The way my fall went this year was manic. To be completely honest, it was the most stress I have ever put myself under in my life and I’m super thankful it is over. With an insanely time-consuming final project for a course I took alongside another course, a library advocacy spiel I researched hours for and presented on and waited for weeks for results, school somehow being incredibly unproductive because of this meeting or that situation, homecoming ceremony involvement, my kids not sleeping well, potty training and big boy bed transitioning, processing through some concerns we have for one of our children, attending a gorgeous Colorado wedding, celebrating 100 birthdays in September/October including [both kids and] my sister and I’s with a weekend trip to Wichita, as well as my dad’s 60th birthday fiesta, worrying about my sweet grandma’s health along with all the other “normal” stuff, I’m pretty sure I had involuntary heart palpitations by the end.
This weekend marked the official conclusion of insanity. I know the holidays are around the corner, but they pale in comparison to the disgusting busyness that was the fall for me. And you know what I did this weekend? I did what I wanted. I didn’t do laundry or a single dish. My parents lovingly volunteered to host my children on Saturday day and night (saints), and Logan had planned to work on his garage project all day. So I took out our lawn blanket, some pillows, and a few books and I sat and read for four hours, soaking in the last of the warmth of the season. Then I took a long walk by myself. I went on a date with my husband and watched a nerdy WWII movie. And I woke up at 8:30am the next morning.
It was glorious.
Grateful for some R&R this weekend, and I’m feeling full.
Even though it has been crazy lately, we still have had some really lovely times. Thought I’d share some of them through my annual fall photo explosion.
Evie lost her first tooth eating a peach at Carol Lee on her birthday!
Evie celebrating her birthday with monster cookies at school!
Week 1 of school complete! These kids are da bomb.
The big Martin family reunion! Glad Holly and Revery got to come back!
You don’t even know how much crap we brought home from the white elephant auction. Sheesh.
The whole Martin crew
A late birthday trip to Wichita with these lovely ladies. Memories at Botanica and Little Lion!
Family trip to Jade’s wedding in Colorado. Snowy, cold, but fun!
The Salina crew at Camp Robben! 🙂 photo cred: Robyn Bunch
I made a lot of apple cider donuts for the wedding reception… so many good treats on that table, wow! photo cred: Robyn Bunch
Our splurge night on vacation. At the Embassy Suites eating our room service meal watching Moana!
The kids’ first memorable trip to the mountains!
One of our stops on vacation was the Denver Children’s Museum. Evie enjoyed the workshop station. She built a recycled race car, pretty much all by herself!
Olan loved the bubble station and spent a LOT of time at the fire station too!
Evie was also super pumped that she made it to the top of the altitude climber!
Evie took this one. Fun in Denver!
Our 6th grade Halloween party… Extreme Twister!
Gotta have a pumpkin patch experience!
Evie holding a chicken at Britt’s. She loves animals! She chased this one around forever until the worker dude helped catch it for her.
Britt’s with Uncle Cole!
The first days of daycare at Emily’s! We love her so!
Olan sure loves cake!
Our family babies on Halloween!
The Domino Duo on Halloween!
Olie got bucked off of Great Grandma P’s horse!
Pretty darn adorable.
Halloween loot
This is my super awesome team at school. We made tie-dye t-shirts and it was a blast! Don’t these friends look like so much fun!?
My dad celebrated 60 years of life and we partied with a fun fiesta full of food!
Visiting my dear Grandma C!
So good to see Aunt Lindi. She looks like my mom’s twin!
Olan in heaven.
Evie’s first kindergarten birthday party! Happy birthday, Lillian!
Homecoming ceremony with my sweeties.
The end of the millions of tomatoes. Whew.
Olan enjoying some outside fun at Emily’s!
Fall Conference was in September… our annual Russell’s run after clean up was a success!
We saw and toured a really old WWII plane. Ask Logan about what kind. I have no idea. It was neat, but flippin’ hot! And our Elliott friends were with us, but not pictured.
Our annual Wichita birthday shopping weekend, one of my favorite family traditions.
And while I was shopping, Evie woke up and made Olan and her breakfast all by herself for the first time. Good job!
Evie lost 3 teeth in TWO WEEKS! She’s up to 4 teeth gone now! That last top tooth was a doozie.
Another visit with my Grandma C for all our birthdays! 🙂 Homemade German Chocolate Cake made by my mommy!
Evie enjoying nature!
That snaggletooth. Stayed in waaaay too long, including family pictures.
Evie won the cake walk at SES Fun Night!
Part of our Grow Group playing Pit at Thommas’ place one Friday night. These are my peeps!
