A Jack, A Joker and our Ace: September 2018

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Back to School

How the summer went by so slowly and so quickly is beyond me. There were days I did not know if I could pull through and do another one and then others that I could not believe how little of summer we had left. Thankfully, my kids look forward to school and Fullback was beyond excited to start kindergarten. I put him in the afternoon class and boy am I glad I did! ACE still has him in the mornings to play with and then he is at school while she naps. It is a beautiful set up. I miss him so much though as he is my little buddy, my cleaner, my helper, my babysitter and my cuddle buddy.
Of course we had our back to school caveman feast, a popular meal for sure. I hope my kids still want to do this when they are in high school.

First days of school are always hard for me. I just miss having my babies all under my roof and sending them out in the world in the care of strangers makes me so nervous but they are so confident and so excited to learn and grow that I try not to let my anxieties cloud their joy. Fullback loved going in for kindergarten testing and thought it was pretty cool to do. He rocked it of course!

First day of 3rd grade

Fullback has the baby and ACE all to himself with big brother gone all day

Kinder testing

Love his little smirk

Running in to each other at school!

ACE just wants to be a part of everything

Goodbyes are hard

But he seems ok

He did it!

My afternoons are spent with these two cuties

Shortstop has a young teacher who is new to the school this year for 3rd grade so I don't know much about her. And Fullback has he most amazing teacher for kindergarten and I have heard nothing but amazing things from those who have had her. I know both teachers are lucky to have my boys so that counts for something.

We also enjoyed the jog-a-thon in the middle of September and after three years of watching his brother, Luke was THRILLED to be participating. The boys were so good to ACE and let he run with them a few laps here and there. Mark was able to see Shortstop run and I got to see Fullback.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Tiny Mike's blessing day

We chose to do Tiny's blessing earlier than I might have done with him being so small because I really wanted my parents to be there before they left for their mission. What a fun weekend it was! We had so many family members come and support and show love. My parents, the Larsen family, the Durazzani family, some of the Weeks, the Connell family and Mark's parents all came. There was a BYU football game that the men went to while the women stayed home to visit and cook and love on the tiny guest of honor. After church we enjoyed pasta and desserts and lots of visiting, laughing and then some crying as it was also the weekend a lot of people said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Morgan. They are staying here to go to the MTC and had to say goodbye to the Twin Falls people. We get to see them a few more times since they will sleep here a week before they fly to Japan. How grateful I am you had both of your grandpas in the circle! You are truly blessed to be surrounded by strong men who hold the priesthood. Your dad gave you a beautiful blessing including having a special relationship with me and the power and courage to reject Satan and to be an example to your siblings. You are meant for great things little man.

Monday, September 3, 2018

Summer

This was a different summer for our family for sure. With Tiny Mike being on oxygen and me recovering emotionally and physically, I just didn't go very many places. Fortunately Mark is the best dad and husband in the entire universe and would take the three older kids on outings or to the park a lot of days after work. He was truly the only reason the kids had dun this summer.
The 4th of July was Tiny Mike's due date so I was struggling emotionally on that day a LOT. Mark took the three older kids to my sister's house for a BBQ and some fun during the day then that evening we just lit off fireworks in our driveway. The boys loved that since we have never really done it and thought dad was pretty impressive with his lighting and running skills. ACE and Tiny were already in bed so I sat in the driveway with my two baby monitors and enjoyed the show. Low key but I think it was enjoyable.
We filled out days with crafts and projects and water fun in the backyard. I went on a couple of mom and me dates with each kids which was good for them and for me.
My mom stayed with use for three weeks right after Tiny was born so basically the whole time he was in the NICU. What a tremendous blessing that was! I didn't have to find people to watch the kids every day as I went back and forth from the hospital to home. I can never repay her for the support and help she provided. Once she left Mark's mom came and stayed for a week and the kids loved playing with Nana. It was nice to have guests and it was nice to just be us again when the time came.
My brother and his family came from California for a few days. It was so nice to hang out with them at a BBQ Melanie threw and to meet their cute twin girls who are 2 and I hadn't met yet. ACE had a great time playing with them.
Mark's sister and her son came all the way from Germany to visit for a few days which was so fun. We had all the Elkington grandkids together!
While my mom was staying with us, she and my dad got their mission call...to Tokyo Japan on a military relations assignment!! What?!? I was so happy for them and of course super emotional realizing how far and how long my mom would be gone. But they go in to the MTC mid September and seem to be pretty stoked.
The best day was when Tiny got off his oxygen and they came and took the tanks away in the middle of August. I cried tears of joy in the middle of the living room as the men closed the door behind them carrying all the wires and tubes and tanks and monitors. If I never hear that beep again it will be too soon. What a great and freeing way to end a summer!

Picture purge!