September

September started with a very special visit!  The Bass family were dear friends when we lived in England.  Their daughter and Rooke were classmates, we lived in the same neighborhood, we went to the same church and were in small group together.  So man wonderful memories of life with the Bass's!  They were traveling in the U.S. and made time to share a meal with us.  It was a wonderful visit catching up and felt like we picked up right where we left off almost ten years ago.

Gretchen and Bridgette started back at Granite Classical Tutorial two days a week.  8th and 6th grades.

While in Oklahoma earlier in the summer, G Daddy taught Bridgette how to create with pour paint.  Then he generously sent her a set of paints to use on her own!

Bridgette taught the family how to use pour paint and we all made our own creations

Bridgette is still in crocheting.  She made this red hat and let me try it on

One of Ryan's favorite fall activities is to pick apples.  Gretchen was away with the youth group, but the rest of us spent our Saturday morning picking fruit and then making all the yummy apple things

Some of us lost interest in picking by the time we made it to the raspberry fields - ha!

On the way home we got a flat tire.  Life skill lesson coming right up!

We had our roof replaced.  Our neighbor offered to let us borrow his metal "rake" to collect the nails the roofers leave behind.  I told Bridgette I'd pay her 10 cents for every nail she finds.  I had no idea she would find over 80 nails!!  Worth every penny to have her preserve our shoes and feet!

Rooke and his buddy, Max, went to their school homecoming.  Lookin' sharp!

I spent two nights away with the women from our church at a ladies retreat.  The setting was beautiful and the sunsets were glorious!

Spontaneous shenanigans with our neighbor besties

Birthday dinner out for my friend, Leia

"Cheverly Day" is one of our favorite days of the year!  Bridgette got to test out the climbing wall this year.  It's fun to be with neighborhood friends, and the fireworks show at the end of the day is amazing!  I just try not to think about how many of our tax dollars they allocate to put on a show as long as they do - ha!

Checking on the carrots

Always in the gym

You know you've got great style with you match with beautiful Leia at church!

After dropping off the older kids at youth group, Bridgette and I took a walk and grabbed pizza for dinner.  It never gets old that this is where we get to live!