September/October

September kicked off with a trip to Grandpa's for Labor Day weekend.  I took only one picture the entire time, but Leah relaxing on the beach sums up this great end of summer getaway.  We love Litchfield Beach!

We soaked up the last summer weather by getting out the baby pool for Millie.  The human kids spent so much time at our community pool this summer, and our fluffy one enjoyed a day splashing in her pool at home with her sister!

We went to Boone to watch Maya play in her first season on the App State volley ball team.  She is amazing, and was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year.  SO proud of her, and we're thrilled that she is in NC for college!

We also went to family weekend at Camp Linn Haven with lots of friends from our church in September.  It rained the entire time, which meant lots of cozy fires, playing games and cards, and hanging out on porches visiting.  We all enjoyed our first time staying in the cabins at Linn Haven, but I neglected to take a single photo all weekend!  

September meant a new season of 6th grade band.  Leah and Asher (our across the street neighbor) both started this year playing trumpet, and they cracked me up practicing on our porch.  It sure was a "joyful noise!"

We stayed busy on Sept/Oct weekends with Leah's soccer games and Luke's band competitions.  I'll post a separate marching band post, but here are a few cute pics of Leah's soccer team:

I also had a second surgery in September, and recovered well and in time to enjoy a weekend with my NC girls.  We intended to walk the Women's Only 5K together, and although Hurricane Ian ruined those plans, even the power being out couldn't stop us from gathering! 

We got away the next day for a Mom's Night at the Grandover Resort.  These women carried me through this hard year with so much love, and it was good for our souls to celebrate together with lovely meals, spa time, and lots of laughs:

Fall is Marching Band season, and we spent Friday nights at football games and Saturdays at band competitions.  Here we are on the hill watching our NW Viking Band compete:

Our school/band hosts a massive competition each year called Fall Festival where dozens of bands come to perform.  Everyone volunteers to make this event a success and Luke was elated to be at the panini station again, preparing food for the judges.  This kid has found his calling with gourmet sandwiches!

Grandpa came to visit for Halloween weekend and we made s'mores on our new screened porch fire pit:

Leah carved her jack o' lantern and decided to wear one of Luke's previous year costumes.  She's really too cute to be a scary Grim Reaper in my opinion:

Halloween is especially fun when your Harry Potter costume coordinates with your amazing homeroom/science teacher's costume.  Just two wizards performing magic in the hallway here:

And that's a quick recap of our busy September and October this year!