Holy Week

We love celebrating Easter and love even more celebrating Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. I have a little book that explains what events took place each day. 

On Monday for FHE we took a walk around the temple. It truly is a blessing that we live minutes from the temple and we're able to go on a temple walk after dinner. 

Adelaide loves wearing sunglasses whenever she find a pair to put on.  

I woke up early and went for a walk before everyone woke up. There was a bit of fog in the air and I loved seeing the light reflected above the temple. I wonder what it will look like when the Savior comes again. 

On Wednesday, Austin had his first music performance. With covid last year, he didn't have a kindergarten music performance so this one was extra special. The songs were all about Thanksgiving because the program was scheduled for the fall, but then again because of covid got pushed back until the spring. Either way, it was fun watching Austin share all that he's learned in music class this year. 

On Thursday several friends asked me to help with their kids. I've been working a lot on my calling with the RS so I haven't scheduled a lot of playdates for the girls. As I prayed about help with this, several friends asked me to watch their kids. I laughed because babysitting wasn't really how I was hoping to focus more on my girls, but I know answers to prayers come in different ways than we expect. 

The boys didn't have school on Friday so Aaron took the day off. He planned to take them to AR to float the river where the YM plan to go this summer, but the river flooded so the trip was canceled. Eleanor was happy about the trip being canceled because that meant she got to go camping at Grammy and Grandpa's farm with the boys and Aaron. They had a lovely time. 

Adelaide and I had a fun time going to the RS activity and preparing for our Easter weekend. It's hard to believe that at one time I had just one baby at home. 

On Saturday Aaron was asked to provide security for a church event all day. It was a neat opportunity for him. Eleanor woke up with a fever and with Aaron gone, she was a good sport and sat in the car watching a movie during Austin's soccer game. Austin scored 2 goals and was close to making several other points. He was on fire!

During the afternoon, I organized the neighborhood Easter Egg hunt. It was so fun to see so many kids come and participate! 

Next we were invited to a color party - I went with the boys so the girls could keep resting. 

Since the girls couldn't attend the neighborhood Easter Egg hunt, the boys planned a hunt for the girls around the house. It was so cute!

Sunday morning was simple and sweet. Maybe that's why I love Easter so much. 

Eleanor woke up saying she felt a lot better but when it was time for church, she had a bit of a fever again. I gave her some medicine and we headed to church. I probably would have stayed home if it wasn't for Easter Sunday AND our family had been practicing for weeks to sing in sacrament meeting. I was praying for a miracle because we had worked so hard to memorize the song "Beautiful Savior" from the primary book. It came together nicely and I loved seeing so many people smiling in the congregation as we sang our testimonies of Christ. 

You're not suppose to take pictures in church, I know...  a friend snapped this picture and sent it to me. I'm grateful to have it. I love my little family and all that we're learning together as we navigate this world. 

 

I wish we could have gotten a family picture together but with Eleanor not feeling well, I came home from church early with the girls. We're grateful for Jesus Christ and the joy we feel celebrating Easter knowing that because Christ lives, we will live again after we die. 

Technology

Between conference on Sunday, we gathered some primary children to sing to an elderly sister who is close to passing away. The spirit was felt by everyone in the room (including family members of this dear sister that are not active in the church) as the children sang primary songs that testify we are children of God, Heavenly Father loves us and God loves us. During Conference, 17 new temples were announced, including one in Wichita, Kansas! President Nelson has now announced 100 new temples. So amazing!

We all got involved in the NCAA tournament this year - look, for the first time in my life, my bracket won haha. Go KU!! It's fun that there are so many basketball games to watch during the week, and not on Sundays. 

After music class, the girls and I took a minute to play at the park! I've been swamped with working on my RS calling. Sometimes I feel like I'm not giving the girls enough time and then I had the spirit remind me to be grateful that my children can see me serving. I learned to serve alongside my parents so I'm praying the same is true for my children. 

Aaron had to be into work super early on Tuesday so when he was home early, we were excited to have him join us for our trip to the library. 

We've been decorating eggs over here! 

Papa stopped by!! He was headed home from some meetings and stopped by for a few hours. I cried when he left - it felt like old times in CO when my family would stop by for the afternoon. I miss living close to Alex and my parents. Papa delivered flour for us. Time to make some bread. 

On Saturday Austin scored a GOAL in soccer! Yay! He's improving more and more each day!

Thanks to Youtube, I was able to watch the streaming of the Bahia Blanca temple ground breaking. I cried tears of joy as I thought of all the faithful saints that will have a temple so close. Currently the members in Bahia have to take a bus 8 hours to Buenes Aries to attend the temple so I'm so excited for them to have a temple in Bahia!!

General Conference

Monday at ballet was a happy day as Eleanor got her recital costume! 

She looks like a very cute unicorn!

I can't believe next year Eleanor will be doing Pre-K at home. 

We found these cute preschool supplies she's been working on. 

We put Eleanor's costume on Adelaide and we laughed as she danced around the living room!

Aaron worked late one evening so after picking up the boys from Lego Club and going to the library, we decided to grab dinner at McCallisters. We love that we can all eat for $12.

Friday we cleaned our house in preparation for General Conference weekend! The girls love to scrub the toilet. I feel like just yesterday I was cleaning the toilets like this with Eli and Austin beside me. 

I had the best April Fool's joke. I found this little bag of Lucky Charms at the Dollar Tree. I ate all the marshmallows and put this bag on the table. The kids were crying as I laughed so hard. I thought it was pretty clever myself! Lucky for them, I had a box of unopened Lucky Charms in the garage. 

Friday afternoon everything worked out for me to attend the temple with my friend Debbie who got baptized in January. She went for the first time and it was so special. I cried as the temple worker reminded us that we can pray every day for the Holy Ghost to be with us, like when we received the Holy Ghost as we were each baptized and confirmed a member of the church. 

Duane and LeeAnn came to spend the weekend with us and we were able to go to the temple Friday evening to do sealings. It's rare that I go to the temple twice in one day so I felt extra grateful that friends and babysitters were available to watch my kids so I could be in the temple, especially before General Conference. 

Conference is the best. The very best. We love hearing the talks and feeling the spirit together in our home. I'm always recharged and motivated to be even better and try harder each day. 

Our kind neighbors invited the kids over to decorate some eggs. They decorated them between the morning and evening session of conference on Saturday.