A little grandma time

We had a busy week again with Matt helping out with Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) at Brenner's school. So many of the kids don't have male role models in their lives so it was Matt chance to give back a little (and get back in the classroom!). While Papa was at school, Grandma Val came to watch Nola.

 Nola has a fashion sense of her own. She doesn't really like tights but it has been so chilly she decided they were okay for an afternoon walk with Grandma.

 Nola feeding the donkeys!

 Can't be a girl's day with Grandma without fingernail polish!

 We got a nice surprise - Brenner was name one of the students of the month for citizenship!!!!!! Way to go buddy! For his reward, he got a bus ride to McDonalds to have lunch with the Principal. His "friend" Callie was also there. He told me that he wasn't going to sit next to her and was going to wear all gray (apparently he thought that would make him invisible to her). He got a happy meal with a coke......I don't think he had ever had a coke before but said he didn't like it.

 Brenner working on his second front lower incisor. He worked it loose and Papa finally popped it out. Makes me cringe just thinking about it!

 Papa and Brenner deer hunting down at Hermitage. Brenner caught a virus which wouldn't let him too far away from a bathroom :( Despite the illness, they had a good time and saw a couple of deer (but no shots taken). Papa is waiting for black powder season.....

 While the boys were hunting, we girls were shopping. I wanted to take Nola to some toy stores to see what she might like for Christmas. We walked passed a shoe store and she said "Mommy, can we go in and try on shoes?" So we were in there for 20 minutes - she didn't want to leave! She found a pair of black boots but I told her we weren't buying anything today. She then had me put them on the top rack so that no one else would see them :)

 Nola ready for church on Sunday.

Brenner and Papa made a vampire scrapbook - Brenner was very proud! By Sunday night he was feeling better but we didn't let him go to school on Monday.

Storytelling

Brenner had a much better week - thank the Lord! He did really well at school and his teacher even noted that he even laughed in class :) I went to Denver this week for work so the pictures are a little slim. A big thanks to Grandma Val for watching the kids while I was out of town and Matt was at class. We love you Grandma! Nola said her prayers the other night and ended with "Please let my wedding be great." This girl is going to be t-r-o-u-b-l-e or at least expensive :)

 Nola and I helped out at Baby Grace on Saturday morning. This program helps single moms by providing clothes, diapers, etc. We were part of the welcoming crew and Nola kept the ladies entertained by showing them the fingernail polish in her purse and kicking up her pink boots :) We had a long talk on the ride into town about service and volunteering - they are never too young to start, right!

 Papa (supporting "No shave November") and Brenner on Saturday morning. Papa taught Brenner how to play poker (sigh....but mostly because he was tired of playing Go Fish!

 I finally snapped a picture of Brenner's Empire State Building.....it is so cool when the lights change from blue to red to green. We can't wait for Aunt-ta Theresa and Uncle Chuck to see it at Christmas!

 On Sunday, I had to work for a while so Papa took Nola and Brenner to a park to enjoy the 65 degree windy weather. Once they picked me up we headed to Shakespeare's for some pizza (Papa's suggestion of course!). The kids love playing with the dough while waiting for our hot pie.

 Ah - it arrives. Brenner was so hungry that he ate more than I did! It was a wonderful afternoon and evening!

 Brenner is learning about Thanksgiving at school. this project was about the Mayflower although his story is more like Pirates of the Caribbean. The orange figures in the ship are bodies from the battle...sign again.

 I wrote about this bat picture before but his writing skills are coming along well. During Baby Grace I had the opportunity to talk with the retired speech pathologist from our school district (over 30 years experience). She knows Brenner from church and spoke very highly of his teacher - saying that Mrs. B's students are pushed hard and excel beyond the other teachers. Great to hear (and see in his school work)!

This was my favorite work of Brenner's this week. I like how he puts both of them in the pictures. What a great big brother!
Title: How to take care of my sister
First I get her some food
Next I give her some food
Next I go outside

Anger is a secondary emotion

We had some trials and tribulations this week. Brenner has been explosive..mean hurtful words, profanity (thanks kids on bus and at school), lashing out....and we weren't for sure why...we still don't know but we have figured out that the transition to kindergarten has been tough on the little guy. Brenner is shy and it takes him a while to trust others. But he also is a stubborn and a perfectionist (yes - I know who he gets that from). So we have been adjusting some things to make things hopefully go smoothly. One thing that I learned from a friend that is a school counselor is that anger is a secondary emotion and there are way we can help him understand it. So, baby steps but we hope this week goes smoother!!!!

 Brenner has been doing amazing reading - we are so proud of him. And I love this real smile!

 Brenner reading Thomas and the Jet Engine while I make dinner.

 The diva posing around the house....she was not prompted - Nola just has this instinct to pose. Lord, please help us in the future!

 Brenner was packing to leave one day when I got home. He decided on two apples and three cheese sticks. I asked him how long he would be gone. "Awhile." What about Christmas? "I will be back before then?" Can you stay for dinner since you haven't eaten? "Okay"

 Pretty sunny day on Saturday. The kids helped me rake leaves! Well, I use "helped" very loosely!

 Nola striking another pose!

 Ah - the evidence of his mischief is in his hand!

 Brenner has been very in to playing Go Fish. He is pretty good already! Thanks, Grandma Val for playing with him!

 Brenner is so cute when it comes to movies. Once he watches one he has to bring out all of the toys associated with that movie to recreate the movie. We watched Cars 2 the other night but Nola thought Snow White should join the fun!

 Brenner wrote this note for Cars 2 and Lightning McQueen :) He even propped it up in his room!

 Brenner is writing stories in class. This one is:
Pizza pie
Set the table
Eat it up

 I liked this one from today:
Title - How to get a Christmas tree
Go to the store
Then I put the ornaments on
Then I go to sleep :)

Brenner's class is also working on addition. He does really well when I quiz him on smaller numbers. But his favorite part of the day is recess when girls chase him and Logan. He told me tonight "I had 4 girls chasing me!". I did learn that he doesn't like Riley because she can run as fast as him!

Marathon week Part 2: Brenner's 6th birthday

On Saturday we ended our busy week by celebrating Brenner's 6th birthday. Where has the time gone?! Thanks to everyone for making his day so special! Brenner is such a special kid - everyday Matt and I see bits and pieces of ourselves that have melding into what we know as Brenner - smart, impatient, nature-loving, funny, and always hungry (that is definitely from his papa!). We love him so much and are certainly blessed to have him in our lives!

 Just love those blue eyes :)

 Brenner saying let's get this party started!!!!

 We had smoked pork for lunch. Brenner and his buddies (same as from Halloween) had trouble concentrating on eating. Nola is partial to Xander (behind Brenner). She noted before the party that she hoped that Xander sat next to her because he always spoke to her. Too cute!

 Everyone gave awesome gifts!!!! Most very science oriented! Matt and I got him this Empire State Building puzzle that lights up because he loved it so much when we went this summer. We turned it on tonight - it is awesome! We will get a picture and post it next week!

 Papa being silly with the magnifying glass that Brenner got. And a big thanks to Matt (dad of the other boys) who taught the kids how to light a fire with it. I laughed and said I would hide it until the next time we went to their house and would have them "play" there with it :)

 Brenner wanted a snake cake and I didn't want to disappoint him! It was pretty easy to make using bundt pans but I will admit that my hand cramped putting all of the "scales" on!

 Love how Nola it helping to blow!

 Brenner so happy that he was getting to eat the head of the snake!

 Nola requested the tail :)

 Brenner taking a break after eating all of that cake!

 It was a great party!!!

 But once everyone left, Brenner wanted to do ALL of his gifts. We started with the carnivorous plant terrarium that he got from Nola.

 Brenner then wanted to paint the dinosaurs that he got from Aunt Lynnie and Uncle Chris. Lynn - he also requested to do the flash cards today - he knew most of the sight words and many of the subtraction cards!

 Papa and Brenner working on constructing the Empire State Building.

The potato clock that Grammy Vo and PawPaw Floyd gave. Brenner was also infatuated with the rock set he got from them. He even took it in the car to church this morning! Love Brenner enthusiasm for how things work! Oh - Grammy - your mom would be proud - he loves the How to Tell Time placemat and worked on it this evening for a long time!

Marathon week Part 1: Halloween

Things were just happening too fast for me this week! Brenner read a book on his own (Dr. Seuss One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish) and lost his first tooth! My little boy is really growing up! We also had Mother/child breakfast at Brenner's school on Friday morning. We had a nice time chatting at breakfast, joining in on Friday dance party during wake up and read time, and then a tearful goodbye when class started (lots of kids seemed upset proving that mothers hold a special place in their hearts!). Nola also impressed me this week when she was standing in the kitchen looking at the tiles. She was standing with her feet on two sides of one tile and commented "Like this is is a diamond, mommy." Then she moved her feet to have both toes pointing at one side and said "Now it is a square." Very good Nola! Oh - Matt and I also celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary this week.

 Brenner holding his tooth. On Wednesday, it was barely hanging on when Papa picked Brenner up from school. So they headed to the WalMart parking lot and Papa pulled it out with Brenner's permission. Brenner was very excited...for the tooth fairy. So Manny, his tooth fairy from Australia flew in that night to pick up the tooth, leave him a letter, and a dollar. 

 Papa and Nola helped out with Brenner's Halloween party at school. There were some real characters......wonder who this is?

 Nola (aka Supergirl) wouldn't let just any skeleton give her a hug!

 The entire class had a good time. I wasn't a fan of Brenner's costume as I thought it wasn't age appropriate but Matt said all the classmates liked it and weren't scared by it.

 That night we had our third annual Halloween hayride around the neighborhood with our friends. The tractor's battery was dead so we had to use the truck to pull the trailer. Nola (the witch) and Brenner (Green Lantern) were in good company!

It was cold but they didn't seem to mind a bit. Brenner was eating candy in between each stop. I warned him that he was going to get a tummy ache. The next morning Brenner woke up and said his tummy hurt. I commented that it was the candy - and he said "No, I am just hungry!". Too funny.