September

 September: the start of the school year, cooler weather (not as much as we would have liked), soccer and time with family. It was full, and at times chaotic, but there was so much good this month. 

While I was pregnant and then sleep deprived with a newborn, the kids had fun watching the Junior Great British Baking Show when I would nap and Austin decided he wanted to make one of the recipes (Chockie Stack) for FHE. It took a while before we were able to do it, what with a newborn and all, but he waited so patiently and it was delicious. I risked an irritable baby to try it and it was totally worth it. 

Eliza made a bed in a laundry basket for Vivi but Josie seemed to enjoy it the most. She is always getting on Eliza's nerves because she wants to lay on all of her setups for play. 

Here's an example of one such setup: blankets laid out and pillows everywhere. This is usually what the family room looks like each day. 

The oldest four started soccer this month and Austin and Eliza had their last games the last week of September. Eliza enjoyed soccer a lot more this time around and Austin applied what he had learned in the Spring and did really well. He is starting to understand the game more and was able to put himself in good spots to be able to score and also noticed his teammates more and had some awesome passes. Vivi loved soccer as well and spent most of her time wandering away or trying to steal all the snacks. 

One day I went to the grocery store to grab something and on the way home I heard some rustling and looked back to see Sean. The stinker must have jumped in the car before I left the house. I'm just glad he didn't get out of the car at the store. 

Chet has been so excited for his birthday. I was a little nervous about how it would all go down with a six week old infant, but Chet did almost everything on his cake and helped so much setting up for the party. Tanner was on call and we had soccer games that morning an hour and a half away from home. I had so much help at the games from some friends. We had to move fields after the first game and they helped me haul all our junk and make sure Vivi didn't wander off. I don't know how I would have done it on my own. Just minutes before their next game, thunderclouds rolled in and it was canceled. We just barely made it to the car before the rain started pouring. Once again, I wouldn't have been able to make it to the car in time without the help of friends. 

Chet was worried that it was going to rain during the party and I was too. I didn't know how I would keep 19 kids entertained in our house. But by the time we got home it was beautiful and clear and everyone played hard outside. When I asked Chet what activities he wanted me to do he told me not to worry about it because they were just going to play foursquare volleyball, basketball, frisbee golf, and pickle ball in the shop, which made my life a lot easier. Chet really wanted soda at his birthday and we accidentally got way more than originally intended. All the kids were walking around with sodas in their hands the whole time. Best Day Ever! Talk about a sugar rush. Brittany's family came up to celebrate as well and I was so grateful for their help.  

Chet wanted "Aunt Brittany's carrot cake" and I'm happy to say that he felt like mine was close enough to hers. 

 

The family gave Chet their gifts on his actual birthday. Austin made a fall tree, Mariah bought him the game Battleship, and Eliza bought him a glow in the dark football and spent days making him different things. Vivi just tried to convince everyone that it was actually her birthday the whole time. Typical two year old.

Chet reacted perfectly to all his gifts and gave his siblings big hugs. 

Now that piano has started again the younger three get to hang out with me. We've gone to the library a couple times and the park. 

School is....going. I don't know why I always worry about doing school with an infant, the toddler is the hard one. Vivi spends her time cutting up anything she can get her hands on, or drawing on everything. It keeps us all on our toes. But she has figured out faces so that's fun. 

Our Stake held an event called Come Unto Christ at His Temple. Tanner and I were able to do Initiatories and while I was in the temple the kids got to help clean up cobwebs around the temple grounds. Vivi kept telling everyone that "I made the temple". The kids got to walk through the lobby of the temple as well. We then hurried home to get ready for Grandma and Grandpa Crossley and the Hiltons to arrive that night. 

The next day we blessed Asa, and Tanner was called as the new Bishop of our ward. Asa was perfect during his blessing, but then cried the whole time Tanner was being set apart...but then Brittany worked her magic and let Asa drool all over her arm while he slept. We are so grateful that Tanner's parents were willing to come out for a very short stay and Brittany's family were there to support us. While Tanner is feeling very overwhelmed, he is so grateful for the ward members' faith in him and sustaining prayers. We know there are going to be great blessings through his willing service. 

Tanner was still at the church and Baydon took the picture. Sure love all these people. 

The hardest part of being Bishop for Tanner may just be the suits, but he couldn't bring himself to button the top button of his shirt...there's only so much he can do.