September.

September was a BIG month.
It always seems to be a big deal.
Summer is over,
kids start school,
& we all have to get used to a different routine.
It is just...well, something.

This year Luke decided to get lasik eye surgery (PRK).
It was a bit rough for him for 2 days, but over the following week
his recovery kept getting better every day.

Viv & I had a girls outing to get out of the house while dad was still recovering

from his eye surgery.

We loaded up her minion singing thing that she loves & her baby.

Viv dined on McD's & I enjoyed Pompeii Pizza.

Sadie's birthday party.

Jump city in Otsego.

Vance was going to be starting preschool at Becker Preschool

at Becker Primary.

Adler & Brock went to Agape Christian Preschool at our church,

so this will be different for him & me.

Now that the boys go to school in Becker this transition

just seems like the right thing to do.

Plus, Luke can drive him to school, it's cheaper, & he will feel

comfortable going to Kindergarten knowing he's been in the school for

2 years prior.

The first day of dropping Adler & Brock off at school we stopped by his little

playground to get him excited about all the school hype!

(I don't think it worked, but I gave it a try!)

Our sweetie.  (she's so cute!)

Soaking up the last couple days before preschool starts.

(the big brothers are already in school)

Everyone wants to mow with dad.

I wanted to capture a typical supper at our house.

Lately it has been that the kids sit at the island

& we serve up their plates.

It keeps the mess in one place & it works.

But it will be nice when we can all get back to the actual dining table!

We bought a 4-wheeler for our family.

We were at the point where we could use a little more 'fun' around the place.

We have trails & some land & we're going to now make even more use of it!

September also means flag football time!

Luke was a coach for Brock's team again this year

& Adler is in his last year of flags before he starts padding up next year.

Adler plays for the 'win'.  He's driven to pull the flag or run for the touchdown.

We always tell our kids when they're done with practice or a game...

"It was fun watching you play,"

Vance posing for preschool pics of things he likes.

When all the boys started school I knew I wanted to start potty training Viv.

She was more than ready.

She wanted to put her little unders on over her diaper

& she wanted us to put her potty seat in the bathroom.

I thought she might be a bit young,

but I was going to follow her lead.

So a week before training we read a lot of potty book.

Then I rented the "potty power" video from the library.

That lovely video sealed the deal for her.

She LOVED it!

We would sing the songs & she would clap & cheer & get all excited.

We picked a Friday morning to start, re-read the 3 day potty training guide,

laid blankets everywhere & got the extra undies ready.

Ohh yeah & the most important part was to get mentally prepared!!!

Because this weekend was going to be daunting. haha

The 3 day potty training guide that we follow means that someone needs to be right next

to Viv every second of the day for a FULL weekend.

So we read & watch the potty power video & clean up messes.

It's just something.

But we also knew this would be the last child we have to train,

so we were excited to get this all rolling. 

In the meantime, the boys were outside catching toads.

It was gross & the loved it! haha

Potty training is exhausting!

Grandma Glad came to visit & watch the boys play football.

We also had to eat supper at Cornerstone Café.  Grandma's favorite!

The boys were such great potty training helpers for Viv.

They helped get her excited when the excitement wore off.

They sang the potty power songs & clapped & cheered for her too.

It helped a lot!

When she went to the bathroom on her potty chair or the toilet,

we all got treats!

After 3 days she definitely 'got it'.

And especially after a week or two we could venture out without fear! haha

Visiting with her friend Kalina & playing dress up.

If we're at home, we're probably in the bathroom sitting on the potty.

But the payoff of never buying diapers again kept me going!

Heading out for a hard days work.

Viv & I hanging out in the front yard.

I took a little trip to visit these two little honeys.

Franklin & Harriet

'Frankie & Hattie'

Katie & Peter's darling new twins.