Happy Thanksgiving!

So much to be thankful for - family, friends, opportunities, challenges. We have had a nice long weekend full of adventures and beautiful weather! Hope yours was equally wonderful.

Matt, Brenner, Nola, and I volunteered to serve at the community dinner on Thanksgiving. Matt and I dished up food (hairnets were mandatory :)) while Nola and Brenner handed out drinks. We received many compliments on what good helpers we have. We got to eat at the end - and had worked up quite the appetite! We also met numerous new people - it was a great time.

Earlier in the week, I went to the First grade Sharing Feast at Nola's school. Her class was dressed a pilgrims. Our table included turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, sausage and cheese, fruit and plenty of dessert. It was a lot of fun!

Some selfie fun (I stink at these so they all turn out a bit blurry!).

Before heading to serve at the community dinner on Thanksgiving day, we had some other excitement. We were packing desserts for the local homeless shelter into the car. Next I heard lots of yelling in the garage. Apparently, KC got confused about going into her crate and instead jumped right into the back of the car onto the apple crisp. Needless to say, we didn't take that one in (but Matt and Brenner have sense eaten it - KC's paw made a mark through the lid but didn't get into it directly). Matt has now taken to calling her KC Crisp!

On Friday, Cousin Eadlin came to spend the night. The girls had a lot of fun!

Nola made a cobra (complete with orange fangs) out of clay. Nice work, sweetie!

Self portrait from Brenner's art class. They were suppose to draw memories from the summer - so his show a cruise ship and mountains!

Some other work of Brenner's from this past week. We got grade updates and I noticed Fs on two assignments in math which seemed odd. I contacted the teacher and it was a error on her part. When I was telling Brenner this story, he got mad before I got to the part about it was an error. My little perfectionist. I need to help him break that mindset! Which leads to the next story.....

Brenner came home was was really upset about his Greek Mythology Report on Zeus. He claimed that his teacher counted off points for not introducing Zeus' parents but Brenner said he did. I asked him if it knocked his grade down. Brenner responded he was pretty sure it did. I then suggested that he felt strongly he should talk with his teacher. He said she just yells at kids and won't change her mind. I said the ball was in his court. The next day while cleaning out his backpack, I found his grade (above). Matt and I laughed about it - again reaffirming conversation about not being perfect are needed!

Hunting season and soccer games

How is Thanksgiving this next week already? The boys have been out deer hunting (no luck other getting to spend time together), which means girl time for Nola and me!  I also squeezed in a work trip to Minneapolis this past week - it was cold and I guess I brought the cold home with me for the Show Me 3 v 3 tourney. But all is well with us - hoping the same is true for all of you!

During our girl time - we did a little shopping. Nola suckered me into the stuffed doggie with puppies. I usually am a stickler but it was so sweet to see her face, her playing with them at home, and even buckling them into the car for the ride to church. Sweet girl.

The 3v3 games Saturday were raining, windy, and mid-40s. Ugh. Luckily Sunday was 40s and sunny with the boys playing much better. Brenner was a bit feverish but played his little hear out. You know he is serious when that tongue is stuck in his cheek!

Not sure what is going on here - but it sure looked funny!

Ravens Armageddon (U11 boys). They went 1-3 but still had a good time with Coach Tony. Tony told us after the game that Brenner is just go-go-go when he is on offense....not so much on defense! Tony also told us that he is with the boys for the long haul - great to hear that we will/could have the same coach for several seasons. He sees a lot of potential in them!

Nola has been obsessed with handstands and cartwheels lately. Still asking for a gymnastics class but still none locally and we aren't willing to drive into Columbia! 

Brenner is learning about regions of the US.

They also finished up a series on Greek Mythology. I asked how he liked it given all the books he has read. He responded "I am not learning anything new." Sigh.

Some of the math that Nola is doing. Great job, girl!

Love the science experiments they are doing. Her school has come such a long way with incorporating STEM into every day learning. Nola also got a compliment from her teacher Ms. Nail this week (via a note the teacher sent me). A classmate was having trouble writing so Nola sat with her for 15 minutes to help her out. Her teacher was very proud as are we. We just might have another teacher on our hands!

Happy birthday, Brenner!

Everyone says how fast time goes and you think yeah right. But - I am really feeling this weekend with Brenner turning double digits! It is hard to believe that he is 10. I can reflect that a lot of the personality that he had as an infant persists - as does the "Parker chin". A great kids with great things in store for the future!

Brenner was up early on Friday (his actual birthday) to open his present (which Nola already had told him about). He was still excited! Friday at school was his Fall Party - I helped but didn't snap many pictures. He enjoyed bringing in ice cream treats for his classmates!

On Saturday, we had his party with family and friends. It was a lot of fun. Here he is waiting patiently for the cake.

Brenner wanted a "tall" cake. I think this one foots the bill - where is Brenner in the picture?! He wanted a kit kat cake - so voila - here it is!

Love this goof!

Cousin Gannon - before the sugar. Guess what he was like after :)

Some fun games, books, clothes, shoes, gift cards - thanks to everyone that helped us celebrate this big guy. You all are important to us!

Brother and sister in a moment of peace!

Aunt Lynnie, Nola, and Grandma Val - lovely ladies!

Brenner caught onto the ripstick pretty quick. His two buddies brought their's as well. It was a cloudy day but the fall colors showed up fantastically.

Brenner's third grade teacher came to help us celebrate. She is a snowboarder and tried her hand at the ripstick (with a broken foot no less!).

Max, Mrs. Owen, and Brenner. Both Max and Brenner loved her as a teacher (us moms did too)!

Some of Nola's work - how you carve a pumpkin.

More writing for Nola. The one about Emi is super sweet. I miss her too!

Nola's class is also working on proper punctuation and paragraph formation. Go Ms. Nail! 

Some fun drawings - I love the skeleton.

Carrot cake, hunting license, roller skates, and costumes

Whew - another busy week with me being in Denver (I saw snow!) and the family surviving without me. A slight tummy bug went around but everyone is now better. But you know Matt is sick when he couldn't even eat his carrot cake birthday cake!

Brenner insisted on carrying the cake to the table.

Blow!!!!!

Brenner with his first hunting license. Before the boys heading out for youth hunting, we had Hinck family pictures. Can't wait to see how they turned out!

Brenner was in the "Shed Roof Inn" at Hilbrenner Lake.

Apparently it was nap time!

While the boys were hunting, Nola and I went to a birthday skating party. All that ice skating on the cruise ship paid off - she started off a little slow but quickly caught her groove!

Some of the booty from the gift bag!

On Tuesday, we were off to school for the Halloween Party. Nola stopped to show me her monster that she created. Her name was Lilly :)

Lady Liberty and an astronaut.

A fun game - spider races - during the party.

A pumpkin that KC can't drag off.....we think......

Neighbor Everett came over to trick or treat with us! It was chilly!

We picked up two other families too - we had a great time driving through our neighborhood!

So much candy.....Matt set a goal of not eating any candy - we shall see how he does!