life lately! a SEPTEMBER to remember with the GRANDS!
- Our Grand Lives
- Sep 30
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 12
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Welcome to this edition of our monthly recap,
September always feels like a turning point!
It’s the month where summer lingers just long enough to say goodbye
before fall steps in with open arms.
This September has been no exception.
From everyday joys to meaningful moments,
it’s truly been a September to remember!
As September comes to a close,
we each find ourselves looking back with a full heart!
The month seemed to hold a rhythm of its own…
A gentle mix of fall routines returning,
quiet pauses to take in the beauty around us
and sweet and even surprising moments we know we’ll hold close!
Here’s a few moments that made it a SEPTEMBER to remember!
Our September started out
with an exciting vacation out to Moab, Utah
to attend our niece’s wedding.
It was an adults-only wedding, and though we missed our Little D and Little P who stayed home with their other grandparents, it was really a treat to spend a week with our Middles, and other extended family members.
We hiked in Arches and CanyonLands National Parks, explored the cute little town of Moab, did some swimming and hot tubbing, and enjoyed the quality time relaxing with our kids and catching up on their lives.
The wedding was beautiful - held outside of Arches National Park.
So many special touches
made the whole evening a time for our family to remember.
Meanwhile, Little D started her first day of preK!
We were grateful for the photos we received from her other GRANDS
to mark this momentous occasion!
We were also lucky to attend her family open house to see where our Little was spending four days each week.
I still get to take care of both girls one day a week, which I love! Little D’s new adventures at PreK have led to many hours of “playing school” with her as the teacher and my role (once the beloved teacher in charge of my own classroom) delegated to the quiet student who does exactly what is asked of me!
Oh, how times change and I’m loving it!
Some days I have Little P alone, and this month we started back at our library Story and Play Time with other toddlers. What a treat this is! I had Little D alone for two years (before Little P came along) and now I am getting to know her sister just as well!
One-on-one time is so special!
A new year of Sunday School began in September!
I’m loving being with “my kids” again…
Second graders I first started teaching as 3-year-olds!
If my calculations are correct, It’s our fifth year together!
This year’s theme?
Welcome to the Jungle!
Last week, I hosted a Fall Painting Party with a group of women
who I've been friends with since high school!
In fact, some of us have been together since kindergarten!
We call ourselves the Founding Friends and get together as often as we can!
We can’t wait to share party details with you all…
Look for us to feature more in an upcoming October post!
Thanks September! Great memories!
September found Hubby and I basically living out of our suitcases
as we traveled back and forth between
our home near Minneapolis, northern Wisconsin (at our family’s lake place)
and Madison, Wisconsin (where Daughter J, SIL and our Littles live).
There were times spent with our Littles
as well as a handful of other moments that made a lasting impression!
The month began with us at the lake,
celebrating Labor Day with extended family
enjoying the last few hours of the unofficial end to summer!
Then we were home for a few days
before an unexpected trip to Madison.
Daughter A and I reported for babysitting duty
while Daughter J and SIL met up with college friends for a weekend reunion!
I’d travel anywhere to spend a few days with these two!
MY HEART!
We made the most of our few days together!
Among other things, we went to the apple orchard - we loved the baby goats!
We ate apple donuts, of course,
and lots of tomatoes from the garden!
It was a quick turnaround
and Daughter A and I made it back home in time
to celebrate this guy’s special day!
It was the best photo I got of the birthday boy,
whiskers and all!
We went to one of our favorite outdoor patios to celebrate.
Daughter A and I split this yummy combo!
That salmon salad and the view from our table are among our summer faves!
Little L started preschool two days a week
and we were grateful for photos of her big day
and FaceTime reports that have followed, too!
I started a new bible study this fall!
I prayed about trying something new
and decided to join the leadership team this year!
I’m excited about the possibilities that await!
We were back and forth to the lake,
working on a few projects during the middle of the month,
returning each Tuesday (leadership meeting) and Wednesday (bible study for all)
as well as for scheduled appointments and to get the mail and water the plants!
Then we'd head back north., less than two hours away!
It rained the entire drive north on this particular evening
and then this was our view when we arrived!!
Can you tell why we love it there so much?
A few weekends ago,
we attended a special family celebration!
These two first committed themselves to each other during Covid
with only their immediate families in attendance..
Now, five years later we joined others surrounding them with our love!
Our Madison crew was supposed to be with us,
but Little P developed a fever a few hours before they were set to head our way!
While we all missed them greatly,
we had a memorable time!
My two brothers and our spouses… it’s rare we get a photo of us six!
The venue was at a brewery/food hall near the University of Minnesota
and Farm Aid 2025 was taking place at a nearby.outdoor stadium.
What a fun vibe!
It was a fabulous evening!
Two days later, Hubby and I celebrated our own wedding anniversary!
It's amazing how 41 years seemed to have flown by!
Our anniverary started out so well! It was a beautiful one, so we took the convertible for a ride that afternoon, heading to a town on a lake about 45 minutes west of the city where we had dinner plans.
Lovely, that is, until we ran out of gas… or so we thought! (Something we’ve never done in 41 years of marriage!) No worries though - AAA to the rescue and we were back on schedule in no time (or at least an hour later) and we were only five minues late for our reservation!
What a fabulous dinner we shared!
We headed home, telling ourselves that we’d had quite an adventure and that everything had ended on such a good note with a yummy meal in a beautiful setting. And then… our car (yes, that same convertible!!!) completely stalled on a major and very busy highway near our home - no power brakes, no power steering, completely dead right before an exit ramp, I might add! The problem was definitely more than us being remiss in getting to a gas station in time!
I took the photo below from the back seat of the tow truck
while the convertible was being lifted onto it!
It wasn’t the easiest to get into thanks to my short legs
(Hubby gave me a boost)
and by this time I was so wishing that I’d used the restroom
before we’d left the restaurant!
I'm so grateful that Hubby always remains calm in an emergency
and knows how to navigate a vehicle no matter the circumstance
and, after all these years, he knows how to calm me, too!
The police officer and tow truck driver couldn't have been nicer!
Two days later we got word that the fix was relatively simple! Woohoo!
What an adventure!
What an anniversary!
Our month ended back at the lake!
Many evenings or early mornings during this time of year,
we head to a nearby wetland
where the sandhill cranes stopover when migrating.
Thousands rest there every night
and it’s a beautiful thing to witness their arrival or departure each day!
Look carefully - do you see them all?
God’s handwriting at work!
Thank you, September!
It’s always great to have you stop by and take the time
to visit our world!
THANK YOU!
We’ll be back with a second post later this week.
Be sure to stop back on Thursday, when we share
A Few Fall Faves!
Look for
A Little Something for the GRANDS
AND
Something Grand for the LITTLES!
Each to celebrate the fall season!
Better still,
you can always subscribe to our site so you don’t miss a thing!
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We always welcome your comments!.
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As September comes to a close,
we are once again reminded that change can be beautiful.
Just as the days shift and the leaves turn,
life moves forward in seasons, each with its own colors, rhythms, and lessons!
For us, it was a month filled with both celebration and reflection…
The kind that reminds us why this season holds such a special place in our hearts!
From everyday joys to once-in-a-while adventures,
September 2025 truly lived up to its name...
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Aw, September was such a lovely month for all of you. So many memories made. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post with us. Happy October!
Steph@CrazyLittleLovebirds
Wow! You both had amazing Septembers. So much family time and beautiful views! Looks like great food too! So sorry about the convertible breaking down! I bet that was a little scary! I hope you both have an amazing October. www.lisahoweler.com
Those views are stunning!
What a wonderful September for you and the fam- the wedding looks beautiful and looks like so much fun!
Wow, what great things you both have going on! :) Moab is a gorgeous spot. And happy 41st, too. Thanks so much for sharing this post with us at the Will Blog for Comments #70 linkup.