October 2021

Why not start the month off with a beautiful sunrise? Our drive to school every morning is beautiful. I often get great pictures while I'm waiting to get through the 4-way-stop.

Every General Conference we measure the kids and see how much they've grown. The kids really look forward to this tradition. But, Carli is not thrilled that her sister is looking like she's catching up.

General Conference scones. Yum!

Milo's turn!

Logan was commissioned to make these for the fajita skillets at our local Mexican restaurant. It's sure fun to eat there and see his work being used!

Carli in Beta Club

Another picturesque drive on the way to school.

Farmer's Market

Our good friend bought a fancy new car and was anxious to see how our kids (especially Milo) would like it, so he was nice enough to come give us all rides. Very cool, but a little much for this girl's sensitive stomach.

We took a trip to Columbia to go to the temple and we added a few other fun things in the trip as well. We always visit Congaree National Park when we go.

Junior Rangers

Big nasty spiders everywhere.

Our first time visiting the zoo. So fun!

Who should I bump into when Logan and Carli were in the temple but the Joneses from my hometown. Such a small world.

The ward trunk or treat was amazing as usual. The kids had very fun costumes this year and so did Mike (who dressed up like Logan).

And Milo decided the mustache that came with his costume was too annoying, so he marched himself over to the face painting station and took care of that problem in a jiffy.

Red sky at morning. . .

And then a rainbow to add to it.

Janie's cross country awards night

The annual pumpkin parade is one of my favorite things about our cute little town. 

https://youtu.be/LLEsllEprzg

https://youtu.be/xwXJl6nfjFQ

Carli's turn

And after a week of festivities, we finally make it to the actual holdiday.

We went trick or treating with friends in our neighborhood and here the kids are looking through their spoils. We also went through a haunted house, which was a mistake I'll never make again. Funny to watch Milo in a haunted house though, sees through every trick without an ounce of fear.

Love our little crew of pumpkins.

But the best part is eating their guts. ;)

September 2021

September is sometimes a long month with no school breaks, no fun holidays and just the same old, same old. But we throw some fun things in here and there. 

Like fun YW activities where we try to look like a toad. . .

Logan bought two season tickets to the college football games and rotates who he takes to home games. It's really fun to sit on the grassy hill on beautiful fall Saturday evenings.

This is what laundry sometimes looks like with little boys. Somebody must've filled his pockets with rubber bands and then forgot about them.

Janie is doing great and shaving off time like mad in cross country.

 https://youtube.com/shorts/lcoRMUV4dsc?feature=share

Grammie and Papa are headed to London to serve the young single adult members of the church there. We are so excited for them!

It's hard to explain this picture of a text, but it needs to be remembered, so I'm including it. " Support midget wrestling".

A Thomas - Tadders art project

Our trusty van hit some big milestones!

Meanwhile, the lemon tree is finally productive! We have babied that thing (literally wiped its leaves with baby wipes and tucked it in at night), so it's about time.

Why, isn't that the cutest flower and blinded bumblebee you've ever seen?

Janie's turn for football!

I bribed him in order to get this picture. He has to be reminded that he's my baby sometimes.

Can't remember why we have this picture of the night sky. Probably a once-in-700-years planetary phenomenon or something?

Just a boy reading a note from his Grandpa in the MTC.

August 2021

It's always hard to believe when August rolls around that summer is actually over. Especially because in reality there's so much hot weather left! But these kids were pretty ready to get started in school and I was excited to start my new teaching position at the middle school with my girls.

I know sending your baby to Kindergarten is always tough on moms. I definitely had some moments of "Where did all those years go?!?" But, he was so excited to be at the same school as his brother and follow in the footsteps of his siblings. He is ready for elementary school! And it helped that I started school the same day to keep the tears at bay.

My big 2nd grader

Middle school here I come! (6th grade)

Ready to get the last year of middle school over with (8th grade)

So fun to have our first day of school together!

Nope, he's not actually going to school today, slacker. But he wanted in on the first day photos too.

The line to the middle school was extra long after we dropped off the boys. It's not a great look to be late on your first day. . .

Not sure what this pose is, but he is getting big.

I bought a bunch of yoga balls thinking I'd use them in my classroom. They never made it there. . .

Silly kids. These three are always finding fun things to do together. And Janie is almost always the ringleader.

Sunday lunch

Using one of her birthday presents.

The couple's adventure date book Logan gave me awhile back has been so much fun. We've had some really great date nights.

Went for a walk at dusk and saw fireflies.

 https://youtu.be/vp8-wc21Prw

Figured out our love languages.

Danced in a parking lot.

Picnic in the park.

Tad (Thomas at school) came home with this picture. I was just certain he was trying to predict a future sibling in this drawing. Turns out it's a map of the upstairs of the house. Phew. . .

Logan has been commissioned for some fun refresher projects. This really old dough bowl turned out especially nice.

Janie joined the cross-country team and has made huge improvements in a very short amount of time. She loves it, I really don't know how in the sweltering heat, but I'm happy she enjoys it.