August.

August is full of fun too.

Swimming at the lake in town, neighborhood block party, 

trip to Como Zoo, weekend at the waterpark

& whatever else we have to do before school starts.

The boys used veggies straws to lure the fish to their nets.

Block party fun.

Every August we always have a pool party at Chris & Cassie's.

The kids just love it & it gives us friends a chance to see one another

& talk & just be together.

Sure wish it could happen more, but life is busy with all of our kids! 

Frankie & Hattie were ready to join the world a couple weeks after the party!

All the kids.

All the moms.

Mr. shoe man couldn't leave his older brothers school shoes alone!

He was always sneaking to put them on.

We also took a trip to Brainerd for a weekend at the waterpark.

It was our first time stopping at Treasure City....any kids dream store!

We checked in, threw our suits on & headed to the waterpark!

We also stopped at Fleet Farm & the boys bought air soft guns.

There was barely anyone at the waterpark.  We loved it!

Watching grandpa Wayne haul corn.

It's always a special treat for the kids 

to watch how the crop gets from the field to the store.

Riding in the semi with grandpa.

As her older brothers were away with grandpa,

we went home & played with babies!

Our family had a few weeks where we didn't have a washer & dryer.

It was sure a rig-a-ma-roll!

I even had to make a couple trips to the local laundry mat.

What an event that was....

 & the innocent people trying to wash their clothes the same time we all came in!

Oh BROCK!

We always try to make it home for the Threshers.

It's such a fun day for all of us.

Grandma & grandpa have the Ranger there do drive us around

& look at all the tractors & gadgets & other festivities.

Vance & Viv got to ride on Great grandpa's cockshutt in the parade

with grandpa Wayne.

That tractor is 60 years old.

We also made sure to take a trip to Como Zoo.

The kids get a wristband & ride all morning & afternoon!

Vance loved the swing ride.

And these two loved the rollercoaster.

Erin brought me to the Dixie Chicks concert at the State Fair.

Just her & I went & with no agenda we frolicked around 

without a care in the world!

Erin also participated in a little swing dancing.

The Dixie Chicks!

Adler's friend Adrian came over for the day to play.

July.

Summer.
Oh how we love summer.
So much to do
& all day to do it!
We've made a rule in our home,,,
once you're in kindergarten you can get to be involved in Community Ed.
Both boys enjoy swimming lessons, tennis, & soccer.
The last couple years the boys have been taking private swimming lessons
at the Becker High School.  

Vance brought this lovely "flower" to me.

What a sweet boy, to bring me a weed from the woods!

We spent many summer days playing with friends.  

All the kids had a water balloon fight at the Horn's. 

& a pool party on the farm.

Watching swimming lessons from the balcony.

This summer Adler was so excited to mow the lawn.

He would just mow & mow, until the whole lawn was done!

He's going to love the day he can finally mow with the rider.

But first he has to be heavy enough to keep the seat down & old enough.

How old to you have to be anyway?!

Vivienne loves when the boys read books to her.

Bigger brother mowing with his sidekick!

Vivie & dad napping on the floor.

More summer lovin fun.

4th of July with friends.

Relaxing on the lake.

As the older boys have done for the past couple years,

they spent a weekend at Grandpa & Grandma Herdina's 

with their other cousins.

It's always the week of Danube fun days

& they all get to play games at the park, watch the parade & play all day!

Grandpa Wayne spends all summer helping out others where he can.

Most of his time is spent in a big truck.

The kids just love it when Grandpa hauls sweet corn by our house.

Every day we call to see where's he's at & we head out 

to the field to watch the combines & trucks do their work.

It's great!

On this day Grandpa was hauling silage for a local dairy farm.

The boys got to ride in the truck with him & watch the whole production.

Because the older boys are away at Danube Fun Days

Luke & I enjoy our time with just Vance & Viv at Watercade.

The Watercade parade.

Viv lovin on Em at the parade.

Oh these two!

This summer I bought the kids this neat teepee tent.

We set it up right away & the fun began.

This is what it looks like to potty train in the summer!

We brought her little potty outside & in the van & everywhere!

She was only 18mths old & was an easy trainer, just like the other three.

With every one we followed the 3 day potty training guide

& it worked like a charm.

No more potty training for us!!!!

I can't tell you how excited we are 

to not have to buy diapers anymore after almost 9 years.

Grandma stopped by to visit & read books.

Grandma lays on the trampoline while the kids run & jump around her!

Adler doing a bit of swurfer-ing.

Playing outside in our undies.

Two young lovers!