Phone memories

Eli update! As I was scrolling through pics on my phone a few weeks ago, I realized there are so many pics that I want to remember! Plus, now seems like a good time for an update on my little BFF. 

104 fevers aren't fun. Poor little guy. I didn't mind the cuddles, but I hated to see him so sick. We did take him to the ER (I know, benefits of having full health care coverage as part of Aaron's military service. There are huge pros and cons to free medicare. Trust me.), so we were grateful to find out it was nothing major that a little Tylenol/Motrin couldn't fix. He was back to himself in a few days! 

One of our sweet widowed neighbors, Dorothy! We love visiting her and she honestly gives Eli a toy EVERY time we visit. She'll say, "Oh, I just picked this up for Eli." She's 90!!

Spaghetti dinners always need to be documented! 

Our other sweet widowed neighbor Emma brought over this chair and One Direction toy for Eli. (Eli's never going to want to leave this neighborhood.) Aaron's still cringing about the little singer. (He keeps threatening to toss it when Eli's sleeping because it's not manly enough.) 

On a serious note, I snapped this pic and was starting to post this on Instagram right as I looked up to see Eli climbing out the back of the chair and he proceeded to smack his head on the cement. He cried. I cried of guilt and vowed to put my phone down instead of trying to post a cute pic of my baby. 

We had a down poor a few weeks ago like I've never seen in my life. Basements in the area flooded and homes were damaged. Thankfully we were okay. Eli was begging to go outside. He thought it was a giant water park. I debated and almost let him until I heard the thunder so he enjoyed the view from the door! 

Shopping for groceries is so much cooler in a race cart. 

Father/son bonding time. Aaron picked up this brand new grill for $3.50 at an estate sale. He's obsessed with it and I'm obsessed with Aaron's grilling. It's a win/win really. He loves grilling. I love when he makes dinner. Eli loves being beside his dad. 3 bucks has made us a happier family!! 

He's a corn on the cob eating pro. 

FHE. Our lesson was about Daniel in the Lion's Den. We made a "den" and learned about Daniel and his courage to continue praying even though the king was punishing him for doing so. Aaron always does a good job of applying the lesson to our lives now and he challenged us to be like Daniel and to always have the courage to do what is right, even if everyone around us is doing otherwise. (I know this is a tiger that Eli's holding, but it's the closest thing we had to a lion!) 

And finally, Eli found this hat in his drawer yesterday and wanted to wear it. We're just prepping for winter. 

Almost a year ago, I started writing in a daily journal for Eli. There are times as a mom that I feel like I do the same things every day - breakfast, clean up, lunch, clean up, dinner prep, dinner, clean up, repeat.... With a daily journal, I jot down 5 fun memories of the day. After Eli goes to bed, I love reflecting on the fun memories we've done during the day and it makes being a mother all worth it. I go to bed smiling, excited to do the same thing again the next day. ;) 

Girls' Weekend!

I'm so grateful for friends!

 I left a fun group of girlfriends in Chicago when I got married so I wasn't sure what to expect for friends as a new bride moving to the east coast. I also had no idea about what it meant to be a "military wife." 

Soon after moving here, I met these fabulous friends at church who are also military families and we all instantly clicked. Christy and Taylor were new to the area so it helped having friends that were adjusting to a new life here. 

When I had Eli, these ladies also helped me figure out how to be a new mom and two of them experienced motherhood for the first time as well! When I quit my job to stay home full-time, I know it could have been a lonely time, but these friends also stay at home so we quickly filled our weeks with play groups, dinner parties and any excuse to get together. 

Now the time has come for us to part ways. One friend has already left, another friend will leave next week, and another friend is scheduled to leave at the end of the year. I'm so grateful these friends were here for me when I so desperately needed them! Hopefully our paths will cross again! 

To end with fun memories, Christy planned a girls' weekend for all of us: dinner, laughing and chatting Friday night; brunch, pedicures and more laughing and chatting Saturday. 

On Friday, this restaurant crew busted out some line dances and it kept us laughing! 

Saturday we had brunch at Founding Farmers and they seriously have the BEST beignets.

I love a good pedicure with friends.

I miss them already so much! Cheers to friendships wherever you go!

Our trip to Williamsburg

We visited Williamsburg, VA a few weekends ago and I concluded that Aaron was born in the wrong time period. ;) Aaron LOVES American History. In fact, after the trip, he admitted wishing he would have studied A.H. in college.

It was our first time visiting Williamsburg, and we loved seeing American History come to life. 

My favorite part of the day was listening to the Declaration of Independence being read on the Capitol steps. 

Eli's favorite part of the day was eating all the snacks he wanted!

And Eli learned how to say, "Horse!" We all wanted to ride in the carriage ride, but at $20/person, we decided to pass. 

Did you know a cooper is someone that makes barrels? We learned that last month when visiting Palmyra so it was fun to see the coopers in action. 

 Can you tell how HUGE this tree is?!

So we've almost done everything we've talked about doing while living out here. Almost! 

Visiting Palmyra

We loved visiting Palmyra a few weeks ago. While living in the east coast, Aaron and I had Palmyra as one of the top places we wanted to visit so it worked out perfectly to go with my parents after Niagara. 

We all felt so grateful to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. As a missionary, I shared with others multiple times a day about Joseph Smith feeling confused about which religion to join because there were so many options. One day he was reading in James 1:5, which says,

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to allmen liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

 After reading this scripture, Joseph Smith realized that if anyone lacked wisdom, it was him. He took the challenge in the bible to ask God. Taken from Mormon.org, here is what Joseph Smith experienced as he prayed: 

In the spring of 1820, Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me [ … ] When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith-History 1:16-17).

This vision of Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ was the beginning of Joseph Smith's calling as a prophet of God. He was told that none of the churches on the earth had the fullness of truth. Over time, Joseph Smith was chosen to establish Christ's Church and restore the priesthood, or the authority to act in God's name. He was led by God to an ancient record and given the ability to translate it into English. This record is called the Book of Mormon. He continued to pray and receive revelation for the Church throughout his life. These revelations were compiled into a book of scriptures referred to as the Doctrine and Covenants and shows that God still leads His children today. Joseph Smith formally organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830.

 I know that we can all take the challenge in the Bible to ask God for any knowledge we lack and he will answer. Aaron and I have already planned to go back to Palmyra when our kids are teenagers and preparing to serve missions! Here's everything we were able to see:

Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center

Hill Cumorah where The Book of Mormon was buried.

After walking around the Hill Cumorah, we toured the Book of Mormon Publication site. For some reason I didn't get a picture (!!), but you can see some here.

Our next stop: Palmyra Temple - there is one clear window that looks out to the Sacred Grove. 

The Smith Family Farm

The Sacred Grove. As a young Kansas girl, I never envisioned the trees to be so huge. It was breathtaking and there was a special feeling there as we walked around and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. 

Our final stop of the day was touring the Peter Whitmer Farm, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized.  

The next day we toured the Martin Harris Farm.

We enjoyed one final walk through the grove. 

 Before telling my parents goodbye, we enjoyed lunch at Grandpa Joe's Diner! :)

What an incredible trip we'll always cherish!

Touring Niagara Falls

Since I was a little girl, my parents have dreamed of seeing Niagara Falls so it was extra exciting for me to visit these beautiful waterfalls with them for the first time. In fact, it was everyone's first time visiting the falls! We all loved it! 

Picture overload, but I want you to feel like you were there too! 

We headed to the Canada side first and here was the view.

The boat pictured here is the Maid of the Mist we rode later that day. The boat ride was hands down our favorite part of the day!

My dad treated us to lunch at Elements on the Falls. The view was spectacular and the food was divine! 

Also on the Canada side, we watched a 4-D movie of the history of the falls. 4-D means we did get wet! Poor Eli cried when I screamed, but I wasn't expecting so much water to be dumped on us!

Early afternoon we headed over to the U.S. side to continue our exploring. 

Grandparents are the best!

Everyone told us the Canada side is better, but we seriously loved the views on each side. If you're planning a trip, definitely go to both the U.S. and Canada side if possible. You won't regret it! 

They had a toddler poncho for Eli. I loved it!

This is the view from the boat - breathtaking! 

This is Eli's face screaming, "Mom, I'm over this mist-in-my-face-ride."

 After the boat ride, there was a small area you could climb close to the falls!

We even stayed late enough to see the falls lite up at night. 

Niagara, you're beautiful!! Thanks for reminding us to take time to enjoy this beautiful world we live in!