The 'Un-Usual' Suspects

We may have discovered a.... not so Noble side.

The Crime occurred somewhere between midnight and 7:22 am.

The victim was last seen intact at midnight when covered with a tea towel, which was tucked in at both ends and a small piece of lego was placed on top. 

Prime Suspect in the case. 

Miles Noble.  

Motive. (He likes brownies)  

Opportunity.  (He was awake at 5am, while everyone else still slept)  

Accused by a reliable source. (Emerson said he did it!)

Evidence.  While other suspects were questioned and booked he attempted to tamper with the evidence.

He couldn't keep a straight face and kept trying to distract the jury with ukelele playing and singing.

The Accomplice

Mackenzie Connolly

Motive.  She has professed that she would do anything for brownies.

Opportunity.  Limited... she sleeps like a log.

Evidence.  Aided and abetting the Prime Suspect during the booking and questioning process. 

Innocent Bystander.  Wrong Place.  Wrong Time.

 Perjured himself under oath. (Don't be fooled by his innocent act)

Emerson Noble

Motive.  He wanted one.

Opportunity.  He woke by 6am. 

Accusation.  His quote, "Miles had one.  He cut it up and gave me some.  He's my buddy."

The Vigilante.  (Judge, jury, prosecutor... and also a suspect)

Sarah Noble

Motive.  She made the brownies.
Opportunity.  Often is up later than most, and wanders in sleep in the wee hours, or 'says' she's up for a drink of water.
Did not wake until after 8am.  Developed theories and a scenario that would indict everyone but herself. (suspicious)

 The Crime Boss.  Attempted to bribe the jury after admitting to a similar crime.

Mother

Motive.  uhh... it was there. (no will power)

Opportunity.  only one who sleeps upstairs.  Awake at 7am, because the boys were too noisy in the kitchen and she couldn't sleep.. but she still didn't get out of bed.

Claims:  I'm the boss, applesauce.  Agreed with the Prime suspect that when she steals brownies she takes a little slice off the entire row so it doesn't look tampered with.  "Like I did last night at 2am when I finished my book.  BUT that's not the crime in question here!!  There is still a missing piece not being accounted for!  Everyone can have a stinking brownie... Can help themselves even... just own up to it... Just tell the truth!"

The Line up of un-usual suspects.

Although the Prime Suspect admitted to how he would have committed the crime IF it had been him, he maintained his claim of innocence even while struggling to maintain a straight face.  The jury struggled to believe him with all the mounting evidence.  

He was accused with a supposed witness. 

He attempted to take another piece with his accomplice during the booking.

He couldn't keep a straight face during questioning... booking... or most anytime.

He admitted to past offences.

He had the easiest opportunity and ability to carry out the crime and return the towel to it's position without notice.

Convicted but released on an insanity plea!

Whittaker Noble

Motive.  He wanted one.

Opportunity.  He was also awake before 7am.

Claims.  After all the questioning and booking and his claims of "I didn't steal any brownies this morning.  I promise!"  He finally whispered,  "I might have taken one when I blinked and didn't see myself do it, when it was still nighttime.  Maybe."

He comes by those chocolate eyes dishonestly I guess. 

Once the verdict was in, after almost an hour of interrogation and posturing, we all had brownies for breakfast.  It wasn't a lesson in healthy eating habits or the importance of not snitching after all.  It was about the value of our integrity.


It's worth more than a brownie.

Filling in the Details

Daddy worked in Hawaii for a few weeks and brought back a few fresh pineapples.  

While we gobbled away, slurping the dribble off our chins, we filled him in on all that had occurred while he was away this trip.

Friends went to Brazil and brought us back and new hammock as a thanks for taking care of their pets.

A neighbourhood cat has been stalking me.

It's quite disconcerting to be stared at while washing the dishes.

(I know the solution is to just stop doing dishes!)

Emerson became stuck in a bucket.

It took two people to get him out.

He got stuck a few more times before we confiscated the bucket.

Miles spent days and days in one spot finishing up his extra courses that he took this semester.  Fortunately he enjoyed them.  We often would peek in and seeing him grinning away and when we glanced at the screen, none of us saw anything amusing or pleasant... 

Chemistry, Graphic Design and Microsoft Office Specialist.

To each his own. 

Sarah claimed there wasn't enough space in her room for all her shoes.  Rather than pare down her shoe collection, she opted for opening up a wall and creating new shelves.

On a particularly quiet afternoon, I thought Emerson was napping and assumed Whittaker was playing legos with Duncan.

I was wrong.

Duncan was voraciously reading Harry Potter and the little boys... well, they were stripped down in the sandbox.

Having the time of their lives.

Until it began to rain.  Then they were dancing on the deck trying to rinse off the sand.

Emerson discovered that other people have water bottles identical to his.

He was relieved when we returned home and his was still on his hook.

We spent an ENTIRE saturday doing Scouts.  Miles performed his Native American Hoop Dancing.  Duncan earned two merit badges.  The boys and I played every carnival game known to man, and participated in the dance demonstration, and climbed rock walls, and played on bounce houses, and sawed a tree in half, and generally had a good time.

Unfortunately, as we told Daddy all about our activities... 

His red eye flight and jet lag caught up to him.

The best spot in the house

After stepping out of the bath.

Early on a winter morning.

Coming in with bright red fingers, toes and nose after playing in the snow.

Even encouraging bread dough to rise.

This magical spot is sought after.

The above photo is not a soft cushioned seat nor a pile of towels.

It is two boys snuggled against the floor level heater vent behind the bathroom door.

The tiles in front warm up toasty and nice and with the towels positioned just so to trap the radiating heat,

it is pure bliss.

How's it Hanging?

Miles is a professional sleeper.

He is also an avid scouter.

The combination does not always bode well.

Most scouts are typical teenage boys, who when given the opportunity to go camping, stay up until all hours playing in the fire pit and eating junk food.

Miles has an internal clock which must ring so loudly that he has to go to bed in order to silence it.  At 8:00pm almost every night, regardless what is going on around him, he prepares for bed.

Camping with a group of scouts is not an exception.

It is however difficult to maneuver when sharing a tent.  

After a few campouts, from which he returned bleary eyed after attempting to sleep in a tent full of rowdy boys, he decided to take his own one man tent.

This made a huge improvement on the enjoyment of camping.

Miles strives for perfection though.

For Christmas he requested a new tent. 

A hammock tent.

He was thrilled with it.

He was the envy of scouters at camp.

He slept peacefully.

Except when trees were scarce.

His tent didn't work so well then.

His attempt to hang it at home to enjoy it more ended... disastrously. 

(Bookshelf, bedroom, midnight earthquakes!!)

Clearly a solution was needed.

The design was deliberated on and the materials purchased.

The finished product exceeded expectations.

It holds two hammocks at a time and can be set up anywhere.

And by anywhere, apparently that means smack dab in the middle of the living room for over a week.

Apparently a double hammock stand doesn't accommodate everyone.  Miles rarely gets a turn.

Fortunately the rain fly isn't needed in the house. I wasn't sure why the mosquito netting was required though.

I must admit I also found it rather comfortable to lounge.

After a week in the living room I insisted it be taken down.

I must remember to be more specific.

It is now DOWN stairs.

Love multiplied

Love seats are intended for two.

Says who?

Our Friday night's have become an all ages party station.  Groups of eighteen between ages 3 and 16 are not uncommon.  This particular evening was what we could term.... A quiet night at home.  While there was plenty of seating available for a change.... 

What would be the fun in that?

Egg-stra special Hunting

Easter this year was simple.  As it should be.

We had the missionaries over for supper.

We had a traditional meal.

Not an Easter ham, but a traditional meal from the time of Christ's life.

Broiled fish, olives, flat bread, honey and yoghurt with dates, apricots and figs.

Some food went over better than others.

We had our lesson about the symbols of Easter.

Then the kids hid each others eggs.

Every year they are hidden more creatively.

Sarah's were very difficult to find.

Recently, after a lesson in gentlemanly like behaviour, Miles has taken it upon himself to hold the door for Sarah.  Every day.  Every where they go.  Even if it means having to race her to the door and practically shove her out of the way so that he can do it.  

This Easter egg hunt presented an opportunity for him and Duncan to put their gentleman skills to the test.

Sarah's eggs were out of reach and they dropped to their hands and knees to offer her their services.

While the gesture was thoughtful, she didn't feel the protection or security that their behaviour was intended to offer.  She claims it was terrifying and unnerving to stand on their backs and reach into the light fixture on the ceiling... And all for an empty plastic egg!

As for the egg in the skylight....  

The broom handle was all that was needed.

It's the Year of the Monkey

Although it feels like it's always the year of the monkeys around here.. It's officially the year of the Monkey according to the Chinese zodiac.

For Cub Scouts we had our Blue and Gold Banquet and chose to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

At my district meeting I had been asked to come up with an idea to share for a Blue and Gold Banquet.  With the date of the banquet in February I thought the Chinese New Year would be fun.   My partner chose an Angry Bird's theme.  However she broke her foot and wasn't able to do hers but it was already on the schedule so the kids and I took on the Angry Bird one as well... Yes it was as much fun to plan an Angry Bird Party as it sounds!  We presented our ideas to the district leaders and had a lot of fun.  The leaders of my own pack saw that I already had everything planned out for a banquet and decided to use the Chinese New Year since I'd already planned it out for them.  We had a blast.

The only problem I ran into was that I could stop coming up with great ideas and had to stop at some point.

Setting up for the banquet was fun and it turned out well.  We dimmed the lights and had our glow stick Chinese Kirigami lanterns strung for fun lighting.  

Each table was ready for our evening.  We served Mandarin orange chicken, with ham fried rice, and egg rolls.  All eaten with chopsticks of course!  

For dessert we had a Chinese dragon cake.  Thanks to Miles for making him look authentic.  (He looked like a snake when I had finished.  Miles added a tail, some feet and tweaked the scales)

By far the best game of the night was a game we stole from my Angry Birds plans.  We had a 3 man slingshot to launch our monkeys at the target.  A calendar on the wall.  We were sending the monkey into the new year.

At the end of the evening when it was all cleaned up we went home pleased.  We also went home with leftover food and lanterns.  The boys immediately strung them up in their room and went to bed with the glow of the lanterns welcoming in the new year!

Because I love my Lips!

There's been some agony in our midst lately.  It began with Whittaker, then Duncan and finally Emerson... Sarah ran screaming for the hills.  (Duncan wasn't cute enough to photograph)  The illness was a fever, severe lethargy, headaches and absolutely not least... mouth sores.. both cankers and cold sores.  And we're talking ten to twenty of each!

Duncan simply holed up in bed and read his books, slept and tried to eat soft bland foods.

Whittaker used all his will power not to pick at his sore lips, played until he simply had no energy left at all and napped several times a day.

Emerson wanted to be held.... constantly.  He simply could not stop picking at his sore lips which sent him into panicked fear when the bleeding began.  He finally conceded to snuggling next to me on his bear chair with a blanket, or a bag of books.  He did not eat... one bite at the beginning of each meal was all he would do... he fortunately was willing to sip juice and water through a straw.

Just couldn't resist saying this over and over.  

It lasted a solid week.  Emerson's lips however took much longer to heal since he had been relentlessly picking at them.  

2016

We rang in the new year with friends, games and food.

There was laughter and silliness by all.

The little boys worked together happily on a gooey dessert.

We made sushi and stuffed ourselves full.

We sparkled at midnight in the frigid winter snow.

Within minutes of midnight however... We all welcomed 2016 with lights out and deep slumbering breathing. 

So far our hopes for the new year are to get plenty of rest and keep everyone healthy and happy.

What's Up? -- Sarah

Sarah has recaptured her interest in art and has been sketching and painting a lot.  

She is still working part time at the school and growing into a lady each day...(except for when she reverts to moments of not so lady like behavior... usually with her brothers)  

She's enjoying singing in the choir and is often singing around the house... all sorts of music.

She and daddy recently had a date on the town and went dancing (west coast swing)and out for Chinese.  She is looking forward to a year of more dancing and dating... and not just from daddy.  

She's been experimenting with hair colour lately.  

She is on the Stake Youth Council (SYC) and has enjoyed learning what it takes to plan large scale activities for hundreds of youth.  

She's still playing her flute and is frequently found baking up a storm in the kitchen.

She enjoys getting Emerson to do goofy things and take photos with her.... even if, or especially if, it makes them turn into cartoons.  

She continues to be a fashionista extraordinaire even on casual, hang about the house days.

The next year is sure to bring much more excitement as she is preparing to take her driver's permit exam and she's doing a lot of public speaking engagements with her SYC assignments.  She hopes to work on her piccolo and her crochet as well as broaden her art skills with other mediums.