Lately we have been...

Graduating from Preschool (I was directing, I don't know which family member had my camera, but there is ONE photo, and it is blurry---Grrrrr!)

Working long hours on "passion projects" which, in Jackson's case, was not something he was passionate about.  Oh, and his partner managed to get himself suspended from school, while Jax was in Florida, so he came home to a lot of undone passion!

Going on First grade field trips to the Aquatic Center in Moses Lake, cold water, barely warmish weather=smiley first graders??  From left to right; Keyara, McKayla, Zoe, and Gracee.

If the eighth graders have to be passionate about something, the seventh graders have to plan a Mission to Mars.  It seems only fair.  Sammi's group did excellent, out of the entire seventh grade only the top four groups presented a second time in front of everyone and her group was in the top four.  Here they are working on their project at our kitchen table which; with passions and missions, has been more of a work/lab table than anyplace to eat.

Sammi with a couple of friends, Kaylee and Bailey, on Mission to Mars presentation day.

Life has felt chaotic as of late.  Last week was Red Rock Olympics for Sierra and Zoe, Rocket day for Jackson (he built two, neither flew---hey I'm a poet don't you know it) and Mission to Mars day for Sammi.  I was at the school from 8am to 2:30pm on Friday, I felt like I should have been in my cheer leading suit, "Yeah Zoe,keep running--no one noticed you came in dead last", "Wohoo Jax-sorry your big rocket you spent $30.00 for got stepped on--you may have noticed Mr. NDCNSLCH life ain't fair", "good job Sierra, a Noftle/Andersen who ribboned in the 75 yd. dash that's AMAZING", " Nice One Sammi--I loved spending all that time hearing 7th graders describe how they most likely couldn't actually live on Mars", etc.... Then Saturday brought us having 50 (you read the number right) people over for dinner, which sounds like torture but really wasn't.  It was a sneaky way to make Michael get some yard work done.  Sharing time on Sunday, last day of school  Monday with Sammi having 15 kids over for hamburgers and hot dogs, then a party that night at Matt and Courtneys.  Today(Tuesday I think) we got Jax off to football camp and then Courtney and I went to Tri-Cities and shopped for our upcoming Primary Activity which is upcoming this Saturday(Yikes).and Costco for ourselves, we completely filled Mom's Tahoe (I blame the 3 bar stools Courtney bought) poor Aftyn was a pair of eyes sticking out amongst the stuff.  We got home in time to unload just enough to get freezer stuff in the freezer then we went to Zoe and Avery's little league games, they played against each other tonight, but don't tell them, I doubt they knew they were in competition.  After the games Sammi went to a friends, and Zoe and Sierra had friends over for a sleepover.  In the morning Zoe and Sierra have dentist appointments in Moses Lake, and Zoe has a "summer" party we are hosting at the baby pools at 2pm.  Thursday, Michael and Carter are going to Spokane to watch the last couple of days of Football camp, and Sammi is having her friends sleepover (just 7 or 8 she says nonchalantly) and Zoe has another game which we bring snacks too.  Friday brings Sierra's "summer" party from 11 to 2 at Allreds pond, I am serving lunch and praying not to be a lifeguard.  Then Saturday brings the "fear factor" primary activity.  Sunday, Michael flies to Louisiana and I have sharing time, and then a nervous breakdown is scheduled for that evening.  So if you want to see a crazy lady you know where to find her---the green house on the right!

Chemo round 10 days 2 & 3

Computer woes last night so no post.  Michael is starting to think I have a black thumb(it's just one minivan and one newish computer big deal...!), I know for a fact (just look at my yard) that I don't have a green thumb.  Anyway, we are back online and ready to roll.  The Doctors in Seattle have decided that Jackson's bone marrow needs a bit more rest so instead of Chemo again on June 30-July 3 we will wait and go again July 7-10.  Fine with us, a little complicated with the hotel situation, but I am just grateful we have been able to go pretty much on schedule for 10 whole months.  Dr. McClain, the Histio specialist, wants us to bring Jackson to Houston again in August to determine if Chemo is done or continuing on.  He also brought up the possibility of increasing his dose of Cytarabine since improvements in symptoms seems to have come to a halt.  I wish I was a more informed participant in these discussions but try as I do, and I do, these reports and research studies are just beyond me.  I asked Jax what he wanted to do tonight and he wanted to go to a car dealership and window shop (don't tell the GT you'll hurt it's feelings) but our GPS just wouldn't help us out.  After 30 minutes of driving around downtown Seattle with Lola(the GPS has a name in our house) who just kept trying and failing to locate her satellite signal.  She would tease us and get us going in one direction only to abandon us before we could get there.  Oh well, maybe it's a sign the GT will pull through yet!
Jackson got some new medicine this time and it has seemed to help with some problems he has had the last couple of months, so Yeah for less problematic symptoms.  We are anxious to get home tomorrow, me to see the hubby and kids and Jackson is ready to get back to spring football practice.  He can't fully participate but Coach Allred is making him a part of things and my dear boy has high hopes for this fall.

Chemo round 10 day 1 and the possible death of a Mini Van

It's hard to believe we have been doing this for 10 months.  I've tried to keep track of the help we have received from people and this trip brings us to 113 Thank you cards sent, which means 113 times served---AMAZING.  How grateful we are for every little and big act of service done for our family.  Jackson's ANC  was 600 yesterday, and 1100 by today--go figure, no really because I can't.  They are considering pushing Jackson to 5 weeks between treatments to give his bone marrow a rest. But the ANC of 1100 meant we started Chemo, after 6 pm, and got out of the hospital after 7 pm, why Becky your appointment was for 2pm what happened.  Well, I'll tell you, perhaps one of our more dramatic drive over stories yet.  So, here we are, jammin' to 97.1 I'm a cool rocker Mom when needed, going 71 mph down I-90 just past Ellensburg when the transmission on the GT decided to leave us.  Luckily we got safely from the left lane to the right shoulder without being hit by anyone.  I put the van in Park and it started rolling backwards--I put it in Drive, nothing.  So I called Michael and cried, later I remembered I had recently read a quote from Marjorie Pay Hinkley where she said "Sometimes you have the choice in life to laugh or cry, I always choose to laugh, crying gives me a headache"!   I remembered my resolve after Michael assured me help was on the way. So I made a few jabs at the GT with Jax and after that I cleaned out the GT, even used the armor all on it--want it to look nice for the burial (fingers crossed people, fingers crossed!!).  So Courtney donated her Jetta and Jax and I got back on the road again.  Thanks Michael, Mom, Courtney, and Dad---takes a village to get us down the road.  Michael has instructed me to put this out there---If you know of anyone trading in a Suburban or such soon, call the Noftle's first, we are probably in the market for one!

In other news Carter graduated from preschool this week, and now we have begun the "how many wake ups till Kindergarten starts" question, every day.  It was also the Series finale for Steps Ahead Preschool.  I can't talk about that yet, I don't want to break my no crying resolve twice in one day.  Cool fact--next year From the Senior class to the Kindergarten class every grade will have some Steps Ahead Preschool former students in it!

Last week when I wasn't blogging I was attending a Mariners' game with the 7th graders.  From 6 am till 8:30 pm  it wasn't even torture--and I'm not being sarcastic!  I love Sammi's class they are such a good group of kiddos.  As I write this I am hearing about Ken Griffey Jr.'s retirement, we saw him play that day--He and the GT left us the same day---they deserve happy retirements.

Hannah, Roberto, Kai, Jacob, Evan, Sarah, Carley, Sammi, Sam E., and not pictured are Bailey, Khrystal, Gerard, Peyton, Carter, Robin, Jacquie and I give..... lot's more!

Make a Wish Trip Day 7

We are at the end dear ones.  The end of the trip of a lifetime.  We still can't believe how spoiled we were and how lucky we are to have had this opportunity.  We'd pinch ourselves but we bruise easily.  Day 7 was our last day in Florida, we flew home that night.  While I packed up our Villa Michael took the kids swimming.  The pool at the Village is amazing.  After we checked out we went to Gatorland, Michael loves to torture me and test my love for the children.  Apparently my love has no ends, I went on Tower of Terror, Soaring over California, and to Gatorland again.  All 3 things I had previously sworn I would never, NEVER do again.  I am not a friendly (we've been watching Back to Museum 2 a lot lately)to the reptiles in the world.  I am particular nervous in Florida where you can be attacked by Alligators ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.   Only daredevils live in Florida.

The Noftle children in the Village pool, notice the fun spray thingys, when the mainline on Dad's farm does that my Dad gets mad---weird I know.

The brothers Grimm, I mean Noftle at the Poolside.

Five little pirates sitting on a ship....

Jackson can surf, fakely, like no other.

Posers, now they catch on to the camera---of course it's the last day.

Gatorland's famous entrance, at least that's what Michael said.

Sierra and Sammi are smart and sweet and cute(not to brag or anything) but not brave.  The little cute birdies freaked them out.

Zoe was in birdie heaven.  They were on her head, and both arms at one point, I couldn't get that picture because I was carrying Sierra out of the scary birdcage.

The kids in front of one of the world's last Albino Alligators--I won't say good riddance, but you'll know what I'm thinking.

Carter wanted a picture of the "tute baby alligators and turtles".  Done and done.

Make a Wish Trip Day 6

Sorry for the hiatus, it wasn't because we were laying on rose petals around here, I promise.  One Day 6 the kids got to make their wish pillows in the Castle of Dreams and Jackson's star was dropped off to the "star fairy".  Then we went off to Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Islands of Adventure.  It was our longest drive 30 minutes or so and another hot day with lots of Middle Schools attending "our park"!  These parks are more intense rides in my opinion.  Also very wet rides.  They have several water rides and you don't get splashed, you get completely immersed and dripping, soaking, sputtering wet--in fact we never dried out completely the entire day.  We saw lot's of people wore their swimming suits and would take their clothes off to put in lockers for the water rides, obviously they have done this before.  I, as usual, have some pics to post so here we go....I'll try to be descriptive dear Bonnie!

Jackson looks slightly embarrassed to be working the pillow machine, but I think it's the cute girl teenage volunteer that was helping him.  She was so funny with the kids, making them do the chicken dance to get their pillows out of the machine.

After Michael realized they would be chicken dancing he got "appropriate" pillow making pictures.  This one of Sammi will be used as blackmail, she never reads the blog so she won't know the ENTIRE world has already seen it, shhhh don't tell!

Sierra finding her inner funky chicken.

Zoe is a funky chicken with her messy hair do--hard day at Universal studios for her.  She was making her pillow for her stuffed horse Ben!  Even in Florida Prince Ben was close to our hearts (well Zoe's for sure).

Bawk, bawk Cougar man.  Ungrateful Carter expressed his disappointment in the color of his pillow, and the pillow machine graciously made an exchange---embarrassing for the ingrates parents.

Carter, Daddy and SPIDER MAN, that's right we are tight with spidey.  This ride was so cool.  You move through the ride in a "car" like thing that holds 8 or 10 people and you are of course, shaken, spun, tilted, speed, misted, fogged, blasted with heat, and because you have on 3D glasses spider man and his enemies land on your vehicle, swing over your head and it looked so real, to real for the 4 oldest, Carter, Michael and I loved it.

Universal was good to us, just like Disney, we were taken in back "secret" entrances and lead right on to rides--bliss.

The family looks extremely annoyed with me for stopping their progression to lunch for a photo op. don't they?

If you look close you can see the family through the water.  The kids wringing themselves out afterwards.

Have you ever wondered what happens to Zoe's hair when it gets wet, then tangled on rides?  Rats can't even inhabit that nest.  I didn't get a good angle shot but Sammi was so embarrassed by how far out Zoe's hair stuck.  But then again, it's not hard to embarrass your 13 year old sister.

A shot of Hogwarts castle the much hyped ride that opened a month AFTER our trip.  Oh well, we will just have to go back!