September 26th-Oct 2nd

Monday

All children in school! I thought I’d want to tackle a dozen projects, but what I really wanted to do was just soak in the fall day. So I pulled a blanket into my front porch swing and wrote in my journal/read my scriptures. The wind felt wonderful. The colors were on the crisp of changing. And the high school band was practicing off in the distance. It was really so nice. And then when it go too cold, I went a finished by the fire, and loved it. 

Once the girls were home we colored by the fire. 

Later the girls had their first ever dance lesson! 

We babysat baby Lily for a bit that afternoon and she got to come with us to dance lessons; it was the best. 

Maddix had soccer that night. 

Aaron and I read Harry Potter. We only have a couple chapters left to finish the book and we are seriously dragging our feet because we don’t want it to end! Does anyone like the 5th book?? 

Tuesday

Enjoyed a sunrise 

Exercise hour 

Home day 

Raptors practice for Aaron 

Ball in the backyard for Dad/Maddix 

Mommy-Addie daughter date (biking in the ballpark parking lot) 

Avery FLOODED THE BATHROOM FLOOR… and it leaked into the basement ceiling and Travis had to drill drain holes and eventually rip out the room. Then Neighbor’s lent us tools (at 9:00pm) so we could get fans set up in the ceiling to dry everything out. 

Wednesday 

No school for the girls 

Exercise hour w/ friends 

Library reading time w/ friends

“Zombie pile” clean up (our neighbors get toilet papered every year as a homecoming tradition and my kids love to help clean up it. They think it’s the Halloween version of leaf pile jumping). 

Susan came over to visit/ take the boys to piano 

Mutual/ Activity days. For YM’s Travis led them on a biking trip, which meant the girls came to YW’s with me. And the other leaders brought their girls, so they piled on my blanket in the corner with snacks, and watched a movie. 

Thursday 

Dr’s Apt and visiting with Susan and Bill/Shirley

Took Avery to the park after school 

Sydney babysat the girls while I had another Dr’s apt 

Went to a volleyball game to cheer on one of my YW, Marley. 

Soccer for Maddix 

BYU game 

Friday 

I was able to take my little Avery-Monster out for a date. We went biking around the Asbury trail/neighborhoods, and we took Lily along with us to run next to the bikes. 

After school let out we had the Bown/Hann kids come over for the night. As well as Treycen Rollene. We made it a party. And then later that night we set up a movie theater in the girls room for all the kids. Noah and Shae come over with Baby Baylor; he’s so cute and tiny. 

We also had Katyrra and several of here soccer team friends come over for and adult date night of games and snacks in the basement. 

However, Baby Juniper wasn’t having it and by midnight her mom and dad had to take her home, but the older kiddos stayed.  

Saturday 

Travis and Maddix were out the door by 6:30am to reach Des Moines for Maddix’s soccer games. Treycen, Marley and Walter joined us for Target, car wash, and finding fall plants for the front porch. 

After Treycen left, the rest of us watched the conference sessions. Marley and Walter’s parents came to pick them up just after conference ended, and Travis and Maddix arrived home shortly after that. Poor Maddix and Travis had had a day of it. Maddix had slept on the way down, but woke up when they got there and threw up all over the back of Travis’s truck! So travis had to work on cleaning out his truck while Maddix began his first game. Travis said he worked hard through both games and then slept the whole way home.  

Sunday 

We had the missionaries and Susan over for the Sunday morning conference session. Travis made his delicious homemade German rolls… and it’s a toss up between his rolls and conference as to which made my soul happier! And to top it off, he then made another delicious German dinner; so so full, but so so worth it. 

During the afternoon the boys wanted “brother time” and this left Addie feeling pretty sad. So she asked me to transcribe a note for her to give to the boys: “ Dear Maddix and Aaron, I feel sad that you’re not counting me in and that you’re having brother time. I’m sorry for opening the door and annoying you. I just think you’re the best big brothers in the whole wide world! I think you’re the best brothers when we play games together, and when we watch movies together. You guys are the best! (And I hope we will have another good time together) Love from, Addie” THIS was just too much. And shortly after she slipped it under their door, they came out to play. 

Go Adeline! 

One busy but FUN week!

Monday 

The BEST morning so far!! First time with all the kids in school and I was in Heaven! I felt prompted to reach out to different people and this day I followed through. I dropped Avery off at school and went to Target. I was in that moment and present. Just soaking in being at the grocery store alone and focused. Then I went to Bill and Shirley’s and chatted with Bill for awhile; it was so good to see him and talk. 

I then went to pay the trailer storage payment and ended up in a lengthy conversation with the sweetest woman there. Had a wonderful phone call with my mom while I took in the beautiful fall around me and waited for Avery to come out. 

Once Addie was off the bus I stuck the girls in The biking trailer and we took Sydney some get well items. On the way home, I crashed due to my clip less shoes. 

Travis came home on his lunch break and then I found awful diarrhea all over my carpet, from Lily; yuck. 

When the kids came home we had a treasure hunt, celebrated with our treasure, and watched Pirates if they Caribbean to celebrate International talk like a Pirate Day. We had Pirate Soup and had Callum and Kael over for Root beer floats. Good day. 

Tuesday 

Boys left for school

Addie’s bus drove her away as Avery chase the bus down the sidewalk. 

We had exercise hour with our friends 

Played outside while we waited for Addie’s bus to bring her home. 

That evening Aaron had raptors practice 

More happened. But I can’t remember. 

Wednesday 

We were barely into our workout when we found the dogs covered BADLY in diarrhea and vomit. This resulted in a workout cut short and  very early morning baths for the dogs whisk travis cleaned up the laundry room; ugh. 

Aaron was so positive that we at least found it early and that we got more time together. 

Had to be out the door by 8am to get to Ames for an allergy apt for Maddix. The drive was BEAUTIFUL. God is a brilliant artist. 

After the apt (where we found out Maddix is very allergic to grass and weeds; with a smaller allergy to horses) we went to a park and ran around. I ended up chasing them all over the park and was exhausted by the time we left. And after Maddix and Avery fell to the ground during a race, they were ready to go as well. 

Snagged Chik-fil-a for the drive home.

Home in time for Avery to snuggle me for 10 mins before we had to turn around and leave to piano lessons. 

During the lessons we played tag and kicked the soccer ball around until it was time to go. 

Mutual/ Activity Days (got challenged to 1-on-1 basketball at the end). 

Thursday 

Avery started the morning by screaming that “everyone is going to hate this dress…” “they will HATE my Butterflies” “okay actually I hate the butterflies” for about 15mins. Then as soon as she got to school she turned to her teacher and said, “do you like my dress? The butterflies are my favorite…” like, wha?!

I went for a run in the beautiful fall weather. I had a hair apt. 

Maddix ended the evening with soccer practice.  

Friday

The kids got to celebrate the Highschool’s homecoming by dressing in spirit colors. Travis came home on half day and Shelby and I headed up to the cities for the night. We got spray tans that were so dark! We picked up dinner at the mall and then chose to take it back to the hotel and eat it while watching a Friends marathon. Overall such a nice night. 

Saturday 

What a day. Hotel breakfast. Shopping at the mall with Shelby. Getting lost in St. Paul while looking for the temple. I could help but see the gospel lesson in such a moment: lost. No Siri as I searched for the temple… 

Maddix and Travis joined everyone in the temple while Shelby and I took the kiddos to Costco. Oh how I love Costco! Then we met up with everyone and dropped the kids off at Pizza Ranch whisk Shelby and I headed home… to find my mushroom FULL of vomit, pee, poop, and diarrhea! Nala had even vomited into the vent; this resulted in Travis having to come home and dry vacuum out the vent!! 

Sunday

What a perfect day. Ward council, a beautiful testimony meeting in which Maddix bore a testimony on temple work and his believing in Christ that had us all in tears. I taught Young women's, Travis taught Elders Quorum. Quiet times after church where Addie got to join the boys in the Lego room. Took dinner to a friend/had a wonderful conversation. Came home to scarf dinner and then enjoy a “family” home evening lesson with the missionaries on our back patio under the stars, next to our fire.  Reading before bed. Time with Travis. Bed. 

I just felt all day that my cup was full. What a perfect way to begin the new week.