What project?! and Celebrating PawPaw Hinckle's birthday

We had a full week with a school project that we didn't know about, dentist appointments, a bit of sickness, and a big (7-0) birthday dinner. Matt and I were just commenting how could February be almost over - can we slow down time?!

Brenner mentioned on Tuesday that he has to make an instrument for school and that it is due Friday. What?! No information came home but I contacted the teacher and got a new information packet (we think it may have been sent home when he was sick a couple of weeks ago). So - two days is all we got. Brenner had been wanting to make a didgeridoo for a while and we had the items so the fun began! Cutting to the appropriate length.

Filing the end, then burning the end, making a mouth piece out of beeswax, and decorating it. Oh - and learning how to play it!!!!

In the midst of the instrument making, we found out that at least two species of frogs are in one plant in the dining room. Brenner was interested (that is his hand next to Matt's) but Nola wanted nothing to do with them. She even kept her door closed so that they wouldn't come in. I didn't mention that they could theoretically go under her door.....

The finished didgeridoo complete with colored aboriginal art. A team effort but Brenner did the majority of the work! Note Nola is looking for the frogs.....

I am traveling today (Sunday) for work so took off part of Friday. I ate lunch with Brenner at school then had yogurt with this sweetie. She insisted on chocolate and then ate mine (pistachio and brownie batter). Oh well - what is girl time for?!

Nola paid me back - offering to dry the dishes for me! Sweet, sweet girl!

Brenner and Nola both had great checkups at the dentist. Nola has told me at least three times that her new toothbrush has a tongue scrubber :)

Family dinner to celebrate PawPaw's birthday!

He had some help blowing out the candles!

Dad with the grandkids and greatgrandkids.

A fun picture of Grandma Val, PawPaw, Brenner and Nola.

Brenner continues to do well in school. I laughed at his Valentine's Day card to us (yellow paper). He labeled everything down to the grass! Fun kid.

Nola also made a card at preschool. My heart is full with both of them! Brenner made me smile the other night. I asked him how he knew that God loved him. He said "Why wouldn't He? He made me." He didn't add "Duh mom" to the end but he was close but then broke out into a smile. My little smarty pants :)

Valentine Parties and Fustal Melee

Wow - what a busy but fun week! Both kids had Valentine Parties and Brenner had his Futsal melee. (FYI - melee is a battle among knights). 

Nola's preschool class got a pj party for Valentine's Day. She looks pretty excited!

Nola was soooo excited when her tooth fairy Maria left her a note and money for her first tooth. She sat looking at the note for 15 minutes that morning!

Matt and Nola went to Brenner's party. His box (in blue next to his hand) was a Percy Jackson themed box with tridents. He told me - "Mom - no hearts are going on this box." Okey dokey!

Nola waiting for the Melee to begin! Brenner is on a U10 team (10 and under). Brenner, like several others on the team, are 8 so they are a "young" team.

Brenner keeping the ball away from a Storm player.

Fuzzy - but we had to put it in. Brenner after scoring a gaol in the first game!

This just made me laugh!

Still working on form. Not sure what this kick was trying to do but note the ball in the air!

Something funny happened during warmup!

Brenner getting the ball going against FC Legacy. This team was much more advanced than our Ravens - but the boys kept playing hard and didn't give up!  And the other team didn't run the score up - way to go for their coach!

Brenner getting a high five from Coach Paul. Paul played in the English Premier League as a goalie so Brenner now wants to be a goalie. Paul was very patient with the boys and focused on having fun!

Ok - this one just made me laugh too! Brenner was able to score a goal in this second game against Storm.

Our boys putting the pressure on FC Legacy in their second game on Sunday. The Ravens lost again but were much improved against this team.

Most of the team!

Brenner waiting for the ball in the goal. He looks so grown up.

The Raven Night Watch team took silver and went 2-2 on the weekend. Their bracket only had three teams (there was another U10 that was much more competitive) - but it was a great introduction to Futsal. Brenner is already signed up for spring soccer league so stay tuned :)

Brenner and his buddy Drystan wearing their medals. Next it was off to our house for Brenner's first sleepover!

The boys stayed up until 1 am according to Matt - I went to bed! Fun times and well earned after their hard work at the Melee! Now - time to relax the rest of this President's Day!

Hard workers!

Brenner and Nola both work very hard at school and at play! Grandma Val made sure that routine was kept while we finished our trip in New Mexico. Thanks again, Grandma, for watching the kids!

Brenner working on his reading homework.

Nola playing dinosaur bingo with Grandma.

A BIG first for Ms. Nola - she lost her first tooth! It was a little loose before we left for New Mexico - and Nola kept working on it. Finally she asked Grandma to pull it out and tadah!

Brenner working hard reading. His school is doing a read-a-thon to raise money for Chrome books to be used in the first and second grade classrooms. Brenner wants to earn enough to qualify for one of the prizes which includes an ipad. So far he has read 6.5 hours in the past week with another week to go. Way to go, buddy!

Friday night the boys headed down to Hermitage to pull Matt's game cameras. They also did a bit of shooting. Matt noted that his stance is unconventional but gets the job done!

Meanwhile, Nola and I had some girl time. Movie night on Friday (The Descendants complete with a dance party) then we got up early so that I could run in a 5K with one of my besties Aunt Mellie to raise money for their youth group trip to New Orleans. We placed second and third. It was 31 degrees and not that many runners.....but there were more than 4 women so our medals are valid :) Nola hung out with Melissa's daughter Reagan. She had a ball. Then we headed to Grandma Val's house so that I could meet up with another bestie Rhonda. What a perfect day!

A note Brenner wrote to his favorite author :) I like the way he drew the lamp on. He reads and reads and reads once in bed - three hours just last night. Makes for some rough mornings. Hate to tell him to put a book down though!

Brenner's school work - great on a test and "moment" writing assignment. Brenner wrote about us making his volcano birthday cake. Awww - such a sweetie! Love him and his sister!

A little getaway to Santa Fe

I have a work trip to Albuquerque this week so Matt and I spent the weekend in Santa Fe. A place that I had never been to but have always wanted to visit. With some recommendations from locals, we had a fabulous time! A HUGE thank you to Grandma Val for watching Brenner and Nola. Every time we call, they are almost too busy to talk so there isn't much missing of Mommy and Papa. Grandma did take them (and Aunt Lynnie) to see Kung Fu Panda 3 - they couldn't stop talking about that!

We had our first meal in Santa Fe at The Shed. A local icon that didn't disappoint. There is a three margarita limit - they only put about three splashes of non-liquor in the drink. I stopped at one!!!!

Sunday morning breakfast at The Pantry after we went to church. It too was tasty. Ok - so we ate a lot but we did other things as well!

Sunday was 50+ degrees so we went to Bandelier National Monument to see the pueblos and hike around. It was awesome to see the dwellings from 1400. Matt in one of the alcoves.

The breeze started to kick up during our hike.

We decided to hike over to the Alcove House. There were lots of ladders.....I am not fond of heights but fared the first one fine.

The view was of the Frioles River was amazing but I hugged the ladder pretty tight going down - did I mention that it was breezy!

Monday morning we woke up to a "winter storm". Wasn't much of a storm - thank goodness - because our rental was a Yaris!

Bye Santa Fe - we had a great time!