Rather than try to spread out 10 different posts with miscellaneous pictures of September, I thought I would attempt squeezing them all into one gigantic September catch up post. You ready?
Here I am. So tired, so drained, and so happy. Despite how busy these first weeks of the school year have been, life has been pretty smooth sailing. Every morning is a hustle and nightly baths and tuck-ins are the same. But each day is amazing in it's own special way. I am thankful for these full days and the memories that accompany them. So without further ado, here is September and a whole lot of phone pics to go with it.
Birthdays:
Oma Oma turned 97 this month! Can you believe it? She looks so beautiful and continues to be so healthy both mentally and physically. My mom and dad took her out for her annual fancy, lobster dinner. I'd say she liked it!
My most selfless, incredible, loving momma had her birthday too. She is always so satisfied with little as she took a back seat to Oma Oma's special day and graciously soaked in the simpler celebration of coconut cupcakes and a family dinner together. I still owe her big time. She is definitely the one that keeps me sane on our most hectic seasons of life. So thankful for her!
And precious Gram, was a birthday girl this month, too. She somehow escaped back to Sacramento right before we could celebrate her... but she will be back so soon so that we can have a belated birthday party for her. Gram is the other half of my sanity. At 77, this woman continues to be hard to keep up with, always serving others and using her spiritual gifts of hospitality to bless everyone around her. She is truly amazing!
My brother and his family came down for a birthday celebration for our Oma. My mom was pretty much planned the entire thing and all we had to do was unlock the front door. It was such a special day. All of the cousins played so happily all day long while us grown ups sat out in the backyard, enjoying wine and some incredible Oma stories, some we'd never heard before. In fact, we stayed outside until way past the kiddos' bed time because we were having such a great time listening to Oma tell us the stories of her life both during and post WWII and how she immigrated to the US shortly after. She told us about how she fell in love with my Opa and what it was like to be able to own a home and have a family and live such a successful life when she started in this country with nothing to her name. I barely ever reached for my phone this day and missed lots of photo opts... but the joy of this day is one I won't forget.
Oh, and I also won't forget this moment when my brother realized that he was wearing the same shoes as Oma. That had us all rolling!
Sports:
Our weekends are dictated by sports but I have grown to love it. Soccer fields and baseball fields are our social scene. We love being with the families we've grown to know so well through these weekly games. Here's Emmerson with her besties again.
She is on the Scarlett Witches this year and has loved every minute of it.
The grandparents are the best spectators... always keeping us happy with high-end seating and plenty of snacks.
Unfortunately, most of our soccer Saturdays are blazing hot. Look at all of these red cheeks on the way home.
But the evening practices have become nice and cool.
Last weekend was nothing short of a miracle... our first Autumn weekend brought RAIN! We never get rain this time of year. It was fall heaven. First things first, 2 morning soccer games.
It poured at the start of the game.
Super Grampie brought out these umbrellas from his car. Such a life-saver!
It was another win for the Voyagers. Donovan has played so well this year and is really developing his skills at this level. He's on a great team full of friends and lucked out with one of the best coaches in the league.
And then there's Sundays. This is the first year that we've played baseball in the fall. It's the same team Donovan played with competitively in the spring. Dustin helps to coach them still, too. This is their first year playing kid-pitch which has been a great learning experience, and also super scary for mom to watch.
Most of my "baseball" pictures are of the girls on the side lines. This was a super warm scrimmage in Escondido. Oma treated us to sno-cones!
And during this tournament, our girls played with their besties the Powell sisters. Their mom is the queen of all things cute and Pinterest-y. On this hot, Sunday morning, she brought an ice block with lots of sea creatures frozen between the ice layers. The girls used spoons to chisel them out throughout the entire game. Genius!
This is "best friend Charlotte" as Taylor calls her. We're so lucky that James, who is Donovan's exact age and has played soccer and baseball with him since they were 4 also has a sister, Eleanor who is Emmerson's exact age and Charlotte who is Taylor's. A match made in sport viewing heaven if you ask me.
Fall:
Onto all things fall. Our garden is now starting to wrap up it's growing season, but it has been very fruitful this year. Our pumpkins took off! We planted jack be littles, Connecticut fields, and big macs. We got one pretty big mac, 3 or 4 Connecticut fields, and so far about 15 jack be littles. It has been so much fun watching them grow all over the hill.
This was our first jack be little that we harvested.
And many more have followed.
The kids helped me back an apple pie from scratch for our Sunday dinner.
School:
School mornings are harder for some than others. Emmerson must have asked me every single morning last week, if it was Saturday. Ha! She takes after her Dad.
This blurry shot was a Wednesday night concert that Dustin and I went to. So proud of us for going even when we were so tired. We saw Angels and Airwaves and it was a blast!
This is Desi, who I often refer to as my "work wife." This year my role has officially been moved to "math coach" which is so exciting for me! Desi is my other half, our ELA coach. We have so much fun learning together, pushing each other forward, and riding out the highs and lows that come along with the roles that we have. So thankful I get to spend every day with her.
And as I mentioned before in another post, my bestie Hollie, is teaching at our school this year. We feel so lucky to have her at our site. She is the most positive, professional, and fun person to work with. Can you believe these outfits...Rock Your School Day was a hit!
I love running into my kids at school. Here is Donovan in true form with two of his best friends Jax and Mitch.
At the end of the month we had our school carnival. The kids always love it and I look forward to seeing all of the students running around with their families.
Cooking with Donovan:
Donovan and I are on a cooking kick. He is always so interested in helping me cook, bake, you name it. I love having company in the kitchen. It's become our little thing and I am thankful for it.
He wanted to make a football appetizer last weekend so we gave Joanna Gaines' queso recipe a go.
It was a hit with kids and parents!
Monday night he jumped in with me to make a pretty complicated pasta recipe. He stayed with me for an hour step by step making magic happen. I love this time with him!
We also tried Joanna's ricotta pancake recipe! The fam was skeptical about it but oh! my! gosh! they are the BEST pancakes we have ever had. Dustin has made me promise to make them a weekly thing and so far, two weeks in a row, I'm following through.
Miscellaneous:
Taylor, oh Taylor. I really will have to devote and entire post to this one. Until then, these sparkly eyes say it all. Half trouble, half adorable.
This was a rare afternoon where these two spent hours in the garage creating a Lego house together. Sibling bliss. (Until Taylor who was channeling her half trouble side, came in and destroyed it).
A quick cousin visit as they drove through town.
Taylor as a very busy momma.
Oh, and this is important news to share! Taylor is POTTY TRAINED! We have no children in diapers anymore. Can you believe it??!! Grammie kicked it off with a week at home with Tay. She's had some initial weeks with accidents here and there. But now, we are in full blown undies, for church, for running errands, even for napping and she's been amazing! Such a huge milestone. That means preschool won't be far away.
Donovan checked this novel out at the library and was so proud when he finished it. He loves to read in bed both before he goes to sleep and immediately when he wakes up. He seriously amazes me. I don't think I read nearly half as much as he does until I was so much older.
And first grade has turned this one into a full on reader, too. She's reading everything now and it is so sweet. She loves playing teacher (just how I used to) and like to have an audience to read to. She will even advise you to please raise your hand and wait to be called on if you have a question.
And last but not least a fun little neighborhood get together. We all brought over appetizers for a little meal with friends. I didn't take many pictures but we had a blast!
September has been good to us. And now I am thrilled that the start of my favorite season is here!
I hope you are all well, too.
Until the next one.
xoxo
