Every day was costume day in the choir room!  My office had the occasional costume hanging around from various shows and those costumes occasionally made trip to the hallways or to the office.  A few of Aaron's favorites included poofy netting hoop skirts--a bright red one and a "Wicked Green" one.  And Aaron was so thin, we had to pin it to his clothes or it would fall straight down.  Some of the kids that liked to hang out and dress up were the same kids that held leads when they got to high school and were in musical productions.  We would occasionally talk about which part we thought Aaron would have tried out for.  Some of the roles were obvious, but we also discussed how he would transform certain roles into something uniquely Aaron.  Even though those kids are all graduated, I still catch myself thinking back to all of the kids, including Aaron, and what part they would fit in the current musical.  Well, Aaron, would you play Boq? or Fiyero?  I wonder what you would have done with the Wizard role!!      

6 or 7 students that varied some every day, but always included Aaron and his good buddies Colby and Hailey, decided to hang out in my music office/choir room/music classroom every morning before school.  Some days, we talked about random things, practiced choir music, danced to whatever CD was in the machine, worked on bulletin boards, played games on the white board, danced to "The Hustle", taught other kids how to do "The Hustle",...one day we tried to sing every song out of one of the Christmas books.  Mornings were always entertaining.  Some mornings included discovering kids could collectively play songs on the boomwhacker but one particular morning included Aaron lining up the boomwhackers and playing a song all by himself.  We watched him fly from one stick to another but, by golly, he hit every note!  
      

Aaron Eilerts of Eagle Grove, was a young boy scout who sewed and gave away many pillowcases to hospital patients and made napkin holders for the Senior Center. He was also known for helping a friend or neighbor. He was one of four boys who were killed when a tornado devastated the Little Sioux Boy Scout Ranch in June 2008. When students at Robert Blue Middle School Learned of the tragedy, the staff started a blog page in memory of Aaron. Here students and staff were able to express their feelings. Here is what Principal Scott Jeske wrote about Aaron:

Aaron was the most giving student that I have ever had a pleasure to know. Everyone that you talk to has a story of how Aaron did something to help them or help someone else, not because he was asked to but because it was what Aaron was all about. I am sure it was a combination of the upbringing provided by his parents and his dedication to scouting that molded this young man into a young gentleman who got the most joy out of helping and serving others. I think that that is a rare concept with many people today. I remember hearing stories of Aaron making a pillow case for one of our high school students who had lost his things in a fire. He made items for the humane society, the elderly, patients in the hospital etc. I came into my office one morning after starting as Principal at the High School and there on my desk was a tie with EG on it that he had made for me. That tie will always be one of my treasured items. Another day I was given a framed poster that Aaron had put together that is up in my office that says "NEVER GIVE UP-Go Over, Go Under, Go Around Go Through, but never give up" Why did he bless me with these things. I never taught Aaron, or was his coach, or his principal. He did it because he was always looking for people that he could something nice for. I lift up my prayers to Bob and Carol, and the rest of the family and hope that God can give you strength through this difficult time. The entire Eagle Grove Community grieves with you and will be there to support and help during these times. I read a book by Stu Weber called "Tender Warrior", which was about the true attributes of what being a man is all about, and Aaron truly was a mighty tender warrior.

In 2007, Eagle Grove did not have a pool due to the construction of their new aquatic center so Aaron decided to join Clairon's swim team.  Any opportunity to be around pretty high school girls was always a possitive thing for him.  He had a wonderful swim year and made lots of new friends.  I admired him for wanting to walk into a swim team where he knew no one and try to fit in.  He was immediately accepted and had a lot of fun at their team meets and in the team camp.

This picture was taken in August of 2008 during the back to school open house at the Robert Blue Middle School in Eagle Grove, Iowa.  Aaron was 13 in this picture.  He was in the 8th grade.

Aaron and his friend Colby were in the High School Muscial production of "The King and I" when they were both in the 7th grade.  Colby and Aaron had a special friendship and enjoyed being in musicals and just jamming on the piano together.

Aaron was in Cross Country in Eagle Grove and loved to run.  So every year he and Bob would enter the Gregg Harris Memorial 5K which took place in Eagle Grove.  Usually it was the weekend of the 4th of July.  Aaron enjoyed running Cross Country not so much for the "running" but for the team camp. He also like track and swim team -- every sport where there was a team camp.  Social time.

Aaron was an avid Elvis fan -- okay Elvis nut.  This is the Halloween costume we came up with in 2005.  As Aaron went out trick or treating, it began to rain so the cardboard guitar also made a nice umbrella.   

I found this Santa suit at a garage sale for Aaron.  He was so excited when I brought it home in July.  He wore it for 3 solid weeks.  It began to stink.  I told him that we needed to wash the Santa suit and put it away until after Thanksgiving so that Santa wouldn't get upset with him for stealing all his glory.  So I finally got it away from him, washed it like 8 times and then hid it in the Christmas decorations in the basement.  The day after Thanksgiving he had that suit back out and wore it every day.  I finally took it away from him at the end of January as it stunk again.  I washed it about 8 more times and then hid it again for the next Christmas season.

When Aaron was in the 6th grade we visited a quilt shop not far from Eagle Grove where they just happen to be offering a class on how to make a pillowcase.  Aaron asked if he could take the class, so I shopped and he sewed.  He had some knowledge of sewing because we were putting together a blue jean quilt.  Aaron picked out his fabric and made his pillocase in record time.  As we left the quilt shop he held his pillowcase and said "Mom I want to make these for kids in St.Jude's Hospital".  I told him that maybe we needed to start a little bit smaller as I was thinking as a mom and that he would start this project and mom would be the one doing all the work.  Aaron contacted our local Wright County Hospital and made a presentation in front of the hospital board.  They were excited to start the Pillowcase for Patients program.  Before Aaron's death he had made over 400 pillowcases that were donated to the Wright County Hospital for children 18 and younger to use while staying in the hospital and then take them home with them.  There was a group of high school students that started the group "Aaron's Advocates" and continued on his project of Pillowcases for Patients and are still donating pillowcases today.

And by the way, Aaron would never let me pay for any of his fabric.  He would use his birthday money or money that was donated or money he made babysitting.