Summer adventures

Aaron and I signed up for the KC half marathon that's in October. It's on a Saturday (which so many are on Sundays these days) so we decided now is the time! I'm not the best runner, but my goal is to walk half and run half. Monday morning I ran to the temple and back. I love the peace I feel running around the temple so early in the morning with the birds chirping in the trees as the sun rises. 

We unpacked the scrapbooks I've made for the kids. The books take a lot of work and I often wonder if I should continue making them, and then see my kids looking at them again and again. 

The boys' chores each day include watering my flowers!

Tuesday was free Chick-fil-a day. It's tradition to pull out all my craft supplies and let the kids create cow costumes. We had lunch at one Chick-fil-a and then dinner at another one. 

I bought play dough for the boys and they've played with it for hours and hours each day. I love watching their little minds create and imagine.

During an evening Come Follow Me discussion, Eleanor went and set on Eli's lap. It was so cute!

We checked out the Science City museum downtown and the kids were so happy. They love all things science and we spent the entire day there exploring. We can't wait to go back!

There's also a train exhibit at Union Station that we checked out as we left the museum. Everyone was mesmerized with the tiny train details.

Swimming, swimming and more swimming. This is where we spend most of our summer days after we've completed our work! Eli can now swim the width of the pool and Austin is swimming without his floaty and Eleanor jumps off the edge. Little fish!!

Thursday was free slurpee at 7/11, the one day a year my kids each get a slurpee. ;) 

We then went on a temple walk. The kids were showing off their red tongues as I snapped a few pics. 

Wow, so many treats this week it looks like. Aaron worked Friday evening so the kids and I spent the day at Ikea getting a few items for our home. They asked if they could get an ice cream come and I said YES. I really did forget about all the treats we had this week. Oops.

And more swimming, but with Dad this time. We cleaned and worked on house projects all day on Saturday and then swam for an hour before bedtime. Getting a home in order takes a lot of time and everyone has been pitching in to help. Swimming together was the cherry on top of our work day!

Today in church one of the speakers talked about journal writing. He said "Don't let perfection stand in the way of production. Don't let style get in the way of substance." I'm trying to be more intentional with my blog writing and show the things we've learned as a family and I'm trying not to show just the "fun" pictures I've taken through the week, even though family fun is definitely important to a successful family, I think. 

I've felt rather emotional lately - I feel homesick for all things Colorado. I finally put together some of the emotion I've been feeling and when we were in Colorado, Aaron was gone so much and my heart yearned for him to be at home with us, especially on the weekends and going to church together. Now Aaron is around more and is enjoying his job so much. I'm happy that he's happy. My heart misses Alex and her kids and spending summer days with so much family and the close friends we made while living in Colorado. I know it will take take to feel "settled" here and I'm trying to remind myself to be patient. :) I found out that next Sunday is National Ice Cream day and we decided to invite families from the ward over for Root Beer Floats.. Our house isn't completed organized and set up, but I know that will take time. I love hosting and being surrounded by friends so I'm really looking forward to it. I'm so grateful for the gospel and the instant friends we make by having similar beliefs and standards. 

 I can't believe Eli will be in 1st grade and gone from home for so long. I loved having him go to half day kindergarten and enjoying our Fridays together. I worry about him being at a new school and riding the bus and having an iPad. I felt so overwhelmed by all of this during the week and Aaron was able to comfort me by reminding me that as we help our children learn how to stand up to temptation now, they'll be better prepared for the future when they have even more temptations and trials to face. Oh I wish I could keep my children right by my side but I'm excited to see them grow into who they are meant to be. With these thoughts and worries on my mind, I had several moments of inspiration during my run this week. 

*As I started my run on Monday morning, Aaron let me know exactly where I needed to run to and then turn around for home to make it to 3 miles. As I was running, it helped so much to know exactly where my end goal was. I focused on getting to where I needed to be instead of running until I got tired, like I usually do. Mentally it helped so much! I had a self-reflecting moment that as I help our family and myself keep our eyes on the end goal of being a celestial family, we can better be prepared to know how to react when faced with daily temptations and distractions. 

**The Kansas City temple is beautiful. As Aaron and I were doing research on this area, I was surprised to discover that the homes around the temple aren't in the best school district. As I ran to the temple this week, I thought about how the temple and the new homes being built in the neighborhood have made that area so much better than it was before. I had another self-reflecting moment that instead of focusing on the bad influences that my children will be exposed to as they attend school, I want to focus on the good influences they can and will be on others, like the Kansas City temple is in this area. 

This week I finished listening to all of President Nelson's General Conference talks. When he was called as a prophet, I knew many people that underwent the challenge to listen to all his talks, including my sister Alex. She kept telling me how great of an experience it was for her and encouraged me to embark on the experience. And I'm so glad that I did! I loved it! In one of his most recent addresses, he talked about what a privilege it is to be alive right now! It is a privilege and I immediately felt gratitude for all that my children will be able to learn and experience while being on this earth at this exact time! President Nelson also talked so much about temples. I'm striving to improve my temple attendance and pray that by doing so, my kids will see that temple worship is a priority for Aaron and me. 

It's been a great week. I can't wait to share what inspirational moments I have this week. :)