End of September

September was in full-swing with kids in school - the homework, studying, projects, and after-school activities have taken over our lives.  September brought Clayton's 12th birthday, Cub Scout Pack meetings for Isaac and Brigham, An all-day Merit Badge Fest for Clayton, Gymnastics class for Eliza and Lydia, Piano lessons for everyone, and torrential rainstorms followed by some much cooler Texas weather. Here's a look at our September:

The boys have been biking all over town. Brigham works hard to keep up with his older brothers.  They are fast. . . and kind of reckless. Luckily we've only had a few crashes with some ugly but minor scrapes and bruises (the piano teacher is not happy about Clayton's banged up and bandaged fingers) and several hours of bike repairs (Clayton can fix anything!)

Eliza is Elsa - the Frozen-fairy-soccer-playing princess.

This girl is always dressed to the hilt.  Watch out world.

Eliza and Lydia love (obsess over) their gymnastics class.  If only everyday could be Tuesday!

Eliza is practicing like crazy to "prepare her hands", "make space for her star", and do her "three magics - drop, fix, and roll" on the piano - which translated means to keep her wrists up.  Hey, it's harder than it looks!

Of course, she is learning from the best!  I love the music that fills our afternoons.

Clayton's dream came true in September when I let him make and serve chocolate chip cookie dough for Family Night treat.  Mmmm, brought back memories of sneaking pinches of dough from the bowl when my mom wasn't looking. 

He also finished several major school projects in September - one for each of his classes.  And constantly occupied the computer. (now you know the real reason I'm behind in blogging!) Here's the video he made for Science about the element Titanium. Love all the flying words.

I did Eliza's hair.  Once.  That is a huge accomplishment for me.

  Lots of Scout stuff happened in September.  The boys love it.  I am still trying to understand it.

 

We got a new car in September - although you'd never know because we bought the exact same car - same color and everything .  Just new.  See? Here they are old and new.  The only difference is one smells like seven-year-old hotdogs and stale Goldfish crackers. 

Eliza had a joint epic Elsa birthday party in September with her BFF whose birthday falls one week before hers.  Pictures coming soon.  She is the ice queen and hasn't stopped singing and posing like Elsa since the party.  Love this girl!

But September was really about Lydia.  Lydia was lost when school for the other kids first started.  But towards the end of September she discovered the joys, wonders, and benefits of having me and the whole house all to herself while the other kids are away.  She has come into her own!

Her unique and imaginative playtime with her dolls (she does all the voices) is one of the highlights of my day.  She is a very busy little girl and can single-handedly clutter, disarrange, and undo every room in our entire house in one afternoon.

She is also her own master when it comes to cleaning though - I found her under the table scrubbing up a mess she made.  She's often seen hauling the dust-buster to and fro from this mess and that.  And of course there's always the bathroom that needs cleaning. Ha! She's been discovered more than once dipping towels into the toilet for mopping.

She still loves mermaids.  Actually she is one. . . just ask her.

Love this pretty girl.

We took Clayton and friends out for frozen yogurt on his birthday in September.  I hung out with the girls while the older kids occupied a table to themselves. I pulled these pictures off my cell phone.  I love Eliza's face completely in her cup.

Cutie pie.

And this last one - sugar overload - sums up my feelings about September exactly.  Exhausted.  Happy.  Now, on to October!