September Review

 September has been an eventful and exciting month for our family.   The changing of the seasons has made me feel like time is finally passing, and we're getting a little bit closer to Todd's return.  We passed the half-way mark and got past the endless summer, which makes the end of winter seem a lot closer.

Hazel started preschool after Labor Day.

I am really excited about the preschool I found for her this fall.  She does an art project every single school day, and has lots of time to learn through play.  It's a much more creative set-up than what I had her in when we first moved here, and so far, I've been really pleased.  It's run within a recreation center, and in addition to her preschool class, she gets to attend tumbling, movement, and swimming classes.  It has been a good fit for Hazel's artistic and energetic persona.

Gemma crawls everywhere now, so we've got a gate at the top of the stairs.  Hazel can climb over it, but Jack cannot, unfortunately, so he needs my help to go downstairs to play.  A few days ago, I forgot to ask him where he wanted to be before I took Gemma into her room for a nap.  When I came back out 15 minutes later, I was surprised and happy to see Hazel's creative solution.  She brought the set upstairs to Jack.  Do you see their shadows?  They were playing puppy and owner.  

We've had some really fabulous weather this month.  I've been encouraging everyone to play outside as much as possible.  The kids have no idea what's coming; they simply have no concept of winter.  It drives me nuts when they don't want to go out and play when it's 65 degrees outside.  

I tried an intensive "potty camp" with Jack.  He loved wearing underwear and watching movies and eating salty snacks all day, but just wasn't making ANY progress on identifying when he needed to go potty.  I threw in the towel a day and a half in and felt liberated.  I packed up the froggy potty and told Jack we'd try again when he was a little older, and have made zero efforts to have him use the potty since.  For now, diapers are worlds easier than potty training.

After lots of searching, we found a local u-pick apple orchard that was in business this year.  Apparently, it's been a bad year for apples.  We were happy we were able to keep up our September apple-picking tradition, although I much prefer the orchard we have gone to in California for the past few years.

 Todd's parents, Larry and Ellen, came home from their mission to Estonia. The entire family (minus Todd and Erika's husband Steve) met them at the airport, went out to eat, spent the night, and had a reunion the next day.  Hazel latched on to Todd's brother KB and would not leave his side.  Thankfully, he seemed to enjoy it and was totally sweet to her.

I got to celebrate my birthday all weekend, at the Bonner's on Saturday, and at my parents' house on Sunday.  Someone asked me how old I was turning, and I had to think about it, and actually calculated wrong and told them 33.  It didn't even hit me until the next day that I was only 32!  Is it weird that I don't know how old I am anymore?

Larry and Ellen came up to my house the next week and spent the night, so they could spend some time with the kids.  Hazel and Jack were thrilled to have them visit.  

 Gemma's had a big month.  She got faster at crawling, learned how to sit up, finally got her first tooth, began pulling up to a stand, and has even let go while standing, trying to balance.

She even got to sit in the front of the shopping cart for the first time.  

Now she crawls to the bathroom door when we're all hiding behind it, brushing teeth and doing hair and trying to keep her out.  She's always right outside the room when we open the door.  She stands at the stair banister when the other kids are downstairs, wishing she was with them, and she hangs out by the back door when she wants to be outside.  

Jack has started mothering his Snuggle Pup.  He often tucks him in for a nap, then comes out of his room shushing us, saying we need to be quiet so we don't wake Snuggle Pup up.

We've gone to the canyon a couple of times.   The kids absolutely love it.  They explore and throw rocks in the water and find leaves to take home and are always disappointed when I tell them it's time to leave.

The leaves are changing color!  It's so beautiful.  Fall is my favorite season, and I really miss it when I'm in California.  

 Todd gave me a crackdown when I was telling him about some reward Hazel was doing chores to earn.  He said she needs to work just because she's supposed to work.  So I started making her empty the dishwasher every day to contribute to family life.  She made a HUGE fuss about it for about a week, then suddenly announced that she loved to do it.  She always wants to listen to Pandora on my phone while she works, and she does it cheerfully and quickly most days.  I have absolutely loved having one less chore to do myself, and can't wait to incorporate more into Hazel's contribution.  I have also started making Jack help me put away laundry whenever I'm working on it while he's awake.

We are working on Halloween costumes over here!  I am not a year-round creator, but I love making Halloween costumes for some reason.  It is very satisfying.  Can you guess what Hazel's going to be this year?  I'll give you a hint: Jack's being Peter Pan.  

 I'll leave you with this little Gem: