Pumpkins, bows, and mazes

I was away for work this week so a big thanks to Grandma Val and Grammy Vo coming to help out so Matt could go bow hunting!

Not sure what was going on here.......interpretive dance?

Brenner can't even lay down to read - he zips though the books so fast!

Brenner convinced Matt to buy him a dictionary from Wal-Mart. He was determined to practice his spelling by writing words from the dictionary.

Grammy Vo brought a pumpkin to carve. Nola was excited!

Getting out the "guts" of the pumpkin.

Viola! Good job!

On Saturday, we decided to make caramel apples for Matt's birthday dinner Sunday night. The kids had a lot of fun!

One of the most beautiful sunsets on Saturday night!

Matt made it back from hunting to meet us at the corn maze with our church group. We were all excited to see him!

Nola and Corbin leading me through the corn maze!

Brenner about to face plant into the hay! 

Gorgeous weather for our fun group!

Matt got a doe Friday - so time to process on Sunday!

Brenner was very excited to help - insisting I take some pictures :)

Happy birthday, Dad! Your carrot cake is coming this Saturday at the Halloween party!

School days and corn maze

What a busy week with lots of fun outside! I did have a thought this week. The kids haven't been sleeping that well. When Nola wakes up, she tip toes into our room. When Brenner wakes up he runs/stomps into our room. Made me chuckle - it is much like they are during the day! I am going with it - one day they will quit running towards us. So relish these times!

Brenner working on some new centers at school while sporting Royal blue!!!! Believe!

This is a snapshot of a video that Brenner's teacher posted. She has started having Open Mic Friday - kids that are reading fluently get to read to the class. Brenner did great! It was also PJ day as his class earned a complement party - hence the polar bear pants!

Pumpkin time at our house!

On Friday we went with Nola's preschool to the corn maze. She is telling me to hurry up and tie my shoes so I can run and play more!!!!!

When did she grow up!

Pure joy!

Jump!!!!!!

Girl power!

Hay ride to end the trip!

Matt made these paper dolls for Nola. She loved the queen but didn't like the boy. She told Matt "I wanted a straight boy". Made us laugh. She then cut the boy paper doll up.

A few days later I found this - a pig finger puppet on the legs of the boy paper doll. Sometimes it is just better not to ask!

Brenner worked hard on creating a comic book. He titled it "Attack of the living trees". He did a great job with the story lines and drawing! I should not that he did this on his own - it wasn't a school assignment.

Some good test scores for B!

Some writing by Brenner. I had to laugh about his "favorite food" being lettuce. When I asked why he lied about being a vegetarian - he just snickered and smiled!

Soccer and trails

I was in Arizona for a work meeting so Matt held down the fort! The kids kept him on his toes and they were a bit sad that I was out of town. Both cried on the phone for me to come home which never happens!Once I got home it was a nice long weekend together!

Friday night soccer practice. Not sure why the picture is a bit fuzzy since Nola is walking!

Go Little Ravens!

Brenner's team was up next. Do you think his hand was cold?

He kept it in his pocket for a bit!

Brenner was asked by his teacher to teach his entire class a math lesson. Way to go, buddy! Here he is working one on one with a partner.

Matt was the Friday mystery reader. Adults come in and tell the students how they use math and reading in their jobs.

Saturday we did a bit of shopping, went and saw Hotel Transylvania 2 (it was so-so), and then had family game night! We started with Whowasit and then finished with Labyrinth. Fun times!

Brenner was set on using his chopsticks for the sushi :)

On Sunday afternoon, we headed to the Katy Trail for a bike ride. the kids were excited!

Taking a break and looking at the Missouri River.

Smile for the camera!

This adventure made me super nervous!

Back on the trail and heading towards home.

Matt worked with Nola on understanding food chains. Nola's is on the left.

Some of Brenner's work from art class. I hadn't thought about the rural/suburban/urban concepts. Pretty neat!  Brenner is still steaming through the Diary of the Wimpy Kids book - wonder what he will pick up at the end of that series!

Welcome fall!

We (by that I mean Brenner and I) had a small bit of sickness this week but it was a 24 hour bug thank goodness!  We had cool week which led to some angst as we transition to warmer clothes - something that the kids were not excited about!

Nola love, love, loved the flower fashion creation kit that Aunt Lynnie gave her for her birthday - she made a bouquet, rings, and bracelets!

Kids - are you ready for soccer practice? Guess that is a yes!

They even danced about it :)

Little boogers sneaked into our bed! They are so big now extraction is harder!

Congratulations to Brenner for being named student of the month for September. Way to go, buddy! He earned a trip with the principal to McDonalds. He had a cheeseburger Happy Meal and asked if it was okay if he got a coke. (In Kindergarten he drank water during this trip because he didn't like the fizz). I said yes - that would be my drink of choice as well if I were there :)

After Saturday morning errands, we went to Subway. Brenner ate an entire footlong sub (turkey and lettuce). Let the Parker hollow leg syndrome begin!

The weather was gorgeous on Saturday afternoon so we made the most of it!

Great kids - love them bunches!

I don't have words to describe this picture - just enjoying the calmness!

Let it go!

We also found the rake that Matt has been missing for months!

Matt went deer hunting this weekend and the kids missed him terribly. They were very glad to have him back home!

Sample of what kind of math Brenner is working on at home. 100, 10, and 1 placement. Supposedly complicated for this age. I recall doing multiplication when I was in second grade......this common core math still concerns me......

Some phonics work. I have no idea what the instructions mean on the top left, but Brenner did and aced the test (bottom right). 

Nola's class learned about fire this week at school. A fireman will be coming to visit soon - she is excited!