Thanksgiving 2011

I had a brilliant idea for this Thanksgiving--I would have each of my children make one of the dishes for our Thanksgiving meal.  I also thought I would take pictures and blog/brag about it later.  Here is Sierra on Wed. the first of the children to make her dish.  She saw the Pioneer woman make mashed potatoes one time so, that is what she contributed this Thanksgiving.  As a bonus I should add that I think they really were the best mashed potatoes I've ever eaten!  I have to admit that having 5 kids cook--not my best idea.  You can tell Sierra and I did well--smile on her face and mine when we were done.  However, by the time Sierra finished, so had my patience.  Jackson said he knew how to make his pie, they had done it in foods class.  So I let him go---you can imagine the mess without my help.  Plus Thursday morning I discovered (after he had left for the Turkey bowl game of course) that he hadn't put the filling in the pie shells after all and so he only gets 1/2 credit for the two pumpkin pies!  Zoe had the assignment of fresh corn casserole.  Only 5  ingredients---no problem---wait---problem--- she had to cut the corn off of 8 ears of corn.  Can you say sticky, milky, messy.  I don't need to say it, I lived it.  Carter bailed on his green bean dish, I was thrilled to do it alone by that point though.  Samantha managed to pull off homemade rolls Thanksgiving morning and they turned out yummy.  You might be wondering why there are no pictures of Zoe and Sammi cooking---I told you I got over my enthusiasm for cooking with my children a little quicker than the project ended!

                                          A close up of Sierra's masterpiece mashed potatoes.

The traditional Thanksgiving place cards that Sammi and Kylie made several years ago.  This is the fewest we've ever had out for a Thanksgiving dinner.  I was worried it wouldn't feel very 'holidayish" with such small numbers, but it was fine.  Calmer than usual and we went to the movies together that night which reminded me of Thanksgiving nights in Moses Lake at Grandma Bishops house.  The grownups would always drop us off at the movie theatre after Thanksgiving dinner--probably to enjoy some well deserved peace and quiet!

Carter enjoying his "trees pie".  It is Grandma Louise's destiny to make Carter his favorite Cheese cake dessert every Sunday and holiday for the rest of her (or his judging from his weapons addiction) life!

Jackson is a bit proud of his 1/2 effort in the pumpkin pie department.  (Yes Brenda I can see the picture was turned but I'm tired from the party at your house last weekend!)

Not related at all to Thanksgiving day, is this picture of the last Noftle child displaying his knowledge of shoe tying.  We had no choice he told me Mr. Buster can't tie shoes, and it was getting embarrassing to keep asking Dylan to do it for him!  Please pause to sigh over my baby growing up---speaking of babies growing up.....

I came across this today---Jackson's first ever dance picture --- SIGH!

Michael is a Chair

This is a picture of the 2012 Chair for the Irrigation Certification Board.  Or is it the Irrigation Association Certification Board Chairman?  Maybe the Chair of the  Irrigation Association Certification Board.  Anyway, Michael is (pick one of the above) THAT this year.  What does that mean.  I don't really know but here are my best guesses:  more phone calls and decisions on certification appeals and disputes.  Deciding on the agenda for the summer and winter meetings of the Certification board.  Determining which "panels" certification board members are on.  Making sure the work of the Certification board moves forward.  More conference calls with the Irrigation Executive Board.  He also has to talk today, and next year at the Certification Luncheon.  Plus, correct me if I'm wrong dear, I think he is probably supposed to get fabulously wealthy this year and retire me from all housework and cooking duties.  That's about it as I see it!

In other news navy ships are big y'all. 

 Included in the "other news" section, some limousines aren't so very, shall we say....elegant.

 The chair of the Irrigation Association Certification Board, working the Nelson booth.

San Diego + Brenda = Sun (finally)

California doesn't like me. Seriously. Several years ago the irrigation show was in San Diego, and it rained the whole time. This time we flew into town, we were here a few hours, and then the "Coastal Storm" came into town too. Saturday (yesterday) Brenda came to play and so did the sun. Today she isn't here and it's raining. I feel like Eeyore sometimes!

I begged Matt to send me a picture of his 4 daughters.  Avery-7 yrs. Adalynn- 4 yrs. Aftyn- 2yrs. and Anistynn- day 1!!  I love that Aftyn has the i-phone in her hand--I hope Santa brings her one.  Anistynn wanted a little more rest under the Billi lights before she goes home.  Her Mommy must have told her all about tanning beds in the womb!

Since Brenda brought "wheels" to town we headed over to old town when Michael's meetings were over.  He had never been to the Mormon Battalion Museum and I hadn't been since they completely re-did it. 

Brenda made bricks for me!

She pumps water too-really the most talented of sisters.

In her spare time she pans for gold.

the view of old town from the observation tower.

We ate at cafe coyote, it is the same place we all ate the night before Matt & Courtney done got themselves hitched.

see-proof

In case I haven't posted enough unflattering pictures of myself on this blog.

First we, then we, now we are....

O.K. you all know me and blogger don't communicate well---and i don't know how to move pictures to be in the order I wanted.  Soooo this is a "then we" had Halloween shot.  Sammi and Jax went to  Bailey's Halloween party.  Sammi was Hermione Granger and Jackson was a "Chic Magnet".

"Then we" asked Mr. Buster if I could get a picture of him and Carter---Dylan, Detton, and Dracula liked the idea so much they jumped in.

This is Courtney and Heather on Halloween.  When I left town they were both still prego.  I only left two days ago.  Heather had her baby yesterday the 4th and Courtney is having Anistynn today (the 5th) after being in labor all day yesterday and going in last night late.  I made Courtney pinkie swear she would wait till 11-11-11, she is in big trouble with me--not Courtney, but Anistynn, impatient little girlie. She better love me the best!  I had just published this blog post when Matt texted that Anistynn is here, safe and sound.  7lbs. 13 oz. 19 1/2 inches long.  Can't wait to see her.

Zoe found that one of the wild kittens under our bushes isn't so very "wild".  She really hates that we won't let it live in the house.  But she can bring it in to "play" with it.  I found these pictures plus about 40 more of "wild kitty" when I downloaded the camera card!

Really---I'm thinking of you kitty.  Your life would be one of harassment if I let you live with us.  We also have had trouble since the weather turned cold with our pantry to garage door staying shut.  Why do I tell you this?  Because we came home the other day after being gone a couple of hours to find it open.  When we walked in a white streak of a "truly wild kitten" went through the kitchen and downstairs.  We have the "truly wild kitten" trapped in the playroom/laundry room but have been unable to catch it for FOUR DAYS and counting.  I have found poop to clean up.  I hear it, and occasionally see the streak when I walk in to do laundry, but we can't catch the dumb thing "truly wild kitty"!  I wish Steve Irwin was still alive.

This picture is under the "now we are" section!!  Michael and I are in San Diego.  I took this Picture Thursday, the day we got here.  Our view from the hotel room is awesome.  I love watching the navy boats go in to port, and all the activity in the Marina.  Yesterday RAINED and was so windy.  Coastal storm according to the news.  Brenda says California only gets storms when Michael and I come-yippee.

This belongs under the "first we" category.  Before Halloween or San Diego, I went with Zoe on her walking field trip to the fire station.  Not traumatic like Sierra's Kindergarten fire station field trip, thank heavens!  Just one more reason Royal is better than Othello!  Here she is with Miyah Lee.

In the obstacle course.

Team work

Mrs. Ziegler's cute class.

This is "then we" let Sierra have a Halloween party.  25 of her "closest" friends partied it up at our house.  Fun kiddos.

More dim pictures to drive my sister Brenda insane.  Your welcome Trevor!

Wait, hold on, before the Halloween party we went to Burke's pumpkin patch.  The Burke's have 3 daughters, Reese is in Sierra's class, Sydney is in Zoe's class, and Jessie is in Carter's class.  The family does this pumpkin patch for the girls---they help with the work, and then the 3 sisters get to keep the money--Zoe would like Michael and I to run a business and give her the money--she completely disregards the Burke girls have spent months weeding, watering, and working.  Just hand over the cash. 

Jonathon Burke getting ready to shoot the pumpkin cannon off.  Carter doesn't need the money, just the cannon!

Our kids and Reese Burke(scarecrow)

Jackson had his last game on Halloween night.  We were winning by enough, so Coach Allred told Coach Whittiker to get the ball down close, then give Jackson the ball and let him make the touchdown.  Well the boys got the ball to the one yard line and something happened on the snap and we fumbled in the end zone, but luckily a Royal Knight lept on it for the touchdown.  So then Coach Allred yelled down to give Jax the hand off for a two point conversion, instead of kicking.  I wonder what the refs and other team thought of us going for two at that point?! Michael and others swear that Jackson broke the plane and had the 2 pt. conversion but the refs determined he didn't.  As an added bonus he got tackled hard---HE WAS SO EXCITED!!  The boy loved it.  I love that our coaches have worked all year to let him play, yet keep him protected. However; when it came to the end of the season, and the game was well in hand, they took the opportunity to give him the ball.  I, of course, missed all that since I took my 3 little ones trick or treating.  I figured since they had sat through 4 to 5 games a WEEK since the beginning of September, and I mean literally 4 & sometimes 5 games a week with Sammi's volleyball and Jackson's football schedule, they deserved a break on Halloween. Really it would be cruel and inhumane treatment for them to miss trick or treating.  The little kids have been pretty good sports about their big siblings sports.  The traveling to away games hasn't been torture--maybe the Noftle's are growing up.  Or maybe the new car is roomier than the Golden Terd and everyone is just enjoying the comfort and space!  By the way Sammi has named the new car the "Silver Bullet".  Don't feel too bad for the GT though.  We intend to sell it, but not until we get the Green car going.  Then the GT will get it's well deserved rest, with a nice family who lives on a farm.....

Ryan and Michael doing the "broadcast" for Royal Football.  Every Friday night.  We had to miss our first playoff game last night.  So Michael and I listened to the broadcast in our hotel room.  The game was ugly and we squeaked out a win.  I'm so glad---for the team first, Jax second, and the coaches who work so hard.  Plus my Michael was literally getting sick at the thought of the season ending.

Good natured Aftyn and her family attended all of Jackson and Sammi's home games this year.  Usually with smiles on their faces too!

Sammi started out her high school freshman season on C squad.  After about 3 games she and Robin got moved to the JV squad.  Tough year for volleyball though.  Only won a couple of games.  Our girls sports need some TLC in Royal.

Sammi is a great player though.  She serves well and dives all over the place to get the ball up to the setter.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST.....

                                                This little boy got his Driver's license!! 
It took two written tests, and 3 drives but he did it!  The reason I put down how many times it took for him to pass the tests is that someday his kids will struggle with that too.  I don't want him telling them "when I was 16 I took the test once and was done with it".  No sir, let this blog stand as a witness for my future grandchildren!!  Now, please consider this your public warning!! New teenage driver on the roads in Royal.    Sammi and Jax have enjoyed his license very much.  No more LONG walks to the seminary building in the mornings. And, since Sammi is done with volleyball , she hasn't even had to beg Jax to run her home after school before Football practice starts---imagine that!!  I'm excited to have an errand boy, but I never thought considering Jackson's health that I could worry MORE about him.  Turns out I can!

Sierra, Carter, and Zoe Halloween 2011.

Homecoming Week 2011

 Somewhere, is a picture of Jackson and Sammi on Pajama day---can't find that camera---so let's imagine them in pajamas----done.  Now, let's pretend that homecoming week isn't the craziest, busiest most tiring week ever.  And because it's not so tiring let's pretend I didn't somehow miss taking their picture on Color War day.  O.K. now let's imagine Jackson in purple and Sammi in yellow----done.

Nerds from left to right are;  Becca, Jax, and Sammi.

Friday, spirit day-at school Sammi got Jacob Lee's jersey and wore it all day and to the football game.  The girls all try to wrangle jersey's from the football players.  The girls are successful at it.  The boys never try to wrangle the girls volleyball uniforms--phew.

Becca and Jackson's shirts for the homecoming dance.

The injured leg and the non-injured leg see if you can tell which is which.

Sunday it wasn't swollen.  Monday it is, of course.  A nice HARD swelling, why?  Did they miss a broken bone?  The boy can hardly stand to put any weight on it.  I wonder how he will get around the High School tomorrow??

#15 Friday night at the Football game--it is always easy to find Jax on the Varsity sidelines, because he is never more than 3 steps away from Coach Allred.  He still remembers Michael telling him in Jr. High to stay  close to the coach in case they need to throw someone in the game you want to be the first someone they see--I bet Wiley would like to deck Michael for that life lesson.

Circus day, in case your confuzzed Sammi is a tight rope walker, or trapeze artist, you pick.

Someone has a camera that is worse than mine--Jackson.  A picture of the two of them on their Homecoming date.  First date for both.  Ahhhhh so sweet!

Becca at the restaurant (I'm guessing here as ole' busted leg has gone to bed).

The "group" on their date.  Becca Lee, Jackson, Amelia Roylance, Zachary Christensen, Katie Ellis, and Carter Christensen.  First they went golfing, then out to dinner, then to the dance, then out to Allred's pond where a projector was set up outside for them to watch a movie.  The decorated dinner table, hot chocolate and treats and movie were all the brain child of Carter's mom, Katie---she made the boys look good! 

So did you notice the pictures of Jackson's right leg in all the homecoming splendour??  You did--I bet you want an explanation (Michael my love STOP reading now!!)

Soooo Saturday was a long day.  Wedding in Moses Lake helping Jax look like a stud for his homecoming date, going to the restaurant to decorate the table, setting up outdoor movies, making lots of hot chocolate and waiting up to make sure we didn't have to nail him on curfew!  Sunday was General Conference.  Sierra and Sammi had been trying to get sick since Saturday, not too long.  However, Michael was leaving for Texas Monday morning, to be gone until Friday,  I had to Sub Monday, Carter and Zoe had Soccer games Monday, Jax had a football game Monday night in Wahluke, and Tuesday I was working again and Jax had to have his arm re-examined and re-xray'd from the break, and we would get home from the Doctor just barely in time for Sammi's volleyball game.  Then on Wednesday I had to leave at 7 am to drive Jackson to Seattle Children's Hospital for Endocrinology, Oncology and MRI appointments.  As they coughed their way through morning session Michael and I were debating---are they going to get over it, is it just a cold, will they get worse, do we wait till Thursday until one of their flaky parents has time to go to the Doctor.  Zoe has a sinus infection, do they?  Sierra gets pneumonia so easy....yada, yada, yada so it was decided Michael would drive to Moses Lake and take the girls to the walk-in clinic.  So Michael and all his daughters left (Zoe claimed she was going to miss her Dad and she wanted to be with him---I think she was tired of church on t.v.!).  I was watching the afternoon session with my sons when I noticed the frog Zoe had gotten from Allred's pond in August was finally dead (yippee!!).  So when the first song break came on I asked Jax to take the whole 10 gallon glass tank out to the garbage and just throw it all away, so Zoe wouldn't know.  He obeyed, but as he was throwing the tank away the frog hopped up (guess it wasn't dead, just holding really still!) and startled him.  He dropped the 10 gallon glass tank on his leg and foot.  The next thing I heard was Jackson yelling from the front door for Carter to bring him a towel that he could get blood on.  So I got up, sighing the whole way, grabbed a hand towel and started walking up to the front door.  That's when I saw Jackson standing in a huge pool of blood.  I could see a chunk of the shin was cut and pouring out blood.  So I took the towel and put pressure on the shin and blood started squirting out the top of his foot, which shocked me.  When I looked at the top of his foot I felt ill, I thought I could see bone.  I did the best I could putting pressure on both spots with my two hands and started yelling to Carter to bring the phone.  Poor Carter, he did  good following my instructions to dial Grandma's house even though he was scared and feeling sick.  He was white lipped and sweaty and scared to see all that blood.  He told me he thought he was going to be sick from the blood so I told him to give the phone to Jackson.  Jackson was talking to Grandma in his usual slow, easy going, draw.  I thought, good grief--so I started yelling at the phone, "Jackson tell Grandma to get over here, fast, tell her you are bleeding badly and I need help".  Within seconds Mom's car could be heard tearing up the road to our house.  Mom, Dad, Matt and Courtney all came.  Mom grabbed another towel, Matt was elevating Jackson's leg and I was shaking like a leaf.  It was such a relief not to be there alone anymore.  Matt and Mom were both worried about the foot cut too--everyone time you tried to stop pressure it just spouted again and they thought they could see bone too.  We pressed gauze in the major 3 cuts and Mom and Matt wrapped it tightly with an ace bandage.  Dad started cleaning up glass and blood that was everywhere and Courtney was trying to get some color back in Carter when she realized all her kids were alone at Mom and Dad's and all of the adults were at my house!  Oops.  We put Jax in the car and elevated his leg, I sat with him and Courtney drove with Mom up front with her.  We called Michael who was at this time in the Exam room with the girls and the Doctor.  I had him ask the Doctor if we should go to the E.R. or the walk in.  He said "Just tell them to come here and I'll give your family the group rate".  At the risk of making Michael pass out I said, "let him know we think we can see bone in one spot---the Doctor asked is their any blood that squirts up without pressure?  I told Michael yes and the Doctor said 'we don't want him here, tell them to go to the E.R.".  By just saying that, we had, I know made Michael ill.  By the time we got to the E.R. he and the girls were there waiting for us.  We got Jax in and sat down but they had to bring us a chuck and garbage bag because he was bleeding through our gauze and ace bandage.  The E.R. doc. said the foot wasn't cut to the bone but the white we were seeing were his tendons.  They x-rayed for glass fragments and then checked his tendons which seem fine.  Then finally stitched him 2 hours later.  Big gappy stitches not close together---is this the "new stitching method"??  Honestly, I don't know because before now the only one of our kids to have stitches from an injury was Carter---and he had ONE stitch in his eyebrow.  Jax had 5 in the shin, 6 on top of the foot and 2 on the back of the heel.  Even Mom thought it looked strange you could fit several stitches in between his every stitch.  His ankle is hard and swollen today, and so painful to walk on---this will be a long 8 days for him I'm sure.  He did say more than once that he was glad it didn't happen before his big date!  So today Michael went to Texas, Zoe, Carter, and I went to school and we left the sick and afflicted at home!