Carter's 8th Birthday Bash

Carter Michael Noftle has been waiting to turn 8 for FOUR long years.  This is for two reasons, 1-he wants to be baptised, 2-he has wanted a lighter since he was four, and for unknown reasons I told him when he was four that he could have one when he turned 8 and was a cub scout (no idea why I thought it would be a good idea for an 8 year old boy to have a lighter).

He had a superhero themed party--hero training.

Sammi was thrilled with her silly string hairdo.

Bailey instructing her team to silly string the heck out of Sammi's team.

Getting the supervillan

its never easy

One supervillan contained

Two supervillans contained

relay race

Happy birthday Carter/Thor

Birthday morning

The long desired lighter that he can not light without adult help!!! HEHEHEHE

The joy---four years in the waiting makes it so sweet!

Carter is:

1.  Swaggy in his dress and attitude

2.  So smart in school-especially loves math

3.  So excited to be a cub scout--when I asked him why he said they always throw a football around before and after scouts and the "build stuff"

4. Loves to be held and hugged and NOT kissed by his Mommy

5.  Is very kind, can't stand to see one of his friends upset or one of his cousins crying for something

6.  Says the sweetest prayers ever

7.  Has bonded completely with Grandpa Kent, a mutual love of skylanders was the start, now they are true buddies

8.  Doesn't like to hold still--EVER

We love you Carter!!!

State Football 2012

Sierra will never live this window painting job down--it says "Go Kights!"  We said Go Kites all weekend, she hates us.

Sammi can spell Knights, phew---maybe when Sierra is in High School she will be able to also.

I love Royal City more than ever on days like today.  Fire trucks, ambulances, cops, sheriff dept. and State Trooper Matt Andersen all escorted the Team bus out of town.  Lights a flashing thank you very much.

Trooper Andersen caught a Cougar.

Football brothers.

Can you see Courtney's art work?  #15

waiting for the boys to load up and head out.

Knight (or in Sierra's case Kight) fans.

Christa Lee and I have many fond memories of making this sign.  And Rick and Luke Carter probably are enjoying telling their story of Christa and Becky high on spray paint fumes in their shop. 

At the Dome Jax is in jeans in the middle of the field.  Not exactly how he always dreamed it would be but he was there--on the field---on the team.  I bawled, all of the sudden life felt to unfair and I forgot his blessings, which are too numerous to count.

Carly, Sammi, and Becca 

lined up ready to hear their names announced.

Fan Zoe

Fan nerdy---cool button though!

Number 15, Jackson Noftle---still crying.

Some of the worlds best boys.

Singing the fight song for the last time this season.  Coach Scroggins said in his talk at the football banquet, all the ways they were number one, one of the reasons he listed was, "even being re diagnosed with Cancer can't keep a Knight player from being the best da-- teammate ever".

                                            Handiwork of Tiffany--Knight polish.

Thanksgiving Chemo style

Somewhere between Halloween we squeezed in Sammi's surgery, football playoff games every weekend, Zoe's ball games and Evening of Excellence.  This is Sierra's display, Sammi sang a song and didn't "set" up her area---grrrrr.  Sierra and Hadley did a canned food drive for the Royal City Food Bank.

A picture of the chef's behind the scenes, Courtney, Heather, Mom and Brynn.  Michael took Jackson to Chemo on Wednesday so I could spend some time with Heather and her family.  Thank you dear.  They did an early chemo Thursday (turkeyday) morning and were home in plenty of time for Thanksgiving dinner.  I took Jax back for Histio 3 Round 10 and days 3,4,&5.  We met everyone for dinner in Ellensburg Saturday night for dinner so that we could see the Bergholms one last time before they left for Utah.  It was hard to be separated from my sister who I don't see very often, but I guess you just do what you have to do in this life.  Courtney, & Heather took care of my other four kids, plus Brett's brother Brian and his boys came to Royal also, so they were plenty busy----earned their "mother/aunts" of the year award.  Mom was super busy too, the Monday of that Thanksgiving week Dad had his knee replacement surgery, got home from the hospital the same day Heather and Brett got to town!  Life is never boring in Royal---do you big city people hear me!!

The two Thanksgiving patients, Mr. Chemo is standing, Mr. New Knee is sitting.

Jax and Grandma

Sierra and her faithful sidekick Anistynn.

Good Ole' Crazy Eyes

Coach Matt and his player Avery.

Matt and part of his girls b-ball team.

Carter, Daddy, and Zoe play horse.

Zoe the BALL PLAYER

Please say ball player gangsta style in the title.  I didn't know how else to make that clear without pointing it out, which is so not gang.  Anyway Oct. & Nov. have included basketball practice and Saturday games for Zoe (and her pit crew of a family).  Nothing like a late away football game Friday night and an 8:00 am game in Warden Saturday morning to make you question why you were born.  Zoe has tons of potential, so does her team.  Last year they got killed every game, and sometimes only had a couple of points on the board at the end of a game.  This time they were in double digits and competitive.  Not with every team but with some.  The lost by one point----TWICE.  So close.

Sammi's Surgery

 November 12th, Sammi had her tonsils and adenoids taken out.  She had strep four times last year so we were all ready to say goodbye to those meanies.

Her surgery was at Seattle Children's Hospital.  They know just how to treat little kids with their blankies, and stuffed animals.  All of those precious items get ID bracelets that match them to their patient.  I was only hugely embarrassed that yellow blanket, Fitzy and Lucy came with us.

Waiting ---- in the waiting area of all places.  Bailey, Sierra, Zoe, Carter, Sammi, and I made the day surgery trip.

In her "costume" as Zoe would say.

Sammi's surgery was over 2 hours (maybe 3 it's been to long to remember-this is why you blog when things are fresh in your mind) later than planned because of an unplanned complication in the surgery before hers.  After  a while she stated getting pale and shaky (maybe because she wasn't allowed food or drink since midnight?) and complaining that she felt weak, then she really started freaking out (sorry to use such technical medical terms) that she was going to faint, and SHE DID.  She also started convulsing which really freaked me out.  I told Bailey to get a nurse and take the kids in the hall, which bless her heart she did.  The nurse ambled in, saw Sammi and in seconds there were five of them in our little pre-op room.  One starting an IV, one lowering her head, one raising her feet up high, one taking her blood pressure and sats, and one ordering the other four around!! (I would want the last job)  Sammi immediately came to but started crying, it scared her badly.  After we got some fluids in her she went from gray, to green, to pink again and life was much better.  I got the girls from the hallway and the nurses all fussed over them saying what good kids they all were.  Then we teased Sammi about being a drama queen until it was time for her surgery.  One sweet thing was after her fainting episode she never let go of my hand until they took her away, you know it scared her when she shows a clingy side!

After surgery, looking less peppy than the above picture.

The first thing she said when they wheeled her in after surgery was "does my breath stink?".  She had a mortal fear of smelling like Carter did after he had the same surgery.  After a few tries to keep liquids down we were back on the road heading to Royal and several nights of not much sleep.  In fact the first two nights she made me sleep with her, I will say this, she didn't snore!

Leaving the hospital, everyone taking turns pushing the patient.

Did I mention it only snows if I am driving somewhere---it's weird. The weather man could save himself some trouble by just tracking my schedule instead of the atmosphere.