Visiting Southern Colorado

This picture of Austin on Aaron's head cracks me up. After FHE on Monday, we watched the finale of America Ninja Warrior and the boys always love pretending they're on the show. Austin taught FHE this week on prayer and he was so cute teaching the lesson.

We visited our new favorite park on Tuesday. We're squeezing in as many park days as possible before the weather drastically changes.

I bought baby girl some new dresses and this little cardigan. :) I had 2 coupons to Kohls to use up before the end of this month and these clothes were already on sale so I bought all these clothes for $4. 

On Wednesday I had a Dr's appointment and then the boys and I headed to Southern Colorado to visit my Grandma Pav, Aunt Marilyn, the Hostetters and my Aunt Delzia. I love going to the valley - as a young girl, I'd visit the valley every summer with my family and we'd always get so excited to see everyone. I was excited to share my memories of the valley with my little boys.

Aunt Marilyn made us lunch and then I helped her put together a new towel rack for her bathroom. 

We made a quick visit to Aunt Margaret's house - she's 97!! She's my Papa Thomas' last living sister.

My dad was in the valley on Wednesday night and stayed at my Grandma Pav's house. Eli and Austin ran and gave him the biggest hug. We love our Papa.

Thursday morning the boys collected potatoes from the potato fields. Each morning they also collected eggs from the chickens and helped feed Grandma Pav's cat. On Thursday we went to the cemetery to visit my Grandpa Pavlovsky's grave. The boys had so many questions about death and I'm grateful for the scriptures that teach us that we will see our family members again and all be resurrected.

I drove the boys by my Papa and Grandma Thomas' old house. They always took such great care of the house and yard. I cried as we drove away thinking about how grateful I am for the legacy my grandparents have left for us.

My Grandma Pav has the prettiest wild flowers!

. I’m amazed at my Grandma Pav and Aunt Marilyn – they were both widows at a young age – Grandma Pav in her 30s and Aunt Marilyn in her 40s. They both serve in the temple, continue to serve in church callings and have remained dedicated and faithful to living the gospel. I’m so grateful for their examples and so many times during Aaron’s deployment, I would gain strength from them when I’d think the deployment was “hard” as Aaron and I were separated and then I’d realize that my grandma and aunt had their husbands die and they kept going and enduring until the end.

I sent Aaron this picture and said we need to move to the farm so our boys sleep better. :) They were sound asleep at 7 am and they usually wake up around 6.

Grandma Pav was so kind and let the boys help her with the dishes. She also played her French horn and then let the boys play her old trumpet! 

Aunt Delzia gave the boys these Bronco shirts and they were thrilled!

We returned home Saturday afternoon and were so grateful to be home safely. We missed Aaron! He had a football game and didn't get home until 11:30 p.m. so the boys didn't see him until this morning. The boys and I watched the General Women's conference and I felt the spirit so much. I want to go back and watch it again. 

And today at church a family in the ward gave the boys these cars. They played with them all day! People are so thoughtful!

The weather has gotten colder - it definitely feels like FALL and we're excited about it!

Third week of September

Since our car died last Sunday, we planned to spend the entire week at home so we weren't running Aaron back and forth from work just so we could have a car. We didn't really need one and earlier this month, I had scheduled on our calendar to be home this week to POTTY TRAIN AUSTIN!! It's been a rollercoaster, but it's finally clicking for him and he's suddenly grown up. He's eaten lots and lots of M&Ms as a reward for using the bathroom and he's watched Daniel the Tiger's potty episode on YouTube a billion times this week. 

Here is Eli's batman/superman/boxer look in pjs. He may be whatever this is for Halloween this year.

Austin likes me to lay beside him as he falls asleep for his nap. This particular day he looked extra cute and grown up. So grown up. I've already said that on this post, but he really is a grown boy all of the sudden.

We drove up to Denver with Aaron Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Tuesday night Aaron wanted to check the codes on the Rav. It was still dead and we decided it wasn't worth putting the money in to fix it so we called a towing company that arranged to meet us on Wednesday night and give us cash for our car. The best part of making two trips was seeing the Davis family twice and having dinner with them both nights.

My little cookie helper. He kept saying, "I need just one more bite."

We went on lots of walks this week and one morning we found pinecones. We decided to paint them and they made a perfect preschool craft. 

We bought a new car this week! It's a Honda Pilot. We're excited about it and grateful we were able to purchase a car. 

Aaron worked Saturday afternoon/all evening (he got home at 3 am!!). The boys and I went on a walk Saturday evening to get out all their energy before bedtime.

Church today was so lovely. Nursery was magical - we only have 5 boys. No one screamed or bit or fought. I made it to ward choir this afternoon. I took a quick power nap and then we went on a family walk, had family council, ate dinner, made a chocolate cake and now we're off to bed. 

Grand Junction

Aaron's boss gave the boys this new motorcycle and they're in love!

We went to Music and Movement at the library last week.

I also took Austin to the Dr to see if he had a skin infection in his ear, but thankfully, everything is okay. I LOVE being able to park in the "Expectant Mother Parking" at the Dr's office.

Aaron was able to take Friday off of work so Thursday night we headed to Grand Junction for the weekend. I love when these two hold hands when Austin is feeling scared or sad about something.

Friday morning we went to Starvin' Arvin's. Aaron's grandpa told us about it and we were finally able to try out the breakfast and we looooved it. Papa knew we would because he loves that place too!

I snuck into my mom's choir class at the high school. She's doing a long-term substitute teaching job right now and wishes she would have been a music teacher. I miss singing in high school choir!

The boys have been wanting to take Aaron to Banana's since he's been back from his deployment. We finally made that happen this trip and the boys were ecstatic!

And we're all ecstatic over baby Tanner!!!

Angela and Mike and their family came late Friday night and we were so happy to spend time with them! First stop: our favorite park followed by lunch at Cafe Rio.

Austin picked me these flowers. :)

We celebrated Papa's birthday with Ice Cream Cake from DQ of course!!

Sunday we went to church as a family and then Eli cried when I told him we were heading home after sacrament meeting. He wanted to go to primary with his cousins and was sad to say goodbye. Me too.

Ironically, Aaron and I joked on the way to Grand Junction that this may be the last road trip for the Rav because it was shaking pretty badly on the drive there. Also ironically - we looked at cars while we were in Grand Junction. Most of the car dealerships in CO Springs are pretty far south from us so when there was a dealership close to my parents' house, we drove through the lot and discussed future car options. We both decided that if we get Eli a boaster seat, we can fit three car seats in the backseat of the Rav so we agreed that we'd keep driving the Rav until it died. And then it died on the drive home yesterday!!! We were driving through Vail pass and Aaron commented that the car wasn't shifting gears. He started to pull over and then it started working fine, so he kept going. We went through a tunnel and then coasted down hill a bit when Aaron realized the car wasn't exhilarating any more so he pulled over on I-70. It was raining a little and the weather was cool. The car was smoking so Aaron opened the hood of the car to let it cool off. We said a pray that we'd be protected and then started making a plan. We called our car insurance and they sent a tow truck from Denver that didn't arrive for 2 hours. Aaron randomly called a taxi company from Denver and the drive happened to be in Idaho Springs where he had just dropped someone off. He came to the rescue and took the boys and me to Alex's house. Aaron stayed with the car and arrived with the tow truck a few hours after us. It turned out to be an expensive evening after paying for the taxi ride and tow, but we were grateful to be safe and that we have a savings account for emergencies like this. We're also grateful that Alex lives close and was willing to drive us back to CO Springs. I cried when I said my prayers last night. I felt so much gratitude, that despite this being a little hiccup in our plans right now, we were safe. And, we've been saving up for a car and planning to get one. I'm so grateful that something like this didn't happen while Aaron was deployed. Or when it was winter. Or extremely hot. I almost went to Grand Junction last week by myself, but was nervous to make the trip alone. Again, I was so grateful Aaron was with me when this happened. We had water and snacks with us as we waited in the car and everyone was in high spirits. 

We're happy we could have one last memorable road trip in our Rav. :)

Baby GIRL!

Our family is excited to welcome a baby GIRL in January 2018!! 

I'm as tired as I look in this picture at 18 weeks. Hahaha - Aaron had meetings before church so I got the two little boys ready, spent 2 hours serving in nursery, took a nap and then remembered I wanted Aaron to take a picture of my baby bump. :)

I really thought we'd have another little boy. I love boys and felt ready toss another boy into the boy madness at our house. When we were told we're having a GIRL, I was so surprised and so excited too! We really are just grateful to have another little baby - whatever the gender was!

I'm excited to see Eli and Austin with a new baby sister and to see Aaron with a daughter! The boys ask if they can give the baby a hug and then jump on me! 

It's funny because Angela has 2 girls and just a few months ago had a baby boy. As twin sisters, we've had opposite gender babies around the same time. 

Since I've had 2 c-sections already, I realize this may be our last baby. Oh how we love babies and we'd love to have as many as we're able to - I just also realize that having c-sections are a major surgery on my body. I'm so grateful I've recovered each time and we pray the same will be true for this c-section we'll schedule for January. 

I felt really good at the beginning of this pregnancy and was a bit worried that I didn't feel more sick - well, the sickness really kicked around 18 weeks and I've was able to get some medicine to help me feel better. Throwing up multiple times in the morning really gets to me. 

We can't wait to meet you baby, girl!!! Hello to all the pink that's about to be added to our house. :)