November, you are here!

 November and December are fun months for us around here. With kids, I have found that guarantees you are busy. There are so many activities going on and things to do in the community. We have to be super intentional about factoring in rest time. 

But let's get to it. A recap of our crazy busy mixed in with some slow and steady:

We made it to a wedding! And we all got dressed up for it:

We also saw grandma for a few days and put together boxes for children in need. Riley was the only kid home to take them in while the rest were at school. The perks to homeschool: 

Some time spent at home helped us to try and catch our breath.

And making up games on her own. I love this age level, toddlers are so fun.

Riley is working on cooking (learning skills and working on those fractions):

He will actually be doing a lot more of this next semester as I am working this unit in. 

Payton is doing quiz bowl again so I made it to one of her meets:

Payton also has had a few times where she babysat for a preschooler. The kids loved having her at our house and she liked doing all the country things:

Riley won a baseball lesson and did it this month. He learned a lot and loved his time spent increasing his skills:

When Monte, Riley, and Payton went hunting for a weekend I found some fun things for us to do. We went to a fun play world that is indoors:

We read together:

We got out to the park and walked a local small town:

And, of course, we talked to our family while they were out and about:

They didn't get anything hunting this year but Grandpa did. Overall, they had a great trip.

We stayed back as Jayden had a football banquet to attend. It was good to see this sport wrapped up:

We went to the movies one night. It was free and we were the only ones there. This was the only picture I got as we left!

I got out and ran the dirt road a few times by myself! It was so good for the soul.

Another park picture because I don't have enough of them:

Homeschool. These are the days:

We saw the northern lights from our house. We then used that special night and created a fun art project for riley at school the next day:

We got out and tried to take pictures for a family Christmas card. We typically work with a photographer but I felt like I ran out of time for that. So I tried it on my own and it turned out okay:

When my oldest two were very little we used to go outside and collect art. We would then take the art collection and put it on paper. Lastly, we would paint the art project. I had forgotten all about this and Payton came in from walking outside with Avery. They collected all sorts of nature so that Payton could show her how to do this. All the kids decided to do something artistic during that time:

A day doing nothing but creating art is a day well spent. 

We also got out one day to walk the park and Riley chose to fish. He didn't catch anything but Riley is in his happy place fishing. I caught this picture of him:

We caught this picture of Payton reading with Franklin when we visited a local library we had never been to before:

After a hard morning of homeschool, Riley decided to get in the hot tub. Not a bad day I would say:

A random picture of a happy Avery:

I made sourdough bagels for the first time:

A random picture of my kids working on a project at church:

We got snow! And thus proceeded to sled:

And then we hot cocoa it out to warm up and watch a show. 

Thanksgiving was a good time with Monte's family and my parents came up to stay with us. I enjoyed this time. The only thing I really have to show for it was my bread bread I made. The teeny one is for Jayden. It was delicious:

As soon as Thanksgiving was over, we set up our Christmas tree:

Avery has been obsessed with it and we are all obsessed with her cute gingerbread pajama set and her sweet foods and gingerbread pajama set. We are already counting down the days until Christmas break!

October, We See You!

 October was a full month of fun. I have a lot of pictures to share but also wonder if I just take more pictures typically this month. I personally love Fall and feel like the weather makes me want to bottle all of life up. We kicked off this month with my birthday, which you can read more about here:

My birthday flowers were a highlight for me:

A few of our kids had dress up days at school. I know they dressed up the whole week but I only have a few pictures to show for it. One day was come as a famous singer:

And school spirit day:

Random selfies I find of my daughter:

I took two kids to listen to John Cook and Jordan Larsen speak and it was AMAZING. So good and so motivational. I hope my kids use these words spoken to fuel their sports paths. 

Harvest started and ended in this area this month. Our privacy fence came down and is always bittersweet for us. The marking of another season ending and a new one beginning:

We tried out harvesting our own chickens for the first time, just to see how it goes. Trying to decide if we do our own meat chickens or not in the spring. I did not help but Riley and the grandparents helped Monte do:

We took a trip to a corn maze:

We made it out, alive!

On Fridays we go to a nearby town for Riley to take a homeschool PE course. He is loving it! We also stopped at the park one day to spend a few hours before class. We saw the gorgeous flowers, played in the sand, stared down the water, fished, climbed, and played at the playground. I even packed us a sack lunch. Highlight of my whole week:

We climbed their lookout tower:

Then, we finally made it to the PE course:

Random Avery pictures. Toddlers are so sweet sometimes and always on the move. I capture her any chance I can get (both with the camera and with my own two arms for a hug).

We watched Payton play in two volleyball tournaments:

We are all always so proud of her. Her sister is her biggest fan:

They medaled at one of the events and that was so fun to see:

At a local fundraiser, Riley won (with his own money) a private baseball coaching session. And, he loved the session!

My mom came to visit at the same time we happened to have a local sno cone vendor out and about:

We added a new rooster to the flock and he is beautiful and adjusting well! Hoping he stays docile:

We went to a homeschool Halloween party. I was a hogwarts student. We also had a zombie baseball player and little red riding hood in tow. 

Riley and Payton completed a clay ghost project with our local library. Both turned out great!

And his ghost art picture he made with a group at the library:

Jayden wrapped up his football season. They will have a banquet to celebrate in November. We were really sad to see this team end. They served a meal to our family's after each and every game. This was such a good time. 

I saw a few of my friends not once but twice for crafting! A true rarity. 

Riley is really into art this year and got a new desk to focus on his art projects. I love seeing how creating he can be. 

We added an extra pollinator house to our current motel. Isn't she a beaut? 

We went on a homeschool field trip to the fire station for fire prevention week. Both Riley and Avery enjoyed trying on the gear and seeing all the trucks:

Riley made some special, silly pretzels. They were gone in one snack session but a true fan favorite.

Riley took on an owl pellet dissection and really enjoyed! Jayden helped some and Avery enjoyed watching. 

We made it to the pumpkin patch!

One day before PE class we took a trip to Target. I am not sure why but the balls in front of the store are such a magnet for kids. Mine always want a picture with. 

And just a few random pictures of real life homeschooling. Avery does activities (or what we're doing) right along with us. Sometimes its pure chaos and other times I catch the most beautiful moments. Also, staying in pajamas and a robe for school is a real perk to homeschoolers. I am just saying.

And a random photo of a school art assignment.

We also had a steam activity done at our house, so all the kids joined in and learned about volcanos:

Payton took on a babysitting job a few times this month and really enjoyed her time. So did Avery and Jayden. They love having a bonus kid around for a bit. 

Payton went to her first dance! It breaks my heart to say that. She doesn't seem that age but she is. She dressed Halloween related as it was encouraged. 

She had a great time. I volunteered to chaperone the dance and it was fun to see everyone. 

Then came Halloween! We had several opportunities to dress up. My two cows, the mama and her baby:

Jayden, the scarecrow:

Riley, the chicken:

I made a vehicle display for my in-laws to use for the trunk or treat:

It was farmed themed!

We all had a blast and the live chickens display was decided by Riley and a huge hit!

We went to a football game! We had a total blast. Avery stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa and enjoyed her time, too. We drove there and back with a morning game so we were back in time for bedtime:

We ended the month with HALLOWEEN. We had our school party, complete with bowling, dancing, and trick or treating for homeschool. 

We had to show the rest of the fam when they got home:

We also went to the children's museum in costume for a few hours:

Payton's outfit for school on Halloween:

I took a knight out to the nursing homes for their event. He was the only one that wanted to go:

Then, we trick or treated until we couldn't feel our feet. Literally, it was a cold night. 

That is a wrap on October 2025. See you in November!