From puppies to potties to perfection!

Starting with some pics of the pups!
They continue to grow and change every day. We anticipate eyes opening very soon and can't wait to meet those gorgeous brown eyes. As you can see from the shot above, we have quit painting fingernails and have started putting a dot of fingernail polish on their bums. I know it is not nearly as cute but it saves a LOT of time! (Red puppy is Cisco after San Francicso.)
Another change from last week, the dew claws are healing nicely and their pads are turning black. Some of them have also had their noses switch to black. So sweet!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...what else?!
I set Balboa (aka blue puppy) on the rug and watched how he started to use his limbs. This is very exciting to the kids as the puppies will be learning how to run and play soon. I, on the other hand, am very nervous how we are going to contain 8 puppies that are truly mobile! Yikes!
Black nose and barely fitting into one hand, Balboa appears to be trying to peak at me. Adorable!
Then on to potties. It is official! Reese needs panties!!
Sometime over the past week, Reese decided it was time to be done with diapers. We couldn't agree more!! She had shown an interest since July but we never pushed her to ditch those diapers forever. She is determined and has been awesome and WE ARE THRILLED!
So hard to believe that this is the end of an era for me! I have had a kid in diapers for the past 14 1/2 years. I am definitely ready to do a dance! I can also start buying purses that are cute rather than purses that can double as a diaper bag. Yippeeeeee!
And then perfection...Brooke had her first cross country meet on Friday night at the Heelan Invite in Sioux City. Here is the group huddle/prayer before the race. She is the taller one in the middle next to the shorter one. Her head is by the dark tree stump on the right.
And they are off! She wore number 2 (remember that number) for the JV squad and looks ready to run! I love all the Crusaders around her. Good team support!!
You can barely see Brooke running but I had to get a shot of her biggest fans on the race path. Dayle is in dark navy. Lauren is next to her holding Reese. It was a little windy but a beautiful day and Riverside park had lots of shade which is nice for spectators.
And with a time of 18:11.61 and in second place (told you to remember that number!)...Brooke Bleeker for Bishop Heelan! She was so tired but looked really strong. Way 2 Go B!
A quick (and rare) complete family shot...thanks Grandma!
Grandma and Grandpa H were there to support Brooke. They were just as pumped up as Brooke after the race. Ya gotta love running in this family!More perfection...Lauren had two games on Saturday in Omaha and won both. Her team is a newly joined team that we are anxious to get to know. Two wins makes everyone happy and finally deciding a team name makes it official. They decided on Gateway City STEALTH!And last, but not least, Dayle had her first win of the season on Sunday afternoon! She just started club soccer for Gateway City and is actually one year younger than her teammates but is doing really well. This girl is not afraid of anything...even playing goalie which makes her family very nervous!!

So the weekend was a success! Potty trained...check! Puppies growing...check! 4 soccer games with 4 wins...check! Cross Country meet with awesome time...check! Family time...check! Worship time...check! All is good. We are so blessed!