Temple open house

Thursday, August 25 was a special day as we toured the Ft. Collins Temple. Before temples are dedicated, they are opened to the public to see inside. It was a special memory to iron the boys' shirts and get them ready to enter the temple. I thought about their future and other moments they'll be dressing in white - their baptism day, when they go to temple before their missions, and their wedding days. Oh baby boys, I love you so! I cried as I shared this special place with them. Eli asked if Jesus lived in one of the rooms!

Because I know temple open houses are a great missionary opportunity, I prayed that I'd be able to take non-member friends. Becky has recently moved to Denver with her husband who isn't a member and we were able to go the temple with them! It was so lovely. My mom came to Denver a few days before the Bronco's game and she came to the open house to help me with the boys. I was so grateful she was there. I definitely needed help! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the peace and love I feel from Heavenly Father as I'm in the temple! 

I'll treasure this special time forever.

Broncos!!

Who is ready for some FOOTBALL?! 

Every July, the Broncos pick a day and sell their tickets for half-price. Steele has dreamed about going to a game - me too! - so we decided to all buy tickets to a pre-season game because it wasn't on a Sunday and the tickets were so cheap. The tickets ended up costing $25/person! I decided to take Eli on a special date and I told him everything I know about football. Haha - I was a football cheerleader so I do know the basics about the sport! :)

 

 

Funny kid kept covering his ears when everyone started screaming!

Eli chose a soft pretzel for his special treat.

 

At half-time we all moved so we could sit together.

 

Eli loved the fireworks!! The Broncos won of course!

 

 

I loved being with my Bronco loving family!

 

 

A top favorite Colorado memory for sure!

Baby chicks

My friend Leslie was chick-sitting last week so we ran over to meet the feathery friends. They're so cute!! These little boys would sure love a pet!

 

 

I had some shoes to return to the mall where Eli spotted these electric animal rides. Hahaha - of course Grandma Donna was willing to pay for the three of us to ride the green dinosaur. Thanks, mom! :) Austin was hesitant and crying at first, but before the 6 minutes was up, he was loving it.

 

 

After the mall, we came back home and borrowed the neighbor's surrey to go on a ride around the neighborhood!  

 

 

Friday evening my cousins Michael and Kelsi and their 6 kids came and stayed with us on their way to Ft Collins to see the new temple. I love being in Colorado and having so many visitors!! 

 

Primary party

The theme for Primary this year is, "I know the Scriptures are True." We decided to plan a scripture super hero party and it was a success!

Time Machine. 

 

Cookies.

 

Heroes in costumes.

 

Happy kids.

 

The heroes included Captain Moroni, Ester, Joseph Smith and Mary - mother of Jesus. Each character taught the kids about being brave, having courage, faith and being obedient. Poor Austin got an injury to his mouth and blood was everywhere. I had to leave for a bit and thankfully he was okay. 

I haven't been serving in primary for long, but I already know why everyone talks about how great primary is! I love it! 

Gifts

Aaron's the kindest. In an effort to keep the Sabbath day holy, he has decided to write the boys and me a hand-written letter each week. We love getting the mail and feel extra close to him as we read his words to each of us. 

He's also started a tradition of sending a gift each month that he's gone. I could smell this LUSH gift when I went to the porch to retrieve the package! "Relax" the gift said. And that's just what I did after putting the boys to bed and soaking in the tub.

 

 

The weather last week was a bit chilly, but the boys still played outside. I wanted to remember this evening after dinner as they played together nicely.

I was running around last week getting everything ready for our Primary party and the boys were starting to get restless. We spotted these CHRISTMAS trees at Hobby Lobby and our spirits were instantly happy and we're oh so excited for the holidays that are just around the corner! 

 

Life lessons

I already posted this on Instagram, but I want to post it here too for my journal. Back in May, I bought this little tomato plant that we put in a pot for one FHE activity and put it in our backyard. The boys watered it (maybe too much at times) and we were anxiously awaiting for tomatoes to grow. Cold weather hit a week later and I learned later that no one in the area had really planted tomatoes yet, knowing it was still too cold. I wish I was a better gardener. Some day hopefully.. haha.

Anyway, a few weeks before we left for almost a month, I noticed little yellow flowers starting to grow. I told Eli this was a sign that the tomatoes would grow. The plant started slowly turning brown. When I asked the neighbor girls to water my flowers on my front porch and get our mail while we were away, I didn't even mentioned watering the tomato plant in the back yard because I was convinced there wasn't much life left in the poor thing. "We'll try again next year," I thought. 

When we got home weeks later, Eli looked outside and said with so much excitement, "MOM! Come and look! Tomatoes!" Tomatoes? I was so confused. 

And then oh so happy! 

Our little tomato plant had grown and we picked the tomatoes and ate them for breakfast.

I spent the day thinking about that little plant - I wonder how many times in other parts of my life I've given up too early on myself or others and I've missed opportunities to enjoy the outcome later. 

Thanks little tomato plant for reminding me to be patient and to never give up!  

Another adventure in our backyard - Austin got stuck climbing down the rock wall ladder. 

My friend Becky from Chicago just moved to Denver and Tiff lives here now too. We met up last week for swimming and lunch at Becky'e new place! The little boys all hung out in the living room during lunch.

Last week I was hungry for a steak so we went to Texas Roadhouse. We got there at 4:50 p.m. thinking we'd beat the dinner rush. False. The place was packed. The boys filled up on rolls and then didn't eat their dinner and they were super rambunctious. I cried. I felt like it was a disaster, but the steak hit the spot and the boys ate their dinner for lunch the next day. Lesson learned. Next time I'll do carryout. ;) 

Colorado cousins

I cried on the drive home from Fruita - it's sad coming home to an empty house. So a few days after being home, we went to Denver to see these cousins we had missed while we were away! 

Love this Davis clan. And seriously, we're extra grateful we live to close to them, especially now.

 

 

 

 

1 month

 

Aaron sent me flowers when we were in Utah to celebrate one month down in the deployment. Aaron's been gone for trainings before, but for some reason, 6 months apart seems soooo long and it's hard. One night on our trip as we were having FHE together with cousins, I realized Aaron had only been gone for 3 weeks and I cried that night. When I was visiting my parents' ward a few weeks ago, a lady talked about eternity and as I reflected on time, I realized that in years to come, I'll look back on this time and realize 6 months really did go by quickly. For now, we just take life one day at a time. When we're traveling, it's hard on the boys to be out of their routine and not sleeping in their own beds, but it's so nice to have the support from family. When we're home, it's hard because I feel all the weight on my shoulders of taking care of the boys, our home, life, and trying my best to fill in the gaps of the extra love and attention the boys are missing from their dad, but there's no place like home.

When Aaron and I were first married, a new military friend asked how we met. When I told her about our long distance relationship - Aaron in Colorado, me in Chicago - she said that we'll be pros when it comes to deployments. I definitely don't feel like a pro, but our courtship was great practice for our life situation right now - Aaron sends the boys and me each hand written letters each week; we facetime two or three times each day; technology really is a blessing as we feel so connected to Aaron.

When I start feeling discouraged, I take a minute to count my blessings and it helps me to try and stay focused on the positive. 

Years from now, I pray we'll look back on this time and realize how our family relationship has been strengthened from this deployment and that we can do hard things together!

1 month down...5 to go!

Love you, Aaron!

Fruita again

We drove back to Fruita Saturday night and spent a few more days with my parents. My cousin Megan lives an hour from my parents' house so she and her family came over to join our Olympic party!!

We spent all our time outside and ended our trip with peach ice cream in Palasade. 

 

 

 

 

 

Utah trip

We love visiting Utah and time with family was just what our little family needed.

Highlights:
- Family dinner with the Volk clan then spending the night at Spencer and Mary Beth's house.
-Hiked Bridal Veil Falls with the Gunnells. They're our military friends we love that we knew in Maryland!
- My mom and I had a temple date.
- Angela and I took the kids to Temple Square and toured the new Church History Museum.
- I was grateful to see so many dear friends that live in Utah.
- Angela drove Mike's truck on our shopping trip! It's a huge truck for a small girl!
- We celebrate my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Karen's 50th wedding anniversary with family.

Traveling is always so exhausting, but I love being surrounded by so many people that I love so I'll travel to Utah any day!