The Last Full Week of Summer Break

As I was sitting here reflecting over this past week, at first I couldn't think of many things we did other than living in a filthy house and trying to take loads of our belongings to the new house.
P.s.... how on earth can my current house be such a mess when so many of belongings are already moved to the new house? I mean... I.. I just... I dunno. However, as I reflected on the week with the boys, it was actually quite busy with LOTS of fun! And I now feel less guilty about the pile of diapers, unfolded laundry, papers, and moving boxes :D Ha Ha.

Favorites of the Week:
Travis: Biking with his friend, Ben/ Watching Addie throw rocks at one of our outings
Lacey: Watching Addie/Aaron play out in the rain
Maddix: Taking Sylas to scouts, and having him come play for the day
Aaron: Bike riding Saturday morning
Adeline: Fossil Digging and throwing rocks around

Monday: We went to the park with friends. And at one point Addie put on her Elsa pj's and she and her brother's each grabbed a stuffed puppy and blanket and snuggled up for a movie.

Tuesday: I loved watching Aaron take Addie by the hand and lead her out to play in the rain.

Wednesday: We had friends over to play out front. I loved watching Addie follow her brothers around, all of them eating apples and just being together; her brothers are so so good to her. That night Maddix took his friend with him to scouts.

Thursday: Bubble blowing, lots of friends over all day long, video games, and basketball for Travis that night.

Friday: All day, outside, again. I loved one moment where Avery was lying in the grass and in the background Aaron and Addie were reading books on the porch.

Saturday: Big breakfast. A fun bike ride with the kids (Travis got to go for a ride with a friend here). We then accompanied a few of our friends out to Rockford to go fossil digging. It was so fun watching Addie throw rocks in the water, Aaron scale up mountains like a goat, and Maddix roam around with the older boys just exploring all around. Then we packed up a truck load and while the boys played video games with the babysitter, we went and dropped off the truck load and then grabbed some dinner.

Sunday: One of my favorite Sundays I've had in awhile!! I felt that I actually was able to focus on the sacrament. Second hour was split between walking Avery around the outside of the church to calm her down, and being in YW; both of which, I really enjoyed. During the girls' naps Travis and I played a fun game with the boys. Then I played Beyblades with Maddix. We spent the whole day together as a family, didn't even turn the t.v. on once! After dinner we had F.H.E  and watched some MORMON videos. Then my FAVORITE part of the day was bedtime. I loved bathing the girls. And I LOVED snuggling Aaron and Maddix in his bed while reading our nighttime book!

Both girls were dressed with bunnies :)

Our DIY project

She's busy budgeting and balancing the books

My loves

Me: You massage now??
A: "Yesh; it'sh my new shkill! I learned from gma Donn!"

She is my LOVE!!
She is four days away from 5 months,
and I can't handle it!!!!

~Summer Break with Dad at home~

Having Travis come to Utah made that trip the BEST 

Utah trip that we've experienced since our summer back home in between 

Medical School semesters in Poland. 

Having him home from work for two weeks here in Iowa was also so much fun.

One fun part was during a three day nature camp that the boys were signed up for at Lime Creek. While one boy went in with their group Travis would take the other boy mountain biking on their trails. During their break the girls and I would come and join them for snacks and a walk through the fields. Then the next boy would go into his group and the other would then get to bike. 

Travis said Maddix's favorite parts on the rides are the steep drops, while Aaron's favorite parts were the more technical parts :) Either way, I think they're all pretty awesome. 

Another fun time was when Travis, being as awesome as he is, took the kids down to Des Moines, by himself, to go to a drive-in movie (Lion King/Toy Story 4), camp the night, and then go to the Iowa State Fair the next day! I stayed home because I was sick, plus super burned out, so he killed it as the only parent dealing with Addie... and she gave him a run for his money. He said the only survived because the boys were such big helps! 

They saw lots of strange people, ate ridiculously junky food, and.... MY FAVORITE PART, found a prize winning HOG!! This is my favorite because ever since I met the Johnson family I've heard my father-in-law recite a phrase anytime his children would complain that something wasn't fair, "Now, what's a fair? A place where hogs win blue ribbons." This is something we've continued to tell our children; they roll their eyes every time. 

We've had date nights again, which have been awesome. We went to a fancy dinner and then walked around our down town one night, and then yesterday we grabbed a kebab and then went Mountain Biking; my first time! I absolutely LOVED being able to go be active with Travis, and share in something he's so passionate about. I also loved that he was on our hybrid, trying to mountain bike, so that I could be on his big papa! It really evened us out! 

In Other News: 

Maddix and Aaron have had some fun playdates with friends. 

Travis has been called as a Primary teacher. 

We had to say goodbye to yet another dear family that we love, the Foxes. So. Bummed.

The boys got their class schedules and found out they will be with great teachers and some of their close friends!! 

Also Big News: 

Travis went back to work! He keeps telling me just how much he loves being an attending.

His office was pretty sad and bare, so he took his things and has begun making it his own.

He has a half day every week. He's home by 5:00.He doesn't work weekends...

Is this real life?! 

I feel like we're on a permanent vacation. And i never want it to end!

And the Biggest News 

*for those who've hung in there: 

We bought a house! 

Moving our first belonging into our new house!

And not just any house, our friends that moved to Idaho... we bought their house! 

I won't even try to recap all the decisions, thoughts, and prayers that went into this decision; however, I will say that when the Lord opens the door to where he wants you to go, he has a way of changing your mindset and removing the stumble stones you thought were in the way. And so now we've been cleaning up our house, packing things away, and preparing for this REALLY new chapter in our life. 

Medical Journey.... Done!

My schooling.....Done!

Growing our family.... Done? (According to our plan!)

And now we're heading to a new home and new adventures! 

Iowa State Fair Fun House

Us girlies waiting back home

If only she would just watch a movie like normal American children
(She became a nightmare, I was told)

We should have known she was getting
sick when she refused to walk
for more than 5 mins

Lime creek days

Iowa State Fair

Baseball field Day + Hair dye=
Childhood memories

Yep, she was definitely not feeling well

Always too small to go out and play 

Back to school haircut.. before.

After

Maddix, Aaron, Will, and Lucas

This funny little thing she does :D

Aaron made a hammer
for building his blanket fort

Picked the kids up from a playdate a mile from
our house and they were too tired to walk home.
Yep, Aaron is down in the basket! 

Oh, and the girls are sharing a room now!
And they love, LOVE, LOVE it!

The HOG!!! 

First time using grocery delivery to restock our kitchen after
being gone a month. I may never go back to grocery shopping
in the actual store ever again! 

Maddix took two friends to scouts with him...
member missionary, or trying to punish his leader?!

First day as a full fledged Attending!!

Our last time having the Fox Friends over!

We are so glad these cuties aren't moving out of visiting
range!

Feeling a little more personalized

 Cleaned out the toy room and took a load to the new house

Thanks to Trav's new awesome schedule, I'm able to attend
a 6am gym session and get home to make healthy breakfasts

Aaron LOVES when anyone will snuggle him
and may have bribed her to stay with multiple
bags of chips!

And then we had our 11 year Anniversary! We did our big celebration by going to the Aerosmith concert while out West, and then spent the actual day, August 16th with the kids and enjoying a WONDERFUL homemade dinner. It was SO good! 

Happy 11 years, Love