My head still isn’t on quite straight after this month. Like… I’m sorry to myself for putting myself through the month of September.

September started out in the absolute chaos of preparing to move. I was driving Reese to school in Orem every day, squeezing in work, and trying to keep Loney entertained. We were trying to manage the sale of our Vineyard house (complete cluster) with the purchase of our Orem house (seamless until the actual close day). I was majorly struggling with my health (women’s health to be exact) and trying to make decisions about solutions.

September is also a big birthday month for both of our families, so we had a ton going on in the way of dinners and parties and fun stuff, which was great but BZZZY. Just so exhausting and my anxiety came to play this month. I’m finally taking deep breaths and letting out a huge sigh of relief that we’re on the other side of September and entering the best month of the year. That guy from Green Day had the right idea.

Good

• We moved into a gorgeous new house! It’s so pretty and perfect for us and in the best new area. This is totally where we’re meant to be.
• I’ve gotten super into makeup again, which comes and goes, but I love it when it’s here! I’m watching tutorials and buying new stuff and managing my skin care and actually putting on more than just mascara… wild.
• We got Loney’s preschool figured out and have gymnastics for both of them in the works! Guess who needs extracurriculars to get them out of the house the most????
• I found a doctor who actually listened to me and trusted that I knew what I wanted. I literally started crying on the drive home because I was so relieved.
• Relatedly – I am currently walking down the path to hysterectomy and I feel so much peace and dare I say excitement about it? I’m really scared of the recovery which is apparently terrible but I’m so so happy to finally be talking about real solutions.
• It turns out that Reese’s new bestie in her kindergarten class is building on the lot across the street from us!
• Ryan loves this new kitchen so much that he’s been cooking almost constantly and it’s THE BESSSSSSSSSST.
• I put up all my Halloween decorations.
• On Saturday I got a massage, drove the gorgeous Provo Canyon, went shopping with my MIL, and ate the most delicious prime rib at Butcher’s in Park City.
• Ted Lasso on Apple TV+
• We’ve already contracted some guys to finish our basement and they started yesterday!
• My new bathtub.

Bad

• Malone spilled roughly 45 cups of liquid in the month of September
• Ryan’s grandparents contracted COVID-19 and pneumonia and are both really struggling to fight it.
• We didn’t have internet for a week and a half. A. week. and. a. half.
• Stevie got a bite/zit that turned into a staph infection, then had an explosive blowout on me while I stood at the check-in desk at the pediatrician.
• Reese has always been a little rascal and super independent, but she’s usually pretty compliant. She’s turned this corner into a kind of mean and defiant phase. It’s just a phase. Right? RIGHT??????
• Will my back ever recover from the move? Signs point to no.
• I have no endurance, no strength, no stamina whatsoever.

On My Brain

• It’s been such a weird year that, though I’ve been pumped for Halloween, I don’t actually have ideas for costumes or how to actually celebrate it.
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg is such a badass and I’m so grateful for her. I loved this article about working + motherhood, and the quote “I felt each part of my life gave me respite from the other.” I truly believe that each individual in my family is better for my working and I’m so grateful that I get to work AND mother.
• Reese can be inside a classroom with 15 other 5 year olds, but she can’t play outside on a playground. It’s just one of the many paradoxes and confusing pieces of this coronavirus jigsaw puzzle. Ryan’s grandparents could die. People are going to slide into poverty if things stay closed. Spectators can’t watch sports. But maybe they can. A mask will protect you, or maybe social distancing is better? I’m just so tired of it. I know you are too. It’s ok that we’re tired.
• I have long felt that we relied too much on the negative connotation of peer pressure, and that we don’t praise and leverage the positive side of it enough. This article was inspiring and helpful—how can I provide good peer pressure, surround myself with good peer pressure, and use it to help everyone?
• Friendly reminder that MLMs do not “believe in you” or want to make you a “boss babe” they just want to take your money and ruin all your relationships while they do it.

IT’S BIRTHDAY MONTH MY DUDES time for online shopping and General Conference and canyon drives and hot Pero and girls nights and zombie movies YASSSSSSSSSSSS