Happy Father's Day

Wow - what another HOT week in Missouri. Despite the heat - the mosquitoes in our yard will carry you off. We had a wonderful Father's Day week - we are all so lucky to have Matt!

We surprised dad with a hammock for Father's Day.

He eventually let the kids join him!

A nice poem from Brenner. Kinda made up for his negative attitude from last week!

Nola wrote her tooth fairy Maria a note :)

Track went on - temp was 122 when thermometer was placed on the track. Short distances only. Here Nola is pulling ahead in the 100 meter.

Brenner running the 400 meter.

Nola wrapping up the 400 meter way ahead of the competition.

Go Brenner!

Jump, girl, jump! The tongue is always out - sigh!

Nola placed first in 100 m, 200 m, and second in shot put (from last week). Brenner placed fourth in the 400 m. Long jump and shot results put will be posted next week.

Nola and I are off to Krystee's baby reveal party. Brenner's picture is a little fuzzy but too good not to post!

It's a girl!

On Sunday we headed to Grammy's for her annual fish fry. Boat rides were a hit since we couldn't go fishing!

Matt and his cousin Joe - with their sons. These two played together as kids so it was neat watching their sons play. Matt hadn't seen him for 15 or so years! River and Brenner met last year and were very excited to reunite.

Trouble. Just trouble waiting to happen!

The boys wanted to swim after the boat!

Our friend Jim with Uncle Chuck and Nola. Jim is battling a rare disease but he was all smiles! Loved seeing him and others!

Grandparent time and Track Week 2

Matt headed to North Carolina for a gunsmithing class, so the kids headed to Grammy Vo's for a couple of days. Later in the week, Grandma Val stayed with the kids and then we had a nice HOT weekend together at home. Thanks to the grandmas for all of the help this week!

The kids immediately hit the lake to go fishing at Grammy's house!

Look at this big one! The kids ate their catch. Grammy also made a different kind of homemade pie each day - cherry, apple, and peach.

Nola earning her pie?

Of course they had to play baseball. Brenner is obsessed with the Royals right now. We have to ban baseball conversation/questions from the dinner table just to get a bit of a break. When Brenner is in - he is ALL in.

Grammy camped out with the kids one night!

I was caught off guard with the 5 year olds running with the 4 year olds in the 100 meter so very few pictures. Despite the crowd, Nola ran into second place!

This week was very disorganized - 5 year olds ran with 6 year olds in the 400 meter - Nola took third!

Another crowd on the 200 meter. Nola paused to help a friend that fell until her mom got there and then picked up her pace to still grab second. What a trouper - went back to cheer on her friend who had some major track rash but still walked to the finish! 

Shot put! Not sure of her place but she threw 5 feet 10 inches.

Way to go Nola!

Brenner's mile race was the last event. Check out this great picture captured by Cousin Colten!

Race to finish line.

Brenner waiting to see how he placed - he ran a 8:51.

Blue ribbon for B! Thanks to Colten and Grandma Val for coming to cheer the kids on. Brenner also did the long jump but we don't have those results yet either.

Celebrating post-race at Steak and Shake!

For the record - Brenner asked me to take this picture. 10 years from now he may regret it!

Nola helping me with dinner Saturday night!

Track Season

Nola has been waiting for track to start for months - and this week she got her wish! Brenner was on the fence but decided to run once they were there. I was in Denver for a meeting so I missed it :( But - when I got home late Friday night the kids couldn't wait to show me their ribbons.

A pretty night for a track meet!

The Parkers getting ready

Group warmup.

Nola and Morgan getting ready for the 100 meter dash. Coach Gary (Morgan's dad) nearby.

Run, girls, run!

Great work, Nola and Morgan!

Brenner doing shot-put. He threw over 13 feet. We will get his results this week.

Love Brenner's smile....makes me wonder what was going on!

Nola was off to a good start on the 200 meter. Love the girl in second -she is always smiling!

Nola working her tongue to get third place. Her buddy Morgan took first - it was a tight race. Great job girls!

Brenner running the mile - great effort buddy!!!! Coach Gary cheering him on!

Brenner claimed the blue ribbon with a time of 8:28 - great job, buddy!

Nola taking off on the long jump......

.....look at her soar......

......for 6 feet 9 inches.....yes quite the jump. The adults supervising the event didn't even believe it. Needless to say, that jump got her a blue ribbon. Great job, sweetie!

We are having the kids do a bit of homework each morning - just to keep them learning this summer. We did an exercise this week where they colored the states that they have been in. One of my goals is for them to visit all 50 states before they graduate high school.