CJ, Laurie, Mercy, Porter, Jameson 2008

Hello family, sorry and thanks to MaryLynn for putting all this together!

CJ is still working on the border and loves it for the most part. Has some crazy/wierd stories, like the time he and a fellow agent were being stalked by a black jaguar, or the time he chased off some drug smugglers who left him 250 lbs of marijuana to carry off the mountain. Currently he's working the midnight shift, so if you ever try to call him and he's grouchy, that's why. Luckily he has enough seniority that he gets weekends off! His favorite part of the job is tracking groups of up to 100 illegals up in the mountains, he's even caught Kenyans, Armenians and Iranians trying to sneak in. He's on the emergency preparedness committee at Church, and is busy getting our 72 hour kits in perfect order, since he (well, we) have to do a table at the emergency preparedness fair at our Church next month!

I'm still at home with the kids, and happy for the most part. Mercy and Porter have kicked up their fighting a notch, but they also laugh together a lot more. I still teach 4th Sundays in Relief Society, and enjoy it for the most part. If only the sisters would participate more! I'm also on the emergency preparedness committee, but since I did most of the last fair I'm letting CJ take the reins at this one. I also enjoy blogging about the whackiness that comes with having kids, and am working at getting better photos with the camera.

Mercy is 4 now and still going to the special education preschool, but her speech has improved by leaps and bounds, and her teachers all love her. She's a great student, very observant and catches on to new things fast. She starts kindergarten in August, and I'm excited and dreading the day. She, on the other hand, is convinced that she should be in kindergarten right this minute. She loves going to Primary, unless Porter is crying there, then she gets quiet and sad. She's very in to My Little Pony and playing in her toy kitchen. She even likes Thomas the Train, especially if Porter doesn't want her to play. Cheeky! She was going to a dance class but her teacher (who is Porters Sunbeam teacher) hurt her knee, so she's stopped for now, but she loved going.

Porter is 3 and a Sunbeam! He cries everytime we walk him in to Primary, even more if it's just me so CJ usually takes him, but his teachers tell us that as soon as Primary starts he gets right into it. He's still in love with Thomas, and can name all of his trains. He loves doing that whenever someone comes over, and his best friend Isaac and he can play with Thomas for hours. CJ thinks he's going to be a super athlete because he's so wirey and he's faster than any kid his age, he loves playing basketball and soccer, but doesn't share so well. We're hoping to get him into a peewee league here in town for soccer so he can start learning that sharing isn't such a horrible thing.

Jameson is 1, and just a joy. He's a very smiley and happy baby, and sleeps great (thank heavens). He was diagnosed with Torticollis when he was about 5 months old, which is basically a crooked neck. He goes to physical therapy twice a week now and his head tilt has improved tremendously, it was a 12 degree tilt and now it's 5 degrees or less. Shelly, his therapist, is thrilled with how great he's doing. He's still just crawling, but Shelly says that most Torticollis babies walk late. He's very opinionated and will "tell" you off if you're doing something he dislikes, such as his neck exercises. He also will yell at CJ and whack him in the arm if CJ pesters him too much. His favorite toy is Porters walking and roaring dinosaur, he points at it every morning for me to get it for him.

We don't think we'll be able to make it to this years family reunion, that drive is just draining with the kids in the van, but we'll miss everyone! If anyone is in Southern California in May or June let us know, we're hoping to get there for a little vacation when Mercy is out of preschool.

Love CJ, Laurie, Mercy, Porter, Jameson and Molly (the poor forgotten dog)

CJs phone number: 520-508-6163
Our address: 1065 San Simeon Drive, Sierra Vista AZ 85635
Our blog: www.fishbowlfanatics.blogspot.com