Happy Sunny Days

The weather has been unbelievable the last few weeks.  Mostly sunny and one day even into the 80's!!  I have decided my mood is DIRECTLY related to the amount of sun and warmth and everyone knows - when mama ain't happy, nobody's happy!

So needless to say, we have been one happy family lately!

Of course, the camera has been MIA the last few weeks (hiding in plain sight on my dresser) but I have a few shots of our pre-summer action

 Our first family bike ride was a definite success.  Jude was in the i-bert (the front seat) on my bike and Ellie was on her tag-along attached to Drew's bike.  Pretty cool to have the whole family zooming down the trail.  Of course, our destination was the brew pub for dinner and beer!

 This little man would live outside.  Both kids have literally been spending ALL day outside, except for naps and Ellie's afternoon show (she is a slave to her routine!)

Our backyard is set - slides, water table, garden, slip-n-slide, sprinkler, sidewalk chalk, tent, sandbox - enough to keep them occupied for at least 20 minutes! 

Just had to throw this photo in there.  We went to check on Ellie one night and saw that she had put every clippy she owns into her hair for her bedtime do!!  So cute!

When daddy's away . . .

The girls will play (and Jude too!)

Drew has started the, well-deserved, tradition of First Thursday Beer Drinking night with his friends.

This means Ellie, Jude and I have an evening alone.

And mommy nights mean - DANCE PARTIES!

I rely heavily on Pandora radio tuned to the Disney Princess movie station. It provides endless entertainment for kitchen dancing!

 These are happy evenings!

Flower Pickin'

Happy Spring!

Top 4 reasons I love my family

A few weeks ago my Auntie Marilyn and cousins Theresa, Loreen & Quade came down for a visit.

I love love love family visits.

Here are a few reasons why:

#1: We're silly Just a simple happy hour turns in to a hysterical laugh attack when everyone tries to play Drew's pocket trumpet. Of course, Ellie and Quade were natural horn players.Even Jude gave it a try!

#2: We play games

Dad always seems to the instigator of said games but everyone is happy to join in.

Nothing beats of good round of 'slap the hand'

#3: The kids love family too!

Even though we don't see the Campbell River clan very much, the kids know how special they are!

Ellie and Auntie Smack.

No, Auntie Smack didn't get her nickname from beating children but from the big kisses she plants on your cheek.

#4: We love to eat!

This night was especially awesome because Theresa cooked an amazing dinner in my kitchen while I played Rummicub!! And I'm telling you - THE BEST potatoes I've EVER had in my life!

Campbell River doesn't seem too far away but a 6 hour journey including a border crossing and ferry ride is looooong when packing 2 kids!

So we especially love it when family comes to visit US!

3rd Annual Egg Hunt at the Nobles

Since moving into our house 3 years ago we have started a few very important traditions. Halloween and Easter are at our house.

But Easter brunch and egg hunt is my personal favorite. Especially, when we have beautiful weather like today.

Here are the stats:

24 adults

17 kids (from 9 months to 8 years)

26 DOZEN eggs

9 bottles of champagne

Dylan, happy with his loot These kids really believe bigger is better - even though they had the same stickers and jelly beans hidden inside.

Georgia and Ellie

Love this photo of MacGrudes taken by my friend Karen. He looks so serious - and I love his knee up pose.

Silly kids waiting in line for the rope swing.

Attempting a sibling Easter photo

Off to hunt for eggs

Buddies! Olin and Ellie

In her Easter bonnet

Why is Easter my favorite Noble house get together??

It's all the excitement of Christmas but none of the stress!

pitter patter

I just love to watch this little guy walk around.

His stiff legged walk and constant chatter are pretty entertaining.

p.s. please excuse the toy explosion in the family room in the background.

The thick of it

When we bought our house a couple years ago I was so excited that there was a hot tub in the backyard! I spend most every afternoon in the bathtub so being able to sit outside and chat with Drew while getting my warm water fix is the best!

The funny thing is that our hot tub happens to be a piece of sh*t!

Drew has spent many hours working on it - installing a new motor, moving it to a better place in the yard, fixing leaks.

Yet, it still sits on a bit of an angle and has a few slow leaks but oh well. We go in it all the time and it's the only time of the day when we actually get to spend *quiet* time together.

Last night during one of our hot tub chats we were talking about how right now our life is completely consumed by the kids.

My career is on hold and breaks are practically non-existent.

We are in the thick of it.

It's hard to imagine a time when the kids will do things for themselves, have sleep-overs at friends houses, watch movies we like too, have dinner table conversation that doesn't include 'I spy'.

Even though that freedom sounds wonderfully delicious I also know I will miss the baby stages when they go.

So Drew and I will continue to remind each other that time does pass and kids will grow and change. And that although the kids want our attention constantly right now - one day we will be begging them for their attention

Here is a few pics from inside the trenches . . .

Last weekend we took the kids to the Seattle Children's Museum.

Jude's favorite room was the Lego room. Taking after his cousin Jules!

Ellie's tongue out while she's working hard - such an Ocamp! Worker Jude

Shopping for veggies

Siblings!

Jude loves feeding his sister part of his snack. Even if it's a soggy cracker!

This is so funny! Neither of our kids ever took a pacifier (called a "Lala" in our house).

But they both found Jude's old teething lala's and were crawling around the house pretending to be little babies.

Headed out to play in the puddles . . . in his sisters rain suit.

I've always said - the days may go by slowly but the years fly by!

Here's my reminder to cherish these little faces - everyday!