Week 2 without Aaron

 I woke up with a terrible head cold on Sunday morning, but I thought it was allergies. I had a low grade fever and I couldn't smell anything and was extremely congested. I had no energy and wondered what allergy medicine I could take since I'm nursing. When I called the nurse hotline through our insurance, the nurse said I should get a Covid test. Covid is the virus that's been going around during this pandemic so I worried that's what I had. I had a test taken on Tuesday morning and I was extremely grateful that the test came back negative. I still didn't have a lot of energy during the week, but I slowly started feeling better. 

We took a trip to the library. We're reading this book about the soccer team in Thailand that was trapped in a cave for 18 days. It's such a miracle the entire team survived! 

She's sitting up and so smiley these days!

On Thursday we had preschoolers over for a play date again. 

On Friday the boys had eye appointments and we ordered them so new glasses. We found out that Austin needs to increase his eye patch time to 6 hours a day. That means he'll need to wear his eye patch at school. He's been devistated about the whole situation but medical research shows that until the age of 7, kids have success with strengthening their eye muscles with a patch. We go back to the eye Dr. in July so we're hoping for a good report. 

Eli scored a touchdown during the game on Saturday. Both boys played in the rain and continue to have a blast! Austin looks more and more like a football player. Aaron returned home safely on Saturday evening and we gave him lots of hugs and kisses! As much as I hate when he's gone, I realize even more how grateful I am for him and all that he does to lighten my load in the home.

Our neighborhood has tulips that have bloomed. 

I wanted to take a few pictures after church on Sunday since we weren't all together for Easter. I ask Adelaide every day if she's really my last baby. Eli definitely looks ready for baptism which will be on May 1. Austin is always excited to tell me about the primary lesson. Eleanor is happy to be in nursery. 

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I'm grateful we could accomplish the goal of memorizing the Living Christ together! It stretched our brains and now we're going to work on the Articles of Faith. I look forward to my parents coming out to visit in a few weeks and we can recite the Living Christ for them. I pray my children can ponder the words of the Living Christ and have them forever in their heart and mind. "God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son." 

Journal Update

I love posting pictures and writing about what we do each week. Maybe it's because my kids are getting older - Eli turns 8 in a few weeks, but I've suddenly felt like I should write more specific things we've learned each week instead of just a picture update journal. I'll continue to post pictures and let the pictures tell the story of our week. 

Aaron is still in the reserves and he spent 2 weeks in Colorado Springs working at the Air Force Academy. We're grateful for the extra income the reserves provides to our family. It was tough having Aaron being gone this time. We both told each other on the phone that we don't know how we ever survived his deployment where he was gone for 6 months. I didn't feel my best so I think that's why the two weeks seemed extra rough. I got a bad stress headache one day and then threw up and slept the day away. Eleanor watched several movies on my laptop and I was grateful Adelaide slept when I did. I set an alarm so I could know when to meet the boys at the bus stop. I woke up and felt weak from throwing up so I sat on the porch watching for the bus. The bus arrived and I noticed a gray car that wasn't slowing down as he approached the bus stop with Eli and Austin standing in the street preparing to cross. The car proceeded to drive through the bus' stop sign and lights. I watched it all from a distance and broke into tears as I watched the boys wait. I'm so grateful they were paying attention to the situation and that the bus driver was aware too. I told the boys that every morning I pray for safety for the boys at school, Aaron at work and the girls and me as we run errands. In the evening, I give thanks for the safety we had during the day. On that particular day, I poured my heart out in gratitude that the boys were watched over and protected. I felt like angles were standing there at the bus stop watching over them. I hugged them extra tight that night. 

Adelaide is getting so big and I love seeing this sister relationship form.

We love the missionaries! We celebrated Holy Week with an Easter playgroup as well as coloring Easter eggs. 

Austin feels grouchy when he has to clean the bathroom. 

Austin is becoming a great reader and even read to Adelaide! 

On Friday I was able to attend the temple for the first time in a YEAR! It was a happy day! My ministering sister came over and stayed with the kids while I went and did baptisms. Since our temple is opened, but it's still during the pandemic, only 12 people are able to enter at a time. It felt a little rushed, but I also felt so grateful to be able to be inside the temple doing baptisms for my ancestors. I realized later that maybe part of the "rushed" feeling I felt was the urgency in doing the temple work. I know we've missed attending the temple during this pandemic and I'm sure those waiting on the other side have been anxiously waiting for a lot longer to have their work completed. 

The kids asked if we could do Easter baskets on the Saturday before Easter Sunday and it was actually really nice. I felt like Sunday was a bit more reverent so maybe this will become a new tradition. 

We enjoyed watching General Conference! We missed Aaron so much. 

Between the morning and afternoon session, we ran to the boys' flag football game. They're goth improving each game and I love watching them play. 

We grabbed dinner at McCallister's. I fed everyone from $12. I enjoy the break from cooking and cleaning up and feeding the kids for $1/each is definitely worth it. 

On Sunday between sessions of Conference our neighbors invited us over for lunch and an Easter Egg hunt. I was feeling lonely so I was grateful for their thoughtfulness in having us over.

Eleanor took a nap with her sucker.

We finished memorizing the Living Christ and it was one of the most spiritually unifying things we've done together as a family. We recited it together on Easter morning and that's another new tradition I hope we can continue. 

During General Conference, President Nelson announced 20 new temples that are to be built. 20!! I told my kids that's the most I've ever heard being announced at one time. A temple will be built in Grand Junction and my parents are thrilled! 

4 months and Football

Our neighbor's little boy got this fancy toddler car for his birthday. 

Eleanor loves to drive it any time she sees it. 

Adelaide is now 4 months old!! 4 whole months! She's the sweetest baby and I'm so grateful she's flexible with her schedule and oh so happy. 

She loves her tongue and sticking her fingers in her mouth. 

As I was doing the dishes one day, I heard Eleanor singing away. I quietly watched from the other room as she sang her heart out while spinning around the room. She also had all my piano music out. I pray she'll use her musical talents to bless her life and everyone around her. 

Adelady (that's what we call her all the time!) had her 4 month check up and now she weighs 14 pounds - double her birth weight. She got her shots and slept most of the afternoon. I was grateful she didn't have a fever and wasn't too fussy afterwards. 

Eleanor loves preschool activities. I bought a bag of Fruit Loops from the Dollar Tree and it kept her entertained all afternoon. 

Adelaide looks so big sitting up while I fold the laundry. She and Austin really do look like little twins. 

Megan and Jeff and their kids drove to MO for the weekend! Adelaide got to meet her cousins for the first time. 

On Saturday the boys had two football games. It's been so fun watching the two of them play on the same team. Aaron helps out as well and the boys love it. I told Aaron that I know the boys will always remember the time their dad helped out on the sidelines. Eli made several touch downs and Austin got to hand off the ball a couple of times. 

Saturday was busy... after the football games, we ran to the church for an Easter Egg hunt that the youth put together for the primary kids. Last year we were working on the details for the Easter Egg hunt and we had to cancel everything because of Covid. We're extra grateful we can celebrate Easter with our church family this year. 

During the afternoon, we drove up to the Volk's property for the rest of the day. It's nice taking a break from the hustle and bustle of every day life and enjoying time together as a family out in the country. 

On Sunday morning, Aaron took off for Colorado to do his reserve duty at the AF Academy. He'll be gone for 2 weeks and the kids were sad to see him leave. I was too - I cried! At times we've thought about just being done with the military, but it really is a blessing for us and we hated to say goodbye to the retirement benefits, especially because Aaron's time as a cadet can be counted toward his retirement.