Porter Reunion 2010

July 12-16, 2010 was the bi-annual Porter Reunion in Greer, Arizona. We flew to AZ a few days before the reunion and rented a home in Gilbert. This allowed us plenty of time to visit with cousins who live in the Valley while eating as much delicious Mexican food as possible. Every day, twice a day, sometimes three times as day. It was great!

The rental home was beautiful and reasonably priced. The kitchen was huge and had the largest fridge I have ever seen. The backyard was all set up for entertaining with a pool, outside bbq and bar area, fountain and waterfall, fire pit, and seating. We had a very relaxing time, and because of the pool we didn't mind the heat!
This rental home had seriously the biggest fridge I have ever seen. The left side is a freezer, the right a fridge. It is set up for catering/entertaining on a large scale.
On Sunday we attended church with Lindsey and Rich's family and then Dan drove us around Mesa for two hours. He showed the kids all the memorable places from his youth, such as the spot where he was hit by a beebee gun, the place he got into a car accident which shut down power to most of the town, where he played Little League baseball, where he attended Prom, and the location of all his schools. The kids were groaning by the end, but it was important stuff!
The best Mexican food anywhere. No question about it. My mouth waters just thinking about it!
We took Grandma and Grandpa out to dinner for Grandpa's birthday. Shellee's two oldest kids were with us, also, as she was in the hospital being monitored for pregnancy complications.

On Monday morning we drove NE to Greer, where the weather is more like it is in Vancouver, cool and rainy. We stayed in a cabin with Dave and Mimi's family, near two other cabins which housed the rest of the Porter family (except for Shellee and Curtis).

Our kids really look forward to this reunion. They say, "it's like a big huge sleepover." The older kids hang out until late, watching movies, playing games, and talking. The younger kids play together all day. It is a lot of work to pull off a reunion, but it is worth it.
Nate (all grown up!) challenged Dan to a push-up contest. Dan held his own, but Nate does clapping push-ups!
A few of the Porter girls doing crafts at the Pavilion while it rained. It rained almost every afternoon, which was a kind of fun novelty for those who live in Arizona.
Every night we had a devotional and activity. This night Grandma taught a lesson about prophets. She dressed all the little boys up as a different prophet.
The lighting in this room is horrible for pictures, but this is Brandon and Aubrey singing during the talent show. They sang a cool version of "If I Had a Hammer." Brandon played guitar and sang harmony and Aubrey sang the lead. For her talent, Bailey brought a framed copy of one of the photos she has taken. She really enjoys photography.
Brandon helped the younger girls write a song that they dedicated to Spencer (who is Brandon's age). Spencer was at Boot Camp at the Air Force Academy. The last night of the reunion, Brandon and the girls performed the song, which was taped and will be sent to Spencer.
There are some fun play structures at the campground. The kids love this "red merry-go-round." They are constantly begging for one of the older cousins to push them on it.
All the pictures from the reunion are compliments of Bailey, who snapped many photos documenting the experience. Because I knew she is so good at taking pictures, I didn't even get my camera out of the bag!

Chicago

The end of June I was lucky enough to spend 4 days in Chicago with a good friend from high school, Lynette Peck. We celebrated turning 40 years old this year. We met at the airport and rode the "El" (elevated train system) into the downtown area. Our hotel was right on Michigan Avenue, in the middle of everything fun. We had a great time together - exploring all the sights of Chicago and catching up on the last many years.

I was very impressed by Chicago - the architecture, the history, the beautiful waterfront (who knew that Lake Michigan was such a beautiful blue color - I was picturing more of a greyish brown), the food, the fabulous museums in Museum Park. Every day we walked for many miles, visiting points of interest and taking in the sights.

I especially liked the four hours we spent in the fabulous Museum of Art. I took my time and looked at every piece of art thoroughly - something that is hard to do when I have kids along! We also visited the Aquarium, walked around Millenium Park and Grant Park (beautiful), ate delicious deep dish pizza, attended the "Taste of Chicago" festival (where we sampled many yummy foods), and attended a "Blue Man Group" performance (a little weird, but memorable). We rode to the top of the John Hancock building, which isn't quite as tall as the Sears Tower, but has a better view of the waterfront and downtown. The observatory is on the 94th floor, and the elevator to the top travels at 40 mph! We took an architecture boat tour which took us along the river that runs through town and then out onto Lake Michigan, where we looked at the skyline and watched fireworks.

I missed my family, but it was really fun doing all the travel/museum/adventurous things that are a part of my personality, but which don't always fit with my current main role as mom of kids ranging from age 18 to age 5. It was a great way to celebrate the big birthday. Or, at least one of the ways . . . Dan and I are planning another trip to Victoria Island in Canada. I say the more celebrating the better!
Views of the buildings from our boat ride.
A view of the skyline from Lake Michigan.The pictures above are the famous "silver bean" in Millenium Plaza. It is designed to reflect the skyline and clouds and provide cool reflections to explore from the inside and outside of the sculpture.
It is awesome to have Millenium and Grant parks right next to the downtown, with cool sculptures flanked by beautiful flower beds and trees, surrounded by imposing skyscrapers.
I liked these sculptures in Grant Park.
Oh yeah, deep dish pizza. Prior to this trip, I did not know that authentic deep dish has the sauce on the top!
In downtown Chicago, I love the juxtaposition of older, classical architecture and newer, sleek high rises.
A view of one of the shoreline of Lake Michigan from atop the John Hancock tower. There are miles and miles of beautiful beaches along the Lake. Look at that beautiful blue-green water! I did not expect that.
Standing at the top of the John Hancock tower, holding our loot from a day of shopping along Michigan Avenue (aka shopping heaven).
The Chicago River meanders through the city. The Riverwalks and bridges over the river are really beautiful. It also represents quite a feat in engineering - in 1900 the direction of the river was reversed to stop the flow of pollution into Lake Michigan.
The Fountains, by French artist Hubert Robert. It doesn't look as cool in a picture, but the detail and play of light and shadow really struck me in the museum.
While I was super-excited to visit the Art Museum, Lynette was very into the Aquarium.

Next time I visit Chicago, I definitely want to visit this . . . the Field Natural History Museum.

So beautiful! This view is from the Aquarium, at the end of Museum Park.

I was such a tourist, snapping pictures of cool buildings/structures on every street corner.

Interesting work of art in Grant Park. We decided that it maybe represents the busy city, everybody walking in different directions, nameless, faceless.

We ate great meals, except for this one. A friend had recommended a restaurant called "Xoco," run by one of the Food Network guys. We walked a number of blocks to find it. The food was not at all what we expected for a Mexican restaurant, and we were seated literally ON THE STREET. We were overhanging the curb, watching the cars go by. They did have great Mexican hot chocolate, however!

We were lucky to enjoy great, non-humid weather for the duration of our trip. It was unusually cool for Chicago. This was a memorable trip, and I hope to return with Dan soon!

No more free education

That's right, after 13 years of free education, from now on Brandon (and to some extent his parents) will pay handsomely for the privilege of learning in a classroom setting. Brandon graduated from Skyview High School last Friday.
A group of the LDS kids in our Stake after Baccalaureate on Sunday. Brandon is at the far upper right.
Brandon (far left of the photo) sang as part of a small senior choir at Baccalaureate and Commencement. They sang "Calling My Children Home," a beautiful song designed to make all mothers cry.
After Baccalaureate Joseph carefully gathered beautiful dandelions to give to us. We loved them.
By the time graduation rolled around on Friday, Joseph was DONE with graduation events for Brandon. There was something to attend almost every night that week. When we were walking into the school Friday night, Joseph insisted that "Brandon alweady gwaduated . . . thwee times!"
Brandon and his good friend Taylor preparing to fly from the nest.
Look, Aubrey can fly, too!
Grandma and Grandpa Porter came into town from Arizona for the events. It was great to have them here!
Brandon and Bailey just before we left for commencement. We were running late - we had prepared a barbeque for the family, given Brandon some gifts, and then watched a slideshow I had prepared of Brandon's life so far. We forgot to watch the clock, and so we didn't get there in time for good seats in the gym! It's a good thing my camera has an awesome zoom lens attachment.
Walking up to the stage to receive his diploma. Brandon met the rigorous requirements for the SMT (Science, Math, and Technology) program at his high school.
Just "five more years" until her graduation, Bailey reminded us.

Right after the graduation most of the seniors boarded buses to leave for a school-sponsored (heavily chaperoned) all-night graduation party at a recreational center in Portland. Brandon had a great time and got home at about 6 a.m.

As Brandon's mother, his graduation was bittersweet for me. I am so proud of him and incredibly excited for all the wonderful opportunities and adventures he will have during college/mission/real life. At the same time, my involvement in the day to day aspects of his life is dramatically reducing. As I watched him throughout the graduation ceremony, I saw in my mind's eye a solemn and shy 2 year old, an eager-to-learn preschooler, an elementary school kid missing a front tooth, a kid with a sweet smile and a subtle sense of humor, a middle-school and high-school kid who would sit on my bed at night to talk through all the confusing things in his life. It really hit me that this is not only a huge transition for him, but also for us. And maybe especially for me. It has been a privilege to have a hand in raising Brandon. Many times I felt like he was wiser than me. I am really going to miss him, but I can't wait to see what he makes of the next chapters of his life.