November Recap

November recap, here we go! This month the man in the below photo has a birthday and his four spoiled him well:

He kicked off the month taking one weekend to hunt early opening season with our boys. They spent lots of time together and with the grandparents. They even got to see the grandparents and cousins on my side for a few hours as grandma took them to my hometown for a bit. 

The girls and I were left at home and we enjoyed ourselves as well:

 

We got outside, went to the children's museum, ate together, and went to church. It was a great, quiet weekend with just the girls. A real rarity. 

Monte spent his birthday day back at the land deer hunting again. and this year it was fruitful:

He came home and got to tell the boys all about his trip. His daughters have very low interest in this kind of adventure so they stayed away. The boys were thrilled though and helped all that they could. They can't wait to hunt themselves! 

Our sweet neighbors dropped off a pizza kit and dough kit for us and we felt so spoiled. We are so lucky to be so blessed by our community:

My mom came to visit and we surprised the kids by her showing up for a kayaking adventure we were on. It was the best! The looks of some super surprised kids:

And grandma had fun:

Guess who is another month older? Well, technically we all are. But, Avery hit 7 months! Growing like a weed and so much personality. She is super happy most of the time and we feel so blessed to have her in our life. She sits up and gets into position to crawl (although not quite there yet) and enjoys trying foods even if she spits them out most of the time. She lights up with all of her family members and is pretty cautious now of anyone outside of her immediate family. 

The kids had a dress up day to dress like the lorax. So our kids were all trees:

Monte and I both attended the holiday feast. Since our oldest is in a different building I joined her while Monte went to the lower elementary school building. It was a wonderful meal and we joined them at recess after before returning back home. 

Payton finished her diamond art project she has been working on for months:

For Thanksgiving we went to Monte's parents house for a few days. I got zero pictures. Not a single picture to show for it. But, it was a good time and we stayed super busy (thus the lack of pictures). We returned back home and I did end up with sleeping pictures of 3 of our 4 kids on the day we returned. That's how tired we were. 

And that last few days of the month we were back to school and extra curricular activities. Here Avery and I are hanging out in the car while one kid is at piano and the other two are playing football in the grass while we wait. 

We also stopped at the park a few times:

Jayden was with us for these park stops but he was lucky enough to see friends both times and was off with them. Sometimes, he forgets about us a bit. We're working on that.

Around the house, we have been watching this great horned owl:
                                                  

He loves watching our chickens but seems to find food all over our property (not our chickens though). He is huge and this picture does no justice. Such a beauty to watch.

Monte took the kids to the movies while Avery napped. Riley wasn't interested in the movie so he chose to spend some time with me. We sat and talked together for a bit and then he asked to play Madden. He proceeded to get his best score he's ever gotten and therefore wanted it documented:

And my other two had fun at the movies with dad:

And that's a wrap on our November! Off to December! Happy Holidays!

October Recap

 October! The beginning of fall and fall like weather for us (yay). My favorite season. And also my husband's favorite season if you were interested in knowing that info! We just love the weather during this time in the area we live in and my husband loves football while I love all things pumpkin related. But secretly I love all seasons for all that they have to offer.

In any case, it was another busy month for us. We kick off October with my birthday, to which we got a kayak!

Yes, just one solo kayak that we found used and at a garage sale. And I love it! Just really really love it. I grew up going down the river in the area we lived in and I think it's just something ingrained in me. I had no idea how much I loved it until I got back out there. Once I hit the water in the kayak I feel so at peace. This is so interesting because I actually have found I don't really love swimming and am more of a lay out in the sun kind of girl. Avery has even been so shocked by it, her hair stands up

Us at the movies:

I took the big kids to the movie for my birthday! We saw the new paw patrol movie and any time I can soak up my babies makes for a great day!

The kids played football! Both boys had so much fun and Payton did cheerleading during this same time. It was Jayden's first year to do football!

Jayden's team

Payton's cheer group

Speaking of football, Riley and Payton decided to do our local kick, pass, punt program. To our surprise Payton got first in her age group. So she went on to state! 

She ended up placing 4th at state and had so much fun! I think the kids will be trying again next year. We all got a weekend in a big city in our state out of it and for that we will always be thankful! We spent our time exploring the town and stopping at their local children's museum:

 

We also got to swim in the hotel pool, eat out (including trying dairy free pizza for Jayden at a restaurant), and walk downtown. It was fantastic. 

I took Avery to the children's museum, just like I used to do with my other children, for the monthly mingle. We ran into friends there and enjoyed our time with them and even got a picture!

Around the house, I made even more cinnamon rolls. All of which are no longer in existence as I type this:

And we all just love Avery so much and have so many pictures to document our time with her:

And someone hit 6 months this month:

Sweet Ava bean, we love you so! You laugh and babble talk all the time. You are such a happy little thing and love rolling all over the place. I think you are teething constantly but so far we have seen nothing! God knew exactly what our family needed when he gave you to us.

Other big news: Our area got a hyvee! And we were so excited! Jayden and I got up and went to the opening at 7am (before school) and even got a swag bag! The 99th of 100 bags offered:

Payton and I went later that week for the first time and got special treats handed out to us:

I seriously just love the experiences of life!

Riley started guitar lessons and I just love something about watching him with a guitar, learning new things:

Riley also took a mental health day and Avery and I loved having him around. We soaked him up and he escaped us for a few hours to soak in the tub and make some wall art. Below is the recreation of ladybug and cat noir (a show they watch):

He also made some energy bars for our family with us:

And this sweet boy also got to go to his first husker football game! He was so excited to cheer on his favorite team ever with his daddy:

They even won the game, a huge bonus for the day! Riley can't wait to go again.

And then Jayden needed a mental health day and we got a day with just him as well later that week:

I strongly encourage all humans to consider mental health days from whatever is going on in your life. We all need a break some times. 

The kids did the annual pumpkin decorating at the y:

On the same day our local library even offered a special golfing set up:

I hosted the Halloween party for Jayden with another classroom mom and the kids had a great time playing games, eating cookies, and making their teacher a mummy ( a true surprise for the teacher):

And we almost missed a pumpkin patch this year. We made it one of the last days it was open. So much fun getting out in the sun for a day of fun:

We came back home and everyone laid down for a movie we were so wiped after the pumpkin patch. 

And in so many ways, the above picture captures so much of my every day life. Mess, love, lots of blankets, and so much gratitude for the life God gave me especially with the mundane and just being home.

There was one weekend that Riley and his dad went to go hunting and the rest of us stayed home. We kept busy though. We went to all the parks and the children museum:

Payton also wanted a spa day:

And Jayden requested time for working on puzzles:

It was nice to have 1 on 1 time with both Jayden and Payton.

And then it was Halloween. Each year the kids get at least a few opportunities to dress up so they rotate costumes some. First up was a trunk or treat:

We had Thor, Harry Potter, a Flower, and Jo Jo Siwa for this. 

I had to get an up close Harry Potter picture as I think he is such a great fit for this costume. Totally nailed it. 

Then for school dress up and for trick or treating:

We had Harry Potter, Hedwig (Harry's owl), Draco Malfoy, and Hermione Granger. I love getting a coordinating pic with a theme every year and am so grateful they are all so willing to do it!

This was Hedwig's (aka Avery's) first Halloween and she was here for it. 10 out of 10 would recommend I think, until she was done. Which happened to be after about 2 blocks of trick or treating. Then, she didn't see the purpose for walking in below freezing weather to knock on total random strangers houses asking for treats. But up until that point, she was all in. 

Happy Halloween! See you next month after Thanksgiving!