Conferences, parties, and 12 years

What a wonderful week! We had parent teacher conferences, brown bag lunch, book fairs, Halloween Party, Birthday party, and anniversary date night. Yes - that was all in one week but we enjoyed the family time.

Love my family - so blessed

Great report card for Nola. Mrs. Lenz says that she is very caring, attentive, and smart in the classroom.  Great job, Nola!

Brenner also got awesome marks from Mrs. Owen. Such a studious boy!

But - here is his chart at home. We started this because he was having some trouble showing respect. Sadly this is a battle (I know - this blog isn't all unicorns and rainbows!). I used the chart to point out how he does great getting marks for himself - but not so much how he treats others (My P's & Q's). We will keep working on it!

Matt and Brenner at the parent brown bag lunch! Brenner is in his post-Arby's beef sandwich.

Nola and her pals at the school Halloween party.

Class picture - what a fun group of Kindergartners.

The class playing pass the pumpkin.

The kids made Halloween cards for residents at one of the nursing homes. We will deliver them on Monday.

Brenner posing with his Percy Jackson- themed cake. Sea of Monsters, Camp Half-blood, and Empire State Building leading to Mount Olympus.

Brenner asked his friends to dress up!

Aunt Lynnie wins best dressed!

We had an activity for the kids to work in pair to do an egg drop off our back deck. All teams had the same supplies.

There was a target that the teams had to hit.

Watch out below! Cousin Colten (Pharmacy student) and his girlfriend Elly (pre-med student) won. Probably a good thing for their egos - would be bad to explain how they had lost to 8-9 year olds!

The cake was so big you can't even see Brenner!

Brenner loved the cake - it was tasty! Many presents - thanks to everyone for coming and sharing in the day.

Sweet Nola and KC.

Grandma Val took the kids home Saturday after the party so Matt and I could celebrate our 12 wedding anniversary. First stop - the courthouse!

Next stop - the chapel. Can't believe the last 12 years have passed by so quickly.

Fall soccer comes to an end

Not too many picture this week. I was in Washington DC so Matt didn't have much time to think about pictures! We did wrap up U10 3v3 Fall season this weekend. Maybe our schedule may calm a bit?!

Brenner moving the ball down the field.

Not sure where the ball went!

Raven Ares took bronze in their league. Not bad for a U9 team playing in U10 bracket!

Dad was proud!

Brenner inspired others to play :)

Brenner's tried and true fan club!

Grandma Val and Grandpa Hinckle joined us to celebrate Matt's birthday. We of course had to have carrot cake (and steak)! Happy birthday, babe!

Some of Nola's artwork.

Brenner also showing off his art skills. Love how he calls it "awesome"!

Columbus Day

I likely don't need to tell any other parent that time just flies - I can't believe both my kids are in school and the end of the first quarter is next week. So I have made a decision to be involved at school as much as I can (and certain Federal holidays makes that a bit easier!). On Monday, I went to Brenner's class to help them make pumpkin pillows - it was funny watching many of them sew for the first time. We had a ball but I didn't get any pictures. Matt and I then headed to Nola's school to do science experiments with 100+ kindergartners. We made lava lamps and liquid kaleidoscopes. Great fun!

Here are the school pictures from this year - Brenner in third and Nola in Kindergarten. So grown up!

Thank you notes to Matt and me from Mrs. Wessing kindergarten class. So cute! And fun!

Congratulations to Brenner for earning Student of the Month! Way to go, buddy!

Nola had a reading carnival at her school on Thursday. Matt went so that they could promote the Watch DOG program. Brenner and I were at soccer practice (freezing our tails off!!!!).

Photo station at the reading carnival.

Two more soccer games on Sunday. It was 85 degrees! The boys split their games bringing their record to 3-3. KC has been helping Brenner with his ball handling skills and it showed on Sunday - he was much more calm when an opponent was on him. Thanks to Grandma Val for coming to cheer him on!

There are only so many soccer pictures that I am sure you want to see. So I decided to put in some funny ones - like this one. Looks like Brenner is kicking the ball with the outside of his foot - but I snapped the picture right after he made contact. Check out the tongue, PawPaw Hinckle!

Brenner looks so small!!!! But holding his own of course.

Tired boy.

I was very pleased to see that Brenner's class is learning cursive writing.

Some drawings that Nola did at home. That is a pelican on the left. And she is into spelling EVERYTHING. She does a good job. Although her Sunday School work on the Roman road had a tombstone with my name on it!!!! Nola said it just needed a name! The picture on the right is of her she said.....perhaps we need to have her brush her teeth more :)

Nola seems to be completing the school work pretty easily. Parent teacher conference are next week - I can't wait to hear more!

Welcome Baby Mackinzee!

We had a beautiful new addition to our family this week. My niece Krystee gave birth to Mackinzee Morgan on Tuesday - such a beauty. Love the gift of new life - glad that Mackinzee is here and Krystee is making her recovery!

We took a trip to the hospital on Wednesday. Brenner was so in love with her commenting "her head is so soft".

Our young man roasting marshmallows.

Nola in on the action!

Sticky on the cheek. Also note her front tooth - it was loose and she really wanted it out. I can't do it - makes my stomach turn - ugh!

But - dad came to rescue and snapped it out - literally he felt it snapped.

On Saturday, we headed to visit Grammy after her knee replacement surgery. Grammy was looking fabulous as usual! The kids look so grown up!

Brenner usually doesn't smile with his teeth showing - but he looks great when he does. What a great looking boy!

We stopped by Krystee's so that Matt could meet his great niece. Brenner going for that soft head!

Then it was B's turn to hold her.

Thought we should show how our baby pup is growing - she is about too big to hold these days. Matt has been working wonders on her training - it is mostly all him. Thank you babe!

A great story by Brenner!