A Jack, A Joker and our Ace: Family

Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Friday, November 30, 2018

Halloween and Thanksgiving

Halloween:

I will be very sad when my kids don't want to match or do themes for Halloween. But until that day I am soaking it all in and loving every minute of it! This year we went with the Patriotic theme and had a blast. Kids loved their uniforms and dinner was in true military mess hall fashion, complete with metal trays. The kids got a TON of compliments with how they looked and I was in love with everything they wore!

I was able to spend some time helping Fullback's class party and I snuck over to give a quick hug to Shortstop during his. Then the three of us enjoyed the school carnival and came home to rest and recover before trick or treating. After dinner, we went around the neighborhood and this year when ACE and Tiny were tired, I took them home and the boys kept going. They felt pretty grown up!

His blue eyes looked even more blue than normal in his dress blues.

Cute fighter pilot

He loved his costume but still wanted his face painted like Harry Potter

And this...

...she was so perfect!

Actually found something military theme that fit him!

Mark's sister got him this dinosaur for Christmas so although it is off theme, we had to use it

Thanksgiving:
With my parents in Japan this year and a couple of sisters on vacations, we decided to get a hotel over the Thanksgiving week and spend a lot of time with Melanie and her family, including Thanksgiving dinner. It was so fun and so needed! We spent hours at the hotel pool, shopped a little since we were staying and Farmington Station and then played games and ate a ton at my sister's. The kids loved being in a hotel and slept pretty well for the most part. Staycations are sometimes my absolute favorite!

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!