Every year I Fall for Autumn

And just like that it's OCTOBER! So happy Fall has finally arrived. Here's what we've been up to in September:

• Biggest news of all: Daddy came for a visit!! He was able to get away for about 6 days and we all relished being with him. Kiersten got to relax and the girls got to play, play, play with Daddy and get their fix. We are so happy he could come and can't wait for December when he comes back for the birth.

  

  Just look at those happy people!

  
  
• While Daddy was here we celebrated the Jackson birthdays. There are 3 in the family. So we had a nice little celebration out of it and he got to see most of his siblings.

  

  Painting rocks with Grandma J.

  
  
  
  
  
• Mackenzie has been rocking out on the soccer field. Her first game she was a little upset she hadn't scored a goal in the first 8 min quarter and refused to play any more. Mom was able to convince her to get back out there. While she doesn't score much she is one of the better passers on her team. Gotta work on that defense a little bit more.

  

  After a hot and sweaty game for both Mackenzie and Mom.

  
  

  

  This was from her first soccer practice.

  
  
• Kiersten's parents have been taking some over night trips away on the weekends so it's just the girls. One night we tried a sleep over in the theater room... it did not last long. They'll have to get used to sharing a room once we move back to Kuwait so we thought we'd give it a try one night.
  
  
  
• We did another trip into DC the day after Labor Day. Everything was closed except the Museum of Art. It was kind of a bust but it was a lovely day, not many people and had a terrific picnic.
  
  
  
• We drove up to Maryland one weekend to attend the Renaissance Fair with Kiersten's brother's family. It was our first time and way fun. I'd definitely go again.

  

  Giant pickles and soft pretzels for lunch.

  
  

  

  Mackenzie was knighted!

  
  

  

  Listened to a woodland fairy tell a story.

  
  

  

  Upon entering the Fair.

  
  
• Kiersten had a routine doctor's visit and was finally able to schedule the C-section. The earliest we can deliver baby boy is December 22 so that's C Day (C-section Day).

While Scott was in town we got out of the house a lot. We went hiking one day and visited his parents another day while Mackenzie was in school. We went out to eat as a family and played at parks. It was amazing to be together again after 3 months. We felt whole. Complete. His absence has been supremely felt by all. He was able to see Mackenzie's first soccer game and listen to her first talk in Primary. Some great milestones. 

Hiking in Prince William Forest.

Family dinner at Red Robin.

Since his departure, we created a paper chain counting the days until he's back with us. He'll come back a week before C Day making it December 15. It's a long chain but there are some fun milestones to look forward to along the way like Finley's birthday, Mommy's birthday and Thanksgiving.

Just look how long it is!

The Mackenzie Update:

• She became a bubble gum expert at school meaning she recognizes all the letters and their sounds. She said she's one of seven in her class to make this achievement so far.
• She gets some iPlay time during school which I gather to mean play time of her choosing. She almost always picks arts and crafts. One day she was really creative and made Movie Tickets for the whole family! It was really cute.
  
  
  
• In order to help her get moving in the morning and not dilly-dally with certain tasks (ya know to get to school on time) we've come up with a code word: Dominos. Meaning if you don't do this one act/domino, the rest won't fall and we'll be late for school. She really likes it and gets moving.

  

  She had Rainbow Day at school.

  
  
• Piano lessons are going super well. She can read the notes now! So amazing.

  

  Playing for Daddy.

  
  
• She came home with a sore throat the Thursday before General Conference weekend so Mom kept her home from school on Friday and Monday. The school nurse had us do a rapid COIVD test to ensure it wasn't COVID. Luckily just a cold.
  
  
  

The Finley Report:

• Here are some cute/funny things she's said:
• Our car in Kuwait is a Mazda!
• I think Baby Brother is crying. (When she hears a baby cry in church or in a store.)
• Tiny help please?? (When she needs any help with any thing its 'a tiny' help.)
• Me teeny.
• I love you and baby! (She seems to understand theres a baby in there!)
• Baby Brother come out? (When I take a shower or go to the doctor.)
• Us have... a silver car; a big house; Paw Patrol... you get it.
  
  
  
• She is starting to recognize letters. Just a few mind you. F is a big one and when she sees it somewhere she'll announce: "F for Finny!" which is how she says her name.

  

  10 months old and almost 3. So big!

  
  
• The potty training saga continues. We go a day with no accidents and then the next day, oops. Granted the days she does well are the days Mom is on top of saying, "Let's go to the potty." I'm afraid we started her too early but now we can't go backwards. Hopefully she starts to put it together really soon.
• She really loves her one-on-one time with Mom. So much so that occasionally when Mackenzie comes home from school she gets surly and mean. She's just learning to stand up for herself.
  
  
  
• She can recognize and identify her colors now! Yellow was green and orange was red for a while but we think she's finally got them straightened out.
• Some days for lunch she likes to make her own food. We've figured out an easy way to make pizza: Naan or pita bread, pasta sauce and cheese then microwave. She loves it.
  
  
  

October hopefully brings cooler, crisper weather and beautiful changing leaves. See you at the end of the month!