Our little girl is 18 months old!

I spent the last week in Arizona - my first extended stay away from Nola. Everyone did great without mommy :) Plus mommy got her parenting batteries recharged!

Beautiful Nola at 18 months old!

Papa rigged up the creeper with a rope for some rides around the shop. Brenner did great taking turns....Nola, well, not so much!

The ham-bones!Brenner's rock collection from around our yard. He collected and organized them all by himself! Not sure where he is going to put them.

Outdoor kiddos

Brenner and Nola just love spending time outdoors - doesn't hurt that it was 80 degrees all week! We had plenty of laughs and a few tears this week - just the usual life with a 4 and 1.5 year old!

I was making dinner the other night while Brenner was playing in the kitchen. Nola had been wondering around jabbering. I notice she had gotten quiet. This is what I found her doing in the bathroom...luckily the toilet paper roll was almost empty!

Brenner drew these awesome rocketships on the sidewalk. Don't you just love his pose?

Porch racing!

Swing time! Notice the different colored socks?! This drives me nuts as I am an organizing freak!

Nola with her baby that talks..all the time....why won't the batteries just quit...."I love you mommy, Let's swing mommy, Whee" over and over and over again. Yes it has an off switch, but Nola knows how to turn the thing back on!  Thanks for the gift, Grammy :)

Here Nola is with all of her dolls - she has to carrying them around with her all day and they have to go to bed with her too.

Nola struck this pose when she saw I had the camera. She first said "cheese" and then showed us the string cheese. The things Brenner teaches her. Nola did have a new first....if you say "Nola Marian" she will respond with "Paw-kur". It is so sweet - her vocabulary is exploding!!!

All of that play time calls for a nap. So sweet and peaceful!

Nola driving Papa's truck. Notice that little tongue still pokes out!

Brenner working on his car after Papa finished changing the oil in his truck. Brenner drove it up on the ramps himself! Brenner was also a big help with Nola - helping her with her ABCs this week. And he was a super big boy today - he made it through the entire service in the sanctuary!!!!! After communion I stopped at the alter to pray. BHP followed me, was very quiet, then whispered "what are we praying for?" Cracked me up!



The engineer and tough girl

Wow - what an extremely busy week! We had a lot of fun at our house this week and have the pictures to prove it! We are very blessed.

Nola likes "helping" me cook dinner. Here she is supervising while eating cottage cheese.

Brenner, Papa, and Nola having dance party after dinner. BHP likes "Rock Show" or "Strobe" on the music channels.

Conga line with Grandma watching - looks like fun!

What great smiles! Good picture, Brenner!

Don't we all have some of these pictures?! Kiddos so tired they fall asleep while eating. I especially like this one because there are food on her fingers and mouth is open while eyes are closed!

Here is the for the "engineering" in the post title. Grandma notice BHP was quiet and she found him constructing this "ironman house" according to Brenner. Apparently, the superheros were hiding from the Vulture. Serious business.....Grandma said that he would pause and think about how to construct the house but did it all on his own.

Here is the final construction! Brenner was also in charge of demolition which was a Monet art book plopped on top - I assume that the superheros got out before the destruction!

Today, Brenner was also busy in his room constructing a "Thundercat Trap". The trap used colored pencils stuck in his dresser drawers so that his superheros could sit on them. Does he have a fantastic imagination or what?! He amazes me everyday. Love that kiddo!

Now for our tough girl. Nola has figured out how to pull up on chairs, toilets, etc.

This new ability has led to some bumps and bruises. Here is Nola's first black eye that she got while playing chase with Brenner and running into a chair. For the nose.....well, that was Emi's fault. We were getting ready to go outside when Emi got impatient and pushed Nola out the door. Face Plant! But she is tough so no worries!

Nola had her first hair cut with Kendra. She doesn't look impressed does she? It wasn't much of a haircut because she wouldn't sit for Kendra. But we got the front trimmed for some strands to put into the baby book!

We also had a nice surprise at Grammy's house - birthday cupcakes for Mommy! I think Brenner is eyeing up which one he wants!

Brenner ended up eating two and Nola enjoyed hers as well. They were yummy! Thank you Grammy! We did have a Brennerism during the visit. Grammy and I were trying to talk so we asked Brenner not to interupt us so that we could "chat". Later in the afternoon, BHP comes in and asked Grammy "how was your chat?" Grammy couldn't make out "chat" and said "what's that honey". Then Brenner said "how was your conversation?". Funny - how many 4 year olds know the word conversation?!

Grammy also had a doll that Aunta-ta Theresa had as a little girl. Poor Bonnie has no arms and her "dress" is a bit lacking. Nola has played with Bonnie before, but insisted on taking her home with us. All day today she toted this poor doll around - they were quite the pair with missing limbs and a black eye/scabbed nose!

Our litte dare devil

Nola's personality is so awesome - she is so adventurous and has this sly little grin. This week was full of funny happenings - she is sure to keep us on our toes (along with her big brother)!



Nola loves to run around the house after her bath. I thought this smile was fabulous!

Nola relaxing while reading books with Papa. She loves the book "Jingle, Jingle"!

Nola finally was able to figure out how to get up on the slide. While going down, Nola cries "whee!"

Don't worry, mom, I know what I am doing.......

Opps - no worries - she was fine!

Nola hugs and kisses on Emi all of the time (and is still generally gentle with her). Nola thought that Emi looked so comfortable under the table so why not join her?!

Anytime Nola sees the camera she shouts "Cheese!" which is what she is doing in this picture. I sure hope that isn't a future cheerleader pose..... :)

Brenner and Nola eating oatmeal.....notice who is making the bigger mess......

Fun with window markers on Saturday morning. It was a gorgeous sunny morning!

Brenner had some good ones this week. The best was with his rubber lizards. I was informed "These are my lizards, Tommy and Butch. Butch is the fat one." Sort of funny because I have an uncle Butch that Brenner doesn't really know so I don't know where he came up with the names. Brenner also surprised me this morning as we were getting ready for church by saying "I can sing that last song in church". I asked which one and he sang "Gloria patri" by himself. So he does pay attention!!!