Weekly Memories

How are the weeks flying by oh so QUICKLY?! 

On Monday afternoon, some of my friends from Chicago that are now married and living in Oregon, stopped by for a visit! I love catching up with old friends!! Their little boy hung out with us for the evening and when they came to pick him up, they brought these beautiful pink roses to me that I love!

Tuesday was Alex's birthday and we celebrated her birth by going to "Wicked!" Double dates with family are so great.

Wednesday we were invited to a surprise birthday celebration for my visiting teaching companion that just turned 90! Ninety!! Joyce is the best.

Thursday we went to a splash park with friends. This is Eli's splash park face that he does every time he runs to the fountains! I read an article this week about overusing the word "fun" with our kids. "Did you have fun?!" "What should we do for fun today?" And yes, I know I'm guilty of overusing the word so I'm working on it - but I do have to say that I strive to make learning fun and Eli thinks cleaning the toilets is "fun" so that's always his job. Yes, we went to play group and birthday parties this week, but we try to balance fun and work each day! 

Thursday as I was mowing the back yard, I came inside to see Austin on his tummy!! He rolled from his back to his tummy and I missed it!! (Can you believe I missed Eli's first time rolling from his tummy to his back???) 

Thursday night, Grandma and Grandpa Volk flew in and we were thrilled to have them visit!!

Friday - first stop, Air Force Academy Visitor's Center. 

Nest stop - no location description needed!

We had BBQ at Rudy's and then homemade ice cream at Josh and John's! 

Saturday Aaron and his dad had some father/son bonding time at the shooting range and then Eli squirted them with water guns!

Saturday afternoon we played two rounds of glow-in-the-dark miniature golf. Duane won one game and I won the next! Aaron's still bitter. ;) 

Baby glow worm! 

We had Thai food for dinner and I've seriously never seen Aaron's eyes water because of the spiciness of the dish he ordered! 

To cool off Aaron's tongue, frozen yogurt was the obvious solution. 

Aaron took his parents to the airport at 4:30 a.m. this morning and Eli woke up asking if they'll come back another day! I texted them this picture with his question and they responded that they DEFINITELY will!!

We loved having the Volks here, even for just a few days. Austin got lots of kisses and cuddles and enjoyed meeting them for the first time. Eli has a special bond with them since we lived close to them for the first part of his life. How blessed my boys are to have grandparents that love them dearly and are great examples for them!

Smiles for dad!

Some days I feel like I spend way too long trying to capture the perfect smiles of my boys and then Aaron says "Look at these pics of took of Austin as we were hanging out before bed." 

I had to share the cuteness... He loves his daddy!! 

A fun filled week!

Look at the lilac tree in our backyard! We love it! All the flowers are almost gone and I wanted to capture this pic before they left.

For some reason, Eli (and Aaron!) love this trick. 

Having family visit is the best! Thanks for coming to visit us, Spencer and Mary Beth and family! 

My sister in law is so magical with the camera. She just snapped a quick pic on this rock where Aaron and I took a pic on our first date at Garden of the Gods. 

Our swing set is more fun when it's filled with family! 

We were sad to see them leave! Three days wasn't long enough! 

Eli fell on the cement and woke up the next day looking like this. Poor kid! 

On Thursday we went to the zoo. Several friends from our ward gave us a zoo membership when Austin was born. Sooooo thoughtful, right?! We loved it. 

First timer for the zoo! 

On Friday we had lunch with dad. They always put on a fun party! 

First timer on a horse! 

 

Friday night we stayed the night at Alex and Bryan's house so we could be a little closer to Arvada for Aaron's race Saturday morning. We left at 5:45 am to be there for a 7 am start time. As Aaron ran, we played at the park in the early morning! I think this was the earliest we've ever been at the park in Eli and Austin's (and my!) lifetime!  

Aaron ran like a pro! We saw him several times from the park and we cheered him on and on! As we left for the race that morning, Aaron prayed that this experience would help show our boys the importance of setting goals and accomplishing them. He's a great example to us all! 

After having two knee surgeries and the doctors telling him he won't ever "be a runner," Aaron was determined just to finish. As the race got closer, he told me that he thought he could finish in 2 hours.  He wouldn't be disappointed if it took longer and would try the next time, but I was confident he could do it. And he did!! Time: 1 hr 54 min. He even placed third in his age category!

  

This kid and his memory blow me away daily. 

Eli (at 5:45 am as we get in the car): Sucker please mom. 

Me; oh Eli, it's too early for a sucker. Maybe if you're good during Dad's run, you can have one when he finishes. 

Eli (at 10:30 am as we're getting buckled in to drive home); Sucker please mom! 

And 2 min after giving him the sucker, I look back and see this. And an hour after he woke up, he was mad he couldn't find his sucker! Haha!

And Father's Day. Oh how we love Aaron in our home! He makes our home a happier, better place. When Aaron was away at training, it was during those months that I learned the vital role a father plays in the home. Aaron contributes so much to our children that I'll never be able to do and he's good about telling me I contribute so much to our children that he never will be able to do. This parenting thing is definitely about teamwork. I know that God created the family to have a mother and father. 

My boys in their ties. Our after church photoshoot didn't go to well, but it's for the memories, right?!

Cave of the Winds and the week review!

Eli's such a trooper while I'm nursing Austin! I took this from the couch as he played outside.

I went visiting teaching on Tuesday and then snuggled Austin during nap time!

Thursday brought a small hail storm. Eli was intrigued! I tried putting out a bucket to catch some, but the hail quickly changed to rain. 

Again as I was nursing Austin, I thought Eli was playing Elmo's ABC game on the iPad. Suddenly I realized he was a little too quite and went into my room to see that he had used himself as a coloring board with markers. I made sure he didn't see me laughing and put him in timeout to think about his actions. Silly boy!

On Friday the boys and I cleaned all day in preparation for Aaron's brother and family that are currently on their way right this second! It was an exhausting day and then Aaron walked in the door from work with these! It's fun to have a little pink in the house. :) 

On Saturday the Davis family drove down and we went to Cave of the Winds followed by lunch at Rudy's. It was a fun day!! Colorado, we LOVE you!

Saturday night and Sunday we had stake conference. I love being spiritually uplifted and I made a new friend that just moved to the area with two little boys and her husband is in the Air Force. I've been praying for more friends! :) 

Loved these notes from conference:

An effective leader: 

1. Has a vision / inspire, focus on the vision 

2. Encourages free expression 

3. Respects the gift of agency 

4. Gives clear, precise instructions at the appropriate level of detail 

5. Works step by step - be sensitive, follow up instruction 

6. Delegates

7. Sets an example of hard work - going and doing

8. Teaches by precept and example 

9. Serves with love 

10. Keeps an eternal perceptive