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?!