Volk Family Pictures

A friend's son was taking pictures for a fundraiser. I rarely buy fundraisers, but this was one I didn't mind paying $30 to help with his robotics team. The photo session was 5 minutes so it was short and sweet. I smiled as I watched each of my kids smile for an individual shot. I'm so grateful for these pictures and my family I love dearly. 

Adelaide age 3

Eleanor age 5

Austin age 8 

Eli age 10

While I'm here, I thought I'd include a copy of our family Christmas letter for this year! My only regret is that I didn't include that Austin got baptized this year. He got baptized in March and I wanted to include that in the letter, but I forgot. 

Eli (10) – 5^th grade, viola, flag football, summer swim team, piano, reading, teasing siblings

 

Austin (8) – 3^rd grade, Pokémon, Legos, soccer, piano, summer swim team, trading fidgets at school

 

Eleanor (5) – kindergarten, dance, artistic, learning to read, tried soccer, but danced on the field instead

 

Adelaide (3) – music class, story time, errands with mom, asks when she can go to school

 

Amanda – turned 40!!, homemaker, Barre (even talked Aaron into joining her a couple of times), loves any reason to bring people together 

 

Aaron – still in his 30s, learning guitar, teaching early morning seminary, Thailand temple dedication, traveling for work

 

As we close out the year, we reflect upon the birth of Jesus Christ. Like most families, we kept the less admirable characteristics of our family out of our letter! Who wants to hear about how much we fight and insult each other? But, like most families, we do that from time to time. We find ourselves in constant need of forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Thankfully, we can find all of that through and because of our Savior! And so can you and your families! We echo the testimony of John the Revelatory who said, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow declared, “The dawn is not distant, nor is the night starless; Love is eternal! God is still God, and His faith shall not fail us; Christ is eternal!” We honor Christ for His infinite and atoning sacrifice which strengthens us in our weakness and makes us whole again when we do wrong. We invite all to know the joy of following Christ! Merriest Christmas! Love, the Volks

December - week 3

Adelaide and I went to the school to attend the class parties for the kids. The parties only last 30 minutes so it's fun to pop in and say hello before running to the next class to see what another classroom is doing.  

Eleanor was excited to show Adelaide around the kindergarten pod. 

Austin was thrilled with his party snacks. 

CHRISTMAS BREAK! Austin had a procedure done on his tongue so we weren't sure how he'd be feeling on the first day of break. He woke up feeling pretty good so we decided to go to Science City. My kids loved it so much. We all loved it! Whenever we go to a museum together for the entire day, I have flashbacks to when we'd spend the days exploring together before anyone had school obligations. 

We also had a free pass to the zoo that expires at the end of December. We woke up Saturday morning and the weather was on the warmer side so we decided to jump at the opportunity to go to the zoo. Aaron hasn't been to the new aquarium yet so we were excited to walk through it with him. 

After the zoo, the kids had a birthday party with a Barbie theme. A new barbie movie came out a few months ago. We haven't seen it, but thanks to our dentist, Eli had a sweatshirt he could wear for a costume. Our kind neighbor also let the kids borrow some of their stuff for costumes. The girls got to get fake eyelashes and makeup. 

It was quite the party! It was thoughtful of our friends to invite all my kids. 

CHRISTMAS EVE!! My mom always says that Christmas Eve on a Sunday is her favorite. It's my favorite too! We woke up and got ready for church so we could be there an hour early to practice with the choir. Our Sacrament meeting was spirit-filled and music-filled. Eli sang with the choir with Aaron and me and I cried as the choir and primary sang, "He is Born the Child Devine." 

We spent the rest of the day baking vegetable muffins (to get some veggies in), sugar cookies (to deliver to neighbors as well as decorate for Santa) and fudge (Austin followed a recipe with three ingredients). It was crazy at times with all of us in the kitchen, but I did love being all together!

We ended the evening with a candlelight dinner around the table. We read the birth of Christ in Luke 2 and then sang Christmas songs around the piano. Music was a big part of my Christmas worship as a kid thanks to my mother so I'm doing all I can to keep that tradition alive with my own family. We intentionally wanted to keep Christmas Eve as our own family and it was lovely and special. I'm so grateful for the joy we feel because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. I love that we talk of him every day, and not just at Christmas time. 

December - week 2

I've been working on our dinning room and I love how it's coming together. I hosted a birthday play date with my friends for my 40th birthday! I love bring people together. I don't love surprises so I didn't want Aaron to plan anything haha. My friends are nice to come and shower me with gifts and friendship, even after I insisted they don't bring anything. 

For my birthday dinner, we grabbed Chipotle and then went to Union Station and the Crown Center. 

"It's Christmas time in the city!"

The giving machines are a family favorite!

Little Adelaide cried because she thought she'd get to take a dog home after selecting "Pet Theory" from the giving machines. This is such a simple way to serve! I went to bed so overcome with gratitude for the last 40 years of my life. I cried thinking about what the new decade will bring.. my kids will be so much older when I turn 50 in 10 years. Oh how I want to make sure I cherish these days with them, even when it's hard and I feel like all I'm doing is breaking up fights some days. 

Eleanor made a very cute headband at school. Adelaide came with me to my OBGYN appointment. I feel like I was just going to the dr for my pregnancy appointments and here she is already 3!

My kids have done great practicing the piano so I took them and my piano student Paul for a treat after school. They were thrilled because getting frozen yogurt is a treat we don't do often. 

Every time we're in Wal-mart, Adelaide asks if she can hug a squish mallow. She'd love one for Christmas!

Eleanor wishes she had glasses so she wore this pair for several days. 

Eli had his orchestra concert and we were pleasantly surprised how awesome they sounded, especially because they only have orchestra class once a week!!

The kids helped me make dipped pretzels, my favorite Christmas treat, while Aaron and Eli went and did some Christmas shopping. 

A neighbor asked if anyone wanted to join them for caroling and we all agreed it would be a fantastic way to spread Christmas joy in the neighborhood! We loved it and want to make this a Christmas tradition each year!