Sensational September {2015}

Oh September, where have you gone?  You were a sensational (and unusual) month for a couple of reasons, namely that Evan was home from school all month and that we had a little trip to the mountains.  And although the month ended with over a week of no sunshine and lots of rainy days, we still think we managed to enjoy you and make some great memories with you.  Here is a little taste of how our September days were spent:

Brody and I started the month right with a doughnut and iced coffee date at Dunkin Donuts. 

Then, we studied the letter L and read the cute book "The Great Lollipop Caper" about a disgruntled and jealous little caper who wanted kids to love him like they loved lollipops.  

To start Evan's first day of his almost month long Fall break, early school dismissal, and the start of my birthday weekend, we picked up Daddy from work for kids' eat free lunch at Tupelo Honey Cafe.  Oh my goodness, it was sooooo good!  If you have one of these near you, I simply must strongly recommend that you try it for a "special" meal although it is a little pricey for a regular family dinner out.  The kids' eat free special was a win win for us!  

This was as yummy as it looks.  I had the nutty fried chicken with southern gravy, sesame asparagus, and kale slaw, and we all enjoyed the yummy biscuits with fresh honey and blueberry jam. 

The boys have been loving all of the extra Star Wars stuff at Target these days.  

Brody loves drawing me pictures on his kindle.  He drew me this rainbow (I think I started it for him), and he wrote his name.  I allow him to do a mix of capital and lower case letters in his name for now because it seems to work for him. 

Oh how I love snuggling this sweet baby boy!  Sometimes, a selfie is needed to capture these sweet moments!  I think that is what the flip photo option on cell phone cameras was designed for. 

The boys loved going to help Daddy get the Expo site ready and getting to climb on the big equipment.  

Just taking some church dressed pictures on the first Sunday the boys all wore their jeans. 

We took Evan to one of his library story times the week of 9-11 and Patriot's Day so Evan enjoyed reading about historical fires and making a fireman's hat. 

Daddy and Mattox having a moment at lunch after church. 

Just admiring the newest additions to the boys' fridge magnet collection.  Evan has a magnet from all of his years playing baseball and soccer, and Brody has started his collection with this year's t-ball and soccer pictures.  

Brody got a special DQ treat one night after dinner while big brother was at Cub Scout meeting. 

I took the boys for a special lunch date at Chick-fil-a one day.  They love trading their toy in for ice cream. 

Then, we headed to the park to enjoy a pretty day.  Brody loved that Mattox joined him in the tunnel. 

Evan mostly played football with one of his soccer teammates while Brody tagged along with some other kids who had found a caterpillar and were just mesmerized with it.  Only a couple of kids would touch it, but that poor caterpillar was dragged all over the playground.  

Mattox had a big month sitting up by himself and getting those first two teeth.  

Evan enjoyed having big brother join him for a "school" lesson where they made their own M monsters.  Brody cut out his own M and decided on how many eyes he wanted and what colors he wanted on it.  Evan basically made his own.  

Brody also learned that M is for wooly mammoth and Mommy.  The book "this Orq.  (he cave boy.)" is the cutest book.  I highly recommend it for all little boys to read.  It reminded me of Brody and his pet, Cocoa.  His Mommy wasn't too happy with letting the wooly mammoth pet in the house because he was tearing up and chewing up stuff (sounds familiar) until the mammoth came to the boy's rescue.  Then, Mommy loved him too!  

The boys and I also had a fun lunch and shopping date at Panda Express, Rita's, and TJ Maxx/Home Goods.  

We all loved cheering for big brother Brody in soccer.  Mattox is his biggest fan! 

Lots and lots of cute and fun moments with our littlest man.  He is just getting so big! 

The boys met some of Holly Springs' firemen at Chick-fil-a and wanted a picture. 

Yay for Fall...and my minimal decorations, which include a little burlap banner from the Target dollar bins, a couple of little wooden signs also from Target, and a silver pumpkin from Home Goods.  I love my sign that says "Home of the wicked witch & her little monsters."  Ha! 

Some more of the boys' library reads for the month.  Rude Cakes was a funny book for Brody.  Evan has read a couple of Hardy Boys books, and he seemed to like Arcady's Goal about a little Russian boy during the Cold War. 

I don't know whether the boys enjoyed their milkshake or their wrestling match more.  Sigh. 

Of course, we loved our yummy doughnuts from Mr. Bob's in Marion. 

Just hanging out in the soda shoppe. 

I just love these moments where all three of them are hanging out together.  

This boy!  He can be so sweet one minute and then so rotten the next!  He looks so sweet cuddling his teddy bear and sleeping, and then he is just so silly eating his yellow rock candy from the gift shop at Linville Caverns. He had yellow all over his face.  Ugh, I hate yellow #5.  Thankfully, he didn't eat much of it! 

We tried our best to capture the essence of the rare lunar eclipse "blood moon" Super moon.  It was just too cloudy. 

Evan enjoyed some extra time with Mattox this month. 

Brody and I took an opportunity for some selfies while waiting for lunch one Sunday after church.  Not bad, not bad. 

Then, we got silly. 

And the rest of the boys did too.  We put a leprechaun hat on our little leprechaun, Evan.  Then, he tried on a dainty little yellow hat.  Brody and Mattox grew facial hair.  Daddy and Brody put on their big kissy lips. 

Brody said, "Look Evan, I'm a princess."  Haha!  He had his silky blanket wrapped around him.  He also took some artistic close up selfies. 

Our little Cub Scout is a Bear this year.  He was practicing his whittling skills on a bar of soap with a wooden stick before earning the privilege to use a knife. 

Brody enjoyed going to some more library story times after a month long break.  He loved his train stamp for the letter T.  Mattox enjoyed sitting and listening to the story too. 

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my favorite HGTV show, Love it or List it, had come down from Canada to shoot its latest season here in the Raleigh area.  It took me by surprise one episode when I heard them mention a Carolina snowstorm.  Then, this episode showed this iconic mural of an oak tree on a building in downtown.  The Oak Tree is Raleigh's official tree.  I think it says a lot that the show chose the Raleigh area as the only U.S. area to film in outside of the Toronto, Canada area.  Raleigh is a very popular city to move to lately.  It has grown by leaps and bounds.  It used to not even come close to the size of the Charlotte metro area, but in the last few years, the area has really closed the gap.  It boasts many high paying jobs and a highly educated populace with several large universities that entice a lot of people to relocate here.  

Mattox loves having his big brothers to play with. 

The boys loved this red British style telephone booth at a restaurant and decided to take a trip to the Ministry of Magic.  

And now, the boys are super excited to see all of the Halloween decor in the stores and in our neighborhood.  Our neighborhood is having a little Halloween decorating contest, and there are some good contenders.  It should make Halloween night a fun experience.  

I made this little comparison for my blog pal and twin, Natalie, to show our "twin" boys wearing the same whale shirts at about the same ages.