Party Time!

For Ava's birthday, Sadie requested everyone to send a quick happy birthday video to wish her best wishes for her special day in isolation.

So we threw a party and sent her our video...  We even ate the cake for her!

We'll happily celebrate any occasion by proxy for people!

April Showers

April Showers are supposed to bring May flowers.

One thinks of showers as light rains watering the soil and urging spring to come. One does not envision inches of snow to wake to and gloomy skies. It makes one wish they could stay in bed under the cozy covers.

But one must get up and go on. One must see how the handiwork of the night before is playing out. One decided to play pranks at a very late hour and has a difficult time stifling her laughter.

April.... in like a lion and out like a lamb... is that the other saying for April? I think so. I guess this is the lion roaring it's way in. Snowstorms, sick kids, late nights, sick grandma, no groceries, dirty dishes, Dr. appt.'s, and late blogs.

late blogs... a phenomenon really... a few years ago I wasn't plagued with the concern of a late blog and now I feel overwhelmed by the backlog of blogs.

Of an ever growing backlog of blogs.

April has birthdays.

April 1st has birthdays!

*Paige, the quintessential fool... she spent the day with Christ... well... in a reenactment of Christ's crucifixion. She provided the llama's.
*Ava, I will meet this niece! I will meet this niece! I will meet this niece!

April has other birthdays!

*Clairee, soon to be big sister Clairee. Sarah can't get enough of Clairee. Two years... too fast!

*Sparky, what could be next? go to byu, check. serve mission, check. get married, check. have two adorable girls, check. finally finish the Phd, check. Get a big wig job back east, check... we'll just sit here and wait with baited breath for what 'cream cheese' will do next!

*Rob, I'm definitely going to have to hound Patrick for not keeping in touch better with his side of the family. I seem to have my finger in every one's business on my side of the family and can write all sorts of drivel about them... even if I'm making it up.. but not quite as easy on the Noble side. Rob fill us in on the details of life in the mid-west.

Easter is coming faster than the speed of a thousand blogs that's for sure!

Lot's to do... no time to do it!

Ava Birthday

Life is exceptionally busy and I have STILL not met my newest niece Ava! Today she is 1 and I really could say much about a 1 year old that I've never met on a birthday blog other than. I have a niece who turns one today... Not much of a blog. So today I have a guest blogger! Eden, my sister, her mother who actually has met Ava and knows all about her! So I will learn about Ava along with all of you! It will probably make me feel even more sad that I STILL haven't met her!

Firstly, I am not a blogger, so mum don't get any ideas, but for my sweet Ava I will make an exception.

Ava: aka noisy bot, Ava bell, sweet petunia, little chewkie

Activities she enjoys are :

• dancing to songs such as the strawberry shortcake theme. sleeping beauty, and fifi and flower tots.
  
• sneaking up the stairs,
• playing in her big sisters room.
• she also enjoys singing although there is some debate as to whether it is just squealing.
• hide and seek,(in the tent or just under a blanket).
• sharing and feeding us.
• eating toes

Words she says include, mama, dada, beesista, bong,(which can mean nearly anything) my baba, my beebee, nye nye (night night) and most recently NO

Achievements she is most proud of,

• wiping her bum (pretend) and then blowing her nose with the same tissue. sweeping,
• pointing,
• feeding herself with a spoon,
• putting things in the garbage.
• waving,clapping, blowing kisses. climbing off the trampoline (that's after bouncing on it).
• walking, running (away from me and Sadie) and walking backwards.

Things she loves,

• US (to clarify.. that's her family not the US of A.)
• her couch,
• anything soft,
• SHOES,
• dress up,
• music,
• bath time,
• food,
• swimming,
• brushing her teeth,
• making us laugh

I would be remiss in describing Ava if I neglected to mention her shall we say, Determination. She has spunk, is feisty and sometimes relentless. Things she does not enjoy...... laying still for her diaper change, getting in her new car seat, when anyone (especially Sadie) takes something from her, food being removed from her mouth, (entire pancakes etc) She is not patient and she is loud.

I know she is barely 1 but, when I get online updates of what she should be doing, it is laughable. She amazes me everyday with each new skill. not that I have taught her, but that she lets me know she can do,

She is beautiful, and loving, funny funny funny, like no kid I've ever seen, not only does she know when something is funny, but she knows how to be funny. she lights up our days, completes our family and has taught me so much about myself and how to be loving amidst frustration. I am learning how to teach patience by being patient.

She is one of many Ava's born this year, but she is unique and wonderful.

So to my sweet baby love on her first birthday..... We love you.