Denver and Flipz

Matt and I were in Denver this past week. I had a work trip and he tagged along for a little sans kiddo relaxation. A big thank you to Grammy Vo for watching the kids for us! We left Monday and got back Friday. Saturday was gorgeous and we spent most of the day outside - Matt prepping the lawn mower while I transplanted our tomato plants - they are growing fast! On Sunday, we went to Flipz with our Children's Church group. It was a lot of fun!

Grammy took the kids to her house so that we could pick them up on our way home from the airport. We could tell that they had a ball with Grammy! What big smiles!

Matt and I had a great time in Denver. We stayed at the Capital Hill Mansion B&B - location was great, room was nice, and food was fabulous. On Thursday, we were meeting up with some of my work colleagues in Golden. We arrived a little early and trekked the Triceratops Trail - which included real dinosaur footprints.

The area was a clay mine. Uplift had caused the footprints, mammal burrows, fronds to to vertical and bulge from the wall.

Both kids turned their dressers into desks. I love that Nola is sitting on 8 blankets!

Brenner turned his into a geology lab!

Our church group at Flipz! Brenner is hidden but I love how Nola is so lady-like :)

Nola hanging with her buddy Morgan!

Where is Brenner heading?

Into the foam pit! Which, I thought was a bit disgusting - kids - sweating - coming in contact with absorbent foam. Ugh.

Matt getting in on the action :)

Nola practicing on the balance beam.

I was not quite as graceful! But no one was holding my hand either!

Brenner loved doing somersaults! Made mom a bit nervous!

He also loved jumping and swinging on the bars!

Matt was the only one that rang the bell (and the only one to rub the skin off his feet from climbing the rope!).

Bounce, Nola!

All that hard work calls for a snack!

I love that Brenner named his Leprechaun "Mischief Man" :)

Grammy taught the kids about family trees.

Nola's fish from preschool. Good work, sweetie!

A new year resolution

The weather warmed up beautifully this week - just in time to celebrate my birthday! We had plenty of fun, and I fulfilled my new year's resolution - to run my first 5K. Guess I am done for the year - just kidding. I had been wanting to run one for a while and Brenner and my friend Mel were my inspiration. During my training, when I got tired, I just kept picturing Brenner at the Moberly XC meet last fall - running is hardest with tears running down his face. Strong, strong boy - what an role model for me!

I love this picture that Matt snapped of Nola - so serene and peaceful, a little wild and sweet all together. She is a true blessing.

Matt wasn't letting up on the shots the kids were taking - batting this one away from Brenner. I love the shadows!

Nola went to higher ground to stop Papa from blocking her!

Brenner made Nola a first place award (not for anything in particular - but thought she would want one). She carefully placed her bracelets on it and later in the evening, Nola moved a bunch of things on her dresser to make a new spot for the award!

Happy birthday to me - even Emi is smiling! Nola made me a birthday cake - I respectfully asked for no cake given the 5K. We went out to dinner for my birthday and did a little shopping it was fun. Matt and the kids got me a Fitbit and I have admittedly been a little obsessed with it. I am sure it will wear off!

Aunt Mellie and I had a great time at the St Paddy Stroll 5K. She has been running them for years so I decided no time like turning 38 (yes I am giving my age) to start! My favorite part was running with my friend and have Matt and the kids cheer us on!!!!

On Sunday, Brenner really wanted to roast hot dogs for dinner. Easy peasy - cut up some veggies and call it dinner!

Too cute for words!

Who knew a Leprechaun could be lured into a microwave!?

Brenner's 3rd quarter grade card. He is doing excellent. I wonder if I will keep posting when he gets letter grades?!

Some of Nola's preschool work! We had an incident with Nola this week when she told us her best friend slapped her in the face. This seemed out of character but I followed up with the teacher to see if she noticed anything. She gave me a call right away and said that she didn't see anything but Nola acted different today at school. So the next call was to the mom, who is also my friend. It was a bit awkward at first because none of us want to believe that our kiddos would lie to us. A few days later, I got a call from the little friend asking to talk to Nola. She had finally admitted that she hit Nola and wanted to apologize. Then they started talking about Frozen Two. Children are precious in their gift to forgive! The mom and I also had a nice conversation - we still don't know what prompted it but they had their daughter role play what happened which brought forth the truth. Good learning experience for us all!

Some of Brenner's random handiwork that made me smile!

Disney on Ice

What a busy week we had! Lots of school work and then a packed weekend!

Brenner convinced Nola to get into my closet to try on "mommy outfits". He came out with this combination. I liked it and wore it to work on Friday!

This one was colorful but I didn't wear it outside the house!

We have been talking about our summer vacation. Brenner looked through our road atlas (he even took it to school for his show and tell), but he also liked our US puzzle. Here he removed the states that he has visited - 16 which isn't bad for a 7 year old! He had to show Nola hence the picture in the bathroom since she was in the bath!

More good scores. My hope is that he doesn't get bored. There were some incidences with the one student in his class throwing his chair again. Sigh - at least Brenner talks to us about it. Follow up note to teacher to make sure we knew the details. Brenner did tell us that he told the boy "You are a good kid, and I know you can do this. Keep up the hard work." Glimmers that we are doing some things right as parents!

This school work made Grandma Val smile :)

It was Dr. Seuss week at school. Brenner looks so grown up in this picture!

Nola did some drawing of her own - and had a little sass to go with it!

On Saturday, we headed to Kansas City to go to Disney on Ice. We didn't tell the kids where we were going but gave them hints all week. We stopped for lunch - yum! Love how their eyes all match :)

We got to the Sprint Center a little early - Nola couldn't keep her eyes off the ice and couldn't wait for it to start.

I have said that I was going to keep this blog real - both the good and bad. This is one of those bad times. Brenner pouted, complained, sassed...why....because we wouldn't buy him a toy or a $15 snow cone. More than once Matt and I looked at each other exasperated on why he was acting this way.  When Brenner saw me working on the blog, he wanted me to delete this picture because he was embarrassed - but I told him that it was part of the day that had been created. Perhaps he will think about that.

Nola was a complete 180. She was mesmerized by the Lion King, Little Mermaid, Lilo and Stitch, and Peter Pan. She would sing, clap, and dance even when no one else was - such a free spirit. She was pure joy to watch!

Intermission brought cotton candy. Ugh - I don't like the stuff, but Papa and Brenner love it. Nola ate two bites and said she had had enough!

Peter Pan, Wendy, John, and Michael flying down to the ice. Tinkerbell also had fireworks!

What a doll! The "hat" came with the cotton candy!

After Disney on Ice, we went to Aunt-ta Theresa and Uncle Chuck's house. Nola loves playing Princess Matching Game.

Brenner picked up 3 bags of sweet gum balls for Aunt-ta Theresa (mostly because he wanted to get paid). It did keep him occupied for quite a while!

Brenner wore Dolly out! Great smile!

Nola played too - helping Dolly get a drink!

She even picked Dolly up - one of the few dogs she can do that to!

They actually threw a surprise birthday party for me. It was great to be surrounded by family!