This has been such a special, spooky month! Weekends spent watching (and then finally joining in!) soccer for Grant, our annual trip to Red Barn Ranch with the Hanlins, Trunk or Treat and a Halloween party, a trip to Spooky Hallow at Deanna Rose, celebrating Dale and Sophie’s October birthdays, antiquing with EB and Grammy, Spooky dinner at EB and GPa’s and lots of baby snuggles from Theo and Lillie – it’s hard to even capture all the Halloween fun that was had before Halloween! Grant, Theo and I also got to participate in his school’s Halloween Ball and I spent lots of time soaking up every bit of my last month of maternity leave with Theo. We went on lots of walks and I completed my goal of learning to finish the needlepoint ornaments I stitched over the past few months. November is going to be full of transitions, and the true kickoff of the holiday season, but I’m so grateful for all the memories we made this October with my two little guys in their astronaut costumes!
September Memories
September didn’t quite feel like Fall outside but was a full month with a few special highlights. Most importantly, we celebrated Sophie and Alex’s newest addition, Lillie Ella! Our family spent Saturdays at the soccer field with Grant, enjoyed lake time with the Smiths, Grant had his first full month of preschool adventures (including the school carnival), my mom and I (plus Theo) headed to Nell Hills to pick out fabrics for the living room, Theo turned four months old, I finished more needlepoint ornaments, I toured the Wornall House with Barbara, the boys and I spent some time at Turkey Hill with EB and GPa, and Halloween festivities kicked off early with the arrival of Grant’s space suit and a trip to Family Tree for the first corn pit of the Summer. My maternity leave is flying by and I can’t believe I only have one full month left before heading back to work, I’m enjoying every moment!
2026 School Photos
Grant and Theo both took the sweetest school pictures this year. I still can’t believe I have TWO little buddies!
August Memories
August was a big month for our family with lots of transitions! Grant, Theo and I had a fun few weeks of adventures before preschool started with lots of time with friends, swimming, and Theo’s first time on Mama and Papa’s boat. We also had some big celebrations including Winston’s 2nd birthday and I hosted a sprinkle for baby Lillie! Grant and Theo both started the school year and I couldn’t resist some matching outfits and lots of photos on their first days. Theo is the sweetest three month old, I can’t believe how fast the summer flew by! I can’t wait for all the Fall fun ahead!
July Memories
July flew by! The month was filled with baby snuggles, Fourth of July festivities, needlepoint (I’m obsessed!), World Cup watch parties, trips to the pool, Theo’s first visit to Turkey Hill, and Grant’s last day of daycare. At the end of the month the Chicago Smiths visited KC, and three weeks of true Summer break home with both boys began! While exhausting, it was so much fun watching Grant play at the Fairway Play Gym, visit Crown Center with Sophie & Winston and Sydney & Diego, and we took a trip to Wonderscope! We also celebrated my Dad’s birthday where Grant and Winston graced us with a harmonica performance. Sophie & Alex also moved right at the end of this whirlwind month. I’m looking forward to all August will bring as we wrap up the sweetest summer with Baby Theo!
Fourth of July 2026
Because we were in France last summer, this was our first Fourth of July in our new house and it was also Theo’s first Fourth! Our neighborhood hosts the sweetest parade – complete with a small band leading the way. It ended up being a somewhat rainy morning, but we had the best time strolling the neighborhood, had a wonderful lunch with Grammy and Pop at our house, and then headed to the Hanlin’s for an afternoon topped off with backyard sparklers.
