Experiencing totality and fall soccer

The kids were out of school for the solar eclipse - it was so fantastic!!!!! We were told to prepare like it was a winter storm - stock up on groceries, fill the car with gas, don't plan on going anywhere because we were in the path of totality. Well - it ended up being cloudy so some folks from outta town vacated but we enjoyed the non-crowd!

We started watching the eclipse around 12:30 and totality didn't hit until 1:12.

The moon was just starting to pass over the sun.

A bit more......

Look how dark it got! The insects came out - it was so surreal!

The clouds parted just in time for us to see totality - it was so cool!

Nola working on her drawing!

Brenner has been asking for cinnamon rolls for week do I made some Saturday morning. The kids got a lesson in yeast - and the time it takes for it to rise! Once they were done - the kids gobbled them down. Brenner ate three!!!!

KC the stinky dog. She always finds something gross to roll in - ugh!

Nola looking extra cute after fixing her own hair for church.

Brenner's team played two games on Sunday. They have moved to the big fields to play 5v5. They looked great - passing and talking. It looked like thunderstorms but the rain held off for the first game. The boys played hard and won the first game.

The boys and Coach Tony. Tony is from Kenya and Brenner loves to hear him talk - "Brenna- keek de ball Brenna" :) He is a great coach for the boys. They won the second game as well - in the rain. Brenner had some good plays and some nice footwork. Tony mostly has him playing as a forward - Brenner seems to like it!

School time

The kids started back to school this week and all went smoothly. Matt is also gearing up to start teaching this next week, having an open house with his students. For me, work, work, work - nothing much has changed except I get to put the kids on the bus!

Nola and her school supplies. It seemed like less than other years - but I really think I am just getting used to all the items to buy!

Brenner and his supplies. We had to buy 4 packages of 24 count Ticonderoga pencils (yes - very specific and expensive). That is 96 pencils. That is one for every 2.5 days. That is ridiculous.

Nola at open house with Ms. Nail. Ms. Nail seems very nice and Nola was excited to find her seat and learn her classmates.

Nola's first locker!

Brenner with Mrs. Brown at open house. Mrs. Brown is new to the district and is following Mrs. Owen. This is a conversation we had to have with Brenner - all teachers are different and he needs to give her a chance. She seems very nice.

The kids on the first say of school - ready to hit the bus! Brenner looks soooo tall!

Ah - if they were always like this I would have less stress!

Nola after the first day of school - so worn out she needed a nap!

Thursday (second day of school) we headed to the state fair. While Matt was at his open house, the kids got to play a couple of games on the midway. This lead to some tears (after prizes not acquired) and a conversation about how the games are a bit rigged.

Then it was off to the For King and Country and Jordan Feliz concert. Recall, Brenner and Matt sat next to Jordan Feliz on our flight to Seattle last May. We ran into a couple of friends while we were there - so much fun!

For King and Country came up to the grandstand area and played for us up close. Nola and Matt got a high five from one of the lead singers. They put on an awesome show - lasers, dry ice smoke, dancing,. When we made it back to the car I asked if they had a good time. Brenner said "No mom - it was a great time!" The band raises awareness for human trafficking - learn more at https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-mozilla-002&hsimp=yhs-002&hspart=mozilla&p=For+King+and+Country+human+trafficking#id=1&vid=7dfea3e476f46e54104e786eeec9a012&action=click

Some of Nola's work from the first week - love that she was "happy" on the first day of school.

Friday was all about the solar eclipse. We will see what tomorrow brings - the meteorologist say clouds :(

Some of Brenner 's work from week 1.

Maker's Space Camp

It is here. The end of summer. Where it went I really don't know. Seems like time is spinning too fast these days - too fast to even update the blog :) Nola had two weeks of Maker's Space camp at her school which focused on STEAM activities. She LOVED it. I worked from home a few days because Matt had training for his new job. I asked Brenner what he thought of my job because I had multiple conference calls. His response "Uranium mining. Blah blah blah. Disaster Science. Blah blah blah." At first I was a little sad that he didn't think it was more exciting. But some days I guess I agree with him :)

Nola on her first day of Maker's Space camp. She was ready!

Their focus was bridges and engineering. Lots of hands on work and they wrapped up the camp by going to the old Katy Trail Bridge in Boonville. Fun times!

There was math thrown in every day too. Nola was a bit disappointed that she didn't have any of girl friends at the camp. She told me everyone she was paired with was "bossy". Hmmm.....she also to the initiative and introduced herself to her new teacher Ms. Nail. Nola was pleased that Ms. Nail's response was "very nice to meet you and I look forward to having you in class."

Matt's favorite hard to get Jamaican beverage Ting! Some friends brought him 2 cases back from Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati. The kids loved it but I don't think Matt will share much!

Brenner spent a few days with Matt in Sedalia while Nola was at camp. One day, they met Brenner's third grade teacher Mrs. Owen for lunch. Seems like Brenner wears no other shirt than this Raven's T!!!

Just looks like trouble.....

A friend's birthday party had ponies to ride! Nola took a head dive off the trampoline (no sides over concrete - ugh!). Luckily she grabbed the end and swung around. Thank the good Lord for her reflexes. NO MORE trampoline!!!!

Brenner on the pony - too funny!

Brenner and his massive cabbage grown as a third grade project. It was tasty!

Friday night we had a Boonville Soccer Academy (Ravens) pool party - no pictures but lots of fun. The next day we grabbed a couple of Barbarotta's and hit the Katy Trail riding about 10 miles. We then went for ice cream and turned into those parents (ruining dinner by getting huge waffle cones at 5 pm!). (Look - he has that silly shirt on AGAIN!!!!! Reminds me of when Brenner was 2.5 years old and we went to visit Uncle Chuck and Aunt Theresa in Santa Monica. Brenner would only wear two Thomas the Train tank tops!)