to his face and he said he had to shave this morning. Are you kidding me? I will admit, POrter does have a little mustache, but apparantly he didn't like it to much! Instead of shaving up and down, he shaved from left to right. Grrrrrr! Oh well, he wants to be a big boy!

Family pictures

Last Saturday we had family pictures taken. They turned out really well, considering Stela was being a STINKER! Our photographer did a really good job, if anyone needs her info let me know!

My brother graduated!

Uncle Jay with 5 of his 10 neices and his only nephew (until August!)

Jay with 5 of his 7 sisters! Marcie, me (yuk!), Tammy, AManda, and Terri.
Jay and my mom and dad

We went to Thatcher for my brothers graduation. It also happened to be my moms birthday, what a great present, your last kid is graduating! He was the 8th one! Congratulations Jay!

swimming

It was so hot last week. We went and bought the kids a little pool. They love it. Stela would copy everything Porter did. He would go under water and make bubbles and so would she. We really have to watch them around water, they are both fish!

She's 2!!!

Stela enjoying her cake
Taking her baby for a ride

Presents!

Grandma Talina made her "curly top" a cake when we went to Pima for the weekend

I can't beleive that my baby is 2! The first year of Stela's life was full of frustrations, the unknown, and doctors! This last year has been a lot better on her and on us. She has grown so much and does so much now. We hope this year continues on the same path! We love you Stela!

We took the kids to a D-backs game a couple of weekends ago. They had a blast with their grandma and cousin Kiana. Rene's mom has been down here watching my kids for the last few weeks while I am in between sitters. Stela's new thing is hats. We bought Porter a new hat at the game so Stela thinks his old one is hers. She loves her brother and copies EVERYTHING he does! I love that they are so close

Miss Independent!

Stela eating her ice cream that she WOULD NOT let me feed her. She is wants to do everything herself! Considering everything she has been through, we aren't complaining!

Porter and Baxter at a D-Backs game!

Auntie Terri...........

Do I not look just like my Aunt Terri in this picture?

DISNEYLAND!!!

Porter and Stela playing in the sand

Mini-Me!

All bundled up at Disneyland

Dinner with the princesses

Porter and the High School Musical people. They were teaching them the dances

POrter got a kiss from Cinderella and walked around all day teasing Rene that Cinderella kissed him and not Rene!

notice my drenched pants. I had to sit in the very front of Splash mountain!

He was so excited he got to drive!

Sadie and POrter

We look thrilled, I know

We decided kind of last minute to go to Disneyland. We went with Tammy and Dale and their 2 daughters. We left Friday night and came home on Tuesday. We had so much fun. I think I figured out Porter is afraid of heights, he didn't want to ride anything that was going to "Fly" He loved Pirates and Finding Nemo. Stela loved everything. She just let it all in and was a really good baby the whole time. We went to California Adventure so he could see his favoirte, High School Musical and Playhouse Disney. We went to the beach and he didn't want to leave! We had a lot of fun and are glad we got to go with Dale, Tammy, Sadie, and Savanah!