Summer Lovin'

A couple weekends ago we headed up to Campbell River to visit family.  Drew hadn't been to the island since Ellie was less than a year old!  And since the kids are almost always super sick when we are up there I was VERY happy to have him with us.  Happy to report they were healthy . . . that is, until we arrived home!

 Hiking to Elk Falls.  This is such a perfect hike for kids (and me!) - short and few hills.

 Drew is carrying the kid, the lunch, the blanket . . . but hey, I have my camera!

 The Nobles Canadian Vacation

Last time we were at Elk Falls I was pregnant with Ellie.  Now back again with this big girl.

 We had beautiful, WARM weather while we were there (an unusual phenomenon on Vancouver Island) so it was a rather odd decision to stop at Butterfly World, which is essentially a hot and humid greenhouse.  But the kids loved the butterflys.  Jude squealed everytime he saw one (and there are hundreds)

 People often tell me these two look alike but I just don't see it - until I saw this photo!  Whoa - they are twins!

Back row:  Ellie, Gwyneth, Ella & Willa

Front row:  Mila, Nora Lynn, Jude & Nicholas

And the best thing about Canada - Family!

We had a huge party to celebrate the plethora of July birthdays in Auntie Dena's beautiful yard.  I love that my family loves games - everyone played in the crib and horseshoe tournaments.  Drew even won horseshoes - thanks to his 3 ringers - in the dark!

Certainly no shortage of cousins at the party too!

The little ones are ALL exactly 6 weeks apart, we were just missing Lucie.  Hopefully one day we will get a photo where they are 1) all in the same place at the same time and 2) will sit still long enough for a photo op!

Moving on

Ellie finished another year of preschool in June!

It was a big year - a new teacher, 2 days of drop off, more learning.

It amazing to think how much she learned in one year - all her letters and their sounds, counting to 20 (most of the time :), and counting to 12 in Spanish.

She had no problem with drop off and loved her friends.  Sadly, this was the year she started to only  play with "the girls"!!  The boys are off playing fire and rescue and the girls are playing house.

I can't believe the gender separation has happened already. 

Ellie still has boy friends that she plays great with at home but at school -  those days are over.

What a difference!!  In September she was a little 3 year old - in June a big 4 and a half year old!

 Ellie soaked up the attention during 'graduation'.  Her teacher, Teacher Paula, was wonderful.  She engaged the kids and used so much creativity.  We have been so lucky to start Ellie's school years off with such awesome teachers!

Even MacGruder got to enjoy the last day of school. 

In the fall, Ellie will move on to 'Pre-K' with Teacher Cam and Jude will start the toddler program with Teacher Betsy.  Since it's a co-op that will mean 2 days a week where I stay in the classroom, one with Ellie and one with Jude.  It will be a busy year!

July 4th Day

Where to start??!!  I have been severely behind on the blog posts lately. 

But I'm back to update on the start of summer!

If you're from Seattle, you know summer does NOT start until July 5th BUT this year we were lucky and summer made an appearance a day early!

 It's true - the Nobles have commandeered a few holidays.  It's now tradition to have Easter and Halloween at our house.  And I have to say, the 4th on our cul-de-sac was SO fun we may have to make it a tradition as well!!

The kids - Chloe, Olin, Livi and Elle

 Sunny weather = Happy wife!

 So entranced by sparklers!

 We took over the street with lawn chairs, a fire pit and fireworks!

 And we even broke out the guitars!

Happy FOURTH!

No photos first!

yes - this post is, I think, the FIRST on this blog WITHOUT photos!!

But since 50% of our household has Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease, I think it can be excused!

Jude came done with it while we were in Canada and the trip home was the WORST 8 hours I have ever experienced!  Seeing my little boy in so much pain is sheer torture!

Then I woke up to the itchiest, scratchiest rash I can remember. 

After a day of fussy, cranky kids we decided to have a low key movie night.  But about half way through Jude fell off the couch and ended up with a bloody nose.

SO . . . .

The lesson to be learned is:  When you decide to have kids you should be made to sign a full disclosure agreement so you understand you will spend some Saturday nights scratching your legs off and covered in blood. 

**Sigh**

Cherished

There are a few things that I truly look forward to . . . countdown the days for . . . anticipate . . .

Date nights with Drew, family get togethers, mini-breaks

AND

girls night!

Every 2nd Thursday my girlfriends and I get together for dinner at a different restaurant around Seattle. 

We've been doing this regularly now for over FOUR years and I don't think we'll ever run out of things to talk about

Here we are back in March 2009 out to dinner at Cafe Bizarro - one our favorites

Last month at Bizarro again. (I have to say -  I think we're all getting better with age!!)

Karen (left) - is the mom of 5 year old Alister and 1.5 year old Gus.  She is a cancer care nurse.

Sarah - is the mom of 3 year old Dylan and a critical care nurse

Darcy (right) - is the mom of 4.5 year old Lucy and 10 month old Griffin.  She is a cancer care nurse but is taking time off to at stay home with the kiddos.

It's amazing to me that I met these ladies in nursing school 10 years ago before any of us had kids.

Within the span of 5 years we added 7 humans to the planet and clocked thousands of hours in the nursing profession.

I cherish our ladies nights out and hope we continue them for a few more decades!

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!