The kids had a big Christmas Eve at Grammy Joyce and Grandpa Mike’s house.

This morning, they woke up to their own kitchen. They love all of the doors and pots and pans and noise, “Oh the NOISE NOISE NOISE NOISE!” We all had a blast this morning.

Porter 2008

Focus Face

Porter and Mom have been working with speech therapists the last few months, trying to get him to talk more. He’s been letting Abbey do all the talking for him. He’s been improving lately, but now that he is close to three, they are considering putting him in an actual class for a few hours per week.

I had the day off, so I took him to one of the assessment appointments this morning. We walked in to a huge room full of every toy you could imagine. As soon as bubba saw the train set he was on a mission to play.

We’ll go to another assessment at the beginning of March. Depending on how that goes, Porter will attend his first day of school around mid-April.

While we were there, one of the specialists took this picture of our little buddy.

I do not beleve you have realized love’s full potential until you are able to love your own child.

I am thankful for Abigail and Porter and for Shannon, who has done such an amazing job raising them. Shannon has a great post about the kids on her blog:

Abbey, you are our little half-pint. You are smaller than your brother but only by about 4 pounds. You are dainty and have the softest touch.

porterAbbey1

Abigail and Porter in their backyard

I’m not one for long stories. Check out Shannon’s blog for more on the kids. I think surviving the past two years actually calls for a drink, so I’ll share the recipe of our favorite cocktail with you. A toast to our hilarious kids and their loving, beautiful mother. My wife calls these “Depressings,” because it is very sad when you get to the bottom of the glass.

Caprioska:

1. Fill old fashioned glass to brim with ice cubes.
2. Add 1.5 to 2 shots of vodka.
3. Pour contents into shaker.
4. Add about two tea spoons of sugar.
5. Cut one whole lime into 8ths and squeeze them into the shaker.
6. Drop the lime rinds into the shaker.
7. Shake contents until the ice is muddled and the shaker is freezing to the touch.
8. Pour all contents back into the old fashioned glass.
9. Top the drink off with a splash of sprite. (DON’T STIR)
10. Sip with a straw.

Porter and Abbey will have to settle for a limeaid.