Sunday

Loved this view as we walked into church on Sunday. Little brothers. 

 

I helped in the nursery on Sunday and I loved seeing how my little boys participate in nursery. This picture was on the wall in the hallway at the church and it caught my eye because I haven't seen it before. I love it. 

 

As November comes to a close, we're one step closer to January. Before we left Colorado Springs, my friend Teigan gave us a giving tree to serve during this month. At first I wondered if we'd have many opportunities to serve since we'd be at my parents' house, but the service opportunities have come as I've prayed for them. I don't know why I was so surprised - opportunities to serve just fell into our lap and I'm grateful. It was a reminder once again the prayers are answered - I think even more so when we're praying to know how we can be instruments in God's hands to bless others. 

Grandma's house

Grandma's house in the best. 

Cookies, play dough, walks, and story time. 

 

This picture cracks me up. I tease Aaron that he's a hoarder - an organized hoarder at least! On our walk yesterday, Austin had these three toys in his hand and wouldn't let them go.

 

 

 

Soup kitchen

It was Steele's ward's turn to help at the Catholic Soup Kitchen in Grand Junction. Steele told me that his bishop reached out to ward members asking for more volunteers because there weren't enough. A lot of people had left for Thanksgiving break so more volunteers were needed. I jumped at the chance to go and on the way to the soup kitchen, I started to doubt we could participate. I know a lot of places have an age restriction, but it ended up working out perfectly that we could help. The boys and I peeled carrots - most of them fell into the trash can or the floor but since they were going to be cooked, we washed them off and could still use them. The highlight of the day was serving the food at noon. Eli's job was to hand out the bread and he would say in the sweetest voice, "Would you like one piece of bread or two, sir? Merry Christmas." I had tears in my eyes. I loved it. I loved that my boys could serve beside their grandparents. We hope to do it again at Christmas time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas decorating

The day after Thanksgiving, Jenny and I woke up early to hit the Black Friday sales. We had a great time together and returned home to everyone putting up the Christmas decorations!! 

 

A favorite mom moment: Eli asked my mom why baby Jesus in the nativity only had a diaper on. My mom said maybe she could make a little blanket for baby Jesus so he wouldn't be cold. Austin's blanket was sitting in the living room and I asked Austin if baby Jesus could use his blanket. He processed to get his blanket and then smash it on baby Jesus. Love your willingness to share something that you love dearly, Austin. I pray you'll always be willing to give your very best to the Savior. 

 

And within 1 hour, my boys broke 2 glass ornaments. 

 

Thomas the Train! My parents' neighbor has a blow-up Thomas the Train and every evening, we bundle up and go and say hi to Thomas. Austin will say, "Hi Thomas! Christmas lights up."

 

Thanksgiving 2016

So much to be grateful for! 

I love Thanksgiving and although I cried Thanksgiving morning because Aaron wasn't with us, I'm grateful we could celebrate the day with family. And, I give thanks multiple times a day in my prayers that our family is close and that Aaron has a job that supports our family so well and allows me to stay home. 

The highlights of Thanksgiving 2016 included:

- My dad smoked the turkey. One word: delicious.

- The weather was so beautiful.

- As we were sitting down to eat, my mom asked me where the stuffing was. I completely forgot to prepare it. We all like StoveTop stuffing so I made it in 5 minutes. (Well, I shouldn't say all - the in-laws don't like StoveTop stuffing. Hahaha).

- Austin only ate rolls and Grandma Volks' cranberry sauce. (Crazy that it's been five years ago when Aaron joined my family for Thanksgiving in Denver and we had just started dating. He offered to bring the cranberry sauce. I didn't have the heart to tell him we don't really care about the cranberry sauce. I thought it was cranberry sauce in a can. Then he forgot the cranberry sauce in Colorado Springs so he and I drove an hour to get said cranberry sauce and then drive back to Denver. It was a family hit and we've had it every Thanksgiving since!)

- The meal was extra delicious.

- After dinner and pies, we watched Christmas movies then played Ticket to Ride. I won!

- We ate Thanksgiving leftovers for days and days. 

Thanks for a memorable Thanksgiving! 

Aaron's Pre-Brithday

Aaron turns 29 tomorrow! (November 24)

He's 14 hours ahead of us so we called him tonight before the boys went to bed to sing him happy birthday! I made mini-red/white/blue cupcakes in his honor!

I told the boys today was dad's pre-birthday and we celebrated him all day. 

First, why do my boys think it's so hilarious to take my phone and take a million photos?!

We went to the Dinosaur museum. ate dinner at Applebees, watched a Christmas movie and then ended the night with cupcakes. 

 

    

 

 

This is one of my favorite pics of Aaron and Eli. I love how Eli is looking up to his dad. He's a great dad to look up to. 

 

Singing happy birthday to a dad that just woke up!

 

And the cupcakes!

 

Oh Aaron. We love you tons. Thank you for loving God, our family and our country. What a blessing you are in not only my life, but Eli and Austin's as well. You make this world a better place and we're grateful you belong to us. Happiest birthday! One more year and you'll FINALLY join the 30 club. ;) 

Tuesday

You can't see in this pic, but Eli is wearing his backpack and Evan is driving Eli to school. They love pretending they're grown-ups driving all around. 

 

And we received letters from Aaron in the mail yesterday. I read the boys their letters and then I love how Eli pretend reads his again. 

 

Thriving

I finished reading "The Magnolia Story" by Chip and Joanna Gaines - the cute couple from Fixer Upper. It was such an uplighting book that inspired me to not just survive life, but thrive. Reading it right now really was the perfect pick-me-up I needed during the last two months of this deployment. My military-wife heart wonders where we'll be living as a family the next time the holidays come around. We could still be in Colorado. Maybe not. It's hard to tell, but I can tell that this time with our extended family really is something I'll cherish. Forever.

These flowers were from Stake Conference and my mom got to bring them home. So beautiful. 

 

My mom took Eli with her to do some errands so Austin and I hung out for the morning and played legos. This kid is obsessed with Legos - did you hear that Santa?! He made a tower with all the 4x4 legos, nothing smaller, nothing larger.