My Girls

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Take a good look at these pictures. These woman are the very reason I am here today. They are the most hard working, dedicated, stalwart, loving, kind, forgiving (some may not agree) and humorous woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I met the majority of them about 7 years ago. These woman have dedicated so much of their lives to the things in life that mean so very much. They are passionate about all that they do. The things they believe in, they do with so much of their heart and soul that others may take it as an obsession.
There have been a lot of bumps in the road over the last few years, but the only constant is that I know that they are there for me, and each other, all the time. We have each made mistakes, we are human. We have learned from them and hope that we do better next time.
Some were at one time part of a board of directors and could not enjoy the pleasure of our company. They since have stepped down. I am so glad, because life just wasn't the same without being able to have them be a part of so many wonderful experiences.....
I think everyone needs friends like these. Those of you who don't, I am sorry. I don't think life would be complete without them. I love my family but these woman complete me. They are like sisters. I feel a strong bond with them. I love their kids like my nieces and nephews, and we plan which kids will marry each other. Tee-hee :-)
A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world- Leo Buscaglia
Lucky for me I have 7 amazing people in my world. What a beautiful garden they make.

The Birthday Party

I can't begin to tell you how much I was dreading the"big birthday party". Back in the day, I loved doing parties but the older I have become, and the more children I accumulate, the less I have enjoyed it. So, I just wasn't at all looking forward to the stress of a birthday party.
To my surprise, it was a lot of fun. Brady invited all 30 kids in his class, and out of 30, 16 showed up. They were happy and excited and very well behaved. Lucky for me, a few parents stuck around to keep an eye on all those little ones, since we were having it at our neighborhood pool house. Brady had a fantastic time and felt very special since so many of his friends came. Also, he must be quite the ladies man......there were more girls than boys that night.
I would also like to give a shout out to my good friend Viki for making a special football cake just for Brady.

Great, Great Brady's Eight

Brady Matthew Porter turned eight on November 2nd. Here are eight reasons to Love him.

1. He will try anything and go anywhere. He is very adventurous. That would explain why he could ride a scooter at eighteen months and run circles around a ten year old with it. He could jump on a tramp at 14 months and he also decided to go on an adventure when he was about 20 months down Ammon Road, with the dog.
2. His smile will light up a room. You can’t help but smile when he smiles.
3. He has the most beautiful blue eyes just like my Mom. When I look at them, I see her.
4. He love people. When he meets someone they are him instant best friend He and Tyler's room-mates family wrapped around his finger in a matter of minutes.
5. He LOVES sports. Not watching....playing
6. He’s really cute and he know it whenever I tell him he’s cute, he says, “I know”. In a very matter of fact way.
7. He loves to snuggle with me. Even on our ride coming home from Florida, he would reach up from the back seat and just want to hold my hand. He’s a very loving and caring boy.
8. He was soooo excited to be baptized. We had the Missionaries over to teach him the discussions before we went on vacation. He was so attentive. He remembered the lessons he was taught and when we went to interview with the Bishop he attempted to tell him all the different things he learned. I think he thought it was a pass or fail test.
   

We are so proud of the decision Brady made to be baptized, and we love him very much. Our family would not be complete without him.

My Daughter is an Adult

Well I guess it was inevitable.....No matter what I do they just seem to keep getting older and older. Sydney Ashlee Porter came into the world on October 25th. She was born at 7:40 am. She was one of the easiest births but I came the closest to dying while giving birth to her. She was such a skinny little thing. She weighed in at 6 lbs. 11oz., but she was 22 inches long. Syd was a busy baby. She loved to just go around like a cyclone. Her mission was to seek and destroy. In some ways she was an easy going child but boy in some ways I was convinced she just wanted to prove what an awful mother I truly was. No matter how hard I tried she just never seemed very happy. Funny thing is, as an infant she smiled non stop. Everyone commented on what a beautiful baby with a beautiful smile. "She smiled at air". Syd spent much of her childhood in La-La land. She preferred it there. She once commented that she liked La-La land, because she could dance and sing and there were flowers everywhere. I'm really glad she had somewhere to go in those moments when being where she was, was just to much for her to handle. LOL
Here are the Eighteen reasons I Love Syd!

1. Syd has some seriously wicked sarcasm.
2. She has always been so grown up. Logic was never wasted on her.
3. She is sooooo patient with McKenzie. Most big sisters would have choked her in her sleep by now.
4. She is a beautiful girl with a beautiful spirit.
5. She is a really good friend, but doesn't need to be surrounded by her friends constantly.
6. Syd has a mind of her own. She is kind of like her mom in that way. If you piss her off you will definitely know about it.
7. She is a great leader. The kids at school really look to her a role model.
8. She's really the only one that follows this blog, so at least she will see this post.
9. She's a good shopping buddy. She doesn't linger too long and we don't have to try on everything in the store. She doesn't beg me for things either.
10. Syd's a great organizer. When I need something organized, I leave it to her.
11. She is a good dancer.
12. She has a really nice voice. I like to hear her sing.
13. She has made a really good chauffeur.
14. I never have to remind her to do her homework.
15. She barrows all my clothes (that's not the good thing) the good thing is when she gets a job and buys her own clothes I'm going to get pay back.
16. She is NOT boy crazy. I have non of the typical teenage worries with Syd.
17. She lived through her childhood, despite the fact I almost killed her. (Ask her about the gum story)
18. She's been an awesome kid and I think she is going to be an even more amazing adult.

FLORIDA

So I am leaving for Florida this weekend, to go and see my boy graduate from college. I am so NOT looking forward to the drive, but I am looking forward to having some time with Ty. Tyler is flying into Denver and I am meeting him there, so that he can help me drive the remainder of the trip to Orlando. I am so proud of him for accomplishing his dream. He will be the very first child in my family to get their Bachelors degree. He has worked hard and made a lot of sacrifice to do this.
Wish me luck and pray that we make it safely.

We also will be going through Ohio and plan to go to Nauvoo, and also go to see Andrew's Aunt that he hasn't seen since he was a little boy. He is really looking forward to that.
As soon as we get back we will be having Brady baptized. Tyler will be performing the baptism and Brady is so excited to have Ty do that for him.
So if you don't hear from me for a while it is because I am on the road. TTFN

My Baby Is Growing Up

Every time I turn around I feel like my kids are getting older and older. Lately it seems as though time is moving at an alarming rate. Brady is my baby and it seems like just yesterday that he was born. I remember so clearly the day he came into the world and everyone gathered around my bed wanting to see the baby. He was so big and perfect. Sydney wanted to name him Brad not Brady. I wasn't going for it.
He is going to be eight next month and will be getting baptized. I can't imagine where the time went.....Wow all of my children baptized. No more baptisms to plan, that just seems so surreal.
I feel as though I missed out on him being two and three because I was so involved in getting the charter school up and going. I think we were in meetings at least two nights a week. I am sad that I didn't have the time to read to him like I did the other kids.
I'm going to miss Brady wanting to come in and snuggle in my bed (fortunately he still enjoys his Mommy time). He is such a love, he is always ready with a hug and kiss when he sees me. I didn't think I would ever say this but....... I really miss having little kids around. I miss their soft little feet and there squishy little hands, and their belly laughs. I miss hearing them squeal when you tickle them, and them coming to you for a kiss when they get a boo-boo. I miss going to preschool activities and watching them sing all the cute songs that Ms. Jeanne taught them.
So here is the day I thought would never come. The day I say how sad I am that my babies are growing up.