Happy, happy birthday to my favorite girl in the whole wide world!

I cannot believe it but Nola is turning 8 this week. We celebrated with friends and family on Saturday. What a blessing Nola is to us - kind, caring, cuddly, funny, pretty, and smart. We are all better by just being around this little gift from God!

Nola on the morning of school pictures. She wasn't pleased to have to have her hair fixed :) Later in the week, Grammy Vo and Grandma Val came to grandparents day - woohoo! Nola had a ball - she got to show off her butterfly larvae and singing talents (one of the songs they sang - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3oSyr8mHY4). I had to look it up - very popular back in the 1940s. I laughed when Nola said her teacher picked it because grandparents would remember this from when they were little. How old does she think the grandparents are?!?!?!

Nola made a sign for her party :)

Matt and I got her a new chair for her room - turquoise is her favorite color right now. She was excited when she saw it!

Yeah for friends! We had hot dogs, burgers, veggie, fruit, and chip - yum!

Present time. Thank you for all the gifts - diary, soap making kit, lip balm kit, an awesome new comforter and sheets for her newly painted room, books, new boots, and LEGOS (lots of them!).

Nola loved this giraffe from Aunt Janet. Giraffes are one of her favorite animals (look at her tank top!).

Danielle and Kevin gave her this awesome bunny with crystals - so beautiful!

The cake - it was heavy! I didn't get a picture of the inside - but it was chocolate, red velvet, and vanilla layers per her request. Yes - I made THREE cakes! I guess I love that squirt a lot!

Blowing out the candles!

Me and my girl. Happy birthday sweet girl!

We had a few friends spend the night!

Brenner told a friend at church that he was "annoyed" by the girls and didn't do anything with them. Hmmm.....I guess this picture proves him a liar :) He had a ball with the girls - including this dance party!

Ella with Morgan and Ella before we went to church. We made the lip balm and it was pretty shiny!

The girls watched The Princess Diaries so sat properly (ankles crossed).

Once church was over, we headed to the soccer park for games. B and Nola played at the same time so I only caught Brenner's second game. Not sure where his help is in this one!

A solid shot stopped by the keeper.

These two worked hard together. Matt was telling me how they kinda get picked on at practice by their teammates. I think it is because 1) they are small and 2) they are mighty! They are two of the best players on the team so I think it makes easy target. But Drystan and Brenner each scored two goals for their team for the 4-2 victory!

Their happy trot down the field after Drystan's second goal with the assist from B. Wish it weren't fuzzy but too cute not to share!

Brenner against their teams best player footwork wise. He did well. She was tough!

The game wouldn't be complete without Grandma Val there!

Nola's second game - that look of determination. 3v3 no subs for the girls.

She made the other team work!

They were getting pummeled but she still put her foot into it! You can see the ball bouncing off the blonde on the other team. Nola might have a big foot like her big brother!

So proud of her team. The other team was nasty - parents shouting to get it in quick before our girls could catch their breath (they had 6 players so plenty of subs), the coach arguing for a goal that we were given for a box violation (did I mentioned we were getting pummeled?!), the other team hitting hands overly hard during the handshake at the end (until they got to me and I gave a look - you all know it I share it generously). This is U10 folks - keep it in perspective!

Homecoming parade

It is already Homecoming which means the Raven's float in the parade. I helped corral the kids and boy was it H-O-T. We also started our bathroom re-model - just in time to be down to one toilet for Nola's birthday party :(.

Forget school colors - we go Boonville Soccer Academy all the way for spirit day!

My U10 girls on the float. I will just enjoy this time that they will still smile willingly for the camera. A good bunch of girls. I feel really blessed to be helping out coaching their team (although they complain because I make them do burpees!).

Looks like trouble to me!

On Friday, Brenner's percussion set came (thank you Amazon for a two day turnaround!). He got it out and was playing Ode to Joy in about two minutes!

Fun with the snare drum. We had fun watching drum line battles on you tube (I am secretly thrilled that he chose percussion over trombone. Spit values are gross.).

Master bath demo on Saturday. Matt did all the work - and now we are ready for Nola's birthday party next week. Nothing says welcome like a toilet by the front door! (Just kidding friends and family - it is already moved!).

My hard working man :) 

I tried (unsuccessfully) to keep the kids out of Matt's way. The kids did make bouquets for me. Here is Brenner's creation!

A few games with lunch. Then I headed to a Women's Retreat at church called He Before Me. Had a great time!

Sunday was soccer for Brenner. It was another hot one - 90+ degrees and little breeze.

Brenner looking to his buddy Drystan. They lost the first game because of endurance. I think they may be running a lot this week at practice!

Silly Nola and Grandma at the game. What a sweetie.

Brenner's second game. Is this other kid really U12?! Brenner said he talked like a high schooler :)

Little bit of footwork or getting burned by the other team - let's go with the former because I don't really remember!

Coach Paul and Assistant Coach Dad after the games.

Brenner's math homework. I won't even pretend to understand this box method for multiplication. Weird and 20 more steps than needed imo.

Brenner loves reading and language arts. He is in a competition with a girl in class to read the most words. If Brenner wins (whoever reaches a million words first) she has to eat the school veggies at lunch the rest of year and he gets to do a fortnite (btw I spelled it fortnight and he had to correct me. We don't play this in our home. I am so hip. That made me sound dumb didn't it?!) dance in front of her.

Some of Nola's work. Lots of writing and some real world applications.

My highlights - isn't it cute? Her present is actually in the closet downstairs - hahaha!

Time with friends

The remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon hit us this week with lots of rain! That led to some inside time and a nixing of some activities like my hometown fair and the steam engine show! But we still had a fun weekend with lots of friends!

Piano lessons started this week for the kids. Nola enjoyed her first lesson and was excited to practice that same night! Brenner also did well and hasn't been fighting us too much on practicing (yet lol!).

Brenner had a buddy spend the night on Friday. They stayed up until 3 am!!!! On Saturday it rained and rained - a great day for hot chocolate!

Nola invited a friend over but ended up "camping" with her and her family at the steam engine show. They came over to our house to dry out for a bit. Hot chocolate helped warm them up!

Brenner's friend fell asleep in his closet in the afternoon!

On Sunday, Nola had two soccer games. The first game was against the other U10 girls team.

They played well.

Nola's team ended up winning but everyone was a good sport.

The second game was rougher and the girls petered out pretty quickly. They did improve over their last weekend of games.

Nola had some great passes. Brenner hung out with a buddy - mostly playing barefoot on open fields. I am amazed how hard he can strike the ball with his bare feet!

Brenner's math has been challenging lately. His teacher notes he needs to slow down on his writing. When I asked if he rushed on these or if it was challenging math, Brenner emphatically (and in an annoyed tone) said it was challenging! 

His class is also learning about the Revolutionary War. He just needs to add more detail :) Great job on this start of the school year!