Back to School

As Tiffany and I use these last few days to purchase new clothes, school supplies, a lunch pail and a backpack, I am reminded of 1st days from the past. Time flies!!


Kyle is beginning his 3rd year of college and will be attending ASU west.



Tiffany will be in the 4th grade this year.

I missed it!!

I started back to work this week and I'm having a birthday party and a SS party both at our house this weekend and I totally missed my parents anniversary. Enough excuses, I just plain missed it!! Anyway, my parents celebrated their anniversary on Monday. 47 years!!!


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

We're back...

from spending 3 fun days at the beach with Mike, Lorie, Chelsey and Mykal. It wasn't long but we had a great time relaxing on the beach.

Hanging out at the hotel after the long trip.


Newport Beach





Huntington Beach


It's only the Porter girls today, Mike is back at the hotel sick. Yuk!!

Bobby the same at every beach.
Fishing off the pier.


After a vacation in Colorado and 2 trips to CA, I am back at work tomorrow. It's been a great summer!!

Our "surprise"....

is turning 9 years old! After years of using no birth control and doctors saying no more children, how excited, but shocked I was to find out we were going to have a baby. I took 2 home pregnancy tests and still didn't believe the results until the doctor confirmed it!! (You can plan and try all you want, but it's all in God's hands and what a sense of humor HE has!!) We managed to keep it a secret until Christmas before we told our family the exciting news. Since our kids would be 11 years apart, we heard it all. We would have a "terrible 2" and a new teenager at the same time, one entering grade school while the other enters high school and would the baby be fine because of my age? Then, I found out "it" was a girl. Pink, frills and bows, what fun!! Here I am at one of my baby showers, looking large, with 1 month to go.
Then on this day, in 1999, I woke up in the middle of the night with severe back pain. I paced back and forth in the house for hours trying to walk off the pain and not wake anyone, but as soon as the sun came up, I told Bobby that I didn't care if they sent me back home or not, I was in some serious pain and I was GOING to the hospital. (I had always worried about them sending me back home because it wasn't time.) He didn't argue (smart man) and off we went to the hospital. Little did I know, I was experiencing back labor and all the waiting (and the pain) would soon be over. That afternoon, Tiffany Renae joined our family.
Well, 9 years have passed and I think about all the joy (and drama) Tiffany has brought to our family. What would our lives be without our little "surprise"? What a miracle you are, Tiffany!!We are so glad God gave us YOU to love!! Happy 9th Birthday!!

How many do you need?

Today I took Tiffany to the mall to have her birthday pictures taken. Guess what store was right next to the portrait studio? How many build-a-bears does one need? Then we go to check out and find out next month they are introducing a High School Musical bear and a zebra which will match her room decor. I guess we will be going back! Yipee!! Can you tell I just love stuffed animals? HELP!! How do I say "no" when she uses her own money?


Sparkle makes number 24!!


While we were out, Tiffany's new bike was delivered and Bobby had it all put together by the time we got home.

A beach cruiser!!

Family birthday party

Tonight we had the family over for dinner to celebrate Tiffany's birthday. Pulled pork sandwiches and corn on the cob was on the menu with homemade ice cream and brownies for dessert. Yum!!


Happy Birthday, dear Tiffany, Happy Birthday to you!!!!


Bobby had some fun with Jenni's camera.


She bought this case that you put over your camera so that you can take pictures under water. Isn't that cool? This is a must-have before we leave for the beach next week!!

Playtime with Bailey

Today Bailey came over to play with Tiffany.


She showed off her new trick.


Then off to the pool for some swimming. After playing on the step for a while, she finally jumps in.


Exhausting day!!

Another summer of....

swim team is over. Tiffany had her final swim meet in Goodyear last night. All swimmers had to qualify for this meet so we are pleased that she was able to qualify, her first season of competition. We had to be at the pool at 3:30 for warm-ups, but she didn't even swim in her first event till about 6:00. As you can see, she was a little tired of waiting.

Once she finally entered the pool, she improved her time
in 2 of the 3 events that she entered.


She took 2 seconds off her backstroke time.

Great swim, Tiffany!!

Great end to a terrible week!

Today we took the Porters out to the lake for some fun and some much needed relaxation.
The news had reported that we were going to have rain and storms today but we decided to take a chance.


It turned out to be a great day and not too many boats were on the lake. Kyle and Ashley joined us for a while before having to go to work.


Bobby and Mike tried their luck at fishing but not even a bite. Could it have been us jumping into the water and swimming in and out of their fishing lines? Oops!



Afterwards we stopped by the Wild Horse for some burgers.

What a fun day with Mike, Lorie and Mykal!

Relay Meet

Here are some pictures from Tiff's swim meet last night. In the video she is swimming the breaststroke leg in the medley relay. Unfortunately, by the time she swam, they were too far behind. Good try!!



Tiffany has qualified for the individual championship meet on Tuesday. She will be swimming backstroke, breaststroke and the freestyle. Go Tiffany!!!

Kyle, Ashley and Bailey came to watch. We only had 1 extra chair and look who's in it! Can you say, spoiled? Already!!