Brock

Brock turned 7 in November. This is rather hard to accept! He is getting so big and acts like a big kid too. Brock at 7, here we go...
- So athletic, riding his BMX bike, gymnastics, awesome swimmer,
and we just signed up for a local Jr. ski program.
- A smart cookie! He is excelling in and, most importantly, enjoying first grade. His strengths are math and science. He whooped Cory and I at Animal-opoly last night which is quite a complicated game. He can make change, add, and wheel-and-deal properties like an adult :)
- He loves to fish with his Dad and enjoys anything outdoors. It snowed a few weeks ago and he spent a couple mornings snowshoeing around the house before school. Doesn't mind the cold one bit!
- My favorite recent Brockism:
It was zero degrees on our thermometer one morning, we then walked over to my mom's house (next door, but up the hill). Her thermometer said it was 1 degree, Brock quickly explained, 'well its probably warmer at your house because heat rises and your house is higher than ours'. He is just always thinking!
- He is not much of a performer. Since starting school he has had two concerts where his class sings. We just love watching him - he says that he likes it and he love his music teacher, but he basically just stands there and his lips move occasionally. This is just SO not in Brock's personality, he has always been a more serious guy and just can't let loose in situations like that...can't say that I blame him one bit :) Though he is quite the dancer and singer at home!
We love every bit of you Brock! You amaze us!

Grinding the elk that Cory got with uncle Chad!

Theo

I won't remember my passwords, what I needed from the store or where I parked my car, but damn it, I will remember all the fun times because of this blog (this is the only reason I keep doing it:)). I let the birthdays come and go without an update so here we go...so I can remember.

Theo is my easy going, social, and smart little guy! He turned 4 in July and we celebrated with a party at our house and ice creams at the cabin. I'm not sure how my sweet baby boy is 4, but here he is.
- He loves to draw and do homework like his brother
- He loves to play legos with his brother which usually turns into wrestling at some point
- He will pretend to be the most unusual things. Not your typical cat or dog, we're talking 'naked mole rat' or other random animals
- He loves to just chat, chat, chat. His teacher always asks me about things that he has told her during the day. I do not want to know what else he tells her about me!
- He is not a big fan of the cold weather - he gets this from me.
- He has a MAJOR sweet tooth. We all just get sick watching him.
- He is relentless... he can ask for the same thing one hundred times! He won't throw a fit for it, or scream, he will just ask and ask and ask. Even post timeouts and other punishment...he will ask again. It's quite painful!
- He is sweet and funny, here are some Theoisms:
When we were going ice skating he asked, 'do they have ice skates for 4 year olds?' or he will ask if 4 year olds are allowed to do things.
He always tells me how happy he is to be doing something, 'I'm so excited vat(that) we are ice skating'.
He calls litter, glitter. Such a nice word for trash :)
He told me the other day, 'I'm going to be a firefighter when I grow up, then I'm going to retire and be Brock's co-pilot in the airforce, and then I'm going to retire again and be a train driver'
He was going to the library with Mama and he told my mom the exact location that I got pulled over at least two years ago, 'My mommy got stopped here'. He and Brock remember this so well. I think they thought I was going to jail or something. I was just going a little fast in a school zone, no ticket even :)
Right now he is singing all the Christmas carols so sweetly!
He is quite the sailor - no real bad words (yet) but he can take the potty talk to a whole new level. He spits out 'your a stupid guy' to his brother now an again. We consider this to be better than some other words, but it doesn't go unpunished as hilarious and deserved as it might be. There is something about how he says it in such frustration that makes it funny, but we try to keep a straight face.
And on that note... we are so blessed to have this sweet boy! We love you Theo!

It must be a boy thing to be compelled to pick up a dead gopher at the park. I just looked the other way for a minute and the next thing I know he is proudly sharing his find with me.

Fall

Fall is always interesting!  I teach, work, and try to be super mom and this usually equals crazy madness!  But, of course, we always manage to squeeze in some fun! 

Wine tasting in Auburn with friends!

Pumpkin patch!  Brock Loved the magic show!

My little black widow (yes, same as last year) and sweet ninja.

Theo liked waiting for trick or treaters!  The boys are so funny with their candy-Theo could eat candy endlessly and Brock said, 'I'm getting a stomach just looking at all this candy'

The Beach

We spent Fall Break at the beach!  The wildlife was unlike ever before.  Millions or gazillions of anchovies in the bay attracted whales, dolphins, and huge pods of sea lions.  It made for very fishy boogie boarding but it was worth the stink.  My Dad, me and the boys rented a little fishing boat and had a close encounter with a humpback whale!

And don't forget hours at the pool, ice cream and all the other beach rituals the boys look forward to.

Cabin, Cabin, and More Cabin!

Where are the Jennings? The most common answer is, 'we're at the cabin'! We make a mad dash for the cabin every chance we get, we're hooked, addicted you might say. In late July and August we were there almost every weekend and even made a whole week happen for the boys, between me and my folks. Brock got to attend an awesome camp in Chester where they hiked, road horses and learned about horses, did archery (with real arrows), built wooden boats to race, played on the over 100 acre ranch and creek, road around in a world war II jeep, and learned about science and conservation. He is begging to go back! Cory and Brock, are learning the local tricks and catching lots of bass and trout. Our boat was on a buoy all summer which made quick boat rides fun and even just hanging out on the buoy fishing was a favorite pastime. It is hard to list all the fun times! We enjoy every second there. Even just sitting in our living room gazing at our beautiful creek with all it's wildlife is amazing. This summer from our living room chairs we saw egrets, ducks (all kinds), trout, raccoons, a beaver, herons, osprey, and we found an amazing little salamander on our island. Just waiting for a big bald eagle to swoop in - I know its going to happen someday! There are deer all around the area too.