Another month has come and gone. September is typically a favorite month of mine, and this September had some truly high moments, but I also found myself in a weird limbo of feelings. I don’t know. Just felt a little flat while home, but I’m very much looking forward to a lot of fun fall activities in the month of October.
Travel Planning This Month
We’ve started doing some day-dreaming about 2025, which is a lot of fun. That’s been most of our planning – which is one of the most fun parts. Looking at maps and campgrounds and making notes. I think we’ve got some fun ideas coming for 2025 so far, including some of the longest trips we’ve taken in our camper.
I have a solo trip that I’m planning next fall. I have so many daydreams going on about this trip. It’s going to be in Colorado and Moab and I have a long, long list of things that I’m planning to do! It’s feeling really exciting to have it looming in the background because I have a little escape in my brain when I’m overwhelmed.
Travel in September
We kicked off the month of September in my beloved Moab. We were there with Matt’s family, and we had such a great time exploring those red rocks! We hiked all around Moab, drove Shafer Trail, checked out petroglyph panels and basked in the glorious energy that is the red-rock desert. Highlights included watching Charleigh be a badass on all kinds of hikes, seeing the Milky Way over Delicate Arch and driving Shafer Trail! There will be so many more posts on this trip, but my desert-loving soul is full.
A quick day trip was made to Kansas City by just Matt and me! It’s always such a treat to get to take an adventure with just Matt because that’s how we started out, adventuring together. We ate at Joes KC BBQ. We solely chose this because Paul Rudd recommended it on Hot Ones. Then, we went to the Starlight Theater to see Young the Giant and Cage the Elephant perform. We were surprised with a couple extra openers and really enjoyed seeing Bakar! Everyone was really amazing and Matt and I danced the night away!
We drove to Exeter Corn Maze again this year. I love that it’s just a couple of hours away and it’s become a fall family tradition with my brother and his family! This year, Liam enjoyed so much more and rode a lot of the rides. CJ is still a little timid around spooky things, but she was really brave and rode a ton of things. We attempted to pick apples and successfully picked some pumpkins for the house!
We took a long weekend to the Wisconsin Dells to kick off the fall season. We initially were hoping to see the Northern Lights, just banking on the higher chances around the equinox, but it was super cloudy, so no luck with that. However, it was the most perfect transition from summer into fall up in the Dells. We did a beautiful boat ride to Witches Gulch – which was on my Wisconsin bucket list, and we just really loved the scenery. We loved walking around the town and enjoyed being there just past peak season. We also did a beautiful hike along the Dells too in a really beautiful forest. I already have things I want to do on our next visit up here. We stayed at Dell Pines Campground and had the best experience with that! I can’t wait to share more about this campground in a post. Here’s a sneak peak in this Instagram Reel I posted this month, though.
Our last adventure of the month was to Ponca, Arkansas. It was Matt’s birthday trip, but I almost feel like we owe him another one. Haha. We were greeted on Friday with the most spectacular double rainbow I’ve ever seen, followed by a beautiful sunset. But that night I slept weird and threw out my neck and back, Liam was teething and cranky and we were all just a little bit off. We still managed to hike to Hawksbill Crag, but we ended up doing it in semi-shifts because Charleigh wasn’t in the mood to hike, so I let Matt go ahead while Charleigh and I meandered and looked at flowers, then he met me on the way back and I did the rest of the hike while he headed back with the kids. We took a sunset walk as well, but lordy, I was so sore. I just feel like it was an underwhelming trip, but the weather was really beautiful and we got to eat at Ozark Cafe.
Travel Laughs and Mishaps
I learned in Moab that I’m not cut out for night hiking. In fact, I hate it. We watched the Milky Way over Delicate Arch – zero regrets about that – but the way down at night suuuuucked. It’s a lot of slick rock and not always a super clear trail. But more than that… the bats. There were seemingly thousands of bats flocking our flashlights and stalling mid-flight right in front of our faces when they realized we were there. It was freaking terrifying. Then as a bat dive-bombed my face, I got turned around and we started hiking back toward Delicate Arch and had to turn around and be swarmed by more bats! So, I learned that night hikes are not for me. I’m too afraid of wildlife to not be able to see in front of me.
Blog Posts from September
Monthly Recap: August 2024 – This is a monthly recap, just like this one, but from last month. Check out what we got into in August.
Things To Know Before Visiting Yosemite National Park, California – This is a fun series I’ve been working on about the different national parks I’ve visited and this is a post on all the things we think you need to know before taking on Yosemite National Park.
Things To Know Before Visiting Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona – This post is filled with all the FAQs, tips and info you need before visiting Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.
Yes, We Went to Moab… Again – I did a quick recap of our recent trip to Moab. I have more detailed posts coming and I’ve been slowly updating past Moab posts with new information and experiences we had on this trip.
Local Adventures in September
My mom and I took the kids to pick apples at an orchard in Marionville, but we were rained out and the apples I wanted weren’t quite ready to pick. Luckily, we still got to have apple cider slushies which were so tasty, as always! They did have a fun little fall setup, though, so we took some cute pics of the kids as we enjoyed those slushies.
I did a few small solo hikes on greenways around town. I always love having little outside adventures on my own and seeing the leaves start to change fills my fall-loving soul! I also started rucking this month. I’m only doing 15lbs, but it still makes a huge difference in my hikes and workouts.
I’ve started something this month with Liam. Once a week, after we drop Charleigh off at school, we have a Mama / Bub date to do something adventurous!
I took my kids to the inside of the Nature Center, followed by a short hike after as a playdate with friends!
Best Thing I Ate in September
Hands-down, the meal we had at Joe’s KC BBQ! It was incredible! Matt and I both had the Z-Man Sandwich which is sliced, smoked brisket, onion rings, BBQ sauce, and I switched the provolone cheese for pepperjack cheese all on a kaiser roll! It. Was. Amazing. We had sides of mac n cheese and fries. And, if there’s banana pudding on a menu, I’m getting it. This banana pudding had some of the freshest bananas, the creamiest texture and heath bar crumbled on top. Best banana pudding I’ve ever had.
What I Read in September
As far as audiobooks go, I’m still trucking my way through the Outlander series. I have enjoyed the re-listen to the later books a lot. I’ve read the first 4 or 5 quite a few times, but then kinda fall off the binge-read wagon because they’re such massive books. The books following these feel really fresh even though it isn’t a first read or listen. I’m on the last one that’s out right now and will move on to something else soon, but it’s been a great journey.
I set a hard goal to finish one of the many books I’m currently reading. But, alas, didn’t happen. I still am reading How to Raise a Wild Child, Braiding Sweetgrass, Devotions: The Poem of Mary Oliver, and Forth Wing. All of them I’m thoroughly enjoying, I just can’t always find the time to read like I want to.
Most Popular Instagram Post and Reel This Month
Both of my most popular posts highlight my little ones, but more specifically Charleigh who freaking killed it in Moab. I love seeing her believe that she is the most capable little thing in the world.
Life Updates in September
We’ve spent a lot of time on the road this month. So, I feel like our “life” is pretty sporadic as far as time at home, which is typically what falls under this section. I will say, when we’ve been home, I have been getting into the fall festive vibes. I’ve made pumpkin bread, I frequently get pumpkin spice lattes and I’ve been planning out holiday festivities and ooing and awwing over the bits of fall color.
Charleigh is finally feeling settled in her school routine. We have her part time in a Montessori school and she loves getting to be with her friends. Charleigh has such an extensive vocabulary, is currently obsessed with Twenty-One Pilots and growing like a weed. Liam is still home with me full time during the days, which we love. I love finally getting one-on-one time with him and we’ve seen an explosion in his speech over the last month. He’s still so fearless and so sweet! Matt celebrated his 34th birthday this month and finally joined me in the glory of our mid-thirties!
What’s Coming in October?
We’re doing a fun little day trip with my brother and sister-in-law to go side-by-siding down in Arkansas! Matt and I have another just us couple of days up in St. Louis, Missouri, during which, we’re seeing Twenty-One Pilots! Guys, I cannot wait to dance my ass off at that concert. The last travel we have planned is a camping trip down in Arkansas, during which I’m going to do the BRT. More on that later, though.
At home, my best friend, Alaina, is getting married and we’re excited to have a fun-filled two days with her and H along with her friends and family. We’re excited for Halloween! Charleigh requested to be a witch and Liam is going to be a Jack-o-Lantern! We have a mini-get-together with family and friends that’s very wholesome. Haha. I make a giant pot of chili, the kids all trick or treat in our neighborhood and we take turns hanging back and handing out candy at our house. It’s my favorite fall family tradition and I feel so lucky to have it at my house each year.
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