Cove Mountain Reunion 2017

Ever since cousin Katie got conversation started and a pirate theme came into play, we've been excited for the annual Var and Forest Porter reunion. We loved the treasure/scavenger hunt that Madi and Kyle prepared. Aunt Niki excitedly rode the 4-wheelers for hours. Zak and I also took the kids for some short rides, and they couldn't get enough. At the end, Great-grandpa Porter went over family trust and Cove Mountain property information, which several family members heard for the first time. The t-shirts Zak designed were a big hit, and with delicious food in abundance, a family full of black sheep, and a piñata, we did our best to "Party Like a Pirate."

Four generations of Porter Men! Zak, Mr C, Great-grandpa Jim, and Grandpa Wayne

Grandma Porter came prepared. The kiddos had lots of fun playing with cousins.

Four generations of Porter Women! Grandma Teri, Miss V, me (Nicole) in the back, and Great-grandma Sue

Quality time with the Porters 

Zak paracorded a bunch of keychains and lanyards for family and geocaching.

Eclipse Journey: Where Grandma Was Born

Part one of our journey to Eclipse Totality was from our house in Cache County on Friday to Sevier County so we could go to work then next morning. Zak and I found out his Grandma Manwill was anxious to tear down a historical outbuilding on her property to clear the way so her neighbor could use the land. Family members had decided the Saturday before the eclipse would work for the Porter and Manwill men to hammer cement and tear out the chicken wire holding the log building together. After much effort and some help from the skid steer, they separated the logs in organized piles for any future rebuilding. Grandma shared brief segments of its history, including the milling from local mountains, original build in Koosharem, rebuild on Grandma's parents' property, and her birth in that very one-room building. I love that Zak's family has so much local history in those small Sevier County towns, going back generations.

Grandma's cabin room

Uncle Tony

Zak and Cohen getting ready to work

Cohen

Jaxson

Dad

Jaxson

Dad

Cohen

Loading the debris

My Zak Husband

Uncle Tony

Uncle Tony

Dad

 

The skid steer was the favorite toy for the big boys

Dirt and sticks make excellent toys.

The women retreated to the shade

Mom Porter watching over the kiddos

Jaxson

Dad Porter

Concrete and chicken wire debris

Grandma checking on her workers 

(She brought cooled water bottles.)

Jaxson

My man Zak

Brick around the door and window

Logs officially separated

Only the foundation remaining

Other outbuildings on Grandma Manwill's property

Playing in the dirt, then the sprinklers

Darling Grandma

Grandma Manwill and me

Aunt Jenn wishes us well on our journey.

Mr C pretending to drive Jr Beef

Grandma saying, "Goodbye," to the kiddos

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