Manti Temple

Week before last was Girls Camp and it was AWESOME!!! This past weekend was Youth Conference and once again...AWESOME!!! Catchin' on here? Youth + the Spirit = Awesome experiences and wonderful times.


The Manti Temple is gorgeous; just stunning.


Girl's Camp was 4 days long but I was only able to go for 2 days (got a child to take care of). I loved every second of it: broken tents, games, talking, camp fire, wind, spiritual experiences, rain, and testimony meeting. It was in Pinto by Pine Valley and the girls were great.



For Youth Conference we went to Manti and saw the "Mormon Miracle Pageant" that depicts events of the Prophet Joseph Smith's life, events from the Book of Mormon (including the Savior's visit to the Americas as a resurrected being) and the pioneers who settled in Utah. It was AMAZING! Truly amazing. The pageant takes place at dark on this hill on the side of the temple and it was just done so well. We camped out on the lawn of the Seminary building (next to the high school). We were going to sleep outside under the stars (with the temple in view) but the sprinklers put an end to that and we (the girls at least) ended up sleeping in a classroom inside. The youth did so great and everything was so fun and relaxing.

The two Porter pictures are from the past couple weeks: he has found a renewed interest in his Bumbo seat (that little butt fits perfectly) and the other he is helping Daddy hammer a stake in the ground. He loves helping his Daddy.

All these pictures of flowers are from my garden: I'm so happy they are finally popping up! The random picture of a book and puppet record one of my happy DI finds. I like puppets for kids (more fun than any 'ol stuffed animal) and found this camel weeks ago thinking it may come in handy one day for this Christmas camel book I wanted to get eventually. The very next week I found the book, also at DI, for $.50! I had wanted that book since my visiting teacher shared it with me at Christmas; it had been on my "wish list" since then. It's the little things that are exciting. Doesn't take much to please me. =P

Happy Father's Day 2010

Happy Father's Day to the best father's I know! My very own Aaron, father to our precious son Porter, Gary-father of the best husband and Papa to my Porter, and my very own Dad-the best father I could have ever asked for and Porter's Papa whom he loves so much. I love you three men/fathers!

(Pictures: Aaron & Porter 6/10, Aaron & Porter 8/27/08, Bergquists 8/09, Dad-Newell-& Porter 11/08)

Reunited

I was reunited with my Porter after two days (and ended up 2 nights) of Girls Camp and boy did I miss this kid! He was extra super cute today too. Here are a few pictures. In the picture above he put on headphones. Below he is playing with a racket which he loves to swing all over.
Tonight he was eating a sandwich that was bigger than his head but he was going at it.
Shopped at Old Navy this morning with friends and ended up buying $66 worth of stuff for....$22! Saved $44--love it! Porter had fun trying on hats too. He was such a good boy. Has been all day. Took him to Jumpin' Jacks tonight for what I thought would be just 10 minutes of play before they closed only to find out they close an hour later on weekends. So little son got to play for over an hour and he LOOOOVED it!
Came back and after only two days so much changed in the garden! For one thing I now have blossoms in my pumpkin and squash plants. Very pretty and add color to all the green.
I took all the seed packets and covered them in contact paper and put them in the garden. So much more fun knowing exactly what I'm looking at.
This is the garden map made when the garden was planted. Before the signs I always had to get this out and count the blocks to see what was what and where.
I love summer, I love warm weather, I love my son, I love my husband, I love my dogs, I love my home, I love my family, I love my friends, I love my life, and I love Heavenly Father and Jesus. Full of love! =D

God's Beautiful Creations

Friday before last my friend Terry invited any and all to go on a hike by Colorado City. She let me borrow her baby backpack so Porter could join and it was SO FUN! It was gorgeous. I didn't take a ton of pictures like I would have liked to but here are a few. Thank you Terry!

Porter pondering the grandeur of the mountains. It really was beautiful. I love nature. God's creations are amazing.


Porter feel asleep on the hike back to the car. Being carried just tuckered him out.
He didn't think it was fair having to still be in the carrier while I took pictures. He was just so cute I couldn't resist. And look at his awesome hiking boots! Got those at DI months ago and knew they would come in handy, even if only for looks.
My garden gets more and more exciting; it just keeps growing! What a miracle: put a seed in the ground, water it, and let the sun and nature (God's creation) do the rest.

Porter Prayer Position

On Friday Porter folded his arms, knelt down, and bowed his head all by himself when we said "prayer time". I was FLOORED! SOOOOOOOOOO CUTE! I had to be irreverent and grab my camera on the counter during prayer to capture this moment. Priceless. Just priceless.
Aaron exercises and does a lot of pull ups; Porter always wants to do just what his Daddy does so Aaron helps him do some pull ups and also to hang.
And of course Porter now wants Teddy to do everything he does, so Daddy had to help Teddy do some pull ups.
Porter's Daddy is so strong! He can even do pull ups with extra weight added! Porter thinks it's great.
Porter definitely likes when Daddy throws him around. Look at that joy, look at that happiness, look at that form!
Aaron being a horse and giving Porter a ride.
One of Porter's latest obsessions is wearing our shoes and walking around in them. When he wants to go outside, he brings me my shoes and drops them at my feet. This kid warms my heart and makes me smile.
Found this UNLV (Univ Nev Las Vegas) outfit at DI. Love it. Aaron and I are both UNLV Alumni.
It's funny to always see a dog or two in the background of pictures.

Memorial Day 2010

Memorial Day was spent with Aaron's family and we had a great time. Four of the Bergquist kids + families (minus the babies: Port and Pres) went out to Sand Hallow Lake. It was so much fun. This is Aaron and I. (We missed the two siblings and families who weren't there and the parents.)
Matt & Charity
Nolan (soon-to-be brother-in-law) & Becky
Aaron & Spencer
Mir & kids
Peyton, Jolee, & Lincoln

The toys & Gage on the beach. Wish I would have gotten a group picture with everyone; I tried but no responses and a "later" look. Whenever I ask if we can take a picture in any group setting I am usually met with sighs and groans; so if I ever ask you to be in a picture or have a group picture, just grin and bear it, k?
Porter wearing Daddy's shorts
Porter learning to rock out
Porter-the pro
My little drummer boy--so cute! Future musician? Or future noise-maker? Notice he is wearing a onesie with the American flag on it; in honor of Memorial Day. God bless America and those who fight for our freedom!