How is September already over? This month we welcomed fall, enjoyed all 6 of our kids playing sports and I took the girls on a super fun trip!

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. This is when I interrupt my typical recipe content, and take time to share our family’s favorite moments from the month! Here it is for September 2026!

My​ Favorite Things​– September

Here are my favorite things for September. I actually went through and updated ​all my favorite things here ​this month, and did the same in ​my Amazon shop.

• I had to replace my drying mat this month and got this one. So far I’m loving it. I got the color “almond.”
• I use these glass spray bottles every day – either for doing my kids’ hair or for making sourdough!
• I literally live in these “be calm wide leg” pants. They’re so soft and comfy.
• It’s pie baking season, make sure you have a cute white ruffle pie dish! I love this one.
• I also wear this pleated skirt on repeat all year long – but especially in the fall and winter. I have it in multiple colors I love it so much..
• My favorite tissue box cover is back in stock. I love making ordinary things like tissues look pretty.
• I have these faux maple leaf stems and they’re perfect for fall. I just pulled mine out again and love them.
• My teenage daughter is obsessed with these sweatpants. If you’re looking for a gift idea for the teenage girl in your life – these are it.

New September Recipes

chai latte recipe | cream cheese apple dip | apple hand pies | pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting | brown butter pumpkin cookies | pumpkin blondies | cinnamon apple scones | peanut butter blondies

Instagram Highlight

I shared a pumpkin recipe series this month on Instagram, head over there to check it out. Everyone’s favorite was my pumpkin bars video! Have you made them yet?

Snapshots

This was such a great month – we were so busy but it was so good!

It took a few weeks for me to actually get “first day of school” pics of these kids, but here they are!

One of the reasons I love homeschooling is that my kids are best friends. I loved this moment where Naomi was just snuggled up reading to her sisters.

Also – the sports in Utah don’t mess around. The views on every football field are like this.

Disneyland!

I took the 3 little girls to Disneyland and it was so much fun! They are the sweetest and were just the right ages to fully enjoy the parks.

I have had this trip booked for a while – with the sole reason of making memories with my girls. Time just flies by so fast, so my philosophy is if you can then you should. Play with your kids, read to them, take them on walks, play in nature, bake delicious treats, and take them to fun places.

So we lived it up and were in the parks from open until close. Star Wars land was their favorite place, and the mickey pretzels were their favorite food.

It can be hard to find characters without having to wait in long lines (so much different than when I was a kid). But we were eating lunch and the Rey character walked right up the our table and started talking with the girls. They flipped out and it was so sweet. I’m so grateful she saw them and chose to make their day like that.

On the 3rd day I asked the girls what ride they wanted to rope drop. All 3 said the carousel and I questioned my entire life as a mom and why I was even in this park to begin with! LOL!

We know it’s fall when cross country starts and the fall colors start calling us into the mountains. Since Ritch tore his ACL, we went to Silver Lake so that we could enjoy the fall colors together.

All three of my older kids went to a homeschool homecoming dance and it was so sweet. And G got his braces on this month! He will have them for a while so he was actually happy to get the process started.

Never not baking chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal cookies, or both.

Thoughts on Gossip

Weak women gossip. Strong women refuse to participate in it.

Don’t be a safe place for gossip to land, and don’t use your words to tear others down. Instead, ask the Lord for the discernment to recognize it, discipline not to participate in it, and the courage to walk away from people who do it.

May gossip become foreign to our mouths—and may we be willing to leave the rooms, circles, and even relationships where it has become familiar.

Well, that’s all for September! I hope you had a great month and are ready for the beauty of October!