Labor Day

Aaron did a garden experiment this summer and planted tomatoes in two places in our backyard and at the side of our house. Our backyard doesn't get a lot of sun so our predication was correct - the side of the house produced the most tomatoes. I froze some of the tomatoes and then made salsa and spaghetti sauce. 

 

Aaron made homemade vanilla custard and Eli made chocolate chip cookies. Add them together and you get the perfect Sunday evening treat. 

On Labor Day, our family participated in the Temple Run - Aaron, Eli, Austin and Eleanor completed the 5K while Adelaide and I walked the 3k. The kids did complete in the 100 meter kid dash! 

We took a family picture with the temple peaking through - can you spot it?!

Tuesday morning it was time of the kids to get back on the bus for another day of school. 

Our pool was opened for one more week so we took full advantage of it and swam as much as possible. 

This $4 floaty from the Wal-mart clearance rack provided hours of fun. My heart smiled as the kids laughed their heads off together. 

While I dreamed of having lots of flower bouquets and only about 6 flowers bloomed, I was grateful to have these three beauties at our table for every meal. 

On Friday, Adelaide and I were excited to meet the kids for lunch!! Eleanor was very obedient to following the lunch room rules and didn't want to share any of her food. I reminded her that I paid for the food so then she was kind enough to share. She grabbed chocolate milk to eat with Coco Puffs - at least she did get carrots and kiwi. 

Austin's friends joined us for lunch too! I love getting to know the friends they are associating with each day. 

Eli's friends joined us too. I'm so grateful my kids have become friends with other Christ-loving families. 

On Saturday, the boys each played soccer and flag football. After the games, we grabbed some ice and the kids sold snow cones! 

Aaron taught seminary this week and he dozed off for a minute on Sunday as he was studying. Adelaide asked me to take her pictures - she looks so different without her glasses. She does a great job wearing them, but sometimes it's been hours before I realize she still hasn't put them on. 

We enjoyed a wonderful stake conference - my notes included the importance of acting on promptings the minute I think to do something for someone. 

Life moments

Adelaide misses her siblings so much during the day, especially her best friend Eleanor. Adelaide cried this week and then shouted in the car, "When will I be old enough to go to school?"

Seminary started this week. Aaron is back at it. 

I watched several toddler friends on Wednesday. Our house looked like a preschool. 

She's good at helping me collect the tomatoes each day. 

I found a pair of football cleats for Eli on Facebook marketplace just in time for Eli to start football practice. After the gym, Adelaide and I ran down to pick up the cleats. I realized we were 10 minutes away from Wonderscope so we took advantage of the fact that we get in free until Labor Day. Adelaide did a little art class then we ran to pick up the kids from school. 

While Eli was at football practice, the girls and I played at the park. Austin has soccer practice on Thursday night too so Aaron took him to practice. Thursday evenings are a bit hectic, but I'm grateful that the rest of evenings we are home together as a family for dinner. 

I love this scripture on the bench as I'm entering and leaving the gym. 

I found these cute hair scrunchies for Eleanor. Her hair is so long!

We considered going somewhere this weekend since Aaron has Monday off and the kids are out of school, but home is where we needed to be this weekend. We swam at our neighborhood pool after doing on Saturday chores. In church today, several of the testimonies were an answer to our fast as we've prayed for a confirmation that public school is right for our kids right now. So many people are pulling out to homeschool. At times it's tough seeing so many people pull out. I know the world needs the little testimonies of our kids to shine bright.