October at Our House

 October blew in and out so fast, I can't even wrap my head around it. November is almost over as I type this so I know it is time to get this done before I am 2 months behind. It is actually Thanksgiving day as I type this up and behind me we have the Macy's Day Thanksgiving parade on and my children are all joyously watching and cheering on the parade. October seems so far behind me now though that October seems like a blur. That's how it goes sometimes.

We kick off the month with my birthday. And, yes, I am feeling old. The years are flying by. I was celebrated well by my family and friends though. In fact, I got the sweetest card from a friend that I felt needed to be remembered:

A few days after that, I landed myself in the hospital. I had my appendix removed and then spend the rest of the month recovering.  My mother came and helped out during this time and that was so appreciated. The view from the ambulance:

                                      
And from my hospital bed:

My kids came and visited me and Payton laid with me for a bit:

I had surgery and was out by the end of that day. This was a huge relief as my family was ready for me to be home. During this recovery time, I taught my mom the art of sourdough bread making:

                                                         

At the time of writing this post, she continues making bread now and all the various sourdough foods to her hearts content. It has been so fun to watch others grow in this hobby. We also loved having her around for all that goes on in our day to day life.

                                        

The rest of our lives didn't really slow down though. Football kept going and then came to an end part way through the month. 

Both boys enjoyed this season and we loved cheering them on, despite only having the one picture.

Payton took on her first real babysitting job. And she LOVED it:

Payton also had some volleyball tournaments this month. The first tournament they were on the bottom and learned how to lose with grace. The second tournament they fought hard and got first in their bracket, a win they really needed. It has been so fun to watch their personal growth and makes me so excited to see where Payton goes with this sport.

We headed to a pumpkin patch, one of my favorite October activities. Our local one we used to go to closed unfortunately and we will forever miss that location. However, we went to the next closest patch and still had a great time.

Then, we came home and promptly carved those pumpkins.

                                      

I am so much better over the years at letting things go and just letting the kids have fun and get messy. We clean the mess up later. So, lucky for Avery with this, she had a total ball and made a major mess! But she loved every minute of pumpkin carving.

Speaking of Avery, here are just some random baby love moments with her this month. If I haven't said this before, it is worth noting now, that I love having a baby/toddler around. They keep life so fun and I have a million pictures of each of my children at this stage. They make my world go 'round:

In her Halloween outfit:

Miss Avery, life is so much better with you in it. It's true, our whole house agrees. Thanks for being you.

I painted Jayden's bedroom that he would share with Avery. But, while we let the paint dry he slept downstairs and is currently debating staying down there. So, time will tell how this story plays out. We did move Avery out of our room though and into this room:

We continue to make good food. This month I tried a cheddar jalapeño sourdough bread requested by Riley and it was AMAZING!

I also made a cinnamon roll coffee cake that was then made again to go to some friend's houses with a meal we took them:

All the kids did a few library events this month, including one where they made (and ate) a spooky Halloween house:

I found a few afternoons that I could get into the hot tub alone. Avery takes very few naps in the crib currently and I take full advantage and am the most thankful for these few small windows of time:

It is time spent well! 😜

I made some treats to send to school with Jayden for his Halloween party:

The kids participated in a pumpkin painting project our local (and new) art district group set up and it was amazing:

                                                   

And then, it snuck up on me, we ended the month and it was Halloween! Each year, I get at least one event where the kids dress up in a themed photo. This year it was little red riding hood:

Meet the wolf disguised as grandma, the hunter, little red riding hood, and grandma herself!

Avery loved this dress and she even begged to wear each day after Halloween, to which I obliged. It is now snuck back into the dress up bin but will be pulled out again next year I think! 

Halloween night we went all over and even saw some friends:

                                      

The kids made out well:

We actually sent a bunch of our stash to Monte's work and let his coworkers enjoy extra treats!

And that was our October! Or at least what came up in my stash of pictures this month. It's been real. It's been busy. It's been real busy! 

Our September

 Fall is basically here as I type this, so this post is truly an ode to summer. The ends of summer weather are fantastic. Still warm days that the kids can get outside, especially after a long day at school. And yet, we know winter is coming. The mornings are cold. So cold they edge close to freezing. Then it warms fast and we still hit highs of sometimes 80 degrees. The Midwest keeps life magical with their daily weather temps. Some people loathe that about this area but I secretly love it!

This month, our privacy fence, aka the corn crop, came down. We watched it harvested as we do every year. Saying goodbye is hard and we are now exposed to all the roads again. 

                                        

Another picture as the fence came down because we seem to obsess over the details in our environment:
                                                        

Outside though we have seen fascinating signs of life!

Baby deer running across the road!

We are still loving the views from the hot tub and it's one of my favorite ways to destress:

And this view. This view:

Sigh. I love these 4. Watching them will never get old for me. And inundating this blog with pictures of them will always be my thing. They truly mean so much to me. I am lucky to be their mom.

My husband found a new look!

We do a cleaning day each week and the kids have chores. Avery really likes assisting siblings now with their chores:

I got sucked into the sour dough craze and I am loving it. Even the most unappealing looking bread has turned out so tasty:

We have also loved sourdough waffles and pancakes (same recipe):

We got the best blessing ever and got to celebrate one of my daughter's friends on her birthday. It was so fun to enjoy a child I love like my own. Her family had a school activity for another child and we made sure the day was still one to remember. The cake I baked her, she was thrilled:

We got out to the park a few times. This is a picture Jayden insisted I take and keep forever:

He also called me one time from grandma's phone when she visited and I was running at the park. Our first phone conversation together. I chose to take this picture and save it forever, hmm, I wonder where he gets that from:

We also got a park play picture with Payton and Avery:

We did football and punt, pass, kick this month. It's been crazy busy and I really only had this one picture to show of our time:

And we didn't just celebrate one extra birthday this month, but TWO! Grandpa was also at our house for his birthday so we celebrated with a falling apart cake of our own creation. He was totally shocked:

Now for a section on sweet Avery. Each kid grows so fast but they really seem to get a spotlight when they are little and before they go to school. I found her one day in her brother's bed and snapped this picture where she looks so big I can't even begin to process the time:

And just random outside play pictures:

                                                   

Reading the mail after we grabbed, on our walk back.

Posing so pretty for pictures on our side road:

And one picture in her play house:

Saw Payton drink from the hose so she had to try!

On an outing with mom. She takes her backpack (gifted to us from friends and mom's keys). She's quite the helper.

Freezing at a football game while sitting with dad.

Also at football games she would get creative by creating clothing items out of the bags that hold the chairs.

And if you ever take your eyes off her for a second it means trouble. Like climbing kind of trouble:

Always take the side profile picture:

Always. 

Naps on the drives are still a thing although I would love more naps in the crib:

And just her with mommy:

Pretend sleeping:

And inside playing with Barbies and unicorns, which she is loving so much:

We met friends for a fall festival day at the local museum. Funny story, we actually rode with them as my vehicle wouldn't start. My husband was gone and we had a friend come help me fix it. Which we did get it running (not by tapping what we thought was the starter though but it still worked). But when it was time to leave I couldn't get to start again. We were just going to declare a weekend at home when our friends said they were picking us up. We made it work and laugh about the car troubles.

The only picture of that day! They toured the museum and painted pumpkins. We had ice cream. It was so fun. 

Side note, I am probably not the person to call if you have car problems. I have no idea what I am doing.

We had a random day off of school and the kids asked for a rest day so that is just what we did:

Then we got out to play at the Children's museum for a bit:

Then I surprised the kids with dinner at the park before heading home:

The picture about sums up the scene. A lot of lot and a lot of chaos. All in all, I love our bonus days home from school! 

I got out one night with friends to decoupage the word READ:

It was homecoming week! The kids dressed up for all the days while I can only find pictures for a few of them, but how it goes for me any more. I can't catch it all but I am physically there for most of it!

Pajama day:

Dress like dad day:

Princesses vs. Superhero day (Riley really loved this one):

And lastly, a big thing happened at our house. Riley has been asking to make the move to his own room on another floor. So, we took the leap of faith and converted it from a guest bedroom to his room and he has transitioned so well. I was surprised but he is loving this new space!

Things just keep changing and the kids keep growing. I wish time would slow down and I also love to see where life takes my littles.