Home Projects

Eleanor helped me make our FHE treat - sugar free jello. It's a family favorite.  

We've been working on our house projects non-stop it seems. It's looking so nice though!! The boys helped me prime the walls in preparation for Aaron to paint. 

Eleanor mixed all the playdough colors together. No seem to mind. Austin made this elephant that I loved! Eleanor wanted to show her creation as well. 

I found Eleanor reading a book to all her friends. Her bedding was being washed and she sat on the bed and started reading. She sure loves all her friends. 

More priming. I spent all day on Thursday priming. Eleanor was a champ and played most of the day by herself. We did turn on music and that always helps everyone feel motivated. 

On Friday we drove out to Duane and LeeAnn's house and enjoyed dinner around a fire. The construction on their house as begun and we enjoyed taking a tour and seeing the progress. We got home around 10:45 p.m and the kids were all asleep in the car. Everyone slept in the next morning and it was lovely. 

Here are more pics of everyone priming and painting Saturday away...

Aaron finished the piano room around 11 p.m. We both love how it's turning out! We have the rest of the first floor to finish. I'd love to have it all done in a few weeks. 

Aaron captured this picture of Austin reading Eleanor a book. These Volk kids are obsessed with books. 

We had a nice Sunday together at home today. The weather was cooler and raining and it felt warm and cozy in our home as we worshipped together. 

Next weekend is GENERAL CONFERENCE and we are all VERY excited about it. General Conference truly is a treat and I'm so grateful we have the chance to listen to conference while in our homes. Even with the pandemic, we're still able to listen to our prophet speak to us. What a blessing! 

Fall is my favorite

We've turned off our AC and opened up the windows. It's nice and cool and so lovely! 

Eleanor discovered this little backpack in our basement and she's been wearing it around all week. She even wore it to the bus stop! She pretends all day that she's going to school. 

Eleanor and I took our 2 mile walk each day this week and we love spotting the colors of fall appearing in the trees. 

The boys wore the same outfits to school this day and I love when they look like TWINS! It reminds me of when I would dress them alike all the time when they were my little toddler boys. 

Eleanor asked me one day if I wanted to color with her. We made designs on the sidewalk and she loved jumping from picture to picture as I called out a design for her to find. 

The boys had a good week at school and continue to love everything about it so much. Eli returned home with his mask and then wore it as a headband. 

On Friday the boys got out early! Yay! I thought our membership to Science City had expired, but because of Covid, our membership was extended for 3 months so we can go until Oct 10. I surprised the kids with a trip to Science City when they got home from school. We had the best time exploring together! 

Even the dinosaur had a mask on. 

On Saturday we cleaned, mowed the grass, folded laundry.. Aaron worked on painting our main floor. It's looking so great! And then we jumped in the car and explored a new hike we haven't been to before - Line Creek Trail. There is even a little train we rode for 75 cents. The kids loved it! It was a great Saturday indeed. I love when our Saturday feels balanced with work/enjoying family time. 

We loved being able to worship at church today. We took Duane to the airport to pick up a rental car for a work trip he's headed off to and Eleanor feel sleep in the car on the drive home. Aaron took her inside and then let her sleep on his shoulder for a little bit. She seems so mature for her age, but she's still our little baby girl, for a few months anyway. :) 

Yesterday Eleanor colored a picture for Aaron and then told him, "I'm going to put this upstairs in your room so you don't forget it." When we went to bed that night, Aaron found the picture she had colored. She had tucked it under the comforter on his side of the bed. Sooo sweet! 

SCHOOL 2020!

On Labor Day, we woke up early, grabbed some donuts and went fishing! 

 

I've set a goal to walk 2 miles each day, so I walked while everyone fished. It was a beautiful morning!

Eleanor took a fishing break and came with me to the playground. 

Labor Day was the last day our pool was opened, so we swam one. more. time. We had the best summer swimming so much!!

I feel like Aaron and I aren't in many pictures together these days. We were both swimming too! :)

We grabbed Chick-fil-a for our back to school dinner. 

Tuesday morning at 6:15 a.m., the alarms went off and everyone was up and ready for school!! There was a lot of excitement in our house. Actually, Eli woke up at 4:45 a.m. dressed and ready for school. I had him lay down for a little longer. He was so excited! We did get to meet Eli's teacher over zoom before the year started and she seems nice and excited for her first year of teaching. I can't believe Austin is finally in kindergarten!! He's been sooo excited for months now. 

And the best part of it all is that they love it. They're thriving! Because we're still in the middle of the pandemic, we realize everything can change suddenly and school may be moved to virtual, but for now, we're grateful each day they can go to school and learn so much. No on even cried, but me!!

The boys are required to wear masks and although I worried for a bit if they'd do okay with them, they've done great. I love that they're learning that they can do hard things. 

So many pictures before school because I want to remember these memories forever! I love these kids so much. Aaron and I are grateful for the eagerness to learn and their boldness to stand up for truth. 

They jumped on the school bus and waved goodbye and blew us kisses! I really was sad to see them leave. I feel like the 6 months of being together every day passed so quickly. I thought about them each all day and couldn't wait for them to return home and tell me all about their day!! 

When I asked Eleanor what she wanted to do since it was just her and me for the day, she said, "Let's go to the Target." We didn't make it to Target that day, but we did go to Wal-mart where we found this folder on the clearance rack. She asked if she could get it for her school supplies. She misses her brothers so much. I love how excited she gets when I tell her it's time to go to the bus stop to pick up the boys. 

On the second day of school, Austin returned home with this craft he did - David! I love seeing the work the boys did during the school day. As I was washing the dishes one evening, Austin came up and stood beside me and said, "Mom, I was nervous to leave for kindergarten, but now I love it." It was so cute! I told him it's normal to feel nervous about something new, and I was proud of him for being so brave!!

On Wednesday evening, the YW met at the church to go on a bike ride. We've lived here for over a year now and I still can't get over how blessed we are to be so close to the temple. It's still closed and we miss it so much. 

On Thursday, the Chiefs were playing and it was an exciting day in Kansas City with everyone wearing red for the game. They won!! 

Austin's teacher sent me this picture and I love how you can see Austin's eyes so happy even with a mask on. 

On Thursday Eleanor had a dentist appointment and she was so brave! We then went to lunch together, just the two of us and did some shopping. I'm excited to watch Eleanor become a big sister! Every morning when I ask her what she dreamed out, she'll reply, "My baby sister!"

I found this Chiefs sweater on the clearance rack! 

I had this activity prepared for the kids when the boys got home from school and they played with this foam as they told me about their day. 

Saturday: We did our chores and then the kids created these rockets that blast off of a straw. 

We met up with Grandma and Grandpa Volk at a park where we had dinner and celebrated Grandma Volk's birthday! While we were there, Austin found this 4 leaf clover! Aaron was sooo jealous and said he's been looking his whole life for a 4 leaf clover! 

On Sunday we had church together at home and Aaron does a great job preparing lessons. He taught about how the Nephites had to gather together for physical safety and how we can gather together with righteous family members and friends to give us spiritual strength. He had the kids each break a stick, which they easily did and then he had them try and break a group of sticks, which no one was able to do. He then testified of the strength that comes as we gather together in families and at church. Speaking of church, we received an e-mail this week from church headquarters with an update saying that congregations may begin meeting together weekly if possible. Aaron said the stake is working on a schedule that will allow us to all attend church weekly starting next month! Yay! During our family sacrament meeting, Aaron asked me to say the closing prayer and I chocked up as I gave thanks for the incredible memories we've had together as we've worshipped together in our home each Sunday. How grateful I am for a living prophet that a year ago asked us to have a more home centered, church supported approach to gospel learning. 

And I'm especially grateful for the righteous priesthood holder Aaron is.