August 2025

 Back to school month! This is always a month full of finishing up summer and then, bam, we are slammed with back to school and slide right into the sports and extra-curriculars. 

Wrapping up summer, always a really special time for us. Our art district hosted featured artists and they also rented a pedal pub. Our family went on it and I sat with Avery (so I didn't even have to pedal my way through town). It was a fantastic time for all of us:

We also tried to soak up as much time at the house as we could. I love long days at home. I'm sad to report we didn't get enough of these this summer but we took the few we got:

We got out and walked the country road. I took this picture of Payton:

                                                  

Fresh peaches on the deck:

                                                  

I also stumbled upon some selfies on the front porch:

                                        

                                        

Just a picture of a homemade roll I made. I work really hard to learn new skills in the kitchen:

Payton and I met up with some friends and packed meals for a program that feeds children. It was our first time and we had a blast:

The kids had a garage sale and lemonade stand at their grandparents house. They even sold sno cones and fresh made sourdough bread! It was a lot of fun.

We squeezed in as much park time and fishing as we could:

And saw baby ducks:

The kids whipped up some brownies together:

Monte and I got out together for one of the few date nights we have had since having kids. We went to a dueling pianos show (we both had never been before). It was a lot of fun and gave us so many laughs we will carry with us for years. Monte placed a few bids on some silent auction winnings hoping to increase the values they would go for. In the end, he won those items! He was pretty shocked and we will now be taking our family on a very special trip to a college football game. The kids were thrilled:

We also got out of a concert. Such a rare month and it happened twice! I won tickets to this event and didn't want to miss. We didn't stay long as we were extremely tired and had activities all day but it was fun to go. 

                                                 

Funny story. While at the concert we won tickets to, I was told we also won a bobblehead of the singer. I politely asked if they had that wrong but the group insisted and showed me the "official note" of this winning with a highlighter next to my name saying bobblehead. Thus, I took the bobblehead home with me where he met my children and I hoped it would survive the next few days. 

                                                  

A few days later, I get a message on Facebook. This message indicates that I actually did not win the bobblehead and I needed to return it asap. 

These are the types of things always happening to me. And they make me laugh. I returned the barely held together by this point bobblehead and have yet to hear another word on where that guy ended up. I hope he found himself content in a new home though.

This month, we had not one but two weddings this month! It was a great time for our family:

Just a random picture I think one of my other children took of breakfast at our house:

I'm working on this succulent planter and trying to make it more visually interesting. I added in some hens and chicks and that seems to help balance it out more.

And just like that, summer ended. The big 3 started school again.

Let me tell you though, there has been a small tweak to our normal. Riley is trying homeschool this year! I am beyond thrilled and thankful for this time back with him and will never regret that. The other two are back to our school (in 6th and 2nd grade). We all seem to be where we need to be right now. I have no idea what the future holds for us or what next year will look like. I have learned (over and over again) not to get so sucked into the details as life goes exactly as God wants it to. I try to focus on today and know my story will unfold exactly as it should. 

But, this means there will be so many more pictures of Riley as he with us in the day to day! Avery and I love that!

One thing we have been working on, as we finish up school work, Riley like to make a snack a few times a week for when the kids get out of school. Here, he found a recipe in a harry potter cook book and made meringue cookies:

They were a real hit! He also made Harry Potter themed brownies from the book:

                                        

And we tried out smores cookies:
                                                       

I also have pictures of school for us, which is done all over. Sometimes at the table and sometimes reading to his sister at the park.

We are doing it! And I am trying to embrace this time and even lean into the struggles. It's a real honor to be Riley's mother and teacher.

Riley, Avery, and I are trying to still process the garden each morning until the first freeze comes:

                                                            

I found a picture Payton took of me as I read to her nightly with her devotional. A special time for the two of us, well sometimes three of us as Monte sits in there too occasionally. 

And she's at that age where right after taking my picture she proceeds to take a selfie:

We redid our secret spot and had a fire pit to celebrate:

And after school I caught this sweet moment with 3 of my kids. Sure they are on the phone which I don't necessarily love but the moment is beautiful. I am thankful they have each other:

Sweet Avery with Sashi, the hippo, as she prepares to go to bed. Another photo courtesy of a sibling:

Riley took on becoming a reader at church. This is huge for him as he has avoided doing since they started asking. One day he randomly said he was ready. So I didn't delay and signed him up asap. Not sure if he will do again but he did it! He faced his fear and tried public speaking:

Just a few pictures to spotlight Avery, who is always smiling and saying cheese. Two can be such a fun age.

She also left me a sweet random present one day so I had to take a picture. She had me get a sunflower outside and I saw she put it in water in a cup in the bathroom and then added a pick to the container. I assume she brushed her hair with and then decided why put back in the drawer when you can enhance a flower with it. It made me smile and laugh nonetheless. These are the days.

There is beauty in all of life if you choose to look for it.

I hope your August went as well as ours did!

Our July

 July has come and gone. 

We went to the fair, went on a family vacation, and celebrated Riley turning 10! And, of course, life is just full with all the ins and outs of regular life. Which is really where it's at, right?

Riley, my sweet Riley. He had a birthday! Oh, I love him so. He is growing so fast. Summer was really made for his birthday month because he is a true summer kid. He loves all things outdoors like fishing and he has yet to find a sport he doesn't like. He loves legos and creating and building things. He is a true joy to our family: 

                                                                                         

                                                  

We were on vacation for his birthday (what a present)! We got to celebrate with my family in my hometown and that was a real treat. We fished and had cake:

                                         

                                          

                                                        

                                                        

We had fair week. The kids entered a ton of items but I got this one photo of Riley with his vase he put together to enter:
                                                 

Painted faces:

And balloon animals (Avery refused to be in with her dog):

Carnival rides and put put golf:

We went one night to the carnival. We met up with some of the best of friends to spend the evening with:

We stayed later than we normally would stay and got to watch the evening fireworks show! It was so cool. The kids watched from the ferris wheel and said it was a memory they will have forever.

One night, Payton and I went to meet friends for a concert. It poured on us. And poured. Then, the electricity went out and the band had to call it. We finally took off running for our vehicle. Another night I will always remember:

Back at home, Avery loves on her chickens:

We got out for lots of fishing this month:

And just playing around outside, complete with camping and fishing in the cornfields:

One night we had a movie night and this was the first time Avery really sat for it. We watched Frozen II and it was a total hit:

We went to a swimming pool party!

We made it to the Children's museum to play:

The oldest two had book club so the younger ones read (and played) in the library while we waited:

We went on vacation to Rapid, South Dakota. We also stopped at Wall Drug, my family's house growing up, and went to my husband's family reunion for a day. It was a lot but so much fun for all of us!

Avery spent quite a bit of time riding like this while we chauffeured her around:

We got to spend time with one of my friends from growing up. We hadn't seen each other in 7 years!

A few pictures with my family:

We celebrated the 4th of July together. It is one of our family's favorite days. We hang out together all day and stay up late to watch the city fireworks.

Payton made a special treat:

We made it to the pool a few times this year. A few different pools actually and got to see some friends!

We got ice treats from both of the vendors we have in town. The kids tried frozen pickle juice and loved while I am still a fan of wedding cake flavored snow cone:

I wanted to get Avery to story time this summer. We made it once. Just once. But sometimes that is just how it goes. 

We made it to the park a few times:

Monte and Avery laid out one day in the heat to look at the clouds (or rest, who knows):

We moved Monte's parents into their house. And one time, the ice cream truck went by and we all got a quick treat!

A fun sunflower that I grew:

And a beautiful flowering cactus:

The kids made these cute towels with the local library:

That is a wrap on July! On to August and the start of school.