Second grade program and snow

We had a busy week with Brenner being under the weather and home from school on Monday. He progressively got better throughout the week and Matt had to pull extra duty as I had work visitors. We enjoyed the second grade program at Brenner's school and froze this weekend with a little bit of snow falling! Yikes - not quite ready for the winter weather!

We had two straight days of rain. I think Nola's look sums it up - we were ready for the sun!

The theme of Brenner's program was when I grow up. Kids were encouraged to dress as what they could be when grown - Brenner chose a soccer player :)

Grandma Val came to watch Brenner - both kids were super excited to have Grandma there!

Saturday morning we woke up to snow. Brenner and Nola had to gear up to go make snowballs :)

Just a dusting that was gone by mid-morning. Fun for the kids while it lasted.

Saturday was also the day we signed up for bell ringing for the Salvation Army. Some smiles before heading into town.

A good one from Nola as well.

Nola didn't last long. Although we were only out ringing for an hour and the sun was shining. It was so, so cold with the wind gusting. Brenner was a trooper - notice our multiple layers!!!!

God bless the USA.

I have a bit of a heavy heart with the attacks in Paris happening this week. Such horrible events. Praying for the victims, survivors, and people of the city. Makes me so thankful for our military(past and present). Hope that you thanked a veteran this week. The kids had a good week with school. We had an incident on the school bus which makes we again ponder what sort of parenting is going on at some homes. Lesson is - keep talking with your kiddos! Mine are still at the age that they will talk with us about things - I want that to continue as the get older.

Brenner found a snake last Sunday at Hilbrenner Lake.

Reading before school on Wednesday.

We had a storm Wednesday that left this pretty rainbow.

And some amazing clouds!

Thursday was brown bag parent lunch at school. Brenner requested Arby's but he got McDonalds :)

On Thursday night, Brenner was trying to earn a hunting trip this weekend. We suggested that he work on his writing on the Night Zookeeper website that his school has. It is pretty neat - kids can write a newspaper article, diary entry, poem, etc but also has characters you can draw and games to play. Brenner spent 45 minutes crafting his story. I only helped him to check the spelling. He did great!

This was his story with a comment from his teacher. Way to go, buddy!

One of Nola's school projects.

Brenner had a fever so he couldn't go hunting with Matt at Hermitage. It was very sad, but they may go this weekend. For those of you who know the place, it looks different! Everything but the trailer is gone and it is leaving in the next few weeks!

Matt got another nice doe.

Nola built a church out of the Jenga blocks.

Our Sunday school class created t-shirts and we all wore them on Sunday. It was a lot of fun to see everyone in them!  I had some pre-church entertainment. Brenner was looking through a Claude Monet book that I have and I was telling him about French Impressionism and use of light.  He continued to look through and then announced "I think I would him an A" which made me laugh out loud. Well done, Claude Monet, for earning the approval of an 8 year old!

Happy 8th birthday, Brenner!

We had a huge week with Brenner turning 8! I can't believe how fast time is flying by! I got sick early in the week but still managed to make the cake and have a fun party (thanks for Matt tolerating my 7 pm bedtimes!).

Nola helping in the kitchen. She randomly will ask us "can I help, Dad?". Too sweet.

Tuesday morning (birthday morning) at 5:45 am. Yes - he was up early (and wore his Royals shirt almost every day - that was a lot of washing this week)! Nola bought him a Chewbacca. It was a big hit. 

Brenner also enjoyed the books and toys that mom and dad got him. He was really grateful!

On Thursday, Brenner's 2nd grade class went to the Butterfly House in St. Louis. He selected Matt to go with him (which was ok as Nola and I shopped for his party!). Looks like he was eager to answer a question!

Nola and I did do some work at home that day. She was flying through the worksheets!

Some of Nola's school work.

Nola showing off some new shoes and one of her eclectic outfits :)

Brenner decided on a volcano cake this year. When I was baking it (the dome in one pan and the round in another), he told me "I don't see it, Mom. I don't think it is going to work." I asked him if I have every disappointed and he said no. He was really pleased with how it turned out (there were M&Ms hidden in the middle).

Gift time! Brenner had a few friends over and lots of family. A perfect balance of toys, books, and clothes. He was so excited about the new Wimpy Kid Book (Old School) that came out this week. He read it in one day.

The kids having fun with a confetti party! Brenner did such a wonderful job reading the cards before tearing into the presents. He is showing so much maturity lately!

Wrestling!!!! Then someone told the boys that it all had to cleaned up before cake - boy did they move fast!

I think he liked it :)

Is he picking out his piece?

No - apparently now he is picking!!! Ugh - where does he get it?

Ah - PawPaw Hinckle. Well - this is just a scratch I think :)

Grandma Val with her daughters.

Brenner wanted to invite his preschool teacher (Nola's current teacher). Glenda was a doll and came - and boy did she have a great time with all of the ruckus!

Matt's side of the family showed up in full force. It was a beautiful day to spend with family and friends celebrating Brenner!

Par-teas!!!!!

It was party week for us! Everyone is doing great and enjoyed the celebrations for Halloween, Matt's birthday, and our 11th wedding anniversary. Feeling very blessed!

We had parent teacher conference on Monday. Brenner is doing great as you can see on his report card. Mrs. Dixon says that Brenner is a role model and is very careful with his work - usually one of the last to finish. He scored an 88% on the beginning of year math test (covers everything that he will learn in the second grade)_ - way to go bud. We aren't thrilled about the common core math and had lots of questions. Mrs. Dixon was great and we found some additional online resources. Brenner even wanted to do some extra today - good job buddy!

Nola writing on her goodie bags for her fall party. I chuckled when Matt sent this to me - Nola amazingly picked out his favorite candy :)

Nola and Josie waiting for the party!

Morgan and Nola in their costumes!

The class went to a local nursing home to sing some songs :)

Candy!!!!!

A game of musical chairs.

Running in school?! What does Wonder Woman have against a Seattle Seahawks cheerleader?

Brenner's class party. Can you see him? For the third year, he is the skeleton :)

A laughed when I saw this - guess the skeleton was a little tight!

Parade of costumes! Each class takes laps around the gym while the percussion section of the high school band plays music. It was fun! Lots of fun costumes!

Matt and I hadn't been able to do science experiments with Brenner's class yet this year so we signed up for the activity at the fall party to bring a little science in :) We did a sensory game with Zombie Brain (cold cooked head of cabbage - it stank!), Dracula's skin (flour tortilla), Ghost Guts (cooked spaghetti, Cat eyeballs (peeled grapes), and Witches Snot (applesauce and raisins - it was the best). The kids had a fun time - we sent them through and then as a class they guess the real food item. 

Next we made slime - the kids had a good time. It was good we had some other parents there to help!

Matt teaching the kids about polymers :) Too funny! While we were at the school, Nola was at some church friends house. She had a tea party, played the piano, and behaved extremely well :)

On Saturday, we headed to Aunt Theresa and Uncle Chuck's house to trick or treat and cheer for the Royals (we BELIEVE!). The kids had a ball and we had fun dressing up too! Brenner switched masks with Aunt Theresa but decided it was going to be too hot for serious candy grabbing!

Matt being silly in his creepy outfit.

The kids were ready to go! They were out about an hour with Grammy, PawPaw Floyd, Aunt Theresa, and Aunt Janet. Brenner ate half of his candy while they were out - I have no idea how he didn't get sick! Brenner made it though the entire Royals game but Nola gave up in the 8th inning. Sunday was....well....as you might expect with kids on 24 hours of sugar!

Some fun writing of Brenner with some notes from his teacher.