The proof is in the splash

And here ya go!

Proof that Ellie really is a swimmer!

Playing in the pool before her first lesson of the summer season.

It cracks me up that she spends 30 seconds drying her face before plunging back into the water.

Drew and I are so ecstatic that she has become a fish just like us.

Drew is already counting on her as his next scuba diving partner!

 



Spring is Springing!

Due to my lack of posts as of late I have a random smattering of photos to share but first (drum roll please) I have MAJOR news to share . . . . . .!!!!

 

 

Ellie just put her entire head underwater and swam across the hot tub!!!!

 

This is big BIG news for a kid that would barely put her nose in just months ago.

 

It just cracks me up because Ellie has always been this way - she won't do something AT ALL for months and then all of a sudden she does it completely and perfectly.

Examples - talking . . . I remember we had her evaluated by the Early Intervention Program because she hadn't spoken one word at 20 months.  I swear the next day she started talking in sentences.

 

Walking . . .  this is the kid that never crawled but one day got up and walked across the room.

 

Potty training . . . would have nothing to do with a kid potty but once she decided to go on the toilet she has NEVER had an accident!

 

School work . . . she refused to practice writing her letters for the longest time but then all of sudden she could write her name.

 

HA!

 

I must remember this . . . she is a kid who waits until she can do something well before she shows it off.  She works on new skills quietly and then BAM! she's got it!

 

 

Writing love notes to each other

 First sleep over with one of her besties - Rowan.  Complete success!!

 

 

 

 Decorating bunny cookies with Grammy!

 Cute little girl discovering how to work our rotary phone

 

Happy Birthday Ma-Mop!!



Easter Sunshine!

I've said it before and I'll say it again . . .

Easter is my favorite holiday!

All the excitment of Christmas with a fraction of the work!

This year was especially perfect because we had summer like weather in March!!

 

 The kids loved opening their Easter baskets. 

 

 Who knew jelly beans could be so exciting?!?

 

This year was the 4th Annual Egg Hunt at our house.    

Here are the number from this year:

Kids:  14

Adults:  25

Bottles of champagne before noon: 9

Eggs hidden by the Easter bunny:  47 DOZEN!!!

 Cute Noble kids

 

 This year was VERY special because of a new addition to the family.
Little bunny Coco arrived the week before Easter. 
Ellie has been wanting a bunny SO badly.  We weren't seriously considering indulging her until a friend offered to give us hers, hutch included, for $25! 
This bunny is SO mellow and used to being held by kids. 
I think Hazel would have sat and held her all day.

 A few hours after the hunt was over we went looking for Jude.  We found him behind the swing set eating the chocolate out of all the baskets. 

He had quite of bit of energy that day!

 

Friends stayed and enjoyed the sun ALL day.  Ellie played outside with her friends for 10 hours straight. 

She said it was the best Easter ever!

 

Sunshine, a new bunny, yummy food and great friends. 

Yep - perfect!



Whistler!

A couple weekends ago we headed to Canada and met my cousins in Whistler.

One day Owen and Drew went snowboarding and the next day Cait and I went to an AMAZing spa!

The twasins ("Twin Cousins" - the term we use for Jude and Lucy since they are just 6 weeks apart)

The kids played great together.  Their favorite game was lining up on the bottom step of the staircase and taking turn say 'weady - set - GO' and jumping down all of 6 inches.

 Noble kids in the Olympic Rings

 The village was SO much bigger than the last time I'd been to Whistler 12 years ago! 

We all decided it's probably not the most fun place to go with kids in the winter since they only lasted in the snow for about 20 minutes and it took 45 to get them dressed in their snow gear. 

 

 It's fun traveling with these 2 - they are mostly always happy and do great in restaurants! 

Yesssss - I am SO glad we are this stage!

 The highlight of the trip for Ellie was ice skating in the cute outdoor rink in the village.  Jude on the other hand couldn't make his feet go in the same direction.  It was hilarious and back-breaking!

 

Great trip with family - next time  . . .  SUN!

A POST!!!

Blog posts are so scant these days and it's always on my mind to post! 

My excuse is the same as every mother everywhere - Life is busy!!

 

As promised - my BIG Christmas gift this year was a beautiful new camera from both sets of parents. 

I think their motives were actually selfish since what they really want is better pictures of their grandkids. 

But that's ok - I'm loving having a quality camera!!

 The first photo I took through my new lens.  Love the color and crispness!

 

 Silly kids in the bath. 

The newest news with these 2 is the fact that we have entered the stage of SIBLING FIGHTS!

Their screams are piercing and exhausting.  Good thing they have short memories and seem to forgive each other quickly!

 

 This Spring will be a big change in our house when we move the kids into the same room!  We have bunk beds and we'll do a major redecoration to tone down the pink factor in Ellie's room. 

They are so excited to be roomies!

 

 Ellie's favorite game lately is to play dress-up in my closet. 

 

Like mama like daughter!

Christmas Catch-Up #1

Oops - I am so behind on blog posts!

Not only can I blame the craziness of the season but this Christmas will go down in Noble family lore as the year we had the stomach flu!!!

ALL of us had the flu between Christmas eve and Boxing day. 

Not fun!

Many traditions were cancelled or postponed like Christmas even stocking stuffer exchange, menudo and champagne drinking on Christmas day.

Luckily, we were able to be together and open presents and I think Ellie will only remember the good parts :)

 

I'll do a few posts to catch up on our Holiday Season!

This year we started, what I hope, will be a new tradition - ice skating and Snow Flake lane in Bellevue. 

 Ellie was a little surprised at how difficult ice skating was.  She never let go of the railing or our arms.  We only lasted on the ice for about 30 minutes but it was still fun!

One year we'll be in Rockefeller Center!!

 

Snow Flake Lane in Bellevue is pretty cute.  Lots of Christmas characters like Snow Princesses and Frosty, snowfall and a marching band. 

The waitress at the restaurant we were at told her she'd hear it might snow tonight and when we walked outside Ellie started screaming and jumping because IT WAS SNOWING!!!

(I think it was actually snowing foamy bubbles)

 

Jude stayed home for our trip to the ice rink - and good thing - we had considered taking him ice skating and then laughed when we remembered how hard it really is!

Auntie Marilyn send Jude a musical card and I think it was his favorite gift EVER!

He dances to it every day.

 

 

Next post . . . Christmas day and the big reveal of my fancy new Christmas present!

Jude turns TWO

Jude is now officially a TODDLER!!

 Getting a felt birthday crown at preschool has been a tradition since Ellie turned 2.  Jude loved being the center of attention during circle time.

 

 Ellie also had an Elmo cake for her second birthday.

 

 All day he kept saying . . . . "Jude - Two-teen."

Come on, kid, I can wait for the teenage years!

 

 This photo cracks me up - he looks SO much like Drew playing his new instrument

 

Here's a little 2 year summary of the Jude-man

*favorite activity - playing games.  he loves to run down to the closet at the end of the hall, pull out a game, get all the pieces out then pack it right back up. 

*favorite show - right now it's a tie between Sesame Street and Thomas the Train

*bedtime routine - Jude is a great sleeper (FINALLY).  He loves getting cozy in his bed with at least 3 books and pets.

*favorite snack - mornings start with cut up banana in a bowl to be eaten with a fork, while snuggled under the blue blankie.  He's not too specific, eh!

*tricks - Jude seems to love to put on a show.  Ask him to 'guitar face' or say 'excuuuuse me' and your belly will hurt from laughing so hard!

*loves - he LOVES his sister, LaLa, loves Elmo, loves books and loves loves loves school

 

Happy Birthday to my little man!