Andrew's Cake

 

For Andrew's Blue and Gold dinner he was asked to decorate a cake with a Scout theme.  Knowing there was no way I would bake a cake on a Tuesday, we cheated a bit and used Rice Crispy Treats instead of cake.  It was all Andrew's design and it only took two attempts to get it to stand up.  The first attempt fell over during the night and ended up in a pile on a plate.  The next day I found Sean in the kitchen with a fork happy to help clean up. 

Tuesday Nights

Historically Tuesdays have not been my favorite day.  Everything seems to happen on Tuesday in our house, and I feel like we all rush from here to there and I usually count down the minutes until Wednesday can begin.  Tonight was really no different then I have described.  The one difference tonight was my ability to see the wonderful things my children have been doing on Tuesday nights and the blessings they are receiving because of the crazy Tuesdays.   Andrew had his Blue and Gold dinner for Cub Scouts, and Kira had New Beginnings for Young Women's.   They overlapped a bit, but I got to see both and I felt a great deal of love and appreciation for all the people that work so hard to make these programs happen for my kids.  For that I will be forever grateful, and promise not to complain anymore about Tuesdays.  

Legally a Porter

Most of you know that Andrew is my son from my first marriage to Ben Graham, and his legal last name is Graham.  When I married Tom, and Andrew (at 3) learned I would become a Porter, he looked at me with tear filled eyes and said, "I want to be a Porter a too."  Being a Mom who sometimes just can't say no, I told him he could be a Porter also.  From that time on, we have just included Andrew in the Porter gang and he has gone by Graham-Porter since then.  He is lucky kid to have two families that love and support him and why not share the name of both?  This month (with Ben's permission) we made him a legal Graham-Porter.  I really didn't think it was all that big of deal to Andrew as he has been going by this name all along.  What really made it a big deal was that he would get his name in the paper for 3 straight weeks making him quite famous in all our eyes.  It was fun to watch him race off to Luke's house with a copy of the paper to show it off.

So now on March 20th, he will be legally and officially

Andrew Benjamin Graham-Porter

Here is a copy of what is running in the local paper.

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PETITION SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PETITION OF JADE PORTER and BENJAMIN DAVIS GRAHAM on behalf of ANDREW BENJAMIN GRAHAM FOR CHANGE OF NAME ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER CIV 511538 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Jade Porter and Benjamin Davis Graham on behalf of Andrew Benjamin Graham filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: Andrew Benjamin Graham to Proposed name: Andrew Benjamin Graham-Porter THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 3-20-12, 0900 AM, Dept.: PJ, Room 2E Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo 400 County Center Redwood City, CA 94063 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, San Mateo County Times. Date: Feb.1,2012 /s/ JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT SMCT#4327618 Feb. 8,15,22,29,2012

Appeared in: Bay Area News Group on 02/08/2012, 02/15/2012 and 02/22/2012

Game Play

We have always taught our kids card games early on.  It was fun to see Sean beat Tom in his first game of war.  Sean had to take Tom for his word each round as he hasn't quite figured out which numbers are high or low, but he sure did understand that he was winning and Dad was not. 

Muir Woods

We are lucky we live so close and really should go enjoy it more.  

Thanks to our Cub Scout troop we had even more of a reason to go.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of trees, just had fun watching loud boys having a good time.  These boys are really boys only mothers could love, and I sure do love them, and love hanging out with them. 

My Valentine

Normally Tom and I are pretty low key when it comes to Valentines Day.  To explain it further, for the past two years we have chosen to do our taxes on Valentines Day, we care that much.   This year, if there was a tally being kept, a point or two would go to Tom.  I thought I was showing my love for Tom with a box of Twinkie's, but he showed up with a box from Tiffany's.   I LOVE that he works downtown near Tiffany's and needs to take a walk to clear his head every now and then.  At this point, Tom you keep clearing your head, it is proving to work well for both of us. 

I did right with picking Tom, maybe not so with the Twinkies. 

There is a constant Dance Party in this kids head...

Even at the mall, while ordering ice cream.