Moving...on

Some very sad new indeed. We are moving. Why does that word taste so bitter in my mouth? These things are part of life and can bring new adventures, but I am just sick about it. This is our very first home. We have painted every wall and planted every bush and tree. We have brought home babies to this house, camped in the backyard and cursed this home more times then not. I have become an adult in this home, learned to be a mother here and have learned more life lessons here then I thought I could handle. But I don't want to leave. I want to watch my maple tree grow to be 50 feet tall, I want Halle to go on a date with her cute best friend neighbor boy (that I have picked for her to marry) and I want to remain bffs with all my darling neighbors. This stinks.

I decided to post a bunch of pictures of our house so that I have them to remember (I use this blog as our family history). This house has been such a work in progress for 5 years and I have put so much time, money and tears into it that I want to remember what we created.

     

"A house is made of wall and beams; a home is where you create your dreams"

And here is where it all began!!!

We LOVE you house, and hope your next owners LOVE you too!

Grandpa Noakes; forever in our hearts

July 9, 1956-April 9, 2012 Of Rocklin, age 55, born to loving parents Keith and Naomi Noakes. Mike passed away peacefully on Monday, surrounded by family, ending a courageous 10-year battle with cancer. He was married for 35 years to his soul mate and eternal companion, Sheila. Mike was the proud father of three caring children, Shelby, Chad and Nicole, and he adored his two daughter-in-laws, Christina and Kelly. He loved being a grandfather and cherished every last moment of laughter with Halle, Cohen, James, Brady, Olivia and Everett. Thank you Daddy for loving us so completely. Viewing Sunday-6-8 p.m. at Heritage Oakes Memorial in Rocklin. Funeral Monday 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 2610 Sierra Meadows Drive in Rocklin.

A simple blog post could never sum up the loss and life changing experience that our family has been through with the passing of Chad's Dad. He was a major part of our lives and SO involved with my children. He was here for every major event and had a special bond with each of his grandchildren. Even when he was far away in California, he would keep in close contact with us through skypeing on the computer. I will forever remember his big welcoming hugs and the way he accepted me and loved me as a daughter from the moment we met. He was a great example of someone who loved his Father in heaven and who really served him.

Chad was with him in California when he passed. He was extremely close to his dad and has lost his best friend and the person who knew him better then anyone else (except for me). I ache for Chad and hold tight to my testimony of eternal families during these trying times. Thank you to all our friends and family members who have sent us their condolences, have kept us in their prayers and have served us. Here are a few pictures that represent only a small part of all the great memories we have.

Grandpa was the first one to get James to laugh, with his dramatic eyes and big smile

Carrying Cohen in the baby Bjorn. They have always had a special connection and they LOVED anything to do with Disney Cars!

Grandpa was such a great playmate to all the kids...

Kids could always count on Grandpa to spoil them with presents, treats and outings whenever he visited...out for snow cones!!

Grandpa's first grandchild, Halle...they bonded from the start

Grandpa was so supportive and always showed up for every important event in out lives. He will be greatly missed.

Spring Break!

I spent so many years as a child going to St George for Easter Break and I just loved it. I love that it is our first glimps into summer after a long winter. Now it is so fun to watch my kids have the same memories. They LOVE getting away on any little vacation, and especially love going places with their cousins and sleeping in bunk beds (ok so my kids are VERY obsessed with bunk beds). We had another great Spring break and the Easter bunny made it all the way to our little condo...and now for some pics.
                                                  

Miles & Cohen

And here is the famous bunk beds!

looking for Easter baskets...

Not the best Easter picture I have gotten...3 is just too fun!

Cousins!

Missing Chad on this Easter Sunday....

These boys were very competitive when it came to the easter egg hunt, as you can see by Cohen's determined face...lol

And plenty of fun in the sun!!! Bye bye

Catching Up

I need to do a little catch up on my cute little kids. They will not stop growing and I have tried to make them :) My busiest little body is James, aka as "little money, zahzee, baubies, tiny power and JJ." He keeps Chad and me on our toes constantly. He climbs up everything and tries to escape out the front door and to the street as often as possible. He also loves to stand on chairs and stomp until they break (our count is at 2).  He is obsessed with balls, especially kicking them and he LOVES his blankie (mostly for chewing). He runs now, no walking...and looks like a football player running down a field ready to plow over anyone in sight. Such a firecracker and so much fun.

He is always on my legs begging to be held so he can then point to any food in sight:)

Halle is so much fun and so much DRAMA. I just wait for her to come in the door from school and tell me the next BIG thing that happened at school that day. She also has her first crush on a boy named Luke...who has long hair to his chin :/ She writes him little notes and then shows me the things he writes back to her at school. Because of this Luke kid, Halle had determined that she is a Utah fan now and hates BYU. Geez, the things they pick up at school. I guess I am kindof a Utah fan too, but Cohen and Chad are going BYU strong. Halle is still loving to dance and sing and perform and she recently took up soccer. Every day she gets a new freckle on her nose and I am so proud to call her my daughter!

Cohen is his Daddy all over again. His life revolves around Chad and everything about Chad. He is a little charmer and loves to give compliments to people with a little grin on his face. He is very affectionate and requires alot of hugs, kisses and snuggles. Right now we are doing 4 hugs a day... He is very sensitive and can be rough and tough,  wrestling on the ground one minuet and then in tears the next. And one more thing, just like Chad...he snores. Most of the time I end up sleeping in Halle's bed and he sleeps with Chad, so they can have a snoring fest together!

This is a picture of Cohen holding Dad's drink, wearing Dad's glasses, holding Dad's phone, wearing Dad's headphones and being cool...just like Dad.

Changing

What I have learned from Cami and from loosing her.

Life is too short to waste time with things that don't really matter.

I want to play more, dance more and enjoy my kids more.

Many of my hobbies are going to have to be set aside while I devote myself to raising my kids.

I want to make sure everyone close to me knows how much I love them daily.

Everyday is a gift

"There is much in this world that we consider significant and worthy of our time and resources, which in reality means nothing. Ultimately, it is our families, our relationships, and how we are able to serve others that matter in the hereafter."

Lance Richardson

"There comes a time in life when you walk away from all the drama and the people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat right. Think good thoughts for the ones that don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of life....getting back up is living"