Finally Caved to the Pressure!

Dear Family and Friends,

It was so nice hearing from so many of you from the different eras of our lives. You have added rich memories that we carry with us. Thank you for your tenacity in keeping in touch. And now we hope to make our contribution in the friendship. Our year in capsule fashion is as follows:

Trips and Visits: Lance and I enjoyed our annual get away in the Finger Lakes region of New York. We participated in a murder drama at the Sonnenberg Garden Castle and toured the Harriett Tubman Home and viewed Fredrick Douglas’ grave site. These trips build our marriage. Then Caleb and I buzzed south to Virginia to say hi to Paul, Darla, Jayden and new baby Tyson. The two cousins really had fun together and Paul and Darla are the best hosts. August is Family Reunion Time! This year the Batty’s rented a house in Heber Utah, rafted down the Provo River and hiked Mount Timpanogas to wind through the cold and interesting caves. Porters met at the family cabin above Colorado Springs to play with cousins, swim in the peanut pool and climb Spiderman Rock. To that, add water balloon launchers to the all out water fight around the stream. Then Grandmuzzy hosted GrampCamp while Lance and I spent four fabulous days at BYU Campus Education Week. The final hurrah was with Grandy. We spent the day at the stables riding horses. What would our lives be without our wonderful family? Thank you all for taking the time and energy to gather for meaningful events. Matt and Jeanette and Holly came in the fall and we loved every minute. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. In October we drove to the Old Forge in the Adirondacks and hiked Bald Mountain amid colorful leaves. After that, we settled in for the rest of the year, spending Thanksgiving and Christmas here with good friends. But on January 1, we ventured out at 6:00 a.m. to greet the first sun rise of 2008 from the top of Hill Cumoruh, slide down it on our backs and tummies and build two giant snow people at the bottom with waving stick-arms wishing the world a Happy New Year!

Jobs, jobs, jobs: The children work for our friend, Sara. They clean the kitty litter, help with grocery shopping, and do a few household chores. For the past few months, they have been saving their earnings for an art class starting in February. I’m so proud of each of their work ethics and their desire to save for future goals.

Individual Report: Lance is doing very well in his job. He plays volleyball weekly, helps with homework, and cooks Saturday morning breakfast-- keeping the tradition of Grandpa Harvey C. Foote. Paige loves homemaking and being a wife and mother. She also teaches English, gives piano lessons to Porter kids and friends and is recording a CD of her songs. Megan (10) began her World trip in December when she and Grandmuzzy cruised to Atlantis via Nassau and Castaway Cay in the Bahamas on a Disney Cruise. She loves reading, writing and drawing. Marikah (9) can’t wait to start her world trip and has generously offered to let the family come. Is that all right with you, Grandmuzzy? She loves to read, play with her friends and go on outings with Mom or Dad. Dallin (8) was baptized in December this year and joined Scouts. He and Mom attended an amazing exhibit on the human body at the science museum. He is enjoys drawing and LEGOs, reading and snowboarding. Caleb (6) made a family first this year: the first in the fam to break a bone. While doing a magic trick, he fell out of the apple tree and landed in the doctor’s office. He loves kindergarten, reading, and playing sports. Camilla (16 mo.) entertains us daily with her new words such as Mama, Dada, book, bye bye and down. She has cut 10 teeth and likes to brush them with anyone’s toothbrush but her own. So, don’t leave your toothbrush out if you come to visit this year.
Love, The Porter Family