August 2018

 August meant Derek went back to work at the hospital and the kids were prepping for back to school.

That meant we needed to cram as much summer fun in as we could!

We took the kids bowling a couple of times.

Kael and Eden both advanced belts from the summer. Kael went from red brown stripe to brown belt and now qualifies for an older more advanced class on Saturdays.

Eden went from green belt to green belt with a blue stripe. These kids keep progressing and make us so happy.

Merlin seemed to come out of hibernation! He has become more agile and moves around more often. He slept a lot and didn't eat or poop much for almost a year and all of a sudden he moves, eats and definitely poops more.

We've missed our fun huge lizard being playful with us. It's nice to have him back.

Jacob and Juli got back from Idaho! We decided to celebrate Kael's birthday visiting Pinkston's and had so much fun. He wanted an ice cream cake and Rob's Julie made this huge ice cream sandwich cake, which was so yummy. We had tons of good food. And then had a fire to roast smores and starbursts on that night. Kael was spoiled rotten of course and got tons of presents.

We celebrated all of the Pinkston's birthdays for August as well. Heidi, Patrick, Jacob and Eric all have August birthdays too and it was fun to sing and celebrate. We just missed Eric who had just moved from Idaho to Virginia.

Juli set up this amazing swimming pool that was about 3 feet deep and the kids swam their little hearts out and it was so perfect. We found another huge orb spider and took videos throwing grass hoppers in the web.

I love that my kids are not afraid of bugs and enjoy learning about nature. All four were running around trying to catch grasshoppers to throw on the web and succeeding. 

It was so nice to just sit and enjoy being with family without a care in the world. 

 Kael officially turned 10. Bless this Mama's heart double digits.

He really really really wanted a nintendo DS. We went back and forth if we should get him one or not and finally we caved and Derek found a used one with a ton of games. We had told him no he couldn't purchase one with his money and we wouldn't get him one for his birthday so when he got it, he was in shock and so so happy. He is so sweet and read the cards his siblings made him and seemed so genuinely grateful to his siblings for creating something for him. He is such a cool kid who loves everyone and is such a good example to everyone. I sure love you kid!

Kael,

I guess I can write your letter right here in the middle of this post. 10. You are 10! 

In tribute to keeping you alive for 10 years I have proof of every year of your life. Kael you are a complete joy to have as our oldest son. You amaze me every day with your genuine kindess and goodness that is in you. You strive to be the best person you can be. You try to do better and improve every day of your life. You are an obedient son, loving brother, kind friend, and a genuine good person. The world is a better place because you are in it. You are intelligent, smart, funny, happy, silly, goofy, energetic, kind, helpful, obedient. Basically anything good you are it kid. We are the luckiest parents to have you. I know you are going to accomplish so many great things on this earth. You will help so many people and be an example and improve other people's lives just by being around them. We hope you  had a fabulous birthday and we love that we get to be a part of each one. Thank you for being who you are Kael. Always do your best and you will succeed.

We love you more than words can express.

Love you buddy!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Newborn Kael

2 weeks

1 year old

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

6 years

7 years

8 years

9 years

10 years old

Having the trampoline gone for a couple of weeks was sad, and it's nice seeing that the kids still love being on it. I wish it fit inside our gate though so Connor could jump anytime he wanted so I don't have to be outside.

We held our annual back to school feast. The kids wanted steak, shrimp, bacon potatoes, and salad. It was a feast! This year Derek and I have been praying what to do for our family theme. We always say this year is going to be hard because of xyz and it always is, but this year Derek would really be gone for most of the school year, and not just gone but deployed. Stationed in a war zone. Not cool. My mind was never at ease about anything until we came to the title of liberty. Our family decided we needed a reminder why Derek is in the military. Why our family chose the path we are on. So, when life gets tough and Dad is gone and we are struggling we remember WHY we are here. Heavenly Father sent us on this path and we need to remember it is His plan, not ours is what matters most.

The whole quote:
"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children... (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren - Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored."
Alma 46:12-16

I also loved that the scripture says Moroni prayed. When life got tough for Moroni he prayed, and that is what we should do too. And he didn't pray for himself, he prayed for his people and for a cause. When we stop focusing on ourselves and our problems we can make a change and it can change us. So, we are going to remember our cause and we are going to act to improve ourselves.

I wish I had more pictures from the night, but we didn't really decorate for the feast and it was just so good to be together as a family and have time discussing what is most important to us.

The kids had meet the teacher the day before school started. Eden's teacher had a really fun picture taking wall so we snapped a fun photo of the kids. Their teachers are all such amazing ladies. We are VERY happy and feel so lucky we chose Randolph for our kids education.

Andrew and Morgan came to visit us and we had so much fun. We played laser tag and mini golf and a bunch of the Pinkston's came. Jacob, Juli, Patrick, and Heidi and Kael's friend Jimmy came too.

The next morning was the first day of school for the kids. Derek was home for the first time basically ever for this experience and we all got to walk to school for the first time EVER. Living so close to school is even better than I imagined. The kids are so excited to ride their bikes to and from school and to have some independence. I am going to miss these 3 kids so much during the day. I always enjoy having them home and close during the summer. They thrive at school. Someday we might homeschool, but for now I'm going to try to volunteer at their school since it is so close and they really are doing so well with teachers who are so kind, compassionate, religious, and really put a lot of effort into my kids.

Connor was feeling pretty sad and left out that he didn't get his picture taken for school, so Derek ran inside and made him a picture. I cannot believe the day has come for Elara to be gone all day at school. My little helper and friend to Connor is gone all day and our days are just a little more lonely. I really need to start taking Connor to the library or something because he is so sad.

Our friends the Hunter's moved in two weeks before us just two houses down. It has been so nice having friends SO CLOSE! We all walked to school together and have gotten to walk several times together since.

After we dropped all the hooligans off at school we went to the Alamo and the river walk with Andrew and Morgan and walked around. It was really pretty. The trees are so ginormous and so beautiful. The water eh not so much.

It was so great having that time to just catch up and we are so excited for them to graduate and have baby Silas in December and then get to move out to Texas in January! They are going to be such great parents and we cannot wait to spoil their kids rotten.

Elara had an amazing first day of Kindergarten and surprised her teacher so much when on the first day of school she read a book in front of the entire class. She became a teacher's helper the first day.

Little girl is just too smart.

Derek has been doing lots of predeployment training. Lots of gas mask work, setting up medical areas, mass casualty drills, and shooting guns, etc. On top of paperwork and refilling out paperwork, and thinking he was on a special team and might have to leave early. It has definitely been a roller coaster, but we are figuring everything out. I'm really glad we had so much advance notice to get him prepared because doing all of this last minute would not have been fun and wouldn't have given our family very much time to prepare. But he sure looks cute in his gear. And really that's all that "really" matters right?

That Saturday we went up to San Marcos and went down the river with the Pinkston's and spent the day up there. I don't think floating down the river will ever get old.

 It was such a great idea to purchase a protective cover for our phones so we could take pictures while floating. Totally worth it.

We got a couple more good chicken pictures because if we leave Pinkston's without a chicken picture than our mission wasn't accomplished. We also got to leave with a dozen chicken eggs! I need to go grab some more thinking of it. Yay for fresh eggs again!

We have this door between the dining room and kitchen that swings both ways. I'm about ready to tear it down with my bare hands. It has swung open and nailed poor Elara in the head 3 times and now Connor has smashed his foot in that dumb door.

Derek took this photo. He said that Connor came into the room dressed like this and said, "sing nursery Dad". I wish I would have let him go to church dressed like that. Connor loves nursery. Singing time is his favorite part. The kid loves playing with toys and singing and eating snacks. All of his wildest dreams come true there.

Connor got to play at the Hunter's and had a blast. They have a little boy a year older than him and Connor has loved having a buddy to play with.