Fun Run and Field Trips

Aaron had a work trip this week. I decided to give the girls a hair cut for the summer. They loved their new styles. I love their cute smiles. 

On Thursday the kids participated in their school fundraiser. The event was moved inside due to weather. We were all bummed the location moved, but the kids still enjoyed themselves and made money for the school. This is a fundraiser I'm happy to support - I love seeing them run instead of selling random stuff no one even wants to buy. 

Like always, Adelaide was a great cheerleader!

Go Austin Go!

Go Eli Go!

Adelaide enjoyed the bubbles!

Eleanor was excited for her first time running! 

Go Eleanor Go!

Aaron returned from his trip on Thursday afternoon. We're always excited to have him home!

On Friday, Adelaide and I enjoyed going with Eleanor to her field trip to see a play - Goldilocks and the three bears. 

There was an option to sign your student out for the rest of the day so of course I jumped at the chance to have Eleanor spend the rest of the day with us. We had lunch at the Crown Center and did a little shopping as well as seeing the Wizard of Oz Exhibit. 

Adelaide always loves when her siblings arrive home from school! 

Eleanor took time to color and leave notes on the porch of our neighbor Dianne. She was thrilled to wake up to a package on our doorstep Saturday morning with her name on it. Our neighbor is very private and quiet. We don't see her outside much. She wrote Eleanor the sweetest note and included this red fox in the package. She also told Eleanor that she would tape up the picture she colored into the window. Eleanor's eyes lit up the first time she saw her picture in Dianne's window. This experience reminded me once again that everyone really does want to be noticed!

It's rare that Aaron has to work on Saturday, but this time he had a conference so he was gone all day. Eli had football practice and Austin had a soccer game. The team lost, but Austin enjoyed playing against his friend and he was happy for Carter's team to win, since this was their first time winning all season!

I don't have a picture - Saturday afternoon the kids and I attended two baptisms. One of the baptisms was for a deaf man we've met that the missionaries are teaching. He'll now be in the other ward, but we wanted to attend his baptism. I cried as I felt the spirit so strongly. The baptism was preformed in sign language and this was my first time experiencing this. After the baptism. Ricki, squealed with delight and signed, "I feel so happy! I feel so close to heaven."

 On Saturday evening, Meghan invited me to join her at the soccer game. KC BABY! It was fun to watch the team score 5 goals!! KC really is the best city. 

Sunday morning:

We have church at noon now. I made a big brunch and then we all got ready for church. Aaron has meetings now so while he was in meetings, the kids and I took a temple walk before our sacrament meeting started. The flowers are stunning! 

Thankfully the kids did great as we sat without Aaron in our row since he's now on the stand. 

I've been called to teach the youth Sunday school class (ages 13 and 14). I'm so excited! My heart was sad that my time in primary was only a year. I loved being in primary with all my children. As I prepared a lesson this week for the youth, I knew that this was the calling for me at this time. The youth were so involve and participated in the lesson. I know teenagers get a bad rap sometimes, but these youth were outstanding. This class is in 7th and 8th grade. My heart is nervous at times of the big changes coming Eli's way as he goes to middle school in the fall. Being with the youth today reminded me that it will be okay. These youth have testimonies and they're confident in sharing them! 

 

North Dakota

The kids discovered this zip line in another part of the neighborhood. They had a blast. I went back there to check it out. They laughed their heads off. 

I braided Adelaide's hair for the first time. She looked so cute! 

Aaron's Uncle Rick was killed in a tractor accident. We were so sad to hear the news. Aaron was traveling for a work trip the following week so we didn't know if we would be able to make it to the funeral. When the funeral was on a Monday, the day before Aaron's trip, we decided to drive to North Dakota on Friday and spend the weekend visiting family before the funeral. ND reminds me so much of Kansas. I love seeing the tractors and farmland. 

We stayed with David and Mary. Their house is across the street from the grocery store so getting a donut has become tradition when we visit. 

Adelaide always enjoys playing with the babies. She even got to feed this baby a bottle! 

Funerals are always so sad and so special as well. These kids enjoyed their cousin time. 

We spent the night at a hotel with Spencer and Mary Beth and their kids. We swam and ate Wendy's together. 

This poem in Rick's funeral program made me cry. Rick was so kind and welcoming to me as I joined the Volk family. He was quiet and confident and taught his boys to be the same. He was service minded and was the first person to jump in a help wherever needed. I'll miss him!

After hugging everyone goodbye, we packed up the car and headed home. We cherish our family time. It's a blessing living 8 hours from so much extended family in either ND or CO. 

On our drive home, we stopped for dinner at Jimmy Johns. We were the only people inside the restaurant so we enjoyed reading all the signs. 

Adelaide is so thoughtful and prays for Uncle Harman and now Aunt Sandra in every prayer she offers. (Sandra is Rick's wife.) A friend in our ward dropped off these flowers and said she was sorry to hear the news of Aaron's Uncle. I felt like these flowers were an answer to Adelaide's simple prayer. 

 

General Conference and solar eclipse

General Conference is the best!! After Austin's soccer game, we drove up to Duane and LeeAnn's house to spend the night and watch conference with them. We love getting away. Their home feels like a cabin for us. Conference was inspiring and motivating and reminded us to improve and be more like the Savior. More temples were announced!! Adelaide won for guessing the right amount of temples - 15! Temples are dotting the earth! 

Between sessions, the kids and Aaron fished and rode the 4-wheeler with Grandpa. 

During conference, the kids colored, built Legos and snacked. 

We got to see the solar eclipse! It was beautiful. The weather turned chilly and it got darker as the moon went in front of the sun. 

A friend sent us a playlist of songs about the sun and moon. We listened and had lunch outside and admire the beauty of the world. The school kids got to take a break from school work and go outside and watch it too. 

The kids got gift cards for frozen yogurt in the Easter baskets. We went on Monday after school because it's half price!

Aaron and I require a lot of these kids. We run a tight ship, but they rise to the occasions. It's fun to treat them with a treat. 

Here are Eleanor's spring picture proofs. 

Eleanor lost her second tooth!! She was scared to have it come out. She finally agreed to let me pull it as it was dangling there. She hugged her squash mellows as I pulled it out! She wrote a note to the tooth fairy and she laughed when it was a tiny note back to her. The next morning, she couldn't find the money and was excited to find it folded up in treasure box. 

Speaking of teeth - Eli is getting an expander in his mouth. He had to get measured for it and begged me to take him to lunch after his appointment. I love a lunch date whenever possible! 

After lunch, we took Eli back to school. Adelaide fell asleep on the drive home. She stayed asleep as I carried her into the house. I snapped a picture of her. She suddenly turned back into my tiny newborn baby who loved sleeping on my shoulder. Moments like this make my heart so grateful that I'm a stay at home mom! I get to be the one to hold my sleeping toddler in the middle of the day! I think she's going through a growth spurt!

With Aaron now in this bishopric, he has meetings and youth activities during the week. The PTA had a fundraiser at Culvers. I fed the kids dinner home and then we went to Culvers for ice cream. It was fun to see Mrs. Monaco! 

More napping pictures. Adelaide was mad at me and was trying to escape her car seat. She feel asleep mid-fight. As we waited for the kids to walk to the car from the school, Adelaide remained asleep.