Our Saturday Morning, I love being home!

I don't know what the heck happened.. but seriously, he grew out of almost all of his shoes overnight.  

Darn it, I just love his frog boots, he only got to wear them a few times, now they don't fit.  

AND... since duck season is days away, I thought I better see if his U of O attire still fits.

And there he goes.... folks!

Messing with the dog, again!

Million dollar smile!

I accidentally zipped his belly in this jacket.. OUCH.. sorry, I've never claimed to be a seasoned Mom yet.

Will and Heart!

A year at a glance.. .. I can't believe it's been almost exactly a year since we left for Ethiopia.  That was seriously like a breath of air, a blink of an eye, passing through a town with one stop light.  I've tried to document all the events that have happened throughout the past year.

Reading back over the blog tonight I realized that I don't think I've ever described what Porter has went through in his short existence.  It would probably be a big deal if any 10 day old had pneumonia, or a 3 or 4 month old had Malaria, or if a 11 mo old had salmonella poisoning.  Well our son, Porter along with about 5 ear infections since, went through all of it.  The first year of Porter's life was definitely filled with sickness.

He is a survivor.. he is strong.. he has will.. and a determination in which I will never know other when than I look into his eyes and hear his heart beat.

Recently his friend Sara at school, was bullied by another classmate who wanted Sara's breakfast.  Porter has been at daycare with Sara, since I went back to work.  "the bully" wanted Sara's breakfast; Porter blocked the bully from taking it.  "the bully" went to the other side of the table to take Sara's breakfast, once again Porter put himself between "the bully" and Sara.  Obviously at this point it could just be random.  But when "the bully" tried to take Sara's toy.... Porter took matters into his own hands and made sure there was no way Sara's toy was getting taken.

You can interpret this two ways.  Porter may have a crush on Sara?  Which Sara's Dad and I both agree that they both are way too young for any type of love-flame.  Or you can say that the boy has protection intuition.  Heart isn't something you teach, it's something you're born with.

When I think of heart, I think of Porter's birth father.  When I looked into Alaro (Porter's Birth Father) eyes I saw kindness, love, and most of all a pure sole.  This man, and his beautiful wife passed on an instinct that can't be taught, and true heart of gold.

Bless Alaro for giving us the majestic gift of our precious son!   There are no words to express our gratitude for your selfless act.

Crazy Busy

This by far has been the craziest summer on record for the Mackin's.  We had a couple things on the calendar, then a couple more, then WOW.. every weekend was packed through Labor Day.

One of the last and almost final trips was our trip to Spokane for the Mackin family reunion.  I believe I learned a lot about myself on the weeks leading up to the trip.  Chris and I had quite a few "conversations" about this trip to Spokane.  I almost didn't go.  I believe I learned how to be a better wife and communicator.  In the end, it was great to spend time with the family.

Porter J loved his cousins Maggie & Spencer

A little bro time

Tim & Becky's beast that broke down several times on the way to the Spokane. 

I have to throw in the picture of it, it's definitely an honorable mention.  

Pizza at Capone's with the immediate family.

Water time with cousin Bronson.  Cousin Maggie & cousin Hannah were excellent helpers, it was great.  

This was over at brother John and Toni's house for lunch.  Mmm.. Taco's.. so good.

Back at our RV park... Chris trying to fly a kite without enough wind.

Off to the family Reunion

The entire Mackin clan.  

Jo Mike's family.

Porter waiting to go play in the lake.

My wonderful awesome sister in law Becky Mackin

Sharon & Jo Mike stayed at our house on the way up to the reunion and on the way home from the reunion.  Jo Mike or "Papa" as we like to call him made Porter J his very own toy box.  

There is a lovely personalized hand written note on the back of the box.   

And.... our last and final trip!  Our first real family vacation.

We plan to go there every August. 

It's probably one of our first Mackin family annual traditions other than the JDP.

As you come into the park.

Look at that "good lookin" chalet!

He goes up the hill.

Then he goes down and around the hill.  (hours of fun)

Helping Dad with the firewood.

Family photo.. OH WAIT.. where am I?!

Awe.. both are getting some much needed rest.

Look at the smile on his face.  

Poor Carter-Grace, all he wanted to do was chase the darn dog the whole week.

Our hike up to the falls.  He walked the whole way there and loved it.

It was a fantastic trip.  We got some much needed rest and were able to recharge our battery's.  

The best part no cell phones or tv's.. FANTASTIC!!!  Totally checked out.

Love You!

A great moment happened tonight.  We like to cross our arms and say "Love" then point and say "You".  I do this and say it to Porter all the time.. and TONIGHT:........ HE DID IT BACK TO ME!!!  AWESOME!  Man.. what a way to get my heart to melt.. totally awesome.

I also sing to Porter when I'm rocking him.  I sing all kinds of songs, sometimes I don't know the words but I just ad lib. I'm not a good singer, but I just  love to sing.  A part of me feels like if I'm singing it means that there is happiness in my heart.  I started to sing tonight.. and he laughed at me.  I was like.. What's up kid.. don't like your ol' Mom's voice there.. think I suck or something.  What the heck!!  I still kept on singing to him..  That's not going to deter me.

Found out that his certificate of citizenship is going to take till December.  They wouldn't grant us an exception even though it was there error.  Pretty annoying.  Can't correct his name with social security till we get that COC.  Can't open a bank account till we get the COC.  US Government (sigh) = enough said!

More Trips

Sunriver... here we come!!  Finally, a trip with our bff's!  We heart the Levesque's.  Chris and I always joke.. if we had a nickel for every time we mentioned them in our house, we'd be rich.  We love them, look up to them, and appreciate their friendship!!  What a great time.

Porter and Bob the dog!

From right to left

Chris, Shannon, Porter Mackin. Back row; Ginger, Michelle, Adam.  Front row; Shawn, Logan, Brandon.

Havin' some fun with Dad!

Is it legal to be on the green when you're not playing?

There are probably many more pictures... but they would be inappropriate for a family blog :)  Honorable mention... Michelle & Shawn's son Brandon is going to play college football this year at Willamette University.  Chris and I are SO excited to go to his first game.  What a great feeling as a parent to have a child that is so successful and excels at everything his does.  Just another reason we love the Levesque's!  I met Michelle when I started at the credit union.. and we've been inseparable ever since. So many memories so little time.