A trip to the zoo

I took a day off of work so that we could take the kids to the zoo. We had a ball despite temperatures in the upper 90s! I will forewarn you that most of the pictures are head shots from behind - no way these kiddos were turning around to look at a silly camera while there were animals to be seen! Brenner's favorites were the pythons and penguins.

 The herpitarium was one of our first stops because Brenner loves snakes. We found out Nola loves them too. Ugh - I didn't get too close!

 After a quick lunch, we went to pet the sting rays. They are soft and smooth! Nola's little arms weren't quite long enough and Brenner could not be convinced to stick his hands down in the water.

 An orangutan playing peek a boo with us. The kids loved how close he was and that he "smiled" at us!

 Love how Nola's head is tilted while watching the chimps :)

We went on a 4-D motion ride of a movie clip from Happy Feet. Papa and Brenner are in the background and Nola and I were in another set of seats. Our seats didn't move because Nola was too short but Brenner and Papa said it felt like they were free falling as a sea lion chased the penguins. Nola thought it was okay but declared "Done, mommy, done" halfway through!

 Love those giraffes!

 Nola telling me "mingos" (flamingos). Isn't the back of her head gorgeous :)

 Brenner insisted on riding the ostrich on the carousel.....I have no idea why but that is what he was fixated on at the time!

 Nola on the elephant. I asked her is she was tired because she was so quite. She responded "I'm tired, mommy. Nap."

 Papa and Brenner on the hunt for Cody Maverick in the penguin house!

 Nola and Papa on the train! Didn't seem like it was going that fast to me.....

 Nola and Brenner playing Leapster together.

 Good morning, Papa and Nola!!!!

We ended the week with a trip to the local pool with our friends from church/preschool. The kids had a ball and the adults did too. Wow - do we know how to have a fun Friday night or what?! We wouldn't trade it for anything!

Happy Father's Day

It was a busy week for Matt while I was in Arizona on a work trip. Papa, Brenner, and Nola went to the Vogan ranch for fishing, sand digging, and mud stomping. Brenner even camped outside with PawPaw Floyd most of one night! Nola struggled a bit falling asleep but overall Matt was grateful for the help those few days!

My last day in Arizona at the Grand Canyon. Tough job, right? I was actually in northern Arizona touring uranium mines with some fellow USGS scientists....none of which were biologists so it made for an interesting time. Our first full day included three flat tires and a call for a tow! Anyway - right before this picture was snapped, FOUR condors were flying down in the Canyon. Truly amazing!

I made it back home much to the kids delight! I had gotten Brenner a pair of binoculars not knowing that PawPaw Floyd had also given him an old pair of his earlier in the week. So my welcome home included a completely ungrateful child :) Nola on the other hand loved the water bottle I got her! Brenner snapped this picture Saturday morning after we slept in to 7 am.

Nola looks so grown up in this picture!!!! She has grown over 1/2 inch this past month and Brenner has grown 3/4 inch in the past six weeks!

Finally - some RAIN!!!! We needed it badly and the kids kicked off their shoes to splash around a bit!

Papa wanted oatmeal raisin cookies for Father's Day. Easy enough and they were enjoyed by all!

It was bound to happen......crayons on furniture, walls, etc...I have heard the horror stories from friends. Luckily, the first destruction at our house was limited to two coasters!

Helping Papa feel better

What a week! Matt was super sick with a sinus thing but was better by the end of the week. Brenner would get out his doctor's bag and help Papa out with some thorough exams! Brenner had a great one yesterday....he told me "Nola and I are going to get married when I grow up and you and Papa are dead." Really? "And when she goes to the doctor, then it will be time for the baby." Hmmm... "I am going to have 20 kids." That is a lot, buddy. "Well maybe 3 kids". That is how many Grammy had. "How about just 2?" That is what I had with you and Nola. "Well, then, maybe just one and I will share my toys with my son. And do you know who will baby site? Me! Except Grandma Val will come on Mondays so I can go to work." I have mentioned that Nola has been chirping up a storm. This week while Matt was getting ready, she asked him clear as day "What are you doing?". Matt had to take a double take and make sure Brenner was around as it was so articulate. Oh - they are growing up way too fast!

The kids played with the play-doh for over an hour which helped out sick Papa.

Colten came down one day to help? Really I think he just came down so Grandma would take him shopping and buy him shoes! Anyway, I need to ask Grandma why Brenner is eating a leaf....

It has been soooo dry and Brenner just loves the dirt. Here he is dropping dirt in the garden. So much for only having baths every other day! I walked out the other day to find BHP using a hammer to pound on a log.....I asked Matt, who was grilling, if he knew what was going on. He said "Yeah, just think how many ATPs he is burning. My dad let me do things like that." I didn't think it was a good idea and reminded him that he had many trips to the ER as a child. Matt's response was "No until he gave me the hatchet?" Oh boy.....

Teamwork! Nola and Brenner taking off coins that Aunta-ta Theresa sent BHP...Brenner would remove the coins and tape, and Nola would put them in her piggy bank. Then, Brenner would take the tape and wrap it around his superhero and villain toys. Theresa- that "Venom" is so gross looking - ugh! Brenner did hang him by his tail and noted "Just like a grappling hook." How does he know what a grappling hook is????

Brenner and PawPaw Floyd at our house.

Nola and Grammy hanging out in the shade!

What? I didn't do it.....

Weekend with my friends at the lake

We had a wonderful time at the lake with my girlfriends Rhonda and Michelle and their families. It was such a fun time....just not enough time to sit and chat. Plus we were out numbered - 5 adults to 7 kids and a dog :) Brenner was not excited to see Michelle's daughter Gigi. The last time they were together was when Michelle came to take newborn pictures of Nola. During the visit Gigi locked Brenner in his room. But my goodness - they adored each other this weekend and were so cute together! One night Brenner asked if she wanted to sleep with him. Without skipping a beat, Gigi replied "Just let me get my blanket." The exchange cracked all of the adults up!

We had some cool evenings and the fog rolling off the lake was amazing Saturday morning.

Brenner enjoyed the fishing!

Here are all of the kids fishing - where is Nola?

Here she is - Nola fishing for the first time!

Gigi and Brenner on the dock. Aren't they adorable?

Gigi and Brenner using the walkie-talkies. I asked Brenner what he was doing to which he responded "I'm texting". Who are you texting I inquired? "9-1-1". Hmmmmm..

The light from the window sort of messed this shot up but I love how Gigi is pulling back her hair.

All that fun requires a bit of down time with snacks and the Leapster!

Later, we hopped on the boat for a little spin. Noticed the tongues? Gigi instigated this, not Brenner. I know, hard to believe!

Our handsome boy!

Brenner driving the boat with Nola cheering him on!

Nola soaking in the sun!

Nola enjoyed taking control of the boat too!

Brenner did pretty good in the water but Nola didn't want to be in it, preferring to sit on the floats!

Brenner and Nola were wiped out by the end of the day!

Earlier in the week we did body painting. Not sure what Brenner is doing here! Perhaps trying to remake Michael Jackson's Thriller video?

Nola thinking "Are you sure this is a good idea, Bwen-ner?"

Practicing our balancing - yes my feet are off the floor and Brenner is doing it!

We visited some friends at a local quarry turned swimming area. Nola insisted on walking around with her little pink purse. Here she is spying a puppy.