Kira's District Band Concert

She just keeps getting better and better and enjoying band more and more. I think there will be many more concerts over the years. This year she played in the beginning band, but next year Mr. Downs wants her in advanced band. I bought my new camera with 20x zoom thinking, when would I use this much zoom? Question answered, at a band concert.

Back in the Game!

I have felt so out of it with out a camera but I fixed that problem yesterday. Best Buy matched Costco's price, I couldn't believe it. Here is the first picture I took.

Sean Eats Pears

I was eating a pear yesterday when the phone rang. Sean was screaming at me because he wanted in on that pear so I handed it over while I answered the phone. I was gone only a matter of minutes when I came back in time to catch the core before he swallowed it. He inhaled the entire pear and still screamed when I took the core away. Rest assured this kid is a Porter. He eats like no other I have seen before (with the exception of watching Tom eat).

I would have taken a pretty adorable picture if my camera was working.

Memorial Day in Point Reyes

It was a fun day today. We drove 1 1/2 hours north to Point Reyes where we hung out a the light house, watched the Elephant Seals at Chimney Rock, and then played at Drakes Beach. The Hanaike's went with us and we are tired, but what a day to remember.

Here are the pictures I took just before I dropped my camera and broke it. I had to catch Sean mid-air as he was crawling off a bench. I saved Sean, but threw the camera in the process. I will now be purchasing my third camera since starting this blog. Any suggestions for a good camera to buy?Watching the Elephant Seals.

Hiking up and down the 300+ steps to the light house.Waiting for the cows to move so we can get to the light house.

Science Project Time

In Andrew's 2nd grade they are doing science projects and Andrew chose to make ice cream out of dry ice. Aside from the scary fact that Andrew was let loose in my kitchen with a rubber mallet, it was a fun project and the ice cream was yummy. The first time he made it, he didn't get the dry ice crushed enough and there were chunks of dry ice in the ice cream. We had to eat around the chunks and I was hesitant to send him to school with that to share. Last thing I need is to feed a poor kid a chunk of dry ice. The second time around we got the dry ice crushed fine and avoided the chucks.

Here is the recipe if you want to try it.
2 cups cream
2 cups half and half
3/4 cup of sugar
2 tbsp of vanilla
any flavoring - we did mint extract and chocolate chips
crush the dry ice with a mallet to a fine powder. Mix all the above ingredients and then add the dry ice while stirring. We ran our dry ice through a fine strainer and that helped avoid the chucks. It really is fun to make and the ice cream comes out carbonated.

Sean's First Good Bleeder

Just when I start thinking there is nothing more I could possibly blog about, Sean takes a dive and splits his eye open on something.  Not sure exactly what he hit, I didn't see it.  Stitches were not necessary but our favorite Dr. Berston did a good glue job on the open wound.   I took this picture before we went to the Dr.  

This is what happens when you have a 7 month old that thinks he is a 7 year old. 

My Dad Can Beat up Your Dad

Andrew is 7. At this age it is common to share how strong your Dad is. Often you hear on the playground, "My Dad can beat up your Dad."

While Tom probably could beat up most Dad's if needed, Andrew has taken this to a whole new level. We found out that he is telling kids, "My dad is a lawyer, and he will put you in Juvy."