Porterts

So normally I don't like watching baseball, but Tucker is a real go-getter. He does still have his problem of keeping track of his things. Mostly his uniform socks. Well, just one sock. So he has his long striped sock and then he gets one of Tim's socks and pulls it up as high as he can. The fans love it. I just shake my head. He plays first base because he can catch well and he plays shorts stop because he can field - third base because he can throw accurately to first base- then usually three innings of pitching. He's kind of wild (like the movie Bull Durham) but when he's on he really fires it in there.
India's track coach said she's a great long distance runner because she has a nice smooth stride. One practice the coach had her run the 4oometer. India wasn't thrilled. The coach was impressed but told me India didn't talk to her the rest of the practice. Her teacher said she's very bright when she's not socializing with the other kids. Hmmm.
Christian plays with the High Schoolers and is an awesome shooters as well as making great moves to penetrate the key and dish it to the big guys. Of course he keeps waiting for his growth spurt. He is very popular and has a cute, smart and atheletic girlfriend. The sit together at all Tuck's baseball games and go to the movies on group dates.
Tim loves his job. Last year's graduation was a joke I guess, so they had the kids dress up and got many compliments from the community. Tim gave a terrific speech. He has a crazy schedule this summer and is already doing lots of summer tourneys. He will be co-coaching with a highly negative coach; we'll see how that goes. We're having to hire a nanny/high-schooler because he will be gone over five weeks this summer and I need my sleep during the day. The kids have an unlimited swimming pass, unlimited golfing, and many kids that like to play Xbox, that singing/guitar/drums game, and then they have a trampoline across the street that they play some sort of jumping basketball game where they rigged a hoop. Oh and the baseball field just a few blocks away and bikes.
I still enjoy my job and now we have two night people. One can't speak English, but the other is a highly intellecual young man that helps me pass the time away. I'm pasty white and refuse to wear my shorts until that changes. Vain I know. I've made a few really good friends and though I'm not writing, I kicked everyone out of my writing room. I will have fresh flowers, my own stereo system, decorations that I like and no-one stealing my pens or leaving dorito bags on my shelf.
Can't wait to see everyone at the reunion.
Love Traci and family.

Dean family update

Our apologies- we have not been good bloggers lately.  I need to get my boys into this role.  We have a new addition to the family- Gabriel picked out his puppy- Mia- she is a bogle….what’s a bogle you might ask- well it is a beagle/boxer mix.  These breeds were my two favorites – as far as with children.  Mia appears more beagle then boxer- other than a slightly shorter snout and some wrinkles in her face.  The puppy keeps everyone busy chasing her as she scampers off with something that shouldn’t be chewed up or monitoring potential need for her to be outside for a potty break.

 Other updates:

Kalena is on her way to being potty trained.  She uses the bathroom more often than not now.  Her feet seem to be catching up in size with Emma’s.  Kalena is still a daddy’s girl.  I’m hoping over the summer to change this.

Emma is a sponge in her learning- I’m always amazed at the things coming from her- she showed me the sign for rain and told me this is her preschool’s “language” for rain.  She’s still spends a lot of time with me- we discussed solids, liquids and gases in the hot tub yesterday.  I think she was actually getting it- when she asked what was inside the float tube in the hot tub. 

Nicholas just got his report card- said he has a natural talent in science- but he doesn’t “like” it, he tells me.  All high marks- lowest was LA with a B… he doesn’t like to study for spelling tests.  Spelling does not come naturally to him- reminds me of my youngest sister.

Gabriel, he’s a very responsible pet owner- and is attentive- I might sign him up for puppy kindergarten- but we’ll see how he does on his own- he thinks it is a waste of money.  He is very into his friends- using his cell phone to text.  He is in between sports-  He starts football in August. 

Brian continues to work his insane schedule that starts at 1 or 2 in the morning.  He continues to dream about a boat purchase- one of them is now the background on our computer.  He’s making a raised bed for me- and has been busy getting our trailer ready for our camping trip this weekend. It looks like we are headed out to Goldendale area- the Columbia Hills site (rated a 10 by my book) was not impressive…Brian stayed there on Tuesday night- but brought our trailer back- so we are going to try to find something better by leaving early tomorrow morning. 

As far as me- I’m sooooo looking forward to summer.  School keeps me very busy.  Well I need to get back to work. 

Beach trip

We took our trip to the beach this last weekend. We stayed in Long beach, WA in a townhouse type thing. It was really nice and the weather was unbeatable. Go to the baby blog for more pictures.

When we got back all of our flowers had burst out including the lilacs, rhodys, azaleas. Our lilacs have some bad disease that is starting to spread. If anyone knows how to get rid of it let me know. We went down to check our garden and only a few things are up so far. However the birds are going crazy. The feeders are full of grossbeaks, finches, sparrows and towees (sp?).

We are still very busy around here. I am considering whether to work another field job that would take me away from home for another week in two weeks from now. I feel a bit obligated to do this job because all the other experienced fish taggers are already working a job in Canada that week so it is either me or drag the office manager off the east coast to tag. Maybe I will try to drag Greyson and the girls with me.

That is all. Hope everyone is doing well.

Mel

New baby pics

GET MORE AT ManBabies.com!

running chaturanga

And they call this a "rest week". That core synergistics thing is the toughest workout I've done yet. Doing a bow with all my weight on my ribcage when I'm fighting for air to begin with is not what I'd call rest.

New baby pictures up

Check the baby blog for new photos if you want.

It is 10pm and I just got back from an all day training and then my Monday night class in Portland. I wanted to try working out again today but I would mean getting up at like 4:30am and that is not my cup of tea.

We planted the garden this weekend. We are doing beans, carrots, zucchini, tomato, garlic, peas, cucumber, artichoke and corn. And this year I also planted some glads and lilies down there to be used for cut flowers this summer. We also have our new raspberry patch in. I just hope it will get enough sun where we put it. I also got about 2/3 of the lawn mowed.

FYI, whoever cares, I think we are heading down to my mother's house for mother's day. I think.

Going to bed...

-Mel

P90X and other updates

Mel, I hope your stomach muscle is okay. Did you pull a muscle or was it just muscle fatigue kicking in? So how are things going with P90X in general? Is it getting any easier now that you are into your 2nd week. I am in the middle of week 7 and am really starting to see some differences which is nice.

Everything at the Porter household is going well. Traci is working basically full-time now and with all the baseball games and track meets we seem to keep very busy. Christian was sick for a full week with a temperature hovering around 101 - 103. It must have been a stubborn one. He continues to participate in track and is also doing some of the P90X workouts with me. India is doing very well in her track and I have been quite impressed with her athleticism. Tucker is playing baseball and is really pretty good for not having played very much.

How is everyone else doing out there in blogger land?

Tim