As I downloaded the photos for this post on this rainy cold November day, I could not believe the end of summer was over two months ago already!

At the beginning of August, Tate, Eliza and I helped run the library booth at Vernon County’s Night Out – a yearly community event that brings out a lot of people.

Tate and Eliza are both  employed by our local library this year!

They love working there, it is five minutes from our home, Lane worked there in the past – it is just such a perfect fit for their very first job.

We spent time in August helping Chad and Kailey get their new home across the finish line so it would be ready for them once they got home from their honeymoon.

I LOVED being there helping them!!

These are the things my dreams are made of!

It was a team effort and we enjoyed all of our time there so much!

We need a spot on here for our pups – especially Sadie Jo because she lives with Chad and Kailey now.

I miss her!

But I do not miss her night time antics, just saying!!

I think once you are a dog person, you are always a dog person!!

We enjoy our pup Jazzy and watching Addie’s pup Ruby while she is at work.

There is always time for lots of fun too!

We spent a Sunday family day at a new water park in Sparta.

It was PERFECT.

The day was not super sunny, or very hot – so the place was nice and quiet!

It was an awesome way to spend an afternoon and the children had so much fun.

We will definitely have to do that again!

We also have fun here at home – these kiddos keep our life so full and fun!

I laughed when I walked to the kitchen sink and saw this on the deck –

We only had one (ONE!!) campfire this summer and I am NOT ok with that!

I need to make these things happen more often!

I even bought smore ingredients to have on hand for campfires and it is all still in the pantry.

Craziness!!

Kayla gave Tate a sleepover and dinner out coupon for his birthday!

The younger children really enjoy any time they spend with their older siblings!

They always include them in so many fun things.

Tate got to eat out at Matsumoto Ramen House and has been begging to go back ever since!

Memories made in the very best way – quality time!!

Blake and I went to a place in our little town one Saturday and ended up coming home with new furniture.

It was not the plan – but they were having a cash and carry sale that my hubby said would have been foolish to walk away from!

He was right!

I must have asked the lady five times how much this couch and love seat cost, because we could not believe it.

It took a couple trips to get it home, but we are enjoying the new furniture very much.

I  did not realize how worn out ours was until we got this!

The new furniture is SO comfortable!!

I then shopped online for a chair to go with the new sofas and it all turned out so great.

You know I have food photos!!

And sky photos from my morning walks!!

There has been another shift in food needs with Chad now married and Lane in college.

It has been a learning curve for me!!

I still enjoy being in the kitchen and figuring it all out!

My early morning walks are fading fast.

The lack of daylight before 7 a.m. is a huge problem!

Now that the time has changed, it has been raining all week.

To say that I miss it….well, it is hard to put into words how much that early morning time outside means to me.

It helps my stamina, energy levels, prayer life, vitality, mobility…you get the idea!

I need to get out my walking pad and just continue moving everyday whether I am under the beautiful sky or not.

I have SO many sky photos on my phone!

One of God’s GREAT gifts to us!!!

I should offer a prize if you can find the photo that has my sweet little deer friend in it – she and I would chat every morning – she would let me get so close before running into the woods!

I texted Addie one Friday and said, “Can Dad and I take you and Scottie out to dinner tonight??”

Of course the smart girl said yes!

Then I asked if they would help us get all of the drinks for Chad and Kailey’s upcoming wedding.

I mean, I had to make them work for their steaks, right??

Ha, ha!!

They would have helped us without dinner – that’s who they are – but I am so glad we got to spend time together afterward!!

We were also celebrating Addie’s birthday!!

Goodness, spending time with your grown children is THE BEST!!

We also celebrated Addie and Grant’s birthday on a Sunday family day.

Addie and Grant have always shared a birthday – they were born 364 days apart!

Grant, Kamryn and their baby Saylor live in Florida now, but I was so glad that we got to have this birthday celebration before they moved!

I do not have a photo of either Addie or Grant by themselves on any of their birthdays all these years – it has always been the two of them together in the photos…so you can imagine how thankful I was to get to take these on their 28th and 29th birthdays!

I also have a photo (or video) every single year of Grant either blowing out all the candles or not letting Addie do so!

Crack me up!!!

Some things never change, ha, ha!

We did spend one late afternoon in August in our safe spot in the basement that we go to during bad storms.

After the ice storm and then the hail storm back in April, maybe I am a little more particular about this now?

Thankfully it wasn’t as bad as it sounded, as I had visions of spending a whole day cleaning up our land again.

Just this week we put our down payment on finally getting our house siding redone after the hail damage in April.

There are SO many houses that have been redone in our town, as everyone had such terrible damage!

I sent Blake this photo one day when I saw what this house had chosen for their new siding.

Stayed tuned to see what we decided!!

Well, that’s August friends!!

It was GOOD!

But September was BETTER!!!

Chad and Kailey got married!!!

Can’t wait to tell you all about that – it was FANTASTIC!!

I will sign off with this photo that my hubby took of me on a Sunday – it is his screen saver on his phone – and he says it is his favorite photo – sweet man!!

If there is anyone reading this, you KNOW I love being a mama, but being a NaiNai??

It is truly such a precious gift and I am not worthy of it!!

Until next time….Steph xoxoxoxo