The rest of our trip + Aaron's Graduation

My mom left after church on Sunday and we were SO sad to see her leave. I always cry telling her goodbye. We spent almost an entire month together and it still wasn't long enough.

For FHE on Monday, we had our lesson at the San Antonio temple grounds. So beautiful! 

Austin was mesmerized.

While Aaron was at class during the day, the boys and I played outside, went to Target and Eli played with anything he could find to entertain himself until dad was done...

Have you been to Petland? It's an adorable pet shop that let's you play with the animals!

We really did love exploring San Antonio!

Friday was Aaron's graduation! We loved being there to see his graduation ceremony.

The best part of the whole trip to San Antonio was being able to drive home TOGETHER!!

Japanese Tea Gardens

Two friends recommended visiting the Japanese Tea Gardens during our trip and it's so gorgeous. Add it to your list of places to visit if you're ever in the area!

Austin is just like his dad and brother and LOVES being outside!

Sea World

On Saturday we went to Sea World! 

Thanks, Sea World, for giving military free tickets!

Eli kept looking back at Aaron and me and saying, "You coming guys?!"

This penguin started chasing Eli and it was hilarious. I tried recording a video, but I was too slow.

Luckily a friend told me to take Eli's swimsuit because the kids area had a little water park! This was definitely Eli's favorite part of Sea World.

I loved the shows!

So happy to be back together again!

Aaron talked me into riding two roller coasters with him. I'm too old for them now. Haha.. I can't wait for Eli to be tall enough to ride with Aaron one day. ;)

San Antonio!

Aaron spent the last 4 months in San Antonio for training. It was our first taste of being separated as a family, and although it was extremely challenging at times and I cried often, we were glad he did so well in the class and that he's now home!

This was the training he should have gone to when he first graduated, but the class was full. When the next class started, I was due with Eli so his boss decided to have him go the the next class. He did, in fact, go to that class and on the second day, he tore his meniscus so was sent home for surgery. (Before leaving, he was called into the bishopric in our ward so when we went back, he was able to serve in his calling!) 

Anyway, yes, it was tough having him away, but I was so grateful to have my family close so we could visit them often. It helped pass the time! Through this entire experience, I've been reminded once again that Heavenly Father has a perfect time table for each of our lives. Our faith was also strengthened as a family as we witnesses answers to prayers and so many people supporting us along the way. FaceTime allowed us to have family prayer together each night!

It was a huge blessing that Aaron was able to fly home for Austin's birth. We weren't sure how all of that was going to pan out, so I was extremely grateful when Aaron got the okay to buy a plane ticket to fly home.

When Austin was 3 weeks old and my mom and Angela had gone home, I had a crazy thought to drive to Kansas to spend some time with my parents and then drive to Texas to be with Aaron for his last week of training. My mom has always wanted to go to San Antonio so she was wiling to drive with us! Thanks, mom!!

And now for a ton of pictures...

Preparing to take off for Texas!

We drove to Dallas the first day and stayed with family and then drove to San Antonio the next day.

Here were are seeing Aaron for the first time!

Dinner Thursday night - Rudy's BBQ - soooo good! We're still talking about it!

On Friday, my mom and the boys and I toured San Antonio.

The Alamo!

The grounds around the Alamo were my favorite part.

Friday evening we went back downtown with Aaron to eat dinner at the River Walk. My mom snapped this pic of the Alamo at night!

Aaron professed his love to me by paying the mariachi band to sing, "Besame Mucho." ;) 

And finally, we ate this 3 lb cinnamon roll from Lulu's for days! 

Kansas

We spent almost 3 weeks in Kansas and it was still so hard to leave! I'm so grateful for my parents. They definitely made the last month more manageable as I adjusted to two babies while Aaron was away at training. 

Eli begged to go to John Deere as much as possible. How cute is this mini-wheelbarrow?

Grandma Donna treated Eli to almost every ride we passed. "Oh just let him ride it!" she'd say as she reached for a quarter! 

Bone fire, hot dogs, smores and cuddles made for a perfect Kansas evening. 

Love these two!! 

Everyone loves Oreo! 

Austin attended church for the first time while we were there! I love the memories I have of Eli wearing this little shirt and now Austin is wearing it. Cuties!! 

I want 10 babies!! 

I can never say enough good things about the state I love so much!