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.