Preschool student and show-off toddler

Big happenings around our house this week! Brenner started back to preschool 3 days a week and Nola started walking!!!! No-low (the name Brenner has given Nola) also had some other milestones this week - she turned 11 months old, got her 8th tooth, and climbed the stairs by herself (with extreme supervision of course). Her vocabulary is also growing and includes "mama", "papa", "ah-mein" (amen), "eh-mee" (Emi our dog), "bubba" (Bubba the neighbor's donkey), "nigh" (night-night), and "bye". Such a smarty :)
Brenner was VERY excited to go back to pre-school. He is in the 4 year old this year and has made some new friends. BHP seems to enjoy telling us the highlights!

The next few pictures depict Nola's progression to walking.....

Nola peeking around the corner of the crib.

Nola showing off one of her favorite toys (drum stick) while hanging onto the crib.

Some first steps!!!! Nola did the Frankenstein walk just like Brenner :) Yes - she still considers her tongue an accessory. I suppose that this would make PawPaw Hinckle proud since his family is known for sticking their tongues out when concentrating! When she took her first steps, Brenner shouted "She is a toddler now!" Good reasoning buddy!

Now she is just showing off - standing on her tippy-toes!

She also likes to sit on the bottom of an antique desk from Grammy Vo. This picture is for you Grammy - notice the celery in her hand!

Here is another action shot! Now, don't let me lead you astray - she still prefers her crazy crawl because she is soooo fast at it!

Brenner and Mama cheering Nola on!

I gave Nola a bath the other night - something usually done by Matt. When I brought her out, Nola immediately reached out for Papa :)

Family time

We have had some busy weekends with family birthdays - so lots of time in the car but it is worth it to see our loved ones. Brenner starts school tomorrow and he is very excited. Brenner continues to keep us on our toes with his "deep thoughts". Since Nola is mobile now, Brenner knows to shout "Gate's open" if he goes downstairs. BHP also asked Papa the other day "How was your day, Papa? Long or good?" Then he really cracked me up the other day as he was wrapping up his bath. He came quickly into the kitchen (naked) and holding himself. Very quietly, Brenner said "Mommy, I have something in my scrotum." I asked what it was, and Brenner very seriously said "They are barnacles." I tried not to laugh, but then he said "Papa, let me feel yours!" to which Matt responded "We don't touch anybody else's scrotum". Oh his little mind. Nola continues to stand but refuses to take any real steps. She can even stand by herself on Brenner's bed while he is bouncing on it! Real balance but no steps. Nola can also stand up by herself in the middle of the floor. The steps are sure to follow soon!

Nola standing and eating an ear of raw corn that her brothet picked for her. It has taken us weeks to snap this picture showing she CAN stand on her own!
Nola "getting" Brenner on mommy's lap.

Battle Blackberry vs. Nola.....I don't know who won but I know Mommy lost because I had to clean it up!

Nola hanging out on her couch in the playroom....

...but she got tired so had to sit down. No worries, though, she had some entertainment....

Brenner can do a pretty mean drum solo these days!

Nola playing peek a boo with Mommy. Notice her big smile!

Brenner pretending he is a "corn banger", a character that he made up that goes down to the garden and bangs down the corn. The corn banger hides in the jungle (our willow trees) when he is not in the garden. A few days later we were going to go outside and I asked Brenner if we should be worried about the corn banger getting us. Brenner cocked his head to the side, smiled, and said "Aw - mom, that was just a story." Smarty pants :)

We had the great pleasure to help Grandpa Bob celebrate his 74th birthday at Jack Stack (yummy)! It was a fun time!

Here Grandpa Bob is with all of his Grandkids (Nola, Brenner, and Lauren). What a special day!

Uncle Chris and Aunt Lynnie came down one day last week - fun times! Hey Uncle Chris - what is Minnie mouse saying here?

We also made it over to Aunt Lynnie's house - here Nola continues to show off her yoga skills.

And here is my lovely niece Krystee on her 18th birthday!!!!! I told Lynn she must have done the math wrong, because if Krystee is 18, then I am....well nevermind! Krystee really was more excited than she looks here!

Fun at the pool

We had a full weekend with Papa gone for a "guys weekend". On Saturday, my good friend Rhonda came for a visit and on Sunday we went to the pool with my family and Aunt Mellie. But first - a few Brennerisms. We were sitting in the car when Brenner said "Hey mom, Old McDung Heap?" I raised my eyebrow at Matt who responded that he had only taught Brenner "dung heap" and he added the "Old Mc" by himself. Brenner told me not to worry, "dung is another name for poop". Brenner also love to have dance parties with the music channels on the TV. When the "Devil went down to Georgia came on" there were many questions on why a devil would play a fiddle but I managed to get him distracted with the line "chicken in a bread pan picking out dough!" Nola is also making leaps and bounds. She will slap you five, point at what she wants, and once we all sit down at the dinner table she folds her hands to pray (without prompting). Nola also pointed and said "ba" (ball) and got her fifth tooth this week!
Brenner and his buddy Reagan at the pool. Brenner got a little jealous that Nola took to Reagan.

Here Reagan and Nola seems to be chatting it up.......

Brenner became impatient, pulling Reagan's hair, to get her back in the pool....poor Reagan!

Brenner may not have been number one to Reagan the whole time, but he can always count on Grandma Val!

Brenner is playing with his dinosaurs all of the time. He has figured out how to prop his smaller dinos in the arms of his big one. Brenner has also shot up over the summer - growing 3/4" in the last three months!

Brenner loved playing with Rhonda. Here they have been building a castle. BHP has also been really into legos lately. Rhonda was good sport and played with Brenner almost nonstop. Then he had the nerve to tell her that she couldn't leave because "you haven't played with me at all!". Thanks for coming, Rhonda, it was great!

Stir crazy summer heat

We have had about 2 weeks of 90+ heat with little rain. The garden is thirsty and EVERYONE has been grumpy :( Fortunately, Matt and I had a get away weekend which helped revive us all!
This picture is for you, Grammy. Grammy likes to remind me that Matt was eating corn on the cob by two weeks old or something like that :) So here Nola is, enjoying her first corn on the cob and no longer being deprived by her mama!

Brenner spraying Nola with the hose...note Papa in the background....he got sprayed next.....

Unlike Papa, Nola seemed to enjoy the spray!

Here is our schepalara plant that my mom gave me when my sister got married (May of 2002). Two years ago, Matt took it into his classroom because it had great sunlight. His students name it "Leafy". Well....Leafy has grown a little too much so it was time to split her........

We really didn't need to use the chain saw but is was hot and the quickest way to split it! Brenner liked helping repot Leafy I and II - well really, he liked throwing the potting soil. Did I mention school starts back up in three weeks?!

Grandma Val had some help from Colten last week. Brenner loves when Colten comes - here they are playing cars and monster trucks.

Nola was not so sure. Remember, she is the Ice Princess. But she decided that she would hand containers to Colten - what a great game!

By the time I got home, Nola had decided that Colten was pretty cool!

Matt and I stayed at Hermann Hill for a couple of days- I highly recommend it. The view was gorgeous. We had a chance to sleep in, watch a movie, and have some wine. It was my first time away from Nola. I am happy to report that both of us did fine! A big thank you to Grandma Val and Aunt Lynnie for babysitting!!!!!

Matt relaxing in the Norton room. They bring you warm cookies and ice cream before bed and breakfast to your room in the morning. So yummy! A nice chance to recharge our parenting batteries!

The tomatoes went crazy - we picked 128 when we got back today. These only show the slicing variety - there were also a tub of romas.