New Endeavors

In order to help my family I have started selling a product that I love and will have fun selling. I am now working for Jewels by Park Lane. I love jewlery. I love people. What could be a better fit? I have already done my first show and it was a great success! I love being able to sit and look at shiny objects with other women ;) If anyone reading this is interested in ordering or in hosting a show, let me know. I would love to come.

Porter Family Reunion

We just got back from our family reunion. We had so much fun! We go to Greer every other year and stay in cabins. This year we got to stay in a cabin with my sister Julie and her family. We take turns making the food. And we alternate days being in charge of the activities for the day. We chose to teach all the 30 grandkids, (minus Spencer who was at boot camp for the Air Force Academy) balloon animals. They had so much fun. My nephew Aaron picked it up really quickly and can make a mean dog.

It was really fun and at times exciting. For instance, the time when Cole fell into a patch of Stinging Nettle and was screaming at the top of his lungs that he was burning to death. When Andrew tried to wash it he yelled "Call the Police" I had to laugh because he wanted to call the police because his dad was washing him! Priceless. Cole was old enough this time to pretty much run around and not need our supervision at all times. He also went on a 6 mile hike and made it to the top. Andrew on the other hand, did not. He made it in a mile and turned around. He had bought new boots the day before and they were NOT broken in. Cole was so proud that he was able to make it. At the top, Uncle Dave gave him some M&M's and Cole said "Uncle Dave, you're a keeper!" I guess we like M&M's.

Kiley had so much fun running around with all the little girls. She is always surrounded by boys so this was a treat for her. She loved having girls to play with and talk to. With her breathing problems she didn't get to go on the hike but she stayed back and helped with all the babies.

Wyatt LOVED going to the reunion! He never went inside unless it was dark. He Loved playing with Jeffery and Joseph who are five but he thinks he is five so it didn't matter :)

Chase didn't like the reunion as much. On our way to Greer he popped out his first two teeth and had a fever. When we got there he was allergic to something and broke out into a huge rash. He loves being home and being able to sit and watch the other kids.

I had a lot of fun playing rook with my brothers and dad and other games with my sister and sister in laws. We missed my sister Shellee who wasn't able to go because of a difficult pregnancy.

We are home and happy and can't wait to see everyone again. Maybe we'll take a roadtrip.....

Patience is a virtue!

Cole is 8 years old. Kiley is 7 years old. Wyatt will be four in three weeks. I as a parent have felt very guilty over the fact that my children seem to be afraid of water. Coles baptism was eventful to say the least because he was so afraid of the water.

HOWEVER, on Monday we went swimming with our good friends the Shumways and what do you know? Our kids decided the water wasn't so bad! By the end of the day Kiley could swim a couple of feet. Really as long as she could hold her breath. Cole made huge progress by bobbing all the way under the water and by the end was sitting on the floor of the pool completely submerged. WOW!

Today I took them swimming again and on the way to the pool I had a talk with Cole. I asked him to trust me and trust that I wouldn't let him drown. He told me he could trust me so he would do whatever I asked. By the end of todays swimming adventure, he can swim a few feet too! I am one proud mama! The best part is that he is proud of himself!

They can't wait to go again but alas too much of a good thing is too much for me :) Kiley is so burnt that she has blisters on her nose. I promise that I put sunscreen on her. It is crazy how burnt we all are so we are going to take a few days off.

I am so glad that we were able to get over our fears and go into the water. Cole has a real desire to swim well so we will start again after our family reunion in Greer.

Squeaks Marie

Today is Kiley's 7th Birthday. She is an amazing girl. Such a good helper. I love her gorgeous smile and her contagious laugh. Because she is seven here are seven things great about Kiley.

1. She ALWAYS has something to say.
2. She is very entertaining. She loves to perform and tell jokes. (even when they aren't funny)
3. She LOVES being a big sister! Sometimes I think she thinks she is the mom.
4. She has the greatest dimples that makes me want to grab her cheeks.
5. She has a way of letting me know when I should have explained something to her and didn't
(for example: WHAT??? My report card grades are from TESTS? I always ignore tests!)
6. She thinks the fireworks are in her honor every single year!
7. She is my one and only baby girl and she is the GREATEST!

Random Acts of Kindness

I want to thank someone (you know who you are) for the amazing gift package on our doorstep tonight. I am amazed at your generosity and thoughtfulness. I was truly suprised and overwhelmed with a sense of love. You are a wonderful person and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was truly amazing and the kids are so giddy about getting their own basket of goodies. Thank you!

Life

Sometimes life gets you down. Lately I feel like I am alone and that everything I know to be true is wrong. When did my perception get so totally warped? I am now questioning everything. The two things I will never question is that My family loves me and The Church is True! I am so glad to have these things as constants. It is hard to not know what you are feeling or if it is even valid but as long as I stay true to the gospel and keep praying I know everything will turn out okay.

Oh What Do You Do In the Summertime...

It is summer vacation and what have I got planned? Nothing! I am broke and have no idea how to entertain my kids. I have them doing puzzles and their school packets and I even bought them a little pool for the backyard (on a great sale) so now what? I feel so bad for them. All the other kids are taking swimming lessons...we can't. I feel like I am keeping my kids from doing a lot of the things they want and should do. I am excited to go to our family reunion but what til then? If only....