Porter POWER!

Summers are for swimming, watermelon, fireworks and FAMILY REUNIONS! Last week we had our second family reunion of the summer, this time with the Porter side.

It all started on Saturday with a big picnic in the park at Bapa & Nana Elkin's cabin--something that hasn't happened for years. We had all sorts of aunts, uncles cousins, kiddos--lots of extended family that I've never met before or only a couple of times. It was like a live game of Relative Memory--trying to match faces with names and names with faces. Lots of wonderful people--it was a treat to picnic, play, slip-&-slide, and eat cake with them.

Speaking of the cake....

"Celebrating Nana 2nd Bapa" - Whaaaa??

Cake decorators these days...

All in all, a great kickoff to a full week of family and fun

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We then made our way up to our beautiful lodgings for the week: a gorgeous cabin in the Sundance area. This place had it all! Rooms, beds, and bathrooms for everyone (hallelujah!), a play room, movie room, and hot tub. We even had access to a nearby park and zipline (we'll get back to that in a few). The rest of Saturday we got settled and relaxed in the cabin.

Sunday we headed down to church and by some miracle (really, it was the second building we tried to catch an 11:00 meeting) we ended up in another Elkins cousin's ward--someone we've been wanting to see but haven't had the chance to. Isn't it great how God is in the little things? After church we visited Nana and hung out at her cool duck pond. By another miracle, none of the kids fell in. Phew.

Monday was a blast. The highlight is a tight split between the water fight and the very intense cousin dance competition held in the AM. All afternoon Sunday, Jayden and Porter were going around telling everyone about the dance competition that would be happening the next morning at 10:00 AM in the kitchen. They even wrote it out on some random piece of cardboard almost like an announcement, and went around asking people to read it out loud, so we'd all be informed about the very important event the following day. Sure enough, Monday morning we all gathered in the kitchen for the battle, and it did NOT disappoint!

There's just so much TALENT in this family! Annie--you've got a lot to live up to.

Later that day we went to the nearby park and zipline and had the biggest water fight I've had in a long time. I don't think anyone came out completely unscathed. Not even the babies. Sorry, Maxwell. Massive water guns, water balloons, a gorgeous yet terrifying rushing brook of freezing water (all of you moms know what I mean), and a zipline...a recipe for a perfect and soaking wet summer afternoon.

HAPPY 4th of JULY!! Tuesday was, as you all well know, the celebration of the birth of our country. And man do we like to live it up! Does anyone else rank the 4th of July as one of their favorite holidays?? Because it's definitely in the top 3 for me. Barbeques, popsicles, parades, family, friends, and of course...FIREWORKS.

This year we started the day early with one of my favorite 4th traditions--the Provo Freedom Run! A 5k along the parade route in downtown provo, packed to the brim with red, white, and blue-wearing runners of all ages. We've done this race as a family several times and this year did not disappoint, especially because we had a few additions. Scott and I pushed Annie (while blasting music from our boom) and 6-year-old Jayden ran with his dad. He's so tough!

After the race, Scott and I met up with my sister Emily, and then we all headed for the Porter Family spot near Center Street. Shout out to the Mike Porter kids that staked our claim for everyone. Those spots are like gold from July 3-4. We watched the parade--enjoying floats, big balloons, lots of politicians that I'll never remember, and of course...the missionaries. Towards the end Annie decided that she wanted to be in the parade as well, so she just took off down the parade route. What a diva.

Of course the 4th of July would not be complete without FIREWORKS! Unfortunately, the Stadium of Fire, our usual show, was on SATURDAY instead of the actual 4th of July. Weird, right!? They obviously didn't run that by the Porter family schedule. We were kind of at a loss as to which fireworks we'd see...and what would be worth it with lots of little kids. We ended up meeting back up with some Elkins cousins to participate in their very own show. It was FANTASTIC! Up-close, in-your-face, and beautiful. There were all sorts of mini shows going on throughout the neighborhood so we ended up with quite the show. Our favorite part, however, was watching Annie experience fireworks for the first time. She was enthralled with the lights and could hardly take her eyes off of them, until they started getting loud. Then she buried her head into the blanket and clung to Scott or me, peeking up occasionally to see the magical lights. SOO So cute! The sun was setting, the temperature perfect, the fireworks mesmerizing, the company wonderful--a truly magical all-American night.

Wednesday had some pretty memorable highlights. We took the Sundance ski lift up to the very top, which was in and of itself SPECTACULAR. Gorgeous views of the mountains and Stewart Falls along the way. And then you reach the top and BAM! Breathtaking vistas in every direction. I am reminded every day that Utah really is beautiful, and that day was no exception. Later in the day some of the adults and even two of the kiddos hiked up to Stewart Falls and enjoyed more beautiful scenery as well as crazy mist from the over flowing waterfall. Nature is so neat. It's Neature.

Thursday came too soon and we had to wrap up our time at the wonderful cabin. Why does it always go so fast? Ben treated us to a HUGE surprise by setting up a tour of the new MTC buildings that were just finished. This was so special many of us as we have quite a few RM's and MTC Teacher Alumni in the crew. Scott and I were especially happy to see our old friend and Boss, Ben, before touring the buildings with the family. SOO beautiful! The way they incorporated images, words, lights, and message was truly powerful. Such a neat spirit, and AMAZING murals. I want them all in my house. Too bad they are literally ONLY found at the MTC. drat. After our MTC tour we headed down south to "The Farm": Ben and Kerry's small farm plot where Porter ancestors homesteaded and are buried as well. On our way down we stopped at Cove Fort, another family and, as it turns out, LDS historic location. Lots of cool history!

Friday was the beginning of the Extended Porter Family Reunion. Late afternoon all sorts of Porter aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins...started rolling in. We ate dinner, played games, headed over to the Farm and Ben shared with us the amazing story of the Porter family line. After his presentation we had a barnyard dance...like literally, in the barn, with a live band, and line dancing "instructors." There was also a fire pit going outside with kids roasting marshmallows, fireworks going off in the distance for who knows what, and more stars then I've seen in a long time. It was a pretty perfect night. If I become a cowgirl someday, well now you know why.

Saturday we had a big family breakfast in the morning with everybody before heading back over to the farm for a special activity. In honor of William Frederick and his family (the ancestor who helped settle Central Valley) who had a farm with an orchard of apple trees--Ben and Kerry provided an apple tree for each family and together we planted a Porter Family Orchard. How cool is that! There's nothing like getting in touch with your roots. heh heh :) Pun intended. Some of the family had to leave after that (sad day!), but those who could caravaned up to Cove Mountain (another Porter Family history spot) for a picnic, swimming, and kayaking on the small lake. Annie's first time on a lake! And first time using a puddle jumper...she hated it.

And that, my fine friends, was the end. We had a smashing time and played so hard that we all came home and crashed. Lots of family, fun, memories, family history, sweet & salty bars, and love. I'm feeling more grateful than ever to be included in this crazy, wonderful Porter clan!

PS. HUGE shoutout to those Porters that we missed--the Georgia Porters and the Kings of New York! Love you all and it truly wasn't the same without you

Also: We love, honor, and remember Mama Terry who left this world too soon, but also left behind a beautiful family and wonderful legacy. You were in our hearts, minds, and prayers all week. Love to all the Terry family.