Challengers Soccer Camp

The kids were in the Challengers soccer camp this week and had a ball. The coaches were from England and Scotland and were a hoot. We were suppose to host one of the coaches but with Brenner's recent behavior we decided against it (yep - keeping this blog real!). Nola was in 1/2 day camp and was a bit disappointed to be in the younger group, while Brenner went all day. They each had a ball - lots of hard work and smiles!

Nola looking pretty excited!

Some good form. It was funny to watch her hand positioning in the various pictures that Matt snapped.

Such. long. legs.

Coach Tom had to improvise making the world cup trophy!

Nola's group. She makes friends with everyone! Well not everyone she said as I am typing this!

Nola receiving her certificate from Coach Tom. She said the drill weren't new but she got better with her footwork.

Few pictures of B. Or Tony Stark as he was dubbed by one of the coaches at camp.

Not sure why he sported the aviator sunglasses....Mr. Cool :)

Soak the coaches on the last day of camp.....

And soak your friends!

These three will be on the same team this fall - should be fun to watch.

Brenner really liked Coach Tom as well - a bit of a devious grin here!

Love to see Brenner laughing!

With school around the corner, back to school shopping has begun. School supplies are pretty much bought along with new shoes and backpacks. I splurged with the back pack since they hadn't gotten new ones in three years! I was surprised that Nola wanted pink, but she was in her element for the shoes! Not girly at all!

A moment of sibling calmness!

Brenner was looking at ridiculously expensive shoes online. I set the cap at $70 (which he said was unfair). But he was a smart shopper and found these Kyries (whatever those are) on the clearance rack - good shopping, buddy!

Brenner wanted to battle me in Battleship but really he wanted to design a dragonfly on his board!

Brenner came with me to help at the food pantry on Saturday. He worked hard - for part of the time!

 Nola's picture of me!

 Coach Alex's feedback on Brenner.

Coach Tom's feedback on Nola.

Washington DC and KC

I had a work trip in Washington DC so Matt and Brenner tagged along after church camp was cancelled. Brenner was bummed but had been talking about wanting to go to Washington DC for months. Nola had already been schedule to go to the Gresko Resort!

Nola all ready to head to Aunt Theresa and Uncle Chuck's house for the week!

We did the Nola drop off at the Vogan fish fry. Brenner took some time to fish.

Nola loving on Dolly!

Monday at the airport - Brenner eating (he is very into food these days!). He said that he had never had Burger King before - but he liked it :)

Ugh - there is a reason I don't give him his own phone or mine. This is a bit of tension between Matt and me.

While we were flying, Nola was dog walking!

Aunt Theresa, Uncle Chuck, and Nola headed to the Nelson Atkins Museum.

Miniature golf with mini-shuttle cocks!

Brenner experiencing non-package Ramen - he really enjoyed it. Except for the zucchini that was put in it - that almost let to WWIII. Sigh.

We headed down a few blocks so Brenner could see the White House. He was about as impressed as what he looks like. Would likely be different in a different administration!

On Tuesday, I headed to work and the boys headed to museums. Brenner was mostly about gift shops and food (sigh again) but did like this skeleton.

Free museum entry but a $64 lunch lol!

Brenner on the mall. Boy was it hot - he begged to ride a scooter but they hoofed it that day!

Air and space museum. We really thought Brenner would enjoy the museums more....we were wrong. Maybe too much to take in? Maybe 11-year old the world revolves around me? Poor Matt - he was a trooper!

Meanwhile, Nola went to the zoo and purchased Wizzy!

Tuesday evening at the mall (after sushi with my coworkers). Brenner requested to go to the Vietnam wall. We got there near dusk.

Near the Lincoln Memorial - sweating through the wool blanket that was the air.

A great picture of Brenner!

At the World War II memorial. Brenner asked me to take this picture.

For the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, a special projection on the Washington Monument. It was very cool - the image had smoke rolling out of the boosters.

Nola showing some attitude at the pool!

Fun times at the pool - apparently Nola earned $5 showing off her swimming skills!

A fun girls night seeing Peter Pan. Grammy, Nola, and Aunt Theresa. Nola loved it!!!! Better than the ballet she said because they talk :)

Pho and Pho 75 (one of my favorite places in DC area). Kind of torture that I didn't get to partake!

Arlington Cemetery and changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Brenner got many many comments on his Chiefs shirt (not so much for the Steelers).

Nola doing a bit of work to earn her keep!

Before heading to the movies to see Avengers: Endgame. She loved it. Uncle Chuck and Aunt Theresa - not so much!

Everyone back home on the weekend! A storm blew down our mostly dead white ash so Brenner helped dad chop the wood.

Vacation: Days 7 and 8

It was a nice change of pace to be at Hill City for the remainder of the trip. No more long drives until the one home! Fireworks on the 4th got rained out (we were even under a tornado warning for a while) but the kids didn't care. There were other families staying at the cabins so Brenner and Nola had a ball playing games, hunting for quartz, and just being kids! On the 5th, we headed to Custer State Park for a trail ride (per Nola's request).

Checking out the bison....

...there we so many including babies (or whatever young bison are called).

Before the trail ride - who is most excited?!

Nola was on Jazz and Brenner was on Thunder (not a pink flamingo!). I think Brenner was a bit nervous at the large size of Thunder.

Matt was on Mario. My horse was Angus and he was persnickety!

The two hour trail ride took us up some rocky steep paths.

And across five stream crossings. With the previous nights' thunderstorms, the water was high. Our feet got wet again! Nola was a bit scared (and screamed at one point when Jazz stopped in the middle of the creek), but Leah the trail guide helped talk her through it. She encouraged Nola by letting her know that most kids her age need to hand the reigns over to the guide but not Nola! She did great the rest of the trip. My horse avoided mud (humph) and didn't like the stream crossings. It wasn't encouraging to hear the guide say "Oh - you are on Angus. He never really comes out anymore." Matt said a couple times that he thought I was going to go down - Angus would brush me up against tree trunks and wasn't too sure footed (hooved) in the water! Thunder had a odd twist to his back left leg - poor thing - but he lived up to his nickname of the gentle giant.

Nola with Jazz at the end of the ride!

We made it - and boy was it fun! A bit better smile from Brenner this time!

Next we headed to Sylvan Lake to do a hike (per my request)!

We chose the Sunday Gulch Trail - a "strenuous" trail of 2.8 miles. Here we are at one of the summits. Gorgeous scenery!

Matt and Nola on some switch backs.

Much of the trail was along a creek (gulch is in the name after all). Nola needed some help in places but Brenner was like a little monkey! Our feet got wet - again - but it was okay!

We all had fun - look at those smiles! This was my favorite part of our trip!

Saturday was our last day before heading home. We decided to not get in the car - but explore Hill City on foot. Up the road from our cabins was a great quartz outcropping that we searched.

Some great specimen were found!

Nola found a walking stick. The kids hanging out behind the cabins.

My pumpkin seed!

Our hungry crew. Matt got some buffalo steak for the grill!

Hot tub time - these people make me laugh.

Brenner being well Brenner!

Possibly one of my favorite pictures of Brenner because he isn't fake smiling! Love this guy! The next morning we departed Hill City at 3:30 am (yes - we wanted to get home before bedtime). 12 hours later we were back in Missouri. The kids both went to their rooms and fell asleep - a good sign that vacation was a success!