Don't wish your life away....

When I was a kid, my dad would always tell my sister and me "Don't wish your life away" when we would talk about the weekend during the week. I get it now - time is flying as we are speeding towards February. That said, this was a looonnnggg week with Brenner. I am thankful that it is Sunday night and the kids are in their beds...not sleeping yet....but in their beds! I know it is his age but wow - the disrespect that is coming from him. At the store today, I was told "I hate you", "You are an idiot", and I got punched in the stomach. Now, many might question why I would write about this on the blog. Well, life with kids isn't all rainbows, butterflies, and cotton candy! Something is going on with him and Matt and I are still trying to figure it out while maintaining our composure (that didn't happen 100% today if I am being completely honest) and making sure that he knows we love him no matter what. One of the best things about kids is that they move on so quickly to the next whatever (book, game, dinner, etc) while us parent stew about what are we doing wrong that your own child would behave this way. Then you draw yourself back into reality - kids are kids and push boundaries and repeat whatever they hear while promoting the growth of gray hair on mom and dad. All are happy now - at 7:45 pm - and we are confident that tomorrow is another day - just like Scarlett promised :)

Matt was in Las Vegas for the Shot Show so Grandma Val came to watch the kids during the day. Nola and Brenner have been on the countdown for a week. Nola and Grandma put together lots of puzzles - thanks Grandma for coming and spending time with us!

Nola playing with her Barbies. Love the way she scrunches her toes :)

Brenner had an assignment to make something using 100 objects to celebrate the 100th day of school this next week. He chose to create an elbow macaroni tower. I had suggesting making two light sabers out of the macaroni but he informed me "we can't have weapons at school mom".  Silly me :)

On Saturday, my Grandma Hilbrenner would have been 89. I took the kids to the cemetery to see her grave. The first stop was the bench that is there for her and Grandpa.

I then had the kids help me find her headstone. Grandpa and her are in the Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville. We talked about how we walk among the headstones.

We found her. I told a few stories about Grandma to Nola. Although they share a name, they aren't too much alike....yet anyway!

Brenner did some fun writing and drawing this week in school!

I like the detail he has been giving his work!

Math for Brenner has been counting/building by tens. Brenner has found it pretty easy. I like the note the teacher wrote about his name. I bug him all the time on his homework to write neatly!!!! Brenner also moved up a level in Rocket Math - he was sooooo excited - way to go buddy!

Nola doesn't like Brenner playing with her toys while she is in the bath. So I have to put them up on the towel rack so that Brenner can't get them. Funny girl!

School work and parent teacher conference

We had some funny things going on at our house the past week. I hope you smile as much as we did!

Some of Brenner's school work hanging up at school. One of our friends who is a teacher pointed this one out to Matt. Note he only misspelled "writing"!

Nola likes to have everything just so....here is how I found her one night. I love that Batman is sitting on the pink chair, a ring is hanging on the bedpost, and littlest pet shop is on the bed :)

The weather has been gorgeous - Matt made a super duper extreme hopscotch for Nola. The wind made her look like she was a 80s hair band rocker!

I spent part of the week in southern Illinois looking at restoration sites for grasslands and upland forests. It was cold and even snowed one day!

The kids have "animal school" on our bed. Love Nola's face in this picture.

Brenner finished one of his extreme dot to dots - it had 660 dots! Way to go buddy!

On Monday, we had parent teacher conference at Nola's preschool. She got rave reviews from Ms. Gerhardt - listens, participates, caring, helper, and funny - just like she is at home! Afterwards, we went to Rolling Hills park to enjoy the 60 degree weather. It was gorgeous!

There was some ice left - which the kids found. And when it is 60 degrees with melting ice - we get mud! And the kids are of course attracted to it!

Speaking of grime.....I bought Brenner new white t-shirts (he likes sleeping in them at night just like his dad). The old ones were disgusting - yet how can this be. Brenner takes a bath, gets on his jammies, wakes up and gets dressed. These shirts don't go outside (that I know of). But wow - were they grimy!!!!!

Brenner was really proud of his math work this week!

His class also had their first comprehension test where they had to read all of the questions themselves - no help from the teacher. Brenner only missed one...he forgot to answer it :(

Cute story by Brenner!

Nola's family drawing....it made Brenner really mad because she didn't give him hair! Too funny!

Game time

First week back at school. It went pretty well but Brenner is certainly testing boundaries. There was also an incident at school. Brenner has a classmate with some emotional control issues. Back in December, this kiddo pushed Brenner into a metal rod at recess and another kid was pushed down on the ground. This week the kiddo overturned his desk twice in one day, almost hitting another classmate. I contacted the teacher when Brenner told us this - I am becoming more and more concerned about the safety of the other students. The school is limited in what they can do because of federal laws - so right now we will keep asking Brenner about school and doing our best to get information while having Brenner be as tolerant and compassionate as possible. And we have started praying for this classmate at bedtime. Must be hard for him and his family as well. For our home activities it has been games, games, games - making use of all the cool Christmas gifts!

 Nola was playing with her Bunny Nurse set and set it up under my chair. When I asked her why, Nola said "because we can't play on your new chair, mommy." Made me laugh out loud!

 We had special visitors on Saturday night - Cousin Krystee, Austin, and Gannon came over. Nola was obsessed with Gannon. He is a super cutie!

 Brenner taught Austin and Krystee how to play Blokus. I love this game - it only takes 15-20 minutes to play so the time investment isn't huge like Ticket to Ride (I wrote about that last week - it is fun but sometime challenges the kids attention span!).

 Brenner wanted his turn at holding Gannon too! It was a sweet little baby. We watched him for a bit while Austin and Krystee bebopped around. I forgot how fun it is to have a little baby sleep on your chest :)

 Papa and Brenner playing Laser Game Khet 2.0 that came from Aunt Theresa and Uncle Chuck on Saturday (he got it for Christmas but that particular one had a broken laser piece). This was apparently a super hot game this year - it is a Mensa select game so I had to gear up to play it (my brain has been tired from work!). Anyway - it is fun. Brenner played a few times today but was catching on - just not as quick as Matt and me - so he got a little frustrated. A few more times and he will rock! If you want a good logic game - check this one out!

 Nola has been playing Richard Scary's Busytown all week (Amy if you are reading this, I think Ayson and Addie would like it). Not sure why she is posing like this - guessing it has something to do with her brother.

 When not playing board games, the kids are playing with their toys creating scenes with Elsa, Hiccup, Wonder Woman, and Clone Soldiers. I thought it was cute that Nola got the miniature tea set off of her shelf to put in her Barbie house. Let their imaginations grow!!!!!

 Brenner got his first term (semester) report card. He is doing excellent in all testing areas and got a nice note from his teacher.

 Brenner wrote a nice note about us!

 He does great on his spelling words - yet he fights us almost nightly during his spelling homework!

 This was a cute exercise they did - putting some character to the words.

 Nola's preschool class made a winter scene picture.

Nola also practiced her numbers while Brenner did his spelling homework! Way to go, Nola!

Some extra family time

I had some extra time to "use or lose" from work - so I used it!!! It was a nice break but it is back to reality tomorrow :( We look forward to 2015 with great anticipation given our fond memories of 2014.

 I thought a puzzle would be fun. My options - a 1000 or 2000 piece puzzle - yikes! I opted for the 1000 piece which was Monet's Waterlilies thinking I would get some help. I think I placed 990 pieces but I did finish it on New Year's Eve.

 Nola had a play date with a friend so I had a mother-son day with Brenner (Papa was hunting). Brenner wanted McDonalds - I tried to convince him that there were many other options in Columbia. He insisted on the Boonville McDonalds at 10:45 am (we wanted to catch a 12:10 showing of Big Hero Six). It was a fun lunch and funny movie! Then we went to the mall and found B some new shoes - more on that below.

 Brenner found my new slippers and decided to wonder around the house in them.

 Brenner also found my letter jacket. Geesh - those things are hideous!!!!

 Papa and Brenner learning how to play Ticket to Ride. I highly recommend it - it is a lot of fun!

 Bad habit from break - kids in our bed. We want it back!!!!!!!

 My Christmas present from Matt!!!!! The kids are banned from it since they ruined my other one - Brenner actually picked a hole in the upholstery!

 I didn't realize how worn out Brenner's shoes were from cross country that then transitioned into his daily shoes - they actually had holes on the sides and split toes. Yikes - bad mommy! But he has a new pair of Under Armour ones - we will see how long they hold up.....they will certainly be tested!

 Nola has been loving the coat that Uncle Chuck picked out for her last year. She has received many compliments - it is very bold just like her!

 Friday was nice so Papa and Brenner took down the Christmas lights - the temps plunged the following day!

 Nola working on her Frozen Christmas puzzle from Grandma Val. She loves them!

 On Saturday, we headed to the movies again to see Penguins of Madagascar. The kids had a ball and Matt and I got a few good chuckles too!

Love how Nola is grabbing Papa's face. What a ham bone :)