September

September, otherwise known as, my birthday month, was nothing short of fabulous! The beginning of September started with a trip to our lake house for the Labor Day weekend. It was our first time up there since the big Ross Fires, so we didn’t know what to expect. It was very eerie and apocalyptic feeling driving through all of the devastation. Miles and miles of burnt fields and trees.

Thankfully it only smelled mildly of smoke and the firefighters had everything under control so we could enjoy the holiday weekend outside and on the lake with family!

He’s got ups!

The dog whisperers….

Lake time is the best time!

Unfortunately, we saw a few plumes of smoke because of small fires that were popping up over the weekend. The helicopters that scoop water from the lake and dump it on the fire were all over it though!!!

Aye Aye, Captain Adam!

Captain Julie was at your service as well!

I had to drive the boat so Adam could show the young bucks how it’s done!

Wake surfing is so much gentler, easier, and more fun! I’m so glad the new boat creates a better wave!

Stud!

Even Levi got up for a little bit!

Sweetest sisters in all the world!

Blessed with the best!

Chill time!

First time at Hells Gate for the Stroems!

Sunset cruise!

Pit stop at Hemmingways to end the night and the perfect Labor Day weekend!

Sooooooooo stinkin’ proud of this girl! They told me at her beginning of year ARD meeting that we’d have to reevaluate her half day schooling after Labor Day. I knew she wouldn’t be able to continue going half day all year and that they’d push for homebound. I was ready to fight and advocate for her if I needed to, but she said she was ready and wanted to give full day school a try. She kicked butt and earned this little ice cream treat after her first full day of school the day after Labor Day. We are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were this same time last year and I’m just so grateful. Grateful for her fight and perseverance, grateful we had the means for me to stay home with her all last year, grateful for a partner who supports and provides for us, and grateful for all the healing her body has done!

I’m soaking in all the things with this dude for his last year of elementary school!! I had the privilege of volunteering at his Ninja Warrior obstacle course school fundraiser!

He was the only kid in all of fifth grade that made it up the tall side of the warped wall!!

Popsicle break!

Crazy Color Wars fight to end their super fun school day!

Brooksy finished middle of the pack again for his second cross country meet of the season!

How many suitcases, coolers, and bags can you jigsaw for a girls trip, lol?

Mahjong Mom Girls trip to the lake after the dust settled from the start of the new school year!

Mexican Train after dinner!

A little Pickle ballin’….

…and neighborhood hikes to get the gorgeous day started!

Then it was time for some shenanigans!

Our hilarious friend surprised us with these silly wigs and swimsuit t-shirts!!

Tonya is the one with all the fun ideas!!!

Outtakes for a transition video we were making….

Then it was time to beat the heat with some pool time! Thankful for awesome neighbors that let us crash their pool!

Can’t have a Mahjong Mom Girls weekend without playing Mahjong!

And I won!!!!!

Transitioned into our “Dolly” outfits for a fun evening out! Another silly theme thought up by Tonya!!! Nancy was my roomie for the weekend!

Of course we had to jam some Dolly on the drive to dinner!

I love how different we all interpreted the late great Miss Dolly Parton!

Such a fun group and much needed relaxing weekend after our crazy summer and start to the new school year!

The finished rough copy of our Tik Tok reel, lol!

Not only is this awesome girly going to school full time, she’s also going to the football games all by herself! A lot of her friends and classmates are cheerleaders and she loves going to support them. I would stay with her, but Adam and I are usually dividing and conquering the boys, and she swears she has a blast and has no qualms sitting by herself!

I got this selfie text from her sweet nurse whose daughter is a cheerleader, telling me she was keeping an eye on our girl!!!

Shep finally did it! He hit his very first out of the park home run! Not only that, they were down 2 runs, with 2 on base, and 2 outs, so he hit it out the park to win the game!!!! He’s been wanting to accomplish this for forever and I’m just so dang proud of and excited for him! Unfortunately I wasn’t at the game, so I missed it live, but his amazing coach tracked down a video of it for me! So appreciative we have this documented!

And guess what, he did it again two days later!!!! And guess what, I wasn’t at that game either. I’m sensing a theme here, and I’m not okay with it, lol.

It wasn’t for the win this time, but we thankfully got it on (choppy) video as well!

I missed his home runs because I was with this guy at his tournament, lol. Brooks was entertaining himself during a lightening delay, and I must say, I’m impressed!

Beautiful sunset during our adults only dinner at the country club! It’s been a minute since we’ve done that, and it was much needed!

Adam somehow got roped into helping the girls with their cheer stunts in the pool!

He’s such a trooper and good Dad!

This stud won his first ever ribbon and placed 9th at his cross country meet! Only the top 10 (out of almost 100) get ribbons. And guess what, I wasn’t there for this either. Brooks has to be at the meet at 4, but doesn’t run until 6:30, so I usually get there around 6. There was a possible storm rolling in, so they started the meet early (without notifying parents), and I missed the whole thing by minutes. I’m really not liking this trend of the kids doing awesome at the events I miss, darn it. So dang proud of him though!!

Great job 8th grade Cockrill boys! 5 Ribbons and a top finisher out of multiple schools!!

Ben is another good buddy of Brooks’, and of course his buddy since kinder, Nolan, finished 1st!!!

So proud!!!

Last “See You at the Pole” prayer before school at Wilmeth Elementary!

I was so proud of Sheppy for arranging for two of his friends to ride their bikes and go early with him. Love his heart for Jesus!

It’s McKinney ISD band night, where all 5 middle schools and all 3 high schools perform together at the big stadium!

Excuse me, when did he become a man child?? I am not okay.

All 8 schools coming together to form a giant M for McKinney!

Brooksy is with percussion way in the back!

Band has been the coolest experience, and I so wish he would continue it in high school, but he insists he just wants to focus on baseball and his grades, and I can’t fault him for that!

I ran into a superhero at the middle school pep rally!

I also spotted “Batman” in the band! Brooks is in an organization called PALS, so he gets to do double duty at the pep rallies!

The PALS got to perform with the cheerleaders!

Group pic of all the PALS! Brooks is the Batman on the bottom row, far right!

My BFF invited me to a Matt Rife comedy show at Choctaw in Oklahoma, sort of for an early birthday get away!

He was absolutely hilarious!

And he’s super easy on the eyes too!!

After my awesome getaway my friends took me out to dinner in downtown McKinney to celebrate my birthday as well!

Downtown McKinney always has the cutest photo ops!

Last cross country meet ever. Unfortunately, Brooks didn’t make the cut for districts this year, and he’s also decided not to do cross country in high school either. Baseball is life in the Dimmick household!

Great season boys!

Continuing on with Ellis’ food experimentation from last month, she tried Taco Bell for the first time— and was surprisingly a fan!

Now that these two are at the same school again (Grace was held back in first and is a grade below), they have rekindled their friendship, and hang out all the time. She has been such a good friend to Ellis, and I’m beyond thankful she’s stuck around!!! They are such goofballs and have so much fun when they’re together!

I don’t even have words, lol…

Another day, another birthday celebration!!!! I have the BEST friends in all the world!!!

On my actual birthday, I woke up to the most breathtaking sunrise! Brooks was finished with his meets, but not his practice— so on the bright side, I got to witness this beautiful view!

Thank you Jesus for my 45 years on this Earth!

After dropping all the kids off at school I went on my daily walk with the dogs, and got a FaceTime call from these cuties!

Then, I got to play Mahjong with some friends!!

Cheers!

Homemade cards really are my absolute favorite! This is from sweet Shep!

This is from creative Ellis!

It’s hard to see, but it says…you are the best mom ever! I love you so much and I love how much you do for me. You are so sweet. I love you so much!

Blessed beyond measure!!!

Adam had to take Brooks to practice and Shep’s school was having a spirit night at Texas Roadhouse, so I took him, Ellis, and my bonus daughter to get steaks for my birthday!!!

Loves him!

Of course they embarrassed me and MADE me get on the saddle, lol!

I will leave you with the sweetest reminder note I found on Shep’s bathroom counter that evening. He was the very first person to wish me a happy birthday that morning! I love his sweet heart so stinkin’ much! This was the perfect way to close out the perfect day, and I can’t wait for my next trip around the sun!!!