Thanksgiving

This has been a whirlwind past week. I am truly exhausted. It all started two Fridays ago (the Friday before Thanksgiving) with an evening trip down to Tucson for a retirement party for my dad. Finally, hitting 74 made him realize it might be time to take a breath. We stayed the night sans Makenzie (thank you to my wonderful sisters in law for driving her up to Show Low and letting her stay in your bed with you) and saw Breaking Dawn. Yes, I was one of those people that saw it opening night, with my 6 week old...and my husband! There were a few times he couldn't help himself and busted out laughing. Saturday morning we hit the road early and headed to Show Low for my nephew Tate's baptism. It took us FOREVER to get there. That night we got a phone call stating that Matt's grandpa took a turn for the worse (battling 6 weeks of lung cancer) and was now in a coma. We all packed up and headed back to Mesa. Sunday was spent in and out of grandpa's house and full of family. Grandpa passed away Sunday. I don't even remember Monday, but Tuesday I headed back to Tucson with the girls. I was OUT OF MY MIND thinking I could make the journey with a 2.5 and 6 week old, but I survived. Ashlynn cried for about 75% of the time. I helped my dad do our annual turkeys in the pit Wed and headed back up to Mesa wed evening after baths. Thursday, Thanksgiving. Friday, more family and Grandpa's viewing. Saturday funeral, burial and luncheon. Sunday, church, then off to my brother's house to meet their new little guy Owen. Now, it is Monday and I can finally, I hope, catch my breath. I love the holidays, but always forget how tired they make me. It was a great Thanksgiving, full of family and being reminded of how wonderful the gospel and Plan of Salvation is. I hope yours was just a great. Here are a few little snapshots of the whirlwind.



Who doesn't love postpartum family pictures.



Baby Ashlynn at 6 weeks old, and getting cuter everyday.



Makenzie and her cousin Emery seriously have a sister relationship. One minute they are playing great and then next not so much. Luckily I caught the great minute.




I WISH I could claim her as mine! My niece Paige, what a freakin DOLL!!! Look at those eyes and eyelashes - killer.



Kenz insisted on a picture, even right after slamming her finger in the door. Why do I take these pictures, they are not the most flattering angle.



Just the kids at the Porter Thanksgiving shindig. It was fun and crazy! Welcome Holidays.

Beautiful Heartbreak

This is awesome. Brought me to tears. I am so grateful for my family, my wonderful husband and children. Life is great.

Ashlynn's Newborn Pictures

A huge thank you to my sister in law, Erin and her awesome talents for Erin Wilkes Photography!!! She totally captured our little girl and the precious being about her. She is as sweet and loving as she looks and is such a welcomed addition to our family.

They don't come much cuter than this!!!

Ashlynn Reda

So, after a little rest and bonding time, I can now update the blog with the newest addition to the Porter family.

Ashlynn Reda Porter joined us on Friday, October 7th in the early afternoon. I had a scheduled C-section planned for Thursday, but as we were pulling up to the hospital - we got a phone call stating the inn was full and they could not house us and to come back tomorrow. Oh my gosh....talk about your all time let down.

Friday still came and we could not be more thrilled to have her here. She is a joy and a great little baby. Makenzie loves baby sister and likes to be as close as possible to her at.all.times - literally.

Buckle up and enjoy the ride baby girl!!!!!

Big Lake Camping - Porter Style

Over the weekend we wanted to get the H#@* out of Phoenix and the heat - what better way than to camp! Last summer we bought a pop up camper, best purchase to date. So, we met up with our friends Dan, Kisha and their very cute two little boys - Lincoln and Owen and off we went. It usually takes about 4 hours to get up to Big Lake, which is just past ShowLow. Well, it took us 7 hours!!! Why did it take us almost twice as long as it should have? Keep reading....

We had to get gas and treats - extra 30 min.

We had to stop and eat at DQ in Heber - extra 45 min.

We blew a tire (of course) - extra 30 min

The whole purpose of going to Big Lake was to hit up Annie's favorite camping spot - off in the woods up a mountain. Well, as we started up the mountain we didn't make it far. Due to the huge fire this year - the road was blocked. This was NOT going to stop Matt or his GPS from finding another route. So, off we went in the other direction....road block number #2!!! Man...these people did not want us up there. Did we stop and turn around - NOPE! We tried yet a third way around the mountain to get us there. This route almost put me into early labor, no joke. About 40 minutes of shaking baby in belly syndrome and we hit this....

SERIOUSLY!!!! Trees blocking the road. Well I thought, we will just turn around and head back to a different spot. WRONG AGAIN!!! Matt moved the trees out of the road and off we went.

By this time, I was having massive contractions and I was N-O-T enjoying our "adventure" as Matt so positively put it.

Bump after bump we ended up back on the same road we started on. We never passed go, never collected $200, never hit ANNIE's SPOT. A nice drive around a burned, flooded, rock fallen, mud slide mountain and we were back at square one!! Awesome. Turns out, we got to camp somewhere in this!! Beautiful and worth the extra 3 hours it took to get us there.

The first night was spend playing what we thought was mud...Nope - it was charcoal from the dead trees. They were so dirty.

Day one was spent on the 50 and picking flowers. Makenzie LOVES riding te 50 wtih Matt and would probably do so all day if she could. This is her trying to give a thumbs up! Funny little girl.

Kenzie practicing her photography skills :)

Picking lots and lots of flowers and smelling them!

Night number 2 was rainy. Matt "maned" the fire in the rain while I sat in the nice warm camper.

Day number 2 was spent calling and looking for elk with a handmade device!!

So this is Makenzie's pretty smile when you ask her to say cheese. Good thing we have a few years before school pictures start.

The boys went fishing while we....

Threw lots and lots of rocks in the lake.

Lincoln - he was so fun to be around!

Favorite picture of the weekend. She is getting so big and just looks so dang cute.

Never forget to look at little fish in the lake.

Love this one.

LOVE LOVE this one. Favorite picture tied with the one before of the week!!

Ok, I know that I was totally camera happy. However, there were sooo many good pictures to choose from and I have not taken very many updated ones of Kenz. Needless to say it was an awesome, fun trip and we had one very tired, dirty little girl!!! I love camping with Matt and our little family.

It's a good day

When you get to play at your cousin's house with their new kitten and hide in the cabinets.

No complaining tonight

Tonight I will not roll my eyes when Makenzie wakes up twice in the night because she wasnts to sleep next to me or fall asleep on me in the rocking chair. I will not take for granted that when the day is over and the crunched cereal in the carpet is cleaned up, the crayons on the couch are magically erased out, and all her (8) strawberry shortcakes have their clothes on again - according to Kenz they are not allowed to take a shower with them on - because I get to be her mom. I am given the gift of seeing her sleepy face in the morning as we crawl back into bed together for another hour of sleep while cuddling together. I am reminded of this as I buy a bow for Ruby....a sweet child of God who has been given a higher calling back home. To these parents, Ani and Matt, my prayers are with you and your eternal family.

Dear Makenzie Sue....

As your dad and I head off to San Fran for the weekend, please be nice to your cousins and Aunt Annie while we are away. Eat good, sleep good and give lots of kisses and hugs.

Remember most, though, that we LOVE you dearly!!! We hope you have a fun time with your cousins. See you Sunday.

Lots of Love, Hugs and Kisses -
Dad and Mom

summer adventures with ducks

Two days in a row with posts....I am doing great! I hate to think of wasting the summer away in front of the TV. We have been going on lots of adventures. This one was with cousin Em and Paige. We went to feed the ducks, always a good time.

Love hanging out with cousin Em. Em and Paige are usually the first thing Kenzie asks for in the morning. :)