Final days with family

I spent almost two months with my parents and I STILL cried leaving. They were so helpful to me these past few months and I couldn't have survived without them! Thanks for the memories, mom and dad! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the drive home we shared a frosty! 

 

It was great to see our house and our kind neighbors helped to get our water running through our house. We had turned it off to avoid any pipes freezing, but when it wouldn't turn on, our neighbors called a plumber and he was able to open up the pipes and find sand that had settled. I'm grateful it was only an $85 dollar fix. I stressed about it on the drive home after my neighbor called as we were driving home and Eli immediately said, "Mom, let's say a prayer that the water will work in our house." He said the prayer and I was so grateful for his impression to pray right then. When we got home and the plumber was able to find a simple problem, we knelt in prayer to give thanks for the answer to Eli's prayer. Pray always, little Eli. 

The first thing we did the day after getting home was make a count down chain for when Aaron comes HOME!!!!! 

XOXOXO

 

Christmas!

Christmas pictures from my i-phone.
We sure missed Aaron. I was feeling so sad that he wouldn't be with us and then realized how HE was the one completely alone on Christmas. I texted him a million pictures of the activities throughout the day and tried to make him feel apart of Christmas with our family as possible!!

The boys received camping play stuff and legos and were thrilled to play with their cousins' toys as much as possible. Haha! Aaron sent us gifts and I wore my new bracelet to church!

We talked about why we celebrate Christmas and I pray my little boys will forever know it's because we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He has forever blessed our lives and we're eternally grateful for his love and example to us.

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve 2016! 

- Get Air Trampoline Place

- Christmas goodies delivered to my parents' door

- Train watching around the Christmas tree

- Decorating sugar cookies for Santa

- Caroling at the nursing home where Jenny works

- Pizza for dinner! (Our Pavlovsky family tradition)

- Watching Luke 2 then reenacting the nativity

- We ended the night wishing Aaron and Merry Christmas as he woke up for the day. He opened his presents and we were able to watch him on video chat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve Eve

On Christmas Eve, Eve it SNOWED!!!

We had breakfast at Steele and Jenny's house and then my mom and I took the kids to the Dinosaur museum while the other adults finished up Christmas prep. Eli asked me if he can be a paleontologist. So many times I take the boys to museums thinking it will be a great time to explore and I love realizing they're learning too. :) 

   

   

 

   

Austin loves putting stickers all over his face. He makes me laugh!!

 

The grandkids were able to open one present.. SLIPPERS!!

 

 

Gift giving

I took Eli to the dollar store to pick out a gift for Austin. He looked at all the toys and then with lots of excitement, he picked up a car with a launcher and said, "This! Austin will love this!" The boys helped my mom and me clean so I gave him a dollar to pay for the gift. His favorite part was getting 2 cents back in change. After wrapping the gift, Eli gave it to Austin and said, "Austin, when mom takes you to the dollar store, I really want a launcher car!" 

 

The next day it was Austin's turn. First stop. Candy store. My mom bought some chocolates for her sister and Austin was in candy heaven. He almost got Eli candy, but we decided to head to the dollar store where he found the perfect gift.

 

A laser gun. I may have made a mistake letting him play with it at the store. I kept repeating, "This is for Eli! This is for Eli!" Austin held the bag the whole way home and then said, "Wrap it?" We didn't even make it into the house before the breakdown happened.

 

 

After it was wrapped, Austin cried because he wanted it. Eli cried because he wanted a gift. Christmas morning should be interesting. Hahah - but it was great taking time with each boy to pick out a gift for their brother. Here they are after their fight making up with a hug. Looks more like a deadlock. 

 

We went to a home light up show set to music. I wasn't expecting to cry! At the end, the song was "I'm Proud to be an American" and this flag was the only thing lit up. 

 

These two. Love that they have each other.

 

Tonight we put on our pjs and met up with Steele, Jenny and Evan for cookies and hot chocolate with Santa.

 

We're all excited for Christmas over here!!