WALK TO DEFEAT ALS...because you can 2

When I posted last night, I was real tired. I hadn't slept well the night before and was up by 6am to leave for Denver by 7am. We picked up Mom and Dad and headed straight to the walk. We were a little late in arriving, so there were NO parking spaces close. I dropped everyone off right at the event and went in search for a parking spot. The nearest spot was about 1 mile away. Lucky for me, Rick and Sandy pulled up at the same time and I had someone to walk with. After walking that mile to the event, we did the 5 K. Then I had to walk BACK to the car (yep, there's another mile). Total miles walked approx. 5.? We then went back to Mom and Dad's where they had us run some errands. (up and down stairs). When we got home, we realized that we didn't have food for the next couple of days....so off to Sam's club we went. You know you can't go to Sam's without walking around and looking! By the time I got home, my back was really hurting (I guess I did a little too much). I really wanted to get the pictures up for everyone to see...in my haste AND my exhaustion, I failed to mention a couple other VERY IMPORTANT members of our family who were walking with us in "spirit". CINDY was with us the WHOLE day. She was the one who was cheering us on via the phone. She encouraged us BEFORE we started walking and then made sure she followed up with a "GREAT JOB". It was nice to know she was with us. Lori also wanted to be with us, but due to work, she walked with us in "spirit". I mention these two because they actually joined our team to work with us. What a great family we have! I love ALL of my siblings and would hope you would forgive me when I am not quite with it and forget things. Lucky for me, I took a ibuprofen and a sleeping pill last night. My back is still a little sore, but I believe I will recover!

Once again...THANKS to EVERYONE who supported us in walking, in cheering, in money, and just plain being you!

WALK TO DEFEAT ALS...because you can

Today was the ALS Walk to Defeat ALS. We did some prep work before the actual walk. We started a website that people can go to in order to donate to our cause (http://walks.alscolorado.org/index.php?s=42&group_id=205) So far we have earned $575.00...We are still accepting donations for the next week or two. It isn't too late! Then to we made baseball caps for all of us to wear to set us apart from the group. I have to say we all looked pretty snazzy wearing them!

Jessica decided to spruce hers up a little.

Since our team name is Sweet Grandma Rita's Team,

she put this on the back of the cap...

Then she made the front of hers all pretty!

It is great that she loves her grandma!!

What a GREAT team we have!
Not all of our members were present here in Denver.
We had a team in Arizona (Diana, Jason, Gracie & Sienna)
and another in Colorado Springs (Ryan & Jessica). (below) From left to Right....Sandy, Rick, Chris, Dad, Mom, Sandie, Wayne and Tiffany sitting in the Wheel Chair. There were LOTS of people who were there. I was amazed. My heart went out to all the families who are going through this like we are. The walk was a 5K walk. It was actually walking around the lake/pond 3 times. There were so many people that some were starting on their second round as the end of the bunch were just starting their first. We had a rocky start...Mom's wheelchair had problems...one of the tires died. Lucky for us, the ALS Association was prepared and lent us another one so that Mom could participate.

Here are a few pictures of us walking.

Chris enjoyed pushing grandma in her wheelchair. After pushing her for the lap around the lake, he went on to walk the next two laps. Pretty impressive especially since he had minor foot surgery a little over a week ago! Even Tiffany made it the full 3 laps.
Here is Dad walking...he made it all the way around the lake (just over 1 mile). We left Mom and Dad near the starting/finishing line while we finished the last 2 rounds...they cheered us on!

Unfortunately, Jessica has been sick. So she supported Grandma by resting at home. She really wanted to attend, but having a nasty cold going into her lungs didn't allow for it!

Here is Ryan & Jessica showing off their hats.

Ryan was also unable to be in Denver...instead, he had a marching band practice that lasted from 10 am to 4 pm. During that time, he proudly wore his hat in support of those of us walking in Denver and Arizona.

Isn't he so handsome in his uniform...especially when he trades his beret in for his ALS cap.

What an experience. We will do this again next year! While there is no cure for ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, we hope that by raising money, a cure will eventually be found. We were quite impressed by one family who was walking for their deceased father. He died of ALS in 1975, and they are still walking. Everyone there was walking FOR someone...either for someone who currently had it or for someone who had died because of the disease. There were many teams, each with some way of distinguishing themselves; some with t-shirts, others with hats and EVERYONE with smiles. They had entertainment...there was a man who sang the entire time everyone was walking. Talk about a difficult thing to do. I don't know how many people who can sing for over 1 1/2 hours straight without stopping. Just him and his guitar....and, he donated his talent. Lunch was also provided (although we didn't want to stand in line...for the lunch or the port-a-potties). So, we ended up going out to lunch. YUM!

Thanks to all who supported us...not just monetarily. ALS affects the WHOLE family. Some days seems easy, others are difficult. It is nice to know that we have friends and family who are there for us to lean on!

Walk to Defeat ALS - Denver

As many of you know, my mother was diagnosed last year with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig's disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. Work is still being done and hopefully progress will be made. The walk this year is on Saturday, September 12....from 9:00am to 1:00 pm (yep this coming up Saturday). Whether you can walk or not, please sign up under our team..."Sweet Grandma Rita's Team". Mom has been a real trouper about her illness. She recently had a feeding tube put in and has recovered very well. She has color in her face again and has a little more energy. They put her on a bi-pap machine for her breathing. This helps her breath in and out at night. If she starts having trouble breathing, she can use that until she feels she is getting all the oxygen she needs. Modern technology is WONDERFUL. Thanks to the ALS organization, she is able to communicate with a speaking device that they have loaned out to her. The organization holds meetings for those with ALS and their families. They even have special meetings for the "caregivers". Theirs is a worthy cause. Back to the WALK...We hope all can come!!



Even Dad will be walking (or should I say, being pushed in his wheelchair). You can register on the following link....



Walk to Defeat ALS - Denver



Our Official Team "Sweet Grandma Rita's Team"
when you register...use that team!

Wordless Wednesday :)

Denver Zoo 2009

I, Jessica Porter, having been born of goodly parents, was summoned (by those goodly parents I mentioned previously) to record the engaging tale of our thrilling adventures at the zoo this weekend. Therefore, let us begin our account......

So begins our adventures, with Dad getting us lost in downtown Denver for a while before finally finding the zoo. Dad took all us kids, Catie, and Gracie..is he sweet or what?

The reptile exhibits were Tiffany's favorite....surprise, surprise huh?

Gracie and Tiffany inspected and critiqued the condition of the zoo's fishies.
Then Gracie and Chris gawked in wonder and amazement at the FINDING NEMO-impostors.

That lizard could probably have eaten Tiffany and Chris for breakfast....and Gracie for desert if that glass wasn't there!

Ah, the mesmerizing green-water exhibit. People come from all four corners of the globe to gape and gaze and gawp (those are real words by the way) at Denver Zoo's legendary green water..but what is it that calls their attention to such an exhibit? It wouldn't be complete without some playful sea-lions to model it.
what a good lookin' crew huh?

Chris is kind of Gracie's favorite..every time he'd get out of her sight, she'd make a terrified expression and ask everyone "where kwis? where kwis?"

Don't tell any of your zookeeper friends..this is top secret, confidential information. Tiffany fed one of the peacocks from her hand...scared her to death, she thought it was gonna take her finger too!

Chris got in on the action too! They are such brave little toasters!

In my humble opinion...these three are the best looking of the whole group. And isn't Chris pretty with the princess backpack he proudly sported all day?

In the meantime, Bird Garden had Gracie tickled pink. The birds and flowers left her giggling and squealing in delight
As much as we squabble (cool diction huh) and quarrel with each other, I still love my baby brother. (he may be twice my size, but he'll always be my Baby bro)

These cousins are cute as cupcakes as they model the zoo's beautiful flowers.

Your feet get a little sore when you invade the privacy of animals in the hot sun all afternoon...and poor Chris was lonely and heartbroken after Gracie decided our dad was her new favorite.
Ya, they love me.
Tiffany, Dad, and Gracie had to stop and wait for the crazy slowpokes who model flowers at the zoo instead of checkin' out as many exhibits as possible.

Poor, poor Chris...Dad totally put on his charm and Gracie forgot all about Chris
putting their drummer skills to the test...

Chris had no one else to turn to when his girl left him for Dad...what a flirt!

Dad's such a sucker for little girls.
Map women, show us the way!

I tried to win my father back while Chris tried to get Gracie back!

Gracie was IN LOVE with the big "silly" elephants.

"Dats Simba! Simba's sleeping!"-Gracie

We had lots of fun at the Zoo this weekend and I'm glad we went. I love them so much and hope they never forget that!

Porter Drive In

Jessica's friend, Chase, is having his birthday on Sunday. Due to scheduling conflicts, (ok, so the kids are just too busy with dance rehearsals and Stake Youth Conference all weekend) they had to celebrate early. Jessica wanted to do something creative and fun...somehow, she came up with the idea of having a Drive In movie night. So, each of the couples made their own car out of cardboard boxes. They set up a projector and "drove" up onto our driveway and watched "Take the Lead". They all had fun...here are some pictures of their cars.

Chase & Jessica...their headlights were off because the movie started, but they actually had doors that opened and the headlights turned on.

Katie & Codi...They were "stylin" in their Mercedes! (notice all that leg room)

Jeremy & Raina...the back said it was a Mustang GT...but it looked like a boat to me! Notice the "snack trays"

Emily & Jeremiah...notice their "hippie van".

Tiffany & Chris decided to join the fun at the last minute, so their "cars" weren't put together completely!

These people claim that they are on "motorcycles"...I think that was a bit of a stretch!

Let the movie watching BEGIN!!!

4th of July Camping Trip

We went camping for our 4th of July weekend. We left the house just after noon on Thursday. (that was a miracle in an of itself!) We went up to the Meadow Ridge campground. It is right by the Rampart Reservoir. We set up camp and got down to the business of having fun! We were joined by 3 other families...the Leftwich's, Birrell's and the Zelasko's

(a total of 22 of us...the majority being teenagers)

Unfortunately, it rained the first night...it was a little cool out, and our tent had a little "leaking" problem. We got dripped on ALL night! We decided that SOMETHING had to be done!!

On Friday, we went to Guffey's Gorge for some cliff diving... (SCARY for mom!) The scenery was beautiful!Wayne climbed up to get the pictures from on top...
Here is Chase & Austin going for a back flip.Here is Ryan getting ready to jump...he did MANY jumps!Here is Jessica being "coaxed" down in order to jump. After much coercion, Chase talked her into jumping WITH him...he grabbed her hand and made her GO!Here is Wayne doing his 2nd jump! (what a brave man!)Later that afternoon....the clouds came in. Yep, it rained the rest of the evening! Good thing we stopped at Walmart and purchased a new tent!

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. Ryan went with Chase, Austin and Steve (a parent) around the lake on mountain bikes. That would be a 14 mile ride. Poor Ryan missed the last turn off and went a little farther than necessary, but he did make it back to camp safely.

Wayne headed out with Chipper, Chris, Jessica, Tiffany, Nate, Jeremy, Scott, JD and Brenda (a parent). After going part way, Brenda, Nate & Tiffany headed back. The others went on. Wayne talked them into going all the way around the lake. Well...the weather did NOT cooperate with them. They had to deal with marble sized hail. They found a cave to wait out the hail...they noticed that there were some rather large feces in there. The story goes that someone threw a rock down the hole to see how deep it was...they heard a growl. Then Chipper started to growl. We don't know exactly what was in that cave, but they all decided not to wait around to see!!! They found another cave that didn't seem as dangerous. When the hail stopped, they continued hiking in the rain. It wasn't any ordinary rain...it was a DOWN POUR!!! At camp, we were experiencing MAJOR flooding. The tents were so saturated with water that we were all leaking at the seams. Even our new tent was leaking. Our camp area became a "lake".

When everyone arrived home WET...everyone piled into the Leftwich's 5th wheel...thank goodness they had a warm HUMID place to get warm.

Here are a few pictures of the after effects of the rain that day during a break in the rain!

The break didn't last long. The rain continued. Everyone was WET. All of our clothes were wet! Chipper was WET. After dinner, we decided to go home for the night so that we could get Chipper dry, and get DRY clothes.

We returned early Sunday morning to yummy crepes! Since it was a beautiful day, we all went for a little walk...

Oh and here is the BIRTHDAY BOY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAYNE!

Once again...the clouds came and it started to rain. The kids watch a movie in the trailer and then ended up playing games at the camp table. Here they are playing "slap jack"...I understand there were many bruised hands afterwards.

We also had some "friendly" arm wrestling contests.

The birthday boy got a special dutch oven dinner...

Then for Dessert...we had a dutch oven Mississippi Mud Cake

Jessica happened to not be present when we sang "Happy Birthday" to Wayne....so she did a solo and sang to her daddy!Later that night, Brenda brought out the "glow sticks". The kids all played "capture the flag" in the dark. Since quiet time is at 10:00, they played their last game in "silence". Ok, so they weren't that quiet. They sat around the fire and talked and laughed until after 12:30. Yep...that was in the AM! We got up Monday morning, had breakfast and loaded up!

We are still attempting to dry all the tents out in the back yard...we will then SEAL the seams. Hopefully the next time we camp, we will BEAT the rain!!