Love Week

Austy is growing like a weed and desperately needed some new jeans. Alex recommended Wal-mart and the jeans fit perfectly. 

Wednesday we hosted playgroup and decided to have a Valentine Party. Austin was sad he didn't get to have one at school yet so we turned playgroup into a party. As we decorated these cookies together, I thought about the past Valentine playgroup parties my kids and I have organized with friends in our wards in Maryland and Colorado. I love everything about Valentine's Day and sprinkling love around like confetti. 

I found these balloons at the Dollar Tree and they worked great for decorations and then gifts for my kids.

We had a little craft table and kids enjoyed making Valentines for their friends and people at the Assisted Living Center.

I love my little Valentines. On Thursday school was CANCELED because it was freezing and icy. Aaron even had a two hour delay so we spent the morning a little more relaxed together, which I loved. Eli had a virtual learning day which meant he did school work at home and got credit for it. He doesn't have to make up the day later on in the year! It's fun to be his "school teacher" for the day. The kids decided to spend some time outside playing in the snow.

Our Valentine morning started out with oatmeal with candy hearts. I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches and cut them into hearts for Eli's lunch so I made some for Austin and Eleanor too. 

After a morning playdate with our friends, we visited an Assisted Living Center and delivered valentines and heart shaped cookies to the residents. A friend I met this summer at the splash park told me her mother-in-law is at the center so it was her idea to have the kids at our playgroup party make Valentines for the residents. My friend's kids ended up getting sick so we delivered the treats without her. We arrived right at lunch time so we walked around and said hi to the residents I definitely want to go back again soon and visit. The residents were SO excited to see Austin and Eleanor and one lady said, "We love seeing little kids. Please come back again." One of the nurses said, "Some of these residents don't have any family that come and visit. Please come back again." We'll definitely be back again soon!

The kids were excited for a fun dip as an after school snack.

Eli's teacher sent this. The giant rose made me laugh. I loved Mrs. Aren's kind comment about our Eli. 

As we continue to work hard on our budget, I love looking for inexpensive ways to do special things together. I read a blog that shares cheap things to do in Kansas City. The blog post said that kids could eat for free on Valentine's Day at Mcalister's Deli. Aaron had been to Mcalister's once in Texas and recommended it so we all jumped in the car and headed to dinner. We had the best time together. 

I love my Valentine. Aaron's been gone several Valentine's holidays in the past so I was extra grateful he was around this time. He wrote me little notes throughout the week and hid them. It was a fun surprise.

We returned home from dinner and our friends had delivered Valentine's for the kids. They each got to assemble a Forky from Toy Story 4. They were thrilled!

Aaron did walk in the door from work with roses and dipped strawberries, two of my favorite things.  We watched "While You Were Sleeping" and cuddled. I love that movie because it takes place in Chicago and I loved seeing all the landmarks. 

Saturday morning included another basketball game for Eli. Next week is his last game. At the beginning of the season, he set a goal to make a basket in each game. So far he's accomplished his goal!

At church today I got to help out with the sunbeams so I was able to be in the primary room with Austin and Eli during singing time. It's always a treat to be in there watching them sing their hearts out. Eleanor's nursery teacher told us she sang all the words to "I am a Child of God." Music is what has helped my testimony grow and we hope it does the same for our little ones. 

A quick trip

I laugh every time I find one of Eleanor's toy in a random spot in the house - like when I was preparing dinner and found her tiger in this pot. 

School was canceled on Feb. 5 for the Chief's victory parade. They won the super bowl and 1 million people went down town to celebrate. Our neighbors invited us over for a party and we had fun celebrating the Chief's win!!

On Thursday evening, Aaron and the kids dropped me off at the airport and I flew to Salt Lake for my Uncle Johnny's funeral. The only way I could find a ticket that wasn't outrageously priced was buying a ticket to Denver, spending the night at the airport, and then catching an early flight Friday morning to Salt Lake. The weather was snowy and I prayed that we'd actually make it to Salt Lake in time. When I was walking off the plane, the co-pilot said, "Welcome to Salt Lake." I replied, "Oh, I'm so grateful to be here. Thank you so much." As I turned and stepped off the plane, the pilot was greeting everyone and then I realized I knew him! The pilot used to be in a ward in Colorado Springs! I explained the whole situation and told him how grateful I was to be in Utah. It really felt like a tender mercy to me that one, I had actually made it to Utah in time for the funeral and two, I knew the pilot! 

I definitely was a bit emotional as I walked around the Denver airport. I love Colorado so much. 

And I love the Utah mountains so much too. 

I loved seeing Angela when she picked me up from the airport!!

We rushed to get ready and then we headed to the church for my uncle's funeral. It really was a happy celebration of his life. I loved seeing so many cousins and aunts and uncles. The highlight for me was singing, "Jesus, Lover of my Soul." There is something amazing that happens when family members sing together - we blended nicely. I imaged my grandparents and Uncle Johnny watching the funeral take place. My Uncle Johnny and his family lived in Louisiana for about 20 years and during that time, they would drive through Kansas to see us. We didn't have a lot of family visit often so his visits meant a lot to us. My uncle also did everything he could to serve with all of his heart and follow the commandments with exactness. He promised my siblings and me that when we married in the temple, he would be there.  

Here are all the Thomas siblings. 

It was a special memory for me to be with my parents and siblings.

My cousins really are some of my best friends.

TWINS! It's hilarious how my cousins still confuse me with Angela. Angela had these matching shirts that were given to her from a friend so we decided to dress alike for the family dinner. 

Cute cute kiddos. My kids were sad they couldn't come with me to see their cousins.

Saturday morning I went to the temple with Jenny and then my mom treated all the ladies to lunch. We  dream of having a girls' weekend sometime, but it's tough to make it work so this was a fun impromptu lunch. We also did a little shopping and the day was quickly over!! 

Saturday evening came and my parents dropped Alex and me off at the airport. We shared Cafe Rio and then got to fly back to Denver together and sit beside each other!! (We flew on Frontier and they make you pay to pick your seat. We checked in to the flight at the same time and hoped it would allow us to sit beside each other. It worked!!)

Alex then headed home and I found a comfortable spot at the airport to sleep for the night. I woke up at 5 am and was sooo exhausted. I slept the entire flight back to Kansas City. I did wake up for a few seconds and snapped this picture of the clouds. I instantly had this reminder about the importance in keeping an eternal perspective in all things.

Aaron and my kids picked me up at 9 a.m. and then we rushed home so I could quickly get ready for church. I missed my little family and couldn't wait to give them all hugs and kisses. The kids had fun going to Eli's basketball game, attending a birthday party, driving out to the Volks' property and then eating at Chick-fil-a. 

The quick trip was just what I needed to lift my spirits - I laughed lots and cried lots and was reminded about the importance of families and what a blessing it is that Heavenly Father has established families for our happiness. 

February

January has come to a close and here is what happened during the last week of that month. 

Eleanor is obsessed with shoes, even when they don't match and they're on the wrong foot. 

We had this cake frozen in the freezer and I pulled it out for the boys to decorate for an after school snack. They asked if we could do a Chiefs cake!

I registered Austin for KINDERGARTEN!! He's sooo excited and can't wait. I'm going to be so heartbroken when he leaves. Eleanor is definitely going to miss her playmate. 

We went to the Dollar Tree and Austin asked if he could get a craft for him and Eli to do after school. I love how the boys think about each other. 

On Wednesday we went to the Hallmark kids' museum with our playgroup. It's free and parking is free. I had a gift card for $3 at Panera so we also stopped and grabbed a free cookie. I love free things.

This was a special moment - Grandpa Volk reading books to the boys. 

Eli's teacher sent me this - Be the I in kind. 

And Eli hoped off the bus with this hat and it made me smile. He also lost his top front tooth!

On Friday we went back to the Hallmark Museum with different friends. It really is a fun place for kids to create and make messes and leave so happy with papers and stickers. 

  

We packed lunches and enjoyed lunch at the Crown Center. 

Saturday morning: We had breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Volk before they headed home after being here for 2 weeks. We loved our time with them. The kids were sad to see them leave. They'll be back soon!! After breakfast we went to Eli's basketball game. Eleanor was a great cheerleader!

Our Saturday was packed - I then ran to a baby shower and then we ran to a birthday party. 

My Uncle Johnny passed away earlier this week and I cried and cried when I heard the news. He was one of my mom's siblings that I was extremely close to. I loved him and his dedication to living the gospel and serving. He strived so hard to keep our extended family connected. He sent out family newsletters several times throughout the year and was happy to do so. When I cried one morning, Austin was so quick to say, "Mom, you'll get to see him again." I know that to be true and I'm grateful for the memories I have with him. I attended the temple on Thursday and I felt so close to him and my grandparents and I know they're striving to help us all choose the right so we can be together forever. What a happy reunion it will be, I just know it. I was able to find a plane ticket out to Utah so I'm leaving Thursday evening. The weather is supposed to be snowy so I'm praying I make it to Utah for the funeral. Anyway, I've been reflecting so much about the life I'm living and the way I'm mothering. The weather on Sunday was so beautiful and I wanted to take some pictures with my happy children. I love them at this age and I never want to forget these special years together. 

Our Sunday school teacher taught our lesson and at the end of it, he spelled, "Go Chiefs." So funny. It was the Super Bowl on Sunday and the Chiefs did WIN! When Aaron and I got married, we decided that we wouldn't watch any TV on Sunday. We don't even watch that much TV during the week and Sundays have been easy EXCEPT when it's the Super Bowl. I loved watching the Super Bowl together with my family when I was young and it's a happy memory. I was so proud of the boys for not making a big fuss about the game. We enjoyed an evening with a fire in our backyard where we roasted hot dogs and smores. This morning I showed the kids the highlights of the game and they were so excited to see the Chiefs WIN!