Better luck next year?

Considering it took her about 18 months to warm up to relatives who she sees on a regular basis, what was I thinking?  $64 later...we have a priceless picture for the future! 

Is this worth $5?

It was to Noah!  Rob asked Noah if he was going to pay for all of the paper cups that he was wasting.  He asked how much they cost.  Rob told him $5.  "Okay, that's not too much" was the reply!  Seeing how he can build structures out of anything is priceless to me...we may just have a future engineer!

Playtime!

The kids are really into Connect Four these days, especially Noah.  He is smart as a whip when it comes to this game, too!  Noelle has quickly caught on to what the general gist of the game is and it is adorable to watch them "play" against each other.  

Noelle is also into just about everything else that Noah touches, too!  From Nerf guns to Buzz Lightyear toys, she's all about whatever Noah is playing with.  She's so funny - she can flip the switch on being a girly girl to being a tomboy in an instant.  One minute it's princesses and My Little Pony, the next it's superheroes and weapons.  I am anxious to see where she stands in a year or so!

Happy Birthday to My Daddy!!

Today would have marked my Daddy's 62nd birthday!  Words really can't describe the loss I still feel every single day.  This year will mark ten years since he went to Heaven (and I am forever grateful that I have no doubt where he is!!!).  I wonder what he and my sister will do to celebrate :)  My guess is a round of golf or h-o-r-s-e!  

I think having Noah and Noelle has made his death much harder to deal with.  I wish so much that they could have known him here on earth and played with him as they grew up.  He would have adored and doted on them and I am certain the feelings would have been mutual!  I try to describe him to Noah but I limit what I say right now because I don't want him thinking too much about death having just experienced the loss of his favorite aunt.  Over time, I'm sure both kids will realize what he means to me :)

DADDY - I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU MORE THAN EVER!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)

Noahisms

 

To the Publix cashier today: "May I please have a balloon?  Oh yeah, can you please get one for my baby too?"

To Daddy: "You're the best Daddy ever.  Thanks for getting me the carwash (Matchbox carwash set that makes a royal mess because it involves using hot and cold water to change the color of the cars) for Christmas.

To Mommy: "I love you, Momma.  Thanks for letting me play with the carwash today.

I just love how he says the sweetest, most thoughtful things and it's without prompting.  He is so much like his Daddy and I am so thankful for that.  Don't get me wrong, he can be a stinker but I am so blessed to have such a sweetheart for a son.  I love you, Noah!

Mommy's Girl

We're in trouble...she LOVES soda...

I am still eternally grateful that Noah has yet to drink a soda!  He has absolutely no interest in it even when his friends or baby sister are drinking it.  Boy did we luck out with him!

Praying for Bronson - Bathtub Drowning

I needed this reminder.  I'm guilty of running into the kids' rooms to grab their towels or forgotten pajamas/socks/etc. while they're in the bathtub.  It doesn't matter that the bathtub is still within my sight.  Trajegy can strike in a split second.  God, please heal Bronson!

 

Ironically, I was filling up the bathtub on Wednesday while tidying up the house.  Within seconds, Noelle had herself in the tub, clothes still on!  I do think this picture is absolutely adorable and priceless but it is also a reminder to me that she is such a different baby than Noah and must be watched 24/7!  My hands are full right now...but so is my heart!!

Keene's Point Playground Fun!

Wii Bowling!

We're a little behind the times when it comes to Wii...

Between Xbox, PSP and PS3, Noah spends plenty of time playing video games.  I'm not a huge fan of any of them in general but I do think they've helped Noah develop his motor skills.  They've also helped him learn about guns and bad guys but I guess you take the good with the bad...not that he wasn't bound to learn those things on the playground anyway.

When Wii first came out, we weren't about to race out and get a new gaming system.  Uncle Kyle brought it down to play once and I don't remember being overly impressed and Noah didn't seem too into it.  

All that changed when Aunt Nikki got one for Christmas!  

I just love how Noah 'gets air' when he bowls!  

You just wait, Noelle...it'll be your turn in a few months!

Daddy showing them how it's done with his curve ball!

The blind leading the blind...oops...I mean Nana showing Grams how it works!

Look at Grams go!  

Don't let her fool you, she's loves bowling...even has her own personalized bowling ball!

Nana, the bowling instructor!

And, our final scores....

Daddy wins!

Nana and Grams tie!

Noah wins!  Oh wait, Noah came in last place but according to Noah bowling is like golf and the lowest score takes the prize!

The jury is still out but I think a Wii might make its way into our home for Valentine's Day...

My Monkeys

Christmas in January :)

Decorating gingerbread houses was a Christmas tradition shared between Noah and Aunt Jen. We have four years of those memories that I (and Noah through pictures like the one above) will cherish forever. Truth be told, I wasn't planning on carrying on this tradition.

That is, until Nana arrived with the gingerbread house in hand! Who cares that it was January 8th and Christmas was more than two weeks ago?!

Nana icing the gingerbread house (that came pre-assembled...rock on!)
Mommy and Daddy overseeing operations :) Noelle was really into put the candy on!
Noah and Noelle mostly enjoyed eating the candy. Thank God they like broccoli too!

The "2009" masterpiece:

And, yes, Grams was here too. She just got sucked into the latest People!

We miss you terribly, Aunt Jen!!!!!!

I despise Ryland Homes and their choice of electricians.

Happy 2 month anniversary to Kyle & Erin!

Crappy Monday...

...but I'm still a Lucky Mommy, Lucky Wife!

Today just plain stunk. I left the house at 5:15 this morning and didn't get home until 8:15 tonight. We brought a new client live at work and it's going to be a week of long hours for me. I am thankful for great family support and also thankful that my job is not usually this requiring. I really don't know how people with families deal with consistently working long hours!

All my stress faded away when I walked in the door to a happy family!

Here is a glimpse of what I saw:

Now, I just have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am while I struggle through this week :)

The End of Christmas Break

Well, tonight marks the official end of Noah's Christmas break. He is soooo excited to return to school tomorrow! I wish I was as excited to return to work. Oh wait, I didn't have a Christmas break!

Today was a chilly (for Florida) day and we spent much of it inside lounging around. The alarm didn't wake us for church so we watched it on the Internet which contributed to the lounging. While it's not a problem for us to watch it at home, it really isn't good for Noah. While we were worshiping, he was playing with his 'spy' Nerf tag set. He really belongs in Sunday School...


He was happy when church was over because it meant that the TV where PS3 is connected was available for Indiana Jones. Again...he really belongs in Sunday School on Sunday mornings!

Noelle spent the morning begging to call "Mimi" :


and eat "num nums":

In case you need me to translate, Mimi is Grams' new name and num nums are lollipops (or any other candy for that matter...she is definitely Mommy's girl!).

The kids also enjoyed some bonding time over Noah's old laptop toy. Old as in he hasn't played with it in at least two years but now that Noelle is interested in it, it has suddenly become a prized possession that he must take away from her. It's funny to watch her play with it because she uses it in the same way Noah did at about the same age. They both press(ed) the same annoying button over and over again!

Sadly, it was also time to take down the outside Christmas lights today. This was the first year we put them up since Noah was born and we really enjoyed having them up. Noah wants to win the neighborhood decorating contest next year so I imagine we'll add to our display in 2010! He said we need more colorful lights to win...the white lights just weren't enough to impress the judges, apparently! Or maybe it was the fact that the lights on the dormer became unplugged and another set was half out when they came around to judge. I guess we'll find out next year!

Noah was outside "helping" Daddy take down the lights. I came out in time to snap a picture of the helpful hand he was lending:

And, just because I think she's one of the cutest darn things I ever did see, check out little Miss Mommy and the baby doll she outfitted with her first hat that she wore in the hospital:

I had to call Grams...sorry, Mimi...tonight and let her know that further knitted hats for Noelle must be accompanied by matching hats for her growing baby doll collection. We definitely have a girly girl on our hands!

Now it's back to reality...the reality of a 4:00 am alarm clock on Monday morning :(

1st Scratch Off Saturday of 2010

The kids and I headed over to Grams' house this morning to put her Christmas tree away. Let me correct myself - I headed to Grams' house to put her Christmas tree away and the kids headed over there to drive me crazy! Between climbing the stairs and navigating the sea of dogs, it's a constant game of "see who can get hurt or break something first". I'm happy to report no injuries and nothing broken!

They did enjoy playing the piano, though. I walked into Grams' office where the piano is and saw the cutest sight - Noelle sitting next to Noah at the piano. I didn't have my camera but Grams' camera was in her office so I was able to snap this shot:

Apparently, Grams doesn't use her camera very much. How do I know its usage? Well, I took the memory stick home to copy the picture above to my hard drive and every picture that has ever been taken with the camera is still on the memory stick. All hundred of them or so!

Ironically, these pictures were also on there:


It's very cliche but time really does fly. To see Noah in the picture from today and then in the pictures from a few years ago, it's hard to believe he's grown up so fast. I want to slow the next few years down!!

Tonight, we carried on the 'Scratch Off Saturday' tradition. Every Saturday, Daddy brings home a scratch off for everyone in the family. Noah was the only one who won - he was so excited with the $10 prize! Me? Not so much! Paying $20 to win $10 of it back...how exciting, haha!

New Year's Day

Noah woke up this morning asking to call Grams to do a science experiment. So call Grams at 8 am we did! The last science experiment (mixing baking soda and vinegar) wasn't very exciting for Noah so he asked Grams to make it "more fun". He was super happy when he saw her walk in the door with a candle and matches. Apparently, science is way more fun when you involve fire...even if it's the same lesson!

Our budding scientist!

We spent the rest of the day playing toys, both new and old, including the "old" one below which has become a favorite of both kids. Noah mainly likes to see how fast he can get away with pushing Sycee until he gets scolded.

Our happy angel!

We ended the night by going to Aunt Nikki's for a yummy dinner...I love me some veggies cooked by Aunt Nikki! That says a lot, considering I'm not a big vegetable lover. Man, can she cook some delicious ones, though!

Sycee tried to get away with wearing Noah's Indiana Jones hat over there but her plan was foiled once he saw it on her head...but not before I was able to snap a picture! The big smile is because Noah is running toward her to grab it and she knows she has something that he doesn't want her to have!

We had a lot of fun playing Wii bowling with Aunt Nikki and can't wait to play again soon. I hear that Nana is quite the Wii bowler but she was visiting cousins Brady and Brooks in Tallahasee this weekend so I'll have to witness that next time!

The first day of the new year was a happy and healthy one...who could ask for anything more?!