Hey Squirt!

Brenner has been a very, very good big bother lately. Nola toddles after him and continues to want whatever he wants. Brenner is in a habit of entering a room and acknowledges her by shouting "Hey Squirt!" I don't know where that came from but it is funny! Brenner also asked Nola the other day if she wanted to go to prize.com. I don't know what it is, but it sounds like fun! Brenner also shut the door of Nola's room and informed me that "we can't go out there because there is a landscaper!" Brenner, if you haven't already noticed, can be very dramatic. While making dinner the other night, Brenner proclaimed "I don't like portabellas. When I smell them, they make me pass out!".
Nola and Brenner in glow-in-the-dark jammies. If Nola has hers on, BHP wants to wear his! Notice my phone in Nola's hand. She is very grabby lately....when you take things away you had better hold your ears because this girl can scream!

Nola talking to Aunt Lynnie on the phone. What a big smile!

Nola was konked out in the chair!

Grandma snapped this picture....I assume that Brenner is tucking in the little bunny in bed (which doubles as our coffee table)!

Brenner making a birthday card for Papa. I love how his ankles are crossed.

Nola on the move in a super cute outfit from Aunt-ta Theresa and Uncle Chuck.

Brenner hanging out with Aunt-ta Theresa and Uncle Chuck. Note the new dinosaurs he acquired! It was a very nice visit!

Brenner went to the dentist and did great. I went first...the poor dental hygienist. Brenner must have asked 200 questions while she cleaned my teeth. She was very patient!

Brenner's preschool class went to the pumpkin patch and Matt went with them. It was a fun day!

Check out the scarecrows!

He's flying!!!!! BHP is racing into the straw maze!

Brenner with his best friends, Xander and Cooper.

The Happiest Girl and "The Fort"

We had a very busy week. The weather was gorgeous so construction (well assembly really) began on Brenner's early birthday present from Grammy Vo, PawPaw Floyd, Uncle Chuckeee, and Aunta-ta Theresa....a backyard playset. The instructions said it would take 6-8 hours....ours got finished in 8 days!!! But that 8 days is interspersed with our daily jobs as professional and parents! But before we go there...let's cover some of the other highlights of Brenner and Nola!
I snapped this picture with my cell phone (not bad, right!?) - isn't she beautiful? And just like her mother - Nola's mouth is usually open :) Every time we go to the store or out and about, Nola is all smiles - playing peek-a-boo with everyone. We often hear "she is the happiest little girl ever". Yes....most of the time...but she does have an older brother that brings out her devilish side!

Brenner, what a smart little cookie. Too smart sometimes. BHP has been challenging lately so the new tactic is 20 minutes in his room, no talking or the timer starts over. After his first "sentence", Brenner came out all excited and said "Mama - come look at what I made!!!!". When I went in his room, I saw that he had constructed 6 robot-lego-things of all the same style. I was impressed and very proud that he had designed these all on his own. So looks like the sentence was productive! Brenner also had a good one at church. We were praying but Nola was wiggling all over the pew, so I was watching her when Brenner commented "You close your eyes when you pray, Mama." Yes, sir!

Okay - this is beginning construction of the Fort. Kudos to Grammy and PawPaw for not only helping to purchase the gift but also constructing it!!!! Matt and PawPaw begin under the supervision of Grammy........

Nola gets bored quickly with the construction and decides to become a race car driver....she loves this thing....just try taking her off of it and world war three begins!

Construction foreman Grammy and Brenner take a break to read some books......

...this is about 8 hours in to construction...not quite complete. Funny that the instructions didn't include "warped boards" in the materials list!

Nola mastered the race car and decided to go biking......

After working on bits and pieces of the fort after dinner but before dark, Matt finally finished last night. Good job, Papa! And THANK YOU Grammy, PawPaw, Uncle Chuck, and Aunt Theresa for the awesome gift!!!!!

Brenner loves the climbing wall and rope. Nola was so impressed........

But things got better once Papa picked her up :) Looks like daddy's little girl.......
....well not all of the time. Nola let's her voice be heard...she has even started screaming - yikes! One of her new things is to be very clear when she wants to eat.....she walks over to the boppy, starts pulling at it, while crying "mama, mama, mama". So pathetic :) It works every time!

Adventures of the corn maze

Brenner needed some much needed "run wild" time so we headed to a nearby corn maze and pumpkin patch. The weather was gorgeous and we had a spectacular time!
Brenner and mommy at the entrance of the corn maze. Brenner loved it - but got turned around rather quickly. Thanks to Papa, we made it out!

Nola got to ride through in style!

At the end of the corn maze was the hay pit. Nola loved it!

Who could resist jumping off into the soft hay - not Brenner and Mommy!

Papa felt left out, so he joined Brenner in the action!

Doesn't Nola make a lovely scarecrow?

There was a corn tub that Brenner, Papa, and Nola decided to check out. Nola HATED it - probably because the corn kernels got caught between her toes!

Brenner begged to be buried in the corn. We warned him to keep his mouth closed.....but he didn't listen and got a mouthful of corn (picture not shown)!

Grandma Val took the kids to the park. Isn't this a great picture?! I have been meaning to update everyone on Nola's favorite things: The Itsy Bitsy spider, brown rice puffs, anything Brenner has in his hands, sitting on the front door step, and getting nuzzled on her neck.

Oh - here Nola is sitting in her favorite spot. Grandma snapped this picture so I am not for sure what is going on...hopefully not a timeout!

Nola also like "hiding" in the cabinets. Who's in there?

It's Nola. And a very serious little girl at that!

Grandma Val also snapped this picture of Brenner which reminded me of one.........

...from when Brenner was 11 months old (taken October 2008). My goodness, how much he has grown (and how amazingly mild manner Emi continues to be)!

Don't be scared!!!! I was painting the trim on our new front door, so Brenner decided he wanted to finger paint.....himself. What a mess but he had a ball! Which reminds me of a few Brennerisms of the week. Apparantly, Brenner has an imaginary friend, Max. He was talking about him and I asked if he was around. Brenner said he was on the bed. Since Brenner has been having some accidents at night, I suggested that he not pee that night as he wouldn't want to get his buddy up in the night! He woke up dry but I don't think it had anything to do with my advice! Grandma Val witnessed the other Brennerism, although I wish I would have. Nola has a little doll and Brenner was carrying it around one day. BHP proceeded to sit down, put the doll on his lap, pull up his shirt, and pretend to nurse the doll. I think it might have worried Grandma a bit but I thought it was great. Grandma informed him that boys don't nurse that is a mommy's job. As you can tell Brenner's imagination is alive and well!

I get up way too early...and every one else seems to get to "sleep in". Brenner usually finds his way to our room right before I get up. At least they don't seem to be too crowded!

Here are Nola and Brenner sleeping another morning. Too sweet :)

Nola's first trip to Hilbrenner Lake. She seems to like it although I don't think she will be hunting anytime soon in the "tin can" (right behind them). Grandpa Hilbrenner would be very pleased to know how much Matt, well all of us really, enjoy this property! We are planning to build a cabin on it in the near future....don't get Matt started talking about it!