September Recap

 September came and went. As I type this our weather has cooled down and it's a rainy, gloomy day. I made fresh subway loaf bread for our family for dinner tonight. We will have soup and sandwiches and feast together. It feels like fall. Officially fall. And I feel truly and deeply blessed. Tonight will be simple, just as I need it to be. Sometimes we all need that. 

September went by quickly, as most months do now. Here's a recap. 

When the weather was nice and we were still getting outside almost daily:

Monte made us this gigantic outdoor table and we have loved it so much this first month. 

We got out for some archery practice and a long walk!

I had a friend who celebrated her 40th and I took her a quick little gift, complete with one of my first sunflowers to bloom at my own house:

When we returned, Jayden insisted we put together some sunflowers just for us:

Each September this is and annual festival in the town our small school is in. Parents of the school bring food for a bake sale. So we made puppy chow:

I'm also really into making frittata these days:

So yummy! September also marks apple and pear harvest time. My mother-in-law came to help with that and we got so much done. 

The kids even got a ride on the tractor:

Our pears from one pear tree

                                                            Our apples from 2 apple trees

Grandma helping us process apples.

One weekend this month, I loaded up the boys and went back to my hometown. My grandfather passed away last year and my grandmother also went to the nursing home last year. The house is officially sold but I went back and got to say one final goodbye to the home and all the memories I cherish. So many moments from my childhood that shaped a piece of who I am. 

We also got out and explored the area with my mother:

Grandma also came to our area for a work training and we got the privelage of meeting up for a swim and dinner out:

                                                 

Back at home, we have enjoyed our chickens and letting them free range when we are around to keep an eye out for predators (mostly neighbors dogs):

Jayden begs for the bounce house any chance he gets:

The kids had school picture day:

Jayden wanted his picture taken as well. He's getting so tall:

While the kids are at school we try to bake at least once a week. Here we are making cookies together:

These cookies were a total hit as we were running close to pick up time (seems to be my style any more) and I made much bigger, less rounded balls of dough. The kids insisted grandma was hiding back at the house making these cookies since they were more her style (and definitely her recipe). 

We also work on preschool and here Jayden enjoyed making a shark after reading the book shark and fang:

                                                         

And, of course, we are out and about playing as much as possible together.

                                                         

                                          Here Jayden is getting some fun time in at the park.

Piano lessons are back in full swing and Payton is fully enjoying them:

After school the boys have enjoyed playing football together. 

We attended a family fun event our community hosted and we got to try kayaks for the first time. Payton was so brave and went on her own and loved it for the most part! Riley rode with me and warmed up to it a little and Jayden rode with Dad and loved his time. We were so thankful for this community day event in our small little town:

This same event also offered firepits to make hotdogs and s'mores and bounce in bounce houses along with lots of outdoor games. It was so fun and of course we did not pass up food...

                                                 

                                                         

The kids had one day off from school, our bonus days as we lovingly call them. It was a Friday and we cleaned house and then went to the coffee shop before stopping at the park to play. The perfect day to us:

The last week of the month was spirit week and the kids love to dress up for these days!

Dress like one of your favorite adults day! Both kids were staff at school. Payton was her teacher and Riley was the PE teacher.

Dress like your favorite movie character day. Payton was Hermione Granger from Harry Potter (a friend from school was Harry) and her Minnie Mouse was Bellatrix Lestrange. She earned a coupon pass for good behavior to take a stuffed animal on that day to school. Riley was Darth Vader and enjoyed have the costume (and mask) on at school!

We missed getting a picture of pajama day. Their dad took them to school that day and somehow we just all overlooked getting a picture, but they did participate! One of the easiest days for us to do.

And, finally, we made it to spirit day and FRIDAY! We were all glad it was the end of the week and ready for the weekend:

We rounded out the tail end of the month with Payton getting a haircut. She went super short and I am still adjusting but she has been begging for a short haircut for a long time. So far it is working better for her to maintain and care for it:

                                                          

I hope your September went well, too! On to October we go!