Bring on Fall

After 5 months of renovations, our stairs were finally completed and they were beautiful, totally worth all the heartache. It felt SO GOOD to get our house back!

These boys started soccer again, playing a year up and they loved it! Cousins and teammates? The coolest!

This darling thing started his second year of preschool at the Little Brick Schoolhouse. He thought it was totally awesome.

Being in class with his bestie is icing on the cake. Arranged marriage for sure.

One September weekend we took the boys to hike Adam's Canyon. It is a tough but gorgeous hike through all kinds of terrain. They all did a great job, even Piercey! The last time we hiked it Pierce needed to be on shoulders and held a bunch and it was amazing how much easier it was with him walking. We love hiking together and exploring in nature. The hike was also important so Parker could collect water samples for his science project!

That night we were able to go to a gorgeous mountain wedding ceremony for a family we knew back in Virginia. It was so much fun to reconnect with people we loved so much!

Pierce and I took one morning to go visit my grandma. It was a beautiful day we we took her outside for a long walk. She was so happy to see us and we were so happy to see her doing so well!

We loved having my mom to our house for her birthday dinner. She does so much for all of us, is so selfless and so loving, it was great to be able to show her how great we think she is! She has lots of adoring little fans too.

On her actual birthday she chose to come watch these little boys play soccer then went to dinner with us at Zupa's. She has always just loved supporting her kids and grandkids. We are so grateful to have her in our lives!

The weather had been perfect for weeks, until Pierce's birthday party which was scheduled outside with 15 4 year olds! Of course it POURED rain and was freezing cold, so plan B was holding it at the church. So thankful for my older boys who hid Easter eggs and entertained kids. Overall it was a success and I was so glad it was over. The Easter Egg hunt, Pierce's favorite thing in the whole world was so much fun!

After his party, Grandma and Grandpa took him on a special date night to Boondocks, then Target to pick out his presents, then out to Kneaders for a yummy dinner and dessert. 

Teenage boys are so weird. All kinds of writing on the hand and Jace trying to show me magic tricks that were absolutely horrible but had me dissolving in giggles. He can be so hilarious!

One last little celebration with this darling 5 year old. He is just the greatest!

I have been lucky enough to be asked to be a monthly contributor on Studio 5. It's such a fun opportunity. This time I was talking about Being a Parent and a Friend.

The end of an awesome soccer season. Cutest, most aggressive and smooth little 5 year old.

And one good looking coach!

This boy rocked his first flag football season and was so awesome. Love watching him play sports.

He created an awesome county float and also won a prize in the school's "County Fair." Such talent in this little guy. He was supposed to dress like someone from the old West. Interesting choice. For sure marches to the beat of his own drum.

Family pictures are not usually very fun, but this time was different. My boys all looked so darling and everyone was so cooperative. We had the most amazing night together in the most beautiful surroundings...truly one of the prettiest places we had ever been. After the pictures, we took all the kids up to Silver Fork Lodge for a delicious, fancy dinner. One of those really perfect nights where it was so much fun to watch your kids grow up and become more adult. Love them all so much and the men they are all becoming.

Parks took this gorgeous picture for reflections. Love it!

The next day I headed to Rick and Marci's to help them get started in all their packing. Hopefully I was helpful for them. It is amazing how much they had and cleaned out. Love spending time with them!

Cleaning out may be harder for one than the other.

I love that Jace is in Choraliers. He has such a beautiful voice and they are a great group. It was so fun watching them sing at the Capitol!

We were all shocked to hear about the death of Toshia Stettler, a mom from our baseball team. It was an emotional time for all of us and one of the first deaths any of us have had to deal with. It was tragic and so sad. These sweet boys were so supportive of their teammate and I know the family felt the love.

I love having this little helper in my kitchen!