September

How gorgeous is this red?

My hairdresser handed me her pruning shears after my morning haircut and invited me to refill my tea mug with something special. Rosie is simply the best. She said she would like to see me more frequently than the every six months my appointments have become the last few years. She drives a hard bargain.

We launched the "ber" months as a family gathered around pulled pork nachos and baseball in the back yard. It was a delicious day together. All of us love the fall and the unseasonably cooler weather the last week of August had Erin decorating for Halloween and all her sisters lamenting their "late start" on September first. They make me laugh. 

Yes. This is a cat on a leash. Freddie is always plotting an escape so Makenna decided to try allowing him out. He actually loved it and Austin was thrilled to be in charge.

Evan is always immediately surrounded by the animals when he arrives. The cats are more his speed but Diesel won't allow for any space between them.

He had to watch the game from the deck because he steals balls and trips players running bases.

One rainy day, Ty text me his day was weird. He stated the energy was off in all his classes and his socks were wet. Basically the whole day was ruined. It was the first time I saw myself in that kid. Wet socks absolutely could ruin an entire day. Everything else about him is 100% his father. But wet socks and recognizing shifts in the energy of a room? Yep. He's also mine. 

September continued it's cooling trend so we dined on the back patio, held down my porch swing and found several excuses to be out and about while it was so pleasant. In working on a gallery wall for the living room, I ran in and out of stores offering frames and inspiration. Greg experienced Hobby Lobby on a Saturday and declared it insanity. He isn't wrong. Lines weaving back throughout the aisles are a strong deterrent to brick and mortar shopping. This is how Amazon is taking over the world. We know we will regret this eventually; however, the ease of front porch delivery and better pricing on top of crowd-free shopping is beyond a little enticing. 

Greg entered the boy's room because I refuse. It makes me angry to see the dumpster he chooses to live in. I had been asking about missing dishes so Greg took it upon himself to go digging. This photo cracked me up. As far as things that could have been found in his drawers, I am counting my blessings. And forks. 

Ty studied for the written exam needed to become a permitted driver for about six months. He was so nervous but passed on his first try. I cannot begin to express the relief I experienced while he beamed with pride. We had a full day of errands and appointments that Friday so it was after rush hour before I had him behind the wheel. He is the fifth kid and I was far more relaxed than the mom my first couple of kids had to endure. He is going to be fine. 

He had a great month over all. He won a Student of the Month nomination from his algebra teacher for his character. The truth is, he has launched his sophomore year far more in control of his anxiety and is utilizing assistance finally being provided by the school. Even without the pending diagnosis we anticipate in October, he is being supported appropriately. The school is still a hot mess with staff turnover and even a bizarre morning where the health office insisted we pick him up for a stomach bug we knew nothing about. They called the wrong parents. Tell me you are flailing without telling me you are flailing.  Despite the chaos, he has adapted, and other than the day each week he comes home from school and sleeps until morning, he is doing really well. 

We got to keep Austin for a teacher professional development day. His momma had to work so while Ty was in appointments, we played Uno and Pokemon. We accomplished haircuts for both boys before family photos and even grabbed lunch on a patio in Louisville. It was such a full but delightful day. 

After family photos, Austin asked to return to the "bamboo forest" so he could make a trail. Greg and I strolled along while he word vomited. "I am tracking a snake. There are bear tracks back here. I bet the people passing us think we are homeless. Dean and I are going to camp on our property and forage for food. We aren't packing any snacks." (Dean recently found this out as well and thinks snacks will be hidden in the car because foraging for food is not yet a mastered skill.) By the time we left, everyone of us needed a shower. It was a charmed ending to an otherwise joyful day. 

I noted he'd been on a bike ride when checking Life 360 and text asking how because when I left for work that morning, the bike had needed parts on order. His reply? "Duct tape and prayer." Lord help me.

She has wrapped up her first quarter in the school that supports an impoverished community. It's been a wild nine weeks. She has cried many nights and laughed at the insanity of her average day. Her kids are loved and she is exhausted. 

It had been a few years since our last family photo session and everyone showed up ready to laugh and engage. We even managed to make Evan flip off Makenna. That little gesture has been brewing for years. She 100% deserved it and we feel like he may finally fit in around here as he has remained thoughtfully observant the last few years. That poor guy had no idea what he was getting into when he married into our circus. 

We channeled Alaska and walked in the rain. We did not melt. Daily walks, no matter the weather has been far more pleasant in recent weeks. The heat of summer wore me out.

I visited the float tank alone this month. It's been a hot minute since I last dropped by. My center has a second location offering express services and I've found them to be what I can pull off most days. However, the leisurely time spent floating reminded me to prioritize it more frequently.

I had a significant amount of hair cut off and met my extended family that night to celebrate my dad's birthday. I saw two different crews at work and my own immediate family. Ty's barber three days later was the first to acknowledge my haircut. I thanked him for noticing. We then discussed the theory that women disappear with age. He said undercover operations are utilizing women in their mid-life years due to that understanding. Once we reach our fifties, as a general rule, people look through us, not at us. In so many ways, this is freeing. Whereas I am struggling to dress my menopausal body, it appears it really doesn't matter. I just need to be comfortable. No one is looking at me anyway. 

Only the best teachers dress as sumo wrestlers to end their first nine weeks of the school year. Or as Makenna likes to say, "I have gone crazy." There is a strong chance she decided to ask forgiveness not permission for this. Admin loves her so it's fine. 

Homemade harvest muffins in honor of Kristin's sweet grandma was a perfect indulgence. I froze them so they will last throughout the season.

We wrapped the month visiting an apple orchard outside Lexington because my 21 year old nephew wanted apple cider donuts. We had an amazing day out together; however, when we stopped in the market to purchase the donuts as we left, they were completely sold out. It was a very disappointing ending to an otherwise beautiful experience.

Our Kate had to work so she wasn't with us while we explored what could easily be her dream farm. 

Grandpa offering to help Austin eat his ice cream. Of course he is.

So helpful. 

I came away from the orchard with birthday gifts from my mom and sister, or as the cats like to think, new bags for them. 

August

It's been quite while, but we made it to London to see my family and to celebrate August birthdays. Theresa moved into a beautiful new home with the most amazing porches in May and we'd yet to visit. Their original home was destroyed in a tornado last spring and I had not wanted to see how dangerously close my parents and Theresa were to the destruction. Mom and Dad have had all the work done to restore their home. Theresa's house has been leveled. Only the basket ball court remains. Driving through their neighborhood gutted me. Lives were lost and I fear my sister would have been among the deceased had she not already moved. The impact of that truth barreled into me as we drove through the neighborhood. So many houses are just gone. Totally gone. The trees are all missing. The entire landscape changed into something that feels like a post-war zone. A thirty second tornado claimed so much. As Mr. Rogers always said, my parents have looked for the helpers and highlighted all the ways the community has supported rebuilding and caretaking. My dad even got to shake the hands of the police chief and several of his men to thank them personally for their constant patrol in the aftermath to prevent looting and additional damages to already suffering citizens. My family is okay and I am beyond grateful. 

We spent the day enjoying the new property and one another. My crew swam and rode four wheelers while I held down the most incredible porch swing. Had I not had to share it, I'm certain an afternoon nap would have commenced. It was that comfortable. The kids asked Theresa to host a Halloween party for nostalgia sake. We hope to pull off another visit in October to make that happen.  Her property will be gorgeous draped in fall, which just so happens to be my favorite season. 

Our favorite human pulled his own tooth rather than let it fall out on its own. Historically he has waited until he loses it and has even swallowed them in his sleep. So this was a big deal to Austin. However, he immediately tried to shake down the tooth fairy for additional funds to celebrate his success. 

Greg and I spent the weeks leading to our vacation managing life overload. His work schedule and meetings with the school trumped all excitement. I likely over thought every last detail to make sure Ty could be cared for in our absence and the house was covered if unforeseen situations presented themselves. I left lists, notes, a charge card, a signed check, groceries and cash. Add all the layers and wardrobe planning for unpredictable Alaskan weather and it was a lot. It was absolutely worth it, but my brain was firing non-stop prior to boarding our first flight.

It took a week post vacation for me to have a leisurely morning for reading and tea. These two live for it. Fred, on the other hand, kept pacing into the room, verbally complaining he was bored. No one took the bait. They missed this. Me too.

While we were away, Makenna managed two contacts with Ty's school, a missed bus that had her driving back home from work and then racing to meet students before the bell rang and our dryer broke down. On top of teaching, she had our yard mowed, the house cleaned, groceries stocked and the dryer replaced before we returned home. She is claiming Favorite Child status and also declaring she will not have children or own a home. 😂 "Adulting sucks."

August wrapped with  funeral for a friend's mom, a playdate with Austin and gorgeous weather. We celebrated time together with s'mores, tag and a lot of laughter.