A Busy September

 We kicked off September with a trip back to Kirksville to celebrate Molly and Brad's wedding day.  It was supposed to originally be in May, but had to move it because of the pandemic.  Although there was some disappointment in it being moved, I think it could not have been a more perfect time to celebrate with a new addition to the flower girl crew, and a bridesmaid who is cancer free!  Time to celebrate all the blessings that we have had in 2020.

We went back home on Wednesday to help get things ready to go.  We picked up tuxes, went to Whippoorwill to decorate, and then it was time for the rehearsal.  After practicing at the Church, we went to Jackson Stables for a dinner that Brad's parents hosted.  It was a gorgeous night out, and the perfect setting for their dinner.  

The next day was the big day, and it started with hair appointments that morning, lunch, and then we were on our way to Edina for pictures before the wedding.  The wedding began at 5:00p.m., and it was perfectly perfect.  Baylor filmed a lot of the wedding, and I loved seeing the wedding from his view.  Molly was a beautiful bride, and Brad was the sweetest groom.  The music was hard to even put into words, perfect homily, and all that was missing was the kiss at the end;)

The reception was at Whippoorwill.  The food was so good, maybe the best I have had a wedding.  I lacked taking pictures because I was busy chatting with people, but I can't wait to see how the videographer and photographer captured it.  I think they are going to get some great moments.  Our kids of course had a blast dancing the night away with their cousins.  All too soon the night had ended, and we began the job of cleaning up everything, and eventually getting to bed late.

After sleeping in a little, we went to Andy's parents for a brunch, and swimming.  Molly and Brad gave the kids pool toys so the kids had a blast playing with them all day.  That night we went back to my Mom's for dinner, and to bed early.  

The next morning Andy and I got up early to head to Thousand Hills so he could do his half ironman by himself since his had been cancelled.  He figured he might as well do it since he had trained for it.  I watched him do his swim, and then went back to get the kids ready and off to Church.  After Church we hurried back to see him transition from the bike to his run.  After he was off, we went out to Thousand Hills for brunch to celebrate Mary Carol's birthday and then to watch Andy in the home stretch.  It was fun to have everyone there to cheer him on.  Happy he was able to do it, and now he knows what he needs to work on for next year when he really does get the chance to compete.  

We went back home on Monday to finally get ready for the first day of school.  Briley went back virtually while Finley and Atticus go two days to school and three days home.  Baylor goes full time two days a week, and then part time the other three days.  

Atticus went to school on Tuesday for an hour to meet his teacher.  He is so excited to finally be able to go to school with his siblings.  He got Ms Lohmann who was Finley's teacher, and seems pretty excited about that.  I'll be curious how the two of them get along.

After I picked him up, I took the kids to Top Golf to celebrate the last day of summer.  They have been asking for awhile to make a trip there, and so we finally made it.  Summer definitely looked different this year, but I hope it was still filled with good memories for them. For Briley, I think she had the best summer yet with new freedoms of spending her days with her friends swimming, biking the neighborhoods, trips to Price Chopper to get their snacks, and hanging out at Gezer Park.  Baylor also got a little taste of that as well with his friends.  

The three kids were off to school on Wednesday for their first day of school.  It was rainy and yucky so it was a quick drop off.  I told Andy I didn't even get sad about dropping Atticus off.  I think I was just so ready for them to finally be in school again.  He was so happy and didn't look back at us.  Finley has a new teacher named Mrs. Rosenburg, and Baylor has Mrs. Pattison.  I'm praying they have a good school year, and that things go smoothly.  Thus far, virtual days are a bit of a nightmare, but they have announced that the elementary students will be going back full time October 5.  Briley will begin a hybrid schedule that same week.  The funny thing is that nothing has changed in our reported cases.  In fact, they have risen slightly.  I don't understand the thought process of those making the decisions but I am happy to send them back to school because I know that is where they learn best.  

Last weekend Briley had a bonfire party with her friends, and Baylor was asked to do a Breakout KC room for his friend's birthday.  We took Finley and Atticus out to dinner at Jess and Jims.  We sat outside next to the train tracks and Atticus got to see three trains go by.  He loved it!  I don't know why we never thought to do that with them before.  We finished the evening with ice cream.