Our Life...'Better Together': Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

This morning, I woke up before the sun at a 5 am and heard the rain falling steadily outside. I tiptoed out to the couch with my journal and my book, lit one of my new fall-scented candles, and watched for a second as the flames flickered softly in the dark space around me. I paused long enough to feel myself breathe and smiled as I sunk a little deeper into the blanket around my shoulders. We made it to fall, the last few months of a year that's been anything but a picnic. And the cold spell that surprised us all on our Tuesday morning after Labor Day felt like the perfect invitation to transition into new rhythms of slow and rest and the comfort and cravings that always point us home.

I've been intentionally ushering one of my favorite seasons into our home this past week, using my senses to guide the way. I've tasted that pumpkin cream cold brew at Starbucks, outfitted my front porch and mantle with mums and funky pumpkins and burnt orange leaves, tossed knit throws on chairs and filled the air with the intoxicating scents of cinnamon and nutmeg and pumpkin. Last night, the kids got home from school and we all sat by the fire, wore our new fall pajamas, and waited for potato soup to warm on the stove. We read an extra helping of Harry Potter and watched an extra episode of our newest show before crawling under those covers and feeling filled up with all the good things of fall. If we've learned anything this year, it's the importance of investing in home - we've spent more time here than perhaps any year before. And after a summer of breaking free from quarantine and learning to adventure again, I'm happy to say there's something that sounds oddly fantastic about hibernating, ordering takeout, and breaking out those puzzles and board games again. Once a homebody, always a homebody.

But before I usher in fall to this space, it's time to look back at the summer that was. I spent a lot of time this past weekend reflecting on summer through pictures and videos and memories. And although it was a summer like none other, we marked it with a lot of things I am grateful for. First, I'm quite certain our little cul de sac would not have grown so close if it weren't for the bubble we formed last spring. The shared porch breakfasts and lattes, so many afternoons outside together, book clubs that spanned all hours of the night, so many bike rides to Verve, two bookend nerf wars, and endless jam sessions around the fire. It's pretty great having friends right outside your front door and I know my kids would rank the times they spent with the neighbors as some of their favorite memories of summer.

Second, we found a little refuge and family pastime this summer at Sunnyside. I've golfed more this summer than in my entire lifetime and turns out there are few places more peaceful than a night watching the sun go down on a pretty golf course! We spent many days at the pool, many nights at the golf course, and took advantage of a few date nights together. The financial investment soon felt like a pretty worthwhile investment in something our family can learn to do together and this summer in particular, Sunnyside felt like the perfect getaway (especially when a poolside cocktail was involved).

Lastly, our adventures this summer may have been closer to home, but I feel like we saw so many hidden treasures in our state and beyond. From creek stomping through Ledges State Park, beaching it for a day at Backbone, kayaking our favorite river in Decorah, and getting a taste of lakeside life in Okoboji, we spent some of the most beautiful summer days in some of the prettiest pockets of our state. And South Dakota simply blew us away. From glamping at Under Canvas, hiking Cathedral Spires, and canoeing across Sylvan Lake, we adventured well near and far this summer.

We closed out this summer well this past weekend. Cruz had a sleepover with Lincoln and Mila had a summer movie night with Reese and Flynn and Eden. We spent a beautiful Saturday biking to Verve and sipping palomas. We picked apples and listened to lots of fall tunes in the car. And we celebrated summer with good friends we haven't gathered with in ages. And then we jammed real loud and then all played ghosts in the graveyard, parents vs. kids. I'm not sure who was happier - Beau who loves any excuse to play his guitar or the kids who got to chase their slow, wine-induced parents through the cul de sac shrieking, "GHOSTS IN THE GRAVEYARD." There were many laughs and many off-tune renditions of John Denver and Post Malone.

The last couple years, I've been closing out seasons by going through the phone and compiling a few videos. And although this summer was filled with a lot of weird uncertainty, I'm quite certain we still found lots of time and opportunities to laugh and have some fun.

And now, a whole slew of pictures from our summer. With lots more to come!

We love Verve anytime, but especially at brunch time. Their kombucha mimosas, Irish coffee, and A-BLT are WHERE IT'S AT. And their outdoor seating space is on point.

Baseball nights! Cruz was on a super fun Cubs team for the Waterloo Optimist program, and they took the first place medal for the best record in the league. Cruz grew in confidence, got a lot of nice hits, and mostly took the top spot for comic relief on his team. He could often be spotted flossing in the outfield, yelling "TWO OUTS" whenever Coach checked to make sure they were paying attention, and cheering on his teammates in silly but sweet ways. We also got to spend a lot of time cheering on his buddy, Tyson, and keeping track of the little sisters who often found their own fun on the outskirts of the field.

The kids had a blast at Sunnyside's sponsored date nights. While Beau and I golfed and wined and dined, the kids got their faces painted, made mud pies, put on a skit, and watched a movie. They loved every minute of being fully entertained.

We finished the fourth Harry Potter and celebrated with a movie night (with butter beer, of course!).

It was a hot summer, providing lots of opportunities to soak up the sun at the pool. My favorite days were our swimming lesson days. We'd get to the pool at 9, stay for lunch, and swim until mid-afternoon. And they both got a pretty great summer tan to show for it.