Today

Today was so good. We had a small cold snap and now we're back to warm late summer/early autumn temperatures. Samuel was all over the place and was quickly soaked from splashing in the water. Soon enough he will be running right along with Aaron and Lucy.

Made It

We finally took our first family temple trip! It was a long day, but such a good one.

After dropping off Jonathan at the temple, I took the children to the Witte Museum in San Antonio. It was much larger than I expected. We enjoyed the large dinosaur bones and digging area.

Then we headed over to the treehouse area designed for children. We played with water outside and plenty of fun building toys inside. Not surprising, Aaron ended up building a train.

There were also lots of scenes set up with taxidermied animals in what would be their habitats. The children loved finding deer and kept saying it was either Bambi or Bambi's mom. We will definitely be going back!

After Jonathan finished at the temple, we met up and had a picnic lunch outside. Aaron remembered floating sticks and leaves in the water feature and he couldn't wait to play in the water. I was inside the temple, but heard that the wrong stick floated away from Aaron and it was not okay. Thankfully, it floated back.

I love these three and the bond they share! Aaron and Lucy were obsessed with finding leaves and sticks at the temple. Initially, Lucy picked a freshly planted pansy for me and I had to explain that we don't pick flowers from the temple. 

After we took pictures, Lucy was in awe of a bride in her beautiful dress. I told the kids she looked like a princess and they loved that.

I had a wonderful time in the temple. Before the children were born, I wanted to live in the temple. It was hard to go back to normal life, but now I'm satisfied with spending an hour or two in the temple and then go home. These three have brought some of heaven into our home. Sure, our house in a lot messier and louder, but it's still much more heavenly than before.

We waited until we were in San Marcos to stop for dinner. We like going to Hat Creek Burger because all three children like the food and there is a good outdoor play area for them to run or crawl around to get a break from sitting in the minivan. Samuel borrowed a soccer ball and he was surprisingly good at dribbling with it.

We nearly ran out of gas on the way home, but thankfully we didn't before we got to a gas station. And when we were within 20 minutes from home, Lucy had an accident in her car seat. In her defense, she was completely asleep when it happened. We cleaned it that night, but still forgot to reassemble her cars seat before church so we ended up being a bit late. Otherwise, it was a fantastic temple trip and I look forward to doing another one next month!

Note: we also were able to get a few of the new style of garments. Jonathan loves the fabric and will be transitioning to this style because the fabric is so effective at cooling him down. I had less success with finding items in my size, but I was able to get new bottoms and the half slip. I love how fitted the new fabric is and I really liked the half slip. Next summer will be the summer of dresses and skirts! It will be so much cooler!

Almost

I feel like we're almost done with Aaron sitting in the car shopping cart. It's hard to see him growing up so quickly. Four years ago, he was Samuel's size. Now he's a big boy with so much he wants to learn.

Simply the Best

I absolutely love having a baby in our home. There's something so spiritual and life giving about it. Samuel is already 9 months old and is such an active little boy. Thankfully, he still relies on two naps each day. It helps me believe that he's still a little baby.

Progress

This morning, Aaron wanted to visit our Austin Texas Temple. I liked the idea, so we had a simple picnic lunch to enjoy while we visited.

Samuel is not a little baby anymore. He was all over the place. He destroyed his sandwich and played with rocks. It's hard to let him grow, but he's such a fun boy!

Jack-o'-lanterns

The day before Halloween, we finally got pumpkins and (I) carved them. I forgot to take pictures of the pumpkins before setting them in the front of the house so they did look better, but I still want to remember our pumpkins.

Lucy needed a minion pumpkin and we named it Bill. She loved talking to it after I finished carving it. Aaron was very particular about his vision for his pumpkin. It needed triangle eyes and a triangle nose but it had to have 6 flat teeth. He helped me design it on the computer to make sure it was correct. He named it Shark Eater. Apparently it can eat sharks. I lost steam for pumpkin carving, so I wrote Boo! on Jonathan's pumpkin. It was too plain, so I added three little ghosts for our little ghosts. I realized that I should add two more for our sweet little ghosts in heaven. Then Samuel and I had plain orange pumpkins and I'm okay with that.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Christopher Robin, Kanga, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and baby Roo!

Even though we were sick, we went trick or treating around our neighborhood. It was just the right amount before I was done. We offered the option for the big kids to do more, but they were happy to come home too.

Samuel is a tiny daredevil! He kept standing while I pulled the wagon around. He kept his balance, but man is this kid built differently!

Back to Back

Lucy rarely takes naps at home. For the most part it's okay. While we're all sick though, she's taken naps on back to back days. Her locations and positions are unique and reminiscent of when I was a toddler that regularly fell asleep in the middle of playing.

Sleep on and get healthy again little Lu!

Oops...

We have finally rectified a major gap in our tiny Texans exposure to their native culture. We finally took the children to their first football game.

Jonathan serves the young men in our congregation and not surprising most are busy this fall playing football. We went to support one of the boys and it ended so well. We were late and their first two possessions went really badly, but he stuck with it and the last drive ended with a touchdown and the two point conversion. It was great to see them push through.

Lucy and Samuel were enthralled with the game and Aaron make friends with a boy that had cars to play with. It was a great start and we plan on trying to make it to more games before the season is over.

How Are We Already Here!?

I mentally was not prepared for our latest milestone. There are some recipes that I'm already needing to double in order to feed my family. I can't be too surprised since Samuel is obsessed with eating whatever they rest of us are eating. Tonight, he decided that the exact same food that was on his brother's plate was far more appetizing than what was on his plate. He's lucky he's so cute!

Yesterday

Yesterday was the best day I've had in a long time. These two sons certainly help make mornings even brighter.

At the last minute, I decided to make a couple of new recipes for my foodie group potluck. The kids did great! They requested a car shopping cart and at first I wasn't sure all three kids would fit, but they did and they all loved it!

I still can't handle how cute looking at the backs of their heads. Aaron and Lucy were very excited to see that there's a "pumpin" patch inside our HEB.

Lucy helped me make a homemade funfetti cake.

I forgot to take any pictures of last night with our friends, but it was great. We even came home with a bit of cake and a few stuffed bell peppers.

I really enjoy our group and this was one of the first times we included our families which was good since we usually have way too much food!

By the end of the day, my feet were more sore than my back! I am so excited that I'm really healing though I'm mentally preparing for another set back just in case. God is so good!

New Printer

We celebrated getting a new colored printer by cutting out colorful shapes! For the bast few years, I've heard good things about Epson ecotank printers and so we finally got one. This is the one we got. It's nice because you buy ink instead of an ink cartridge and if you run out of one color, you don't have to replace all of them. Here's hoping it's a good fit for our homeschool!

Sunday is the Best Day

"Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden,

Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed.

He’ll safely guide you unto that haven

Where all who trust him may rest."

First verse of hymn #117 "Come unto Jesus"

By: Orson Pratt Huish

It felt so good to be back at church. Yes, the seats were uncomfortable and so I wasn't too sure I would stay the whole time but it was just what my spirit needed today. What a week! Something that I'm seeing is a surge of men and women choosing to learn about Jesus for themselves. It is powerful and uplifting me to be better at living what I believe. My prayers are shifting to focus more on those around me that are strangers because I know Jesus knows and loves each one of them. I am so grateful that I had parents that introduced me to Jesus as a baby. I still had to choose to get to know Him and I am so grateful that I have. I still have so much more to learn and change and grow, but I know I can trust Jesus to be with me through it all.

So Sunday

"I believe in Christ; he is my King!

With all my heart to him I’ll sing;

I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,

In grand amens my tongue employ.

I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.

On earth to dwell his soul did come.

He healed the sick; the dead he raised.

Good works were his; his name be praised."

Hymn #134 I Believe in Christ
By: Bruce R. McConkie

We did another church at home week. The children have been congested and didn't want to spread any germs in their classes. After dinner we went to the Austin Temple. It is so exciting to see the progress each time we visit it.

Aaron and Lucy love finding "tools" to play with as well as throwing rocks. The work site is clean so there's not too many screws or nails but they find a few each time we visit.

Sleepy Sunday

"Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control: That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate And hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well with my soul; It is well, it is well with my soul."

Second verse of hymn #1003 It Is Well with My Soul

By: Horatio G. Spafford

I was able to hold Samuel for his morning nap today and it fed my soul. Samuel then got in another good nap at church. Healing is coming, but it's still slow.