Weekly Happenings

This week Eli started a little preschool at Monkey Business - it's just 3 weeks, on Monday and Wednesday. Since I'm home full time, I didn't want to pay for him to be in a full time preschool. He starts kindergarten next fall and then he'll be in school forever! I cherish this special time having him home and seeing Austin and him play together. Eli was so excited to go and Austin cried when we drove away. Sometimes I'm going to scream because they fight so much and then moments like this help me realize they really do love each other. :)

Austin and I went to Wal-mart and after shopping, he got to ride the horse. 

For preschool at home this week, we used candy corns to make pumpkins, trees and work on counting.

Our ward Trunk or Treat was on Wednesday. Face painting, balloon swords and fishing for candy were the highlights.

I ordered these little bows for baby girl. Can't wait to receive them in the mail and to see our little baby girl wear them!

I've been wanting to read this book and decided to listen to it this week. I bawled the entire 4 hours. Usually I'll clean up the house or fold laundry while listening to a book, but I just set on the bed and sobbed. The Parker family lost their little girl during the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in 2012. At the time this tragedy happened, I was pregnant with Eli. Now having little kids of my own, my mother heart strings were torn as I listened to Alissa Parker recount all that happened and the pain their family has gone through. It was extremely spirit filled as well as she talked about the miracles and tender mercies they've experienced since it happened. This sweet family is determined to make the world better instead of being bitter. It was the type of book that made me realize how precious and each day of life truly is surrounded by our loved ones.

On Friday, Aaron's work had a trick or treating event. We went last year and the boys were so excited to go again. This year was even better because Aaron was here instead of deployed!! The boys wanted to be their dad again and I was happy the costumes still fit. Win/win!

Friday night my cousin Tylen came to stay the night. The boys love him! We love having family visit.

Aaron didn't have a football on Saturday so we were looking forward to having a relaxing day at home. And it was a relaxing day, just not the type of relaxing we were expecting. Austin was in his room when all of the sudden we heard him start to cry and cry and cry. Aaron was taking care of some work stuff, I was in the shower, and Eli was coloring. We weren't sure what had happened, but when Austin wouldn't stop crying and wasn't using his left hand, we knew something was wrong. We took him into the urgent care, and after some x-rays, the dr confirmed she saw a small fracture. I'll take him to our regular dr this week to get things squared away. Poor kid was in a lot of pain. He's doing a lot better today. I was glad Aaron was home so he could go in with Austin for the x-ray since I'm pregnant. We watched a lot of movies and cuddled on the couch and ate frostys.

Last night and today we had stake conference. A new stake presidency was called and it was exciting to see changes and sustain new leaders. 

October is lovely

Austin is so obsessed with this dog costume. He wears it for breakfast, lunch and dinner and any time we're at home, really. The sunrises/sunsets the last few weeks have been gorgeous.

Wednesday the boys came with me to the dr and loved hearing our baby's heartbeat! As we left the Y, the snow cone truck was there giving out free snow cones. And then chick-fil-a was giving out free breakfast. 

We're attending a kids concert by the Colorado Springs Philharmonics in a few weeks and there was a information class at the library. The boys learned all about the different types on instruments in the orchestra as well different time periods of music.

On Thursday we went to the pumpkin patch with our friends the Bensons. The weather was lovely!

On Friday, the boys had a lemonade/apple cider stand to raise money for the hurricane victims. The news heard about the garage sale that was going on and ran a story for the news. 

Working hard. Hahah - Eli is a natural salesman. To every person that came to the garage sale, he would say, "Would like some lemonade? $10/a cup." Hahaha.

On Saturday we took down our swingset and Aaron put the bunkbeds together for the little boys. They're excited to share a room. I'm excited for them to have brother bonding time.

This week starts our Halloween festivities and we're all excited about it! Bring on the Halloween candy! :)

October

Aaron had the day off on Monday for Columbus Day! It's always a treat when he's home. It was cold and snowy. He made us cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then we went to Sam's to stock up on food storage. We spent the rest of the day at home working on house projects and the boys played in the snow. 

I forgot to post this pic last week from Aaron's fancy award's dinner. I love when he wears this uniform!

The boys got hair cuts this week. I usually cut it, but decided to have it done better than I can do so Eli looked sharp for his primary program!

The weather was so nice on Wednesday so we ran to the park so I could take some fall pictures of the boys. Austin snapped this baby bump picture of me. :)

I need to load the pictures onto my computer. I was able to get a few great shots!!

And the boys want to dress up like their dad again for Halloween. The costumes still fit! Easy enough!

On Friday we helped our friends set up for a garage sale where the money was given to hurricane victims. 

And I just finished reading this book this week. I loved it so much.

Aaron had a football game on Saturday so he worked all day. The boys and I went to the library and a baptism. At the baptism, I felt like the boys were loud and I wondered why I went alone and pregnant and tired. I cried during "I am a Child of God" and thought about the book I just read - I feel like I'm literally wrestling my little boys at times to get them ready for church or a baptism, but I know it's worth it.

And today Eli participated in his first primary program! It was so great! His line: "I can choose the right by obeying my parents." He kept giving Aaron and me a thumbs up. :) Austin kept asking when it was over because he wanted to see Eli. Eli made this crown in sunbeams and he's been wearing it all day. I'm grateful for primary teachers that put so much time and effort into teaching children.

I ran to choir practice today and came home to everyone asleep. 

And here is a picture of the primary children in Cerri - one of my favorite places where I served in Argentina. I love how the children are all matching!

And this is a sweet couple my companion and I helped get married. He was baptized when he was 17, but then stopped going to church. They were living together and we taught her the lessons, helped them get married, and then he baptized his wife!! It was a special time on my mission. And now they have 2 boys and are getting ready to have another one! :) She's in the primary presidency and today was their primary program as well.