Pioneer Day Porter Weekend

We really didn't do much for Pioneer Day, but Porter did wear patriotic colors and went on a Daddy outing, and we had our besties the Henderson's over for a BBQ. It was a wonderful evening! I got to hold baby Tommy for a long time (he is sooooooooooo cute). Audrey and I had fun talking and watching a movie while our men went to the theater to watch a movie. (7/23)Porter put diapers on a couple of the teddies and gave them a sippy.
Found this great flag tie at DI for Porter just after the 4th of July which was so sad, but he wore it for the 24th. It is a holiday/celebration very much like the 4th: people where red/white/blue, have BBQ's, get together with family, and even do fireworks. It's another celebration on a state level instead of a national level. (7/24)
I know some would think this was weird or gross but I thought it was clever and fun! Porter gets to take a colored bath on holidays (using food coloring) and each holiday has a color that goes well with it. When I thought of Pioneer Day I thought of the dusty, dirty, traveling pioneers in the outdoors and brown came to mind. If you'd walked across the USA what color do you think your bath would be? Porter had a blast mixing different colors to get a brown-ish color. (7/25)
We've never been involved in any of the community celebrations but in the future I would like to be. It would be fun to go to a parade and participate in the games and festivities. Next year I hope!

4th of July 2011

Sunday July 3--the day before our Independence Day but we still got all patriotic. Our flag hung outside the house the entire weekend and Daddy took Porter to church, sporting their American spirit in red and blue with white star ties. Handsome little super guy!I asked him to show me his tie and what color was it. He lifted it up. Cutie pie. That evening we were invited to our friends block BBQ (the Heppler's). On the way there I got pulled over by Washington City (I swear they have nothing to do). He said he clocked me going 50 in a 35. I looked at the sign directly in front of me that said 40; he said it's 35 in Washington and changes to 40 in St. George. Well I would like to see the invisible line that divides the cities please. I had just left a gas station after cleaning off my front windshield, which was covered in spots from a little rain we'd had. The cop was not far from that; I may have sped up for a minute to merge into the one lane but not much or for long! Anyway, he also said my registration had expired which is true...3 whole days ago. We'd just had the cracked windshield replaced so it would pass a safety inspection and then we could get it registered. I don't like going past the expiration date but don't you get a month grace period anyway? It would've all been done sooner but the recent pregnancy happenings put the car on the back burner of the priority list. On with the story--he asked for my license and I handed it over. He started his way back to his car only taking about 3 steps, then came back to my window. "Who is your husband?" Me: "Aaron Bergquist." He said he recognized the last name and told me to slow down. I asked if he knew him, and he said yes. So that was about it. He was very nice and I'm not even sure who he is. I just have to say I'm bitter toward Washington City officers because they gave me my one and only ticket I've ever received in my entire life (I think it was back in 2006) for something I didn't even do! I could tell it was a new guy in training and he said I didn't stop at a stop sign...which I DID!!! Guess it wasn't long enough to sing the ABC's. So stupid. A waste of $80 and my one freebie off my record. Then to add salt to the bitter wound the stop sign was later taken away! It no longer exists there. Aaron doesn't like when I say anything negative about any police officers but I do poke fun at Washington PD a little. On with the night before the 4th.We ate yummy food and socialized with friends. The little kids had a bike parade but we chose to not have Porter participate. Porter was so happy to see one of his best buds Dax. They had so much fun running around together! They didn't throw the poppers, they liked to stomp them!
The dad's.
It sprinkled a tad while we were out (it was quite the overcast and later windy day), and afterward there was a beautiful rainbow! How often do you get to see the real thing? Beautiful.
Our cute little family settled down to watch the fireworks in the street. Don't mind the mini-whale in red. =P We had front row seats. We were actually even a little bit too close to the action--it scared Porter a little. For the most part he didn't seem to care about the fireworks. He looked so sleepy and had heavy eyelids.

Fireworks!


The 4th of July was on a Monday and Aaron spent the majority of the day doing yard work (mowing the lawn, etc). That night we went to the Task Force BBQ and celebration up at the office on the hill where we had a great view of the fireworks.
We didn't plan it but after we were all dressed, I noticed we each represented a color of the flag: I was the white, Porter the blue, and Aaron the red.
We took Porter's 4-wheeler to ride around and he had a great time. A few of his friends had their bikes and the kids had fun riding all around the traffic cones.Me and the girls: Aimee, Manuela, and Alicia. I love these girls! I was so sad Amberly wasn't able to make it due to sickness.
Aimee and her Cash man. He is such a funny kid! Can't believe how grown up he is in such a short period of time.
Porter with his buddy Dax--they went a little crazy. Some day they are going to be trouble!
Porter and Daddy with good 'eats'.
The dad's holding their mini-me's on the balcony to watch the fireworks. It was such a fun family evening with delicious food, great friends, and fun times talking! The fireworks were good too.
Caged little animals. Their father's put them in the kennel and baby Rhys (Dax's baby brother) seemed to have tried to rescue them. Hilarious!
FLASHBACK! Porter's 1st 4th of July; he was almost 11 months old. Such a cute baby! He was afraid of fireworks that year.
Our family on 4th of July 2010. Porter was almost 2 years old. He was so cute! Always is obviously.
Porter had an extensive red/white/blue wardrobe this year. 9 shirts perfect for sporting his patriotism. He LOVES the flag shirts. Since he had so much American spirit to wear, he wore one of these shirts every way the week before the 4th. He also wore his American flag swimsuit at swim class.

Happy Father's Day! 2011

What a wonderful Father's Day! (6/19) A beautiful, cool, breezy day that started out by sleeping in. It was also the first day in a week I felt good--i.e. no pain, pressure, or indescribable not-feeling-okay. Porter play time was cute--he wanted to be an Army man AND a super hero.

Then he wanted Daddy to play Army so Daddy got on a shirt and helmet and like a good Daddy played with his son. Porter gave Aaron his present--a photo card and a 20 page photo book from Shutterfly.com. He may have had a LITTLE help from me. ;) Front of the card: "Any man can be a father...but it takes someone special to be a Dad." Inside: "Happy Father's Day Dad. With love from your shadow, #1 fan, mini-me, carbon-copy, little follower...thank you for being the best Dad ever! Porter Michael". The book has a total of 169 pictures--all of Aaron and Porter together--and this is what it said:

Daddy & Porter--The bond and love between a little man and his Dad
To my Daddy--Love your Porter (words by Aunt Stacey; pictures August 2008-Jan 2011)
I really love my Daddy, he plays with me awhile. He tickles me, he makes me laugh; he always makes me smile!
No other one could be a Dad like you; I know you love me through and through.
I can not wait 'til that great day, when I'll be like you in every way.
I hope you always know that you're my hero and my pal; my confidant, my favorite one--you're the man and Mom's the gal.
You teach me how to play, have fun, you toss me in the air. You make life such a joy for me, I miss when you're not there.
Thanks for all you do for me, for all the sacrifice. You do it for our family, and ne'er do think twice.
Holiday's are such a blast; I just hope that I can make them last!
You read me stories, give me treats. You let me just be me.
What a legacy you've given me, I'm glad to bear your name. I'll always try to make you proud, and never be ashamed.
Father could not have sent me to a better Dad than you. You are the best that one could get, for all of this life through.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, never let me be. For you and I are together now, for all eternity.

My plan was to get him a large griddle (he has wanted one for awhile; we have one but it's too small for his liking) and I was going to buy it a few days before, but due to my "sentence" of restricted activity, I was obedient to doc's orders and didn't do any shopping or walking around. Therefore I gave him the cash and told him to go buy it! =) I also made Aaron breakfast of his choice--over-easy eggs, toast, sausage, and orange juice. That was big since it was the first meal I had made in over a week (back to the pregnancy sentence). I got Porter ready for church--he looked SO HANDSOME--and he was so excited. He LOVES going to church. Aaron gave him a much needed haircut Saturday night and he had a bath, so Sunday he was one fresh, clean boy. Both Aaron and Porter wore black and white ties so I had to make them take pictures before they left. My boys were so handsome! The sun kept coming out when we would want to take a picture and it was too bright so we finally moved to under the tree. I hate missing church but I stayed home (refer again back to the sentence). In the evening we had family dinner at Becky (the youngest Bergquist child) and Nolan's. It was DELICIOUS! Amazing chicken, Rice-a-Roni, green beans, the best fruit salad with peaches, garlic bread, juice, and homemade banana cream pie and peach pie for dessert. I had one happy tummy that night.Porter was so tired and didn't get a nap so he fell asleep in the car on the way to family dinner. He stayed asleep and we laid him on the bed in the apartment. When Aaron woke him up he was too tired to eat or be happy so we went home. First thing he did was grab a fork and dig into Nana's pie pieces we brought home. Little stink.Of course before bed time Porter was wide awake, happy, and ready to play. It was kind of Aaron's fault because he watched some home videos with Porter of them playing, and suddenly Porter wanted to play play play. He kept "beeping" his nose and running. Then he would beep Aaron's nose to get him to go. So cute!!!After Porter had lots of rides on Daddy's shoulders it was Daddy's turn to get a ride. I think Porter will have to grow a bit before that works. =P
We made sure to read at least one "daddy" book at bedtime. All in all I think Aaron felt loved and I KNOW he cherishes fatherhood and is looking forward to having another son. He is the very best dad in the world so I hope we can have lots of babies, but we have to take it one at a time. I'll take whatever heaven will bless us with. Let's hope there are more. =)