August 2023

 Our month went by and I am writing this in October because life is going so fast I can not keep up. At all. A newborn and 3 elementary aged kids is a season that is more of a blur than having all my 3 littles at home with me. I am loving life though and all that this season brings. There just isn't a free moment though. But that is probably why this blog is so important to me. One day, I will want to remember and explore this time. And this will help me. 

Here was our August:

We made a trip back to my hometown and saw all the aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. It was so good to all be together.

The baby just keeps growing and keeping life fun!

She also won't stop growing and hit the 4 month mark! Such a sweet, happy baby. She lights up when she sees us and loves to show she's excited by shaking her arms and legs as fast as she can. She is trying to wave and make kissing noises. We are so, so lucky she is ours and are all still in shock God gave her to us. 

We are always on the look out around our house for things in nature. An example of life in nature. A bird's nest complete with 2 eggs and also a baby bunny in the grass.

Nature also brings storms and that sometimes means cleaning up. I spotted the kids one morning outside working as a team on picking up fallen tree branches. 

As we approached back to school and the official end of summer (to us) we celebrated with a night out at a restaurant, a rare treat for our family!

We try to make food fun around here. Recently our household has been really obsessed with energy balls and bars (the above is a copycat perfect bar). The kids celebrate any time this is made. Payton has also been learning to make these on her own with no supervision from the adults. A real win in our book as the adults still get to participate in eating the treats made. 

                                                           

I mastered the art of cinnamon rolls! This is a true feat for me as I have worked for years (and failed) to figure out a recipe that works for us and makes beautiful rolls. This was a huge deal for me after a decade of no success. And they are dairy free so that Jayden can enjoy them, which made him so happy.

                                                             

We also tried a new recipe: Pumpkin chocolate chip bread. It has been fantastic and has been made several times since the first bake. 

                                                             

                                          

                                                           

We got the kids out to the pool and they met up with some friends! This was the first time Avery swam, too. Otherwise she had gone to the pool many times previously to sit poolside with me and watch the kids complete swim lessons. 

Jayden on the eve of going to school. Why can't we keep the kids little forever?!?! The next morning after this was taken, he headed to kindergarten. And I can still cry thinking about that day and how it was for me. He had a great time though. 

                                               

                                               

                                               

Then, I blinked. Summer was over and the kids (all 3 of them) are in school now. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. It seems like they should all still be home with me climbing into my lap all at once and begging for another story to be read or a show to be watched. How true it is that you never really know the last time you get something until it's over. I'm praying for a good school year and that they shine their light as brightly as I see it shining at home. 

Jayden still loves a good activity at home. He wasn't feeling well one day so he stayed home from school but perked up that afternoon. I pulled out an activity for him to do. We ready curious george goes to the dentist and then made different mouth puppets. 

We got outside one afternoon and played while we waited for Daddy to come home. 

I was also able to run the kids to the children's museum one evening after school. It was so good to be back and do one of our favorite things. 

We got out for a night of smores. 

The boys were playing outside and I saw them get the stroller. I went out and took this picture and asked them what they were up to. Jayden was Riley's baby and Riley was taking care of him. Their imaginations never cease to amaze me and I am almost always entertained by observing them play. 

One day by total accident all 3 kids wore their shirts to school that we used to announce Avery would be added to our family. They begged me to pick them up from school with Avery in her outfit. And, so I did. They of course wanted to get a picture of this moment. My heart melts. 

We all agree that this was the best mic drip we have ever witnessed.

One day on the ride to school, Payton asked for my phone. I later found the above pictures. These girls found a way to stay entertained on the ride to school!

That was our August! Fast, fun, a blur and now we are back in the full swing of school!

July at Our House

 I'm writing this as September is on the cusp of arriving. I don't know why I procrastinated this post so much. I tell myself I was just busy with a baby and living life. This is true and I just didn't want to start this post. Summer. One of the most beautiful seasons for me as we are free from school and our schedules are so loose. Yet, it was another jam packed month of so much of everything. I blinked and school started back up again and I found myself in a new season, one of just me and a baby while 3 kids went to school. It's been such a transition for me but more on that next month, which I will need to start writing on as soon as tomorrow! 

Here it is, the highs of our summer 2023. I am so thankful to God for this sweet little life I am able to carve.

We kicked off the month of July with the 4th and all the celebrations that come with it. This is about the one time the kids stay up late and they aren't afraid to remind us about that! They love this time together and plan out the entire day for us complete with smores and fireworks, meals on the campfire, and moving the camper onto the property to pretend camp and have single round eliminations at the game of spoons. 

We also celebrated our first son's birthday this month! He turned 8 and it was so great to spend the day celebrating him and all the great things he brings to our life. He is so easy going and sweet and kind. He wanted to invite one other family and the grandparents to play laser tag at the arcade place and this arrangement just totally sums up who he is. He likes things simple and easy and doesn't want us to make a huge fuss over him. Of course, we do keep the attention on him for the day and make it as BIG as we can!

So, we took a small group with us to play laser tag!

And played some arcade games!

Happy Birthday, sweet boy. I love you more than you could ever know! You are exactly what this family needed and we are so thankful for your kind heart always willing to go along with whatever we are doing. An early riser like your mama, don't even let anyone change you. You were meant for big things! Love, Mom

Out side of this holiday and birthday, we were back to the daily summer life grind.  

We took this little one grocery shopping and she passed right out. 

Monte and Jayden made cookies together for all of us!

Monte also helped Payton make heart shaped pizza for dinner (her night to cook) for all of us. 

The kids finished up the summer reading program and got their prizes!

We grew corn!

My parents came to visit and always bring fun projects and crafts with them, courtesy of grandma. We love this time with family so much!

We took the kids swimming. This was a first time for Avery. She had a blast and then passed right out while the kids finished up their time. 

This month is also our county's fair and we went most of the 3 days it was here and had a BLAST. It also always a bittersweet reminder to me that there are only a few weeks left of summer. 

One night right after the fair I made a charcuterie board for a snack as we needed to fill kids up but also had just been so busy. We sat and talked over this for a long time, it was such a good moment for us:

The one time this summer that Payton let me fix her hair, I had to document it:

She's growing fast and she doesn't let me touch her hair often any more. She likes doing her own thing.

Jayden made a fruit salad (recipe from a garage sale cookbook he found and has been looking at constantly) for his meal one night. It was delicious and a real treat for us.

                                         

We took the kids to the children's museum, one of their favorite places. They took a pause from their play to make sure they introduced Avery to the baby area. She lasted a whole 5 minutes there but enjoyed her time.

And we couldn't leave out just a bunch of random pictures about our littlest little, who hit 3 months this month!:

                                                         

We got outside and painted some window sun catchers!

We are also outside harvesting the garden most mornings! In the picture above we picked potatoes and carrots!

A huge rarity for me, but I got to take the kids to the movie theater! Dad volunteered to stay home with Avery and we went to our local theater. We saw Elemental and enjoyed our time together!

I got this sweet picture of my kids:

How did I get so lucky? God truly blessed me.

We got outside for several picnics this month, a favorite of our kids!

At the end of the month, we went to my hometown for my grandmother's funeral. It was sad to say goodbye to grandma but I had so much fun enjoying my hometown with my kids and seeing extended family. We go far too long now between seeing each other and rarely are we all in the same place at the same time. We took the kids swimming and hiking and to see the falls during the quiet times between seeing family.

Another wild month! And I can already say August was just as busy!