Christmas is a time to share....

That was one of the choir songs that we sang at Church on the Christmas program day, and it hasn't left my poor brain alone since then. If I ever go insane (yes Michael there is a slight chance that I won't) you will find me rocking in a corner singing "Christmas is a time to share, a time to love and a time to care". Anyhow, I have been putting of the official Christmas blog and the reason really comes down to CARTER. During Jackson's football season (Sept. or Oct.) I was video taping Jackson's game while plugged into a light post at the field. For whatever reason my battery was uncharged, let's blame that on Carter too. Anywhooo there was no way the Cougar man could sit with Michael or my parents in the stands. Instead he was busy tackling my legs to make sure the video would make people motion sick in the future. When alas, (I feel I don't use the word alas enough in my writing enough, alas a new resolution use alas much more) he didn't center his tackle and slipped off my legs hitting the cord causing the the battery charger to crash to the ground and then spark, pop and a little blue flame even appeared. I bet you thought the camera crashed to the ground-- but I have watched a bazillion Royal Knight football games and I know how to hold a ball(camera) thank you very much! Anyway the burst of flame did something bad to the camera (flames + cameras = bad) and alas, it worky, worky no more. So we limp along until the first week of December not video taping a thing, (I admit I enjoy watching things with my own eyes much more than through a LCD view thingy) and I am busy using the still camera to take individual pictures of preschool children for them to use in the crafts to come---I took pictures of 19 (there are 20 to take naturally) of them when the camera took a fateful trip in a four year olds hands. I know of the camera's last moments because the perpetrator took pictures of the last few moments of the camera's life before cruelly ending it. I admit to leaving the camera in a reachable place, but there was a preschool bathroom emergency that I dashed off too ( imaging Mrs. Becky with a cape if you would). Anyhow there was a picture of the legs of the red piano where I left the camera. Then the preschool room floor, then the ugly carpet on the stairs, then the kitchen tile floor then.....nothing ever more. So by the first week of December I was completely camera "free" and depending on the kindness of relatives for the December Birthday's to come. Why was I telling you all of this? Oh yeah, Santa brought Michael and I a new video camera that takes still pictures too.... only when I put the card in my printer it keeps saying "card access error" Uggggghhhh. So no Christmas pictures yet-- just know we all never looked better and when I finally do post them remember that I lie at times! It was a quiet Christmas just Mom, Dad, and our little family. We had no dinners in Moses Lake or Mattawa do dash off too and it was fun for the kiddos to play with there new stuff and watch the new movies all day. Of course I was a bleary eyed' bad cook all day so Christmas keeps some traditions. All in all I have enjoyed being with just my little family but I really have missed the chaos of 16 (almost 18 Congrats Courtney and Brenda!!!) cousins and the grownup groupies they bring with them. I'm off now, I decided that in order to bring back some of the Chaos I would take 6 (Jax has a friend apparently, who knew?) to Tri-Cities (1 hour and 15 minutes away if you are not "driving" a sled down the bad roads like I am) to "run" to Costco, church bookstore, fabric store, Mall, target, and maybe Lowe's!! Should restore my chaos quotient in less than 15 minutes if I 've done my calculations correctly. Alas, I don't always calculate correctly.

Carter Michael Noftle Big Tough Awesome Straight

That's right on December 10th, 2008 Carter Michael Noftle Big Tough Awesome Straight turned four. Four, how did my BABY turn four? Now some of you may be wondering about his lengthy name. Since Carter was 2 or so we have been teaching him his name is Carter Michael Noftle and we always get the same response, not Michael. He has vehemetly denied for 2 years that Michael is not a part of his name. We even tried to bribe him once with a new light saber if he would admit to the middle name of Michael, it was to no avail. So for the past year his Daddy, original Michael (like original crispy - makes me hungry for KFC) has been negotiating with Carter to include Michael in his name. Carter always has a lengthy name for himself sometimes it has been Carter Cougar Noftle or Carter Noftle green yellow (favorite color plus his hair color) or Carter Noftle Big Tough Awesome Straight which has been his name for the last six months or so. By the way straight refers to the fact that when he sits on his Dad's lap he knows how to sit still or "straight" and not be wiggly. Bet you were wondering about that! So to make a short story longer he is now four and now lets us say the Michael part of his name, haven't heard him verbally admit yet but baby steps, baby steps! Here is some Carter lingo to brighten your day;

anysing=anything

chechup=ketchup

Sairduh=Sierra

uke tywalker=Luke Skywalker

yightlen a queen=Lighting McQueen

tweep=sleep

plelo=pillow

tumming=coming

turcht=church

nack=snack

twattwick=chocolate

pep in ronies=pepperoni

As you can seen that if you check the blog next year at this time you will most likely be hearing about Cougar man's visit to the speech therapist! We are loving this little guy and his antics so much. I was really worried about having one kid at home-afraid that he wouldn't have a playmate or whatever but it has been great. I think he has great days with me and then he is always thrilled when the kids get home too. He just always seems to be happy. What a lucky family we are Carter makes the best caboose!

Main Man Has Birthday.....

That's right it is my Main Man's birthday today. I really love his birthday, and the reason is purely selfish, you see I am 1 month and 28 days older than my man. And for 1 month and 28 days he finds hundreds of ways to bring up the fact that I am 38 and he is 37, but alas my love, today you are as old as your "Old Lady". Deal with THAT for the next 11 months and 2 days! I could get all mushy and tell you how awesome this guy is, like how he never struggles with Middle School Math homework like I do. Or how according to people I have talked to at Irrigation shows consider My Man one of the top drip irrigation designers in the WORLD not just nation (who could possibly know that information?). Or I could tell you that he is a great cheerleader for our five children and loves to support them in their activities. I could say what a great singer and help around the house he is ( I could but that would be a lie!). But I won't because he hates cheesy stuff like that. Stuff where I put how I love him more now than when we were both young, skinny (well skinnyish) and carefree. But he hates that mush, soooo I'll just sayHappy Birthday and skip all that lovey dovey junk. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Thanks for Thanksgiving

Family from far away, 28 people sleeping over at a lodge, horse riding, Metallic girls concert, light saber fights, fixing food, eating food, cousins getting to play with cousins, Thank you Thanksgiving.

Sisters

I have been thinking alot about sisters the past little while. I found out about Nie Nie and Cjane through my dear scuzin Shannon's blog and I have been hooked. This poor woman and her husband were in plane crash and severely burned in August and she has been in a drug induced coma for months and now has months, if not more, of surgeries and rehab ahead of her sooooo her sisters are taking care of her children. I have four sisters, Courtney, Brenda, Heather and Holly. I love my sisters. I love my sisters children I have reflected reading the posts on Cjane ( http://blog.cjanerun.com/ ) that I too would truly feel it a blessing to care for any of my nieces and nephews. I would know the stories of their mothers and could tweak them to my advantage! Right now I am feeling for lil sis Brenda. I got to see her in November (see pictures above of her kiddos in the hotel pool!) ---love those irrigators---and be in her home and play with her beautiful children and just be WITH her for a few days. She is hysterical -- and she is funny too! What a weird holiday this Thanksgiving will be. All of us together- except Brenda and her brood. We will miss her making us stay up way past our bedtimes (for Holly and Heather that is 8:30 pm the rest of us can last a smidgen longer) to play games and visit. We will miss her dragging us up at 4:30 am to get the day after Thanksgiving Sales. Come to think of it how does she function on such weird hours could she be part vampire? That would actually explain alot... I loved going to find the "Purse alley" in downtown L.A. with her....she was ready to kill me by the time we left, and still I am laying awake planning our next trip to that trippy, slightly life endangering spot ( why die alone when you can take a little sister with you?). Her birthday is Wednesday, not one person from "her" family will be with her, that hurts, she won't have Thanksgiving or Christmas with any of us either, that hurts too. But she can be secure in the knowledge that we will talk about her, think of her, toast to her and her family and she will most likely spend the whole day with dry pants--always a silver lining Brennie, always!! I love all my crazy sisters, my life is more fun, more secure ( you can tell your sisters anything and they will still be your best friend forever), and I miss you. Courtney is the only sister who hasn't deserted me for dumb towns with stoplights and ridiculous frills like that! More time with my sisters that would be great, but just knowing them and loving them is pretty good too.

Vacationing with Irrigators

I highly reccommend vacations with irrigators. Except for the fact that they get up way to early for breakfast meetings (Michael woke up between 5am and 6:30am everyday) they pretty much leave you (me not my poor hubby) to your own devices all day then return in the evenings to wine and dine you (minus the wine for us--we are cheap dates I've decided). It was great I honestly wish every mother could get one week off a year. One week is plenty, you start to miss the kiddos, yet it's enough time to enjoy the "aloneness". The show ended on Tuesday and on Wednesday Michael and I went to Disneyland and California adventure. Is it a sign of immaturity that I LOVE Disneyland? I can't deny it though. I am beaming the entire time I am there. Time with my main man was much appreciated and enjoyed also! I told him how nice it was to get off the star tours ride walk through the gift shop and not have him whine for even one toy--the other males in my life(jax and carter) could have never done it! The lines were so short and with no little ones my man and I made it through both parks with time left over to ride the "good rides" again. Thank you Irrigation Association for having your pow-wow in Anaheim! I should send them cookies....

Homecoming Week

Yes this post is quite late---so fire me (please). Jax and Sammi had a great time during homecoming week which was the last week in October. They had daily survivor challenges and the merry chaos of different costumes each day. Weeks like this remind me how greatful I am for the super teachers my kids have had---they do so much to involve kids and connect with kids and make learning fun. If I do say so myself teaching is really underappreciated! FYI the dress up days included--1. Pajama day 2. Super hero or favorite teacher day ( Jax is impersonating Mr. Davis his p.e. teacher) 3. Crazy hat or hair day (somehow I didn't get a picture of the kids on this day but I've still got the hats so maybe someday....) 4. Color day (7th grade purple & green, 6th grad brown & yellow) 5. Spirit day aka black and gold day this was on halloween so I included a picture of and indian who was at my house that morning (Gma Louise).

No Worries Knights

I just wondered if any of you Knight fans were concerned when you learned Michael was going to miss a game and broadcast. No need to worry. He might have physically been in California but emotionally he was with you Friday night. Here is a picture of him intensly keeping track of stats and making sure Jens and Ryan didn't destroy the integrity of the "program"!!

A sneak preview to Halloween 2008!

You lucky blog readers are about to get a sneak preview to halloween 2008 at the Noftle house. Yesterday we went to show Great Grandma Andersen(aka Grandma the Great), the kids in their costumes and it seemed like a good time to get photos since, moi, mother of the year will be absentee this Hallows eve. Here you go.....

Pirate parties, soccer, football, and one old lady

I have some serious catching up to do. I haven't blogged about Sierra's fantabulous Pirate sleepover party. The end of Sammi's soccer season, or about Jackson's football season. Oh yeah, the old lady is me...I'm old 38 years old I feel it too, such a shame. Sierra's party was fun, treasure hunts, food, games, and lot's of giggly girlies! Sammi's soccer team finished up last Wed. Oct. 8th and we had her team and their families over for a barbeque afterwards, I love living close to the school. HONESTLY I really do like being able to host things like this. Jackson has one more week of Football, he finishes on a Wednesday and basketball starts on the next Monday. Who needs more than four days off (me for one)? I knew that as my kids got older that I would get busier just attending their functions but I didn't anticipate how that would often pull our family in different directions. I guess because Sammi and Jackson are only a year apart in school this is exasperated somewhat. For example gymnastics for Zoe and Sierra are on the same day as Sammi's soccer. Sammi's last soccer game and team party was the same night as Jackson's court of honor for scouts and so on and so on..... Good thing five kids have accustomed Michael and I to just waving at each other in passing. The Mom and Dad of this crazy crew are looking forward to October 30th when we head off to another blessed Irrigation Association Show--I love those sprinkler geeks!

Eight is Great!

Well here it is-Sierra's birthday and Baptism post. She turned eight on saturday and was baptized the same day. Michael's parents and sister Mindy came from Utah, and my sister Brenda and niece Abigail came from California. We also enjoyed seeing the relatives who live "relatively" close, that we never get enough time with. It was such a nice day with lots of support from family and friends. Here are ten facts about Sierra;

1. She is easy going, which in this household is soooooo welcome, and rare!

2. She is very silly and loves, to giggle, sometimes just to hear herself giggle.

3. She loves to play with baby dolls, always is carrying a baby and creating a "mom" game usually involving Zoe and Carter with her.

4. She is so kind. There are a couple of little boys in her grades that have a crush which I know she doesn't reciprocate but she is so thoughtful of their feelings, even when it's hard for her.

5. She eats at LEAST two breakfasts every morning.

6. She is a dedicated fan of hot cheetos, her fingertips are permantly stained red to prove it.

7. She loves pirates, the movie, the idea, the "theme" she has had a pirate themed birthday every year since she was four. Last year she was a pirate girl for halloween, not surprisingly she wants to be a pirate girl again this year!

8. She is tenderhearted. To discipline Sierra I have to be very careful, if I tell her I am disappointed in her behavior she is likely to burst into tears and be remorsefull and sorry much longer than necessary.

9. She is likely to be moving and smiling, If you did random checks of Sierra throughout the day she would 9 times out of 10 be grinning and in motion.

10. She is so loving, all my kids have had their "stages" where they didn't allow kisses (Carter's is in the middle of an 18 month long stage right now), but not Sierra, she will love and hug, and kiss, and climb on laps, and snuggle you to your hearts content--I so love that about her!

A special birthday for a sweet daughter, we love you Sierra! You are a good example to all of us.

Mud slingin'

They may not be politicians but they sure know how to sling some mud. We are replanting the side yard and Michael thought this looked like a kids dream Family Home Evening activity. It was! Only Carter wimped out after just a minute, in his defense the sprinklers were COLD!

One Year Today

Here it is----the one year mark. I started blogging on a Sunday, one year ago. A year seems like plenty of time to get a lot done, doesn't it? Yet here it is one year later and the big change is that my computer in now downstairs instead of upstairs! One year later and I have got 4 kids in school--2 in the middle school. Having them grow older feels more aging to me than my own birthday's do. One year later and Michael and I have new church callings--he is teaching a sunday school class for 14-16 year olds and I am Primary President. I have probabaly not blogged too much about primary, I try to keep this mostly about my family, but I love primary, not being President, but primary!! One year later and my pantry is fairly organized although it has been slipping slightly as of late--only 12 more closets to organize and then it will be time to do the pantry again--I am sure of it. One year later and I still find it hard to "get 'er done". Mainly the" 'er" is laundry, housework, time for myself, time to excercise (pause to scream and shudder here) time to write, time to keep in touch with friends and family.... Maybe I shouldn't dwell on the negative, let's see....in one year I've roughly done 520 loads of laundry, vacuumed the carpets 200 times, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher 365 times, and driven approxiamtely 30,0000 miles, helped with homework at least 300 times, given over 900 baths, thrown several parties, made about 25 trips to the doctor, given medicine well over 780 times, taught preschool roughly 64 times and the list could go on and on. There I feel much better, I have accomplished a lot! Let's see what the next year brings--hopefully chocolate that causes weight loss!

Unsure

I am unsure about what to post. I am almost at the one year mark and am super excited to have at least one year of my life with kids in print. We all know that not one of my five kiddos is getting out of here with a baby book--haven't even bought one for Carter yet--note to self great 4 year old birthday gift a baby book! We are plugging along, 21 preschoolers including Carter this year. Four kids in school and for the first time a real stuggler with the school scene. I won't name names, but man I love this kid (o.k. I love them all I admit it --- please don't tell them it'll go to their heads). I am watching a daily, no hourly struggle to keep it together and move forward and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Anyway it has consummed this house and Family for three weeks now and it is rough. No time of the day passes without thoughts for this child, worry for this child, prayers for this child. The silver lining--how the siblings are praying and being so kind to the sibling. Love to see that more often! Anyway couldn't let this experience pass--I don't think I'll forget it, but the way the mind is slipping who knows. Keep the mystery child with the mystery problem in your prayers please! Oh--and happy birthday to my sweet cousin Melanie--I love living close to you and yours. And Grandpa Bishop I intended to watch The Price is Right today in honor of you ( I would have yelled at Drew Carey since Bob Barker up and quit I think he didn't have the heart to go on without you!) but the darn day got away from me. Love you Grandpa!

Zoe's first day of Kindergarten

Here she is the big Kindergarten Girl before school started this morning. Zoe was so excited she literally could not hold still!

Here she is ten minutes after Kindergarten ended today! I wonder if I can sign Carter up for this?

Zoe and her buddy Miyah at the "MTC" part of Kindergarten. All the parents and kiddos meet in the Gym. The teachers come up and one by one they call up their class and walk away from us. Killer day on the Moms, Michael quite likes seeing all the ridiculous Mothers. He says its' like Nascar, no good unless there is a wreck, quite a few wrecks today! I did fine if your wondering.

The official stand by the Red Rock sign which is required for all my children.

On a side note this is what happens when I try to pretend I am a young, fun Mommy and I take Carter to the city park. I should just accept I am an old, slow Mommy who is only capable of starting movies safely. Lesson learned.