Happy 3rd birthday, Nola!

A super big week at our house with Nola celebrating her 3rd birthday. We love Nola's laugh, caring nature, attention to detail, and her persistence! Thanks to all the friends and family who came to celebrate with her this week!

Our gorgeous Nola!

Nola's friend Morgan came over on her actual birthday because she couldn't make it to the party on Saturday. Morgan even called Nola in the morning to wish her happy birthday - too sweet!

Brenner clowning around in the yard waiting for Morgan and her family to arrive. After several cartwheels he said "Hey mom, watch me do a romantic cartwheel!". I cracked up and noted that his romantic cartwheel looked like the other ones!

Our sill guy!

Aunt Janet, Papa, the birthday girl and Grammy (taking a quick nap :) ) getting ready for the party!

We gave Nola a doll house that was mine (given to me from Grandma Val who played with it as a girl) - so it is over 50 years old! Nola and her friend Isabella enjoyed moving the furniture around!

Lots and lots of cool toys - Nola loved these boots Grammy got - she even started dancing!

For weeks, Nola has been talking about a pink princess castle cake. Her eyes lit up when she saw it - those moments make the time completely worth the effort!

She was a mommy's girl all day! However, Nola ate only the icing of her cake yesterday so bedtime was fun - sugar-crashing crabbiness!!!!

Brenner had a test at school and passed with flying colors. He did not that he put gray under the red of the barn to make it look old! Good thinking, buddy!

Writing skills and early birthday presents

I was gone to Arizona last week for work (with the camera) so pictures are a little slim this week! Overall, the kids did great and a big thank you to Grandma Val for watching the kids while Papa was at class! Grandma chuckled a bit and acknowledged that she is out of the daily grandkid grind!

 A great note from Mrs. B on Brenner's classroom performance!

 We have been practicing writing, reading, and playing word games like "Silly Sentences". Brenner loves to write our names. We think he chooses "Jo" over "Mommy" because it is shorter :)

 A cute apology note from Brenner!

 Brenner's drawing focusing on pumpkin pie (black circles and orange topping) - but he did want me to notice the rainbow too.

 Number writing and comprehension skills are going well!

 Aunt-ta Theresa and Uncle Chuck sent a birthday box for Nola. Do you think she is excited?

 She loved her toys and clothes - thank you so much, Theresa and Chuck!

This is so Nola. That night she had to put all of her new little toys on her dresser just so.

 Bonus surprise - Theresa and Chuck sent snow boots too that arrived today! Nola loves them!

 Looks how dirty Nola is - dirt on the arms, neck, cheeks. I didn't ask how it came to be just put her in the tub for a good scrub!

 Brenner working on his letters and spelling while I made dinner.

 A big storm came through Thursday night giving us a lot of tree damage. Lightning struck one of our big persimmon trees (far left).

 But a few downed limbs couldn't keep Brenner off his bike.....

....or Nola from being a little monkey :)

Five years from now.....

My mom sent me an email this week...one of those "Fwd:" that I admittedly tend not to read (sorry mom - I do open them though!). I read this one...it was about 45 lessons a 90 year old woman had learned in her lifetime. One really struck me - will this matter 5 years from now? How true as a parent  - especially when we chose the wrong battle with our children (I am soooo guilty of this). Then it really hit home when I learned that a co-workers teenage son took his own life. I never met the teen but during his visitation saw many pictures of a smiling little boy which left me wondering what went wrong? So many questions - so many that will never be answered. Nola and Brenner got some extra hugs this week but this tragic story made me want to be proactive with Brenner, especially at school and learning more about how he is doing. So, I contacted his teacher and I am glad that I did. Mrs. B said few parents contact her and she is pleased to be in more contact with those parents that would like more updates. More on Brenner's report below :) And for parents looking for some great books to help build confidence in young kids - check out "You are Special" and "Little Sweet Potato" - love, love, love these!

 Two special kids but I was the hero this night :) While checking our garden, I found two horned tomato worms on the tomatoes (Look close and you can see them on the leaves). Brenner was so excited because these were the first we found this year and he said "Mom, you rock!". Well, if all it takes are finding some worms then I guess I am golden...at least for this week :) Brenner found the third "pilly" after I showed him to look for evidence of their presence - half eaten tomatoes. Nola - well she wasn't so interested in holding them but decided she should be in the picture!

 Bonus critter that same night was a praying mantis on the back deck :)

 Who says you can't carve pumpkins in September!

 On Saturday morning, Brenner decided to move the pumpkins downstairs to cure until Halloween. We will see if they make it!

 Emi had a trip to the vet. She acquired some fleas after being in the water (which washed off her flea and tick meds). Poor girl had an allergic reaction to the bites and chewed a couple of raw spots on her hips. Lucky for her, Nurse Nola was there to give her love while she recovered.

 On Sunday, the kids got promoted into their new Sunday school classes (way to go!). With the gorgeous weather, we decided to go hunting for snakes and turtles. Brenner decided a snake was needed before we left :)

 Now way our little pink princess would be left behind!

 No snakes as we approached snake island but Brenner and Papa found some snail shells.

 Someone is deep in thought!

 Love the way she is holding onto Papa!

 No snakes were found but Brenner did find a locust to go along with his snail shells!

 Brenner's drawing of the steam engine show from the previous weekend. Nola and him are sitting on hay bales and there are also some butterflies. Not sure what the 2s, 4, and 8 are doing :)

 Brenner's favorite worksheet of the week. So, Mrs. B and I talked Friday night. Brenner is doing excellent and is always eager to help and share. He will be going into the more advanced reading and math groups which we were glad to hear. As much as we understand the challenges of teaching 21 kids at various levels, we want Brenner to achieve his best. He has told us that he is "bored" in class so she will pay special attention to give some more challenges in the classroom. And, Matt and I have volunteered to do science experiments in Brenner's class every so often - we are super excited about this and so is Brenner!

Nola is a budding artist as well - here is her "Smiley face" drawing - good job girl!

Beer burgers and kettle corn

It was that time of year again - the Concordia Fall Festival (venue for beer burgers, raw hack, and polka music) and the Missouri Valley Steam Engine Show (kettle corn, funnel cakes, tractor pulls,and dust)! My favorites are beer burgers and kettle corn, of course! Lots of fun this year (and such a difference from last year when Emi got sick and almost died). Emi got lots of extra pats this weekend! 

 On Saturday, we ate with Grandma Val and the Bynums in the beer garden before the rides started up at 1 pm. Here Brenner is waiting patiently after gobbling down a pup stick (corn dog from the boy scout stand).

 Grandma, Nola, and me having a few laughs.

 Grandma was so excited to watch the kids at the fair.

 It was also time for me to run into old (perhaps that isn't the right word) high school friends. Here I am with Pat whom I have known since kindergarten. Ah memories of his mom Tootie's popcorn cake at our school parties and a visit to his dad's pig farm (who knew a little pig's tail would bleed so much when cut?!?!?!). We had a nice visit!

 Brenner getting with it on the motorcycles. Scary that I remember riding these things 30 years ago!  Notice that Nola is MIA....

 She preferred to ride the jeeps over and over...yes it had to be the pink one!

 It was hot so some adjustments were necessary.

 Cousin Krystee and Brenner on the slide. Wonder who was having more fun?!

 Up, up and away on Dumbo! Nola sat this one out as well!

 The travel Vietnam Memorial Wall was also in town during the fair. It was quite moving - a very moving display with a little museum as well.

 On Sunday, we had to take Grandpa Hilbrenner's Farmall H tractor to the Steam Engine show.

 Grandma Val and PawPaw Hinckle joined us. Matt, Nola, and Brenner chowed down on funnel cake.

 Some of our friends from church have a 1917 steam engine that they let Brenner ride in. He is in the wood box on the back. He was a little nervous but really like it!

 Then he had to run back to get on the tractor with Papa. Two handsome guys!

 Here Miles is reading about the tractor. Afterwards Brenner said "Mr Miles said my name over the microphone!!!!!".

 Brenner is making great progress at school with his numbers (writing 1-5) and his color has very much improved. In the past he has just scribbled because he didn't like to sit. At school he has to sit a lot during lessons so I guess he has decided to make the most out of it!

Brenner also drew this great picture of himself fishing and camping at Grammy Vo's house. This one is for you Grammy! Brenner is still adjusting to how he should behave after school. Glowing reports from Mrs.Bishop come our way daily but then he melts down. Today it happened with Papa in WalMart over some mouthwash. I came home to Nola saying "Brenner hit Papa and now all of his toys are gone". They are gone for 30 days and no TV. Books, coloring, crafts remain. We talked some this evening but he thinks we are kidding......how does the song go...."You got another thing coming!". Ah, praying for patience.