Brothers Bonding

Tommy assumes that Noah will love Star Wars as much as he and big bro Fletcher. "Noah, you grow up, you watch Dar Vader, me!!!" (translated: When you grow up, Noah, you can watch Darth Vader with me.)

Tommy showing Noah how Jabba the Hut's trap works. Batman demonstrates the fall into the pit. Noah can wear Tommy's Christmas outfit from Gammy. She was so cute and got these for Tommy when he was almost nine months old. Noah just turned three months, and the outfit is working for him just fine! I loved that Gammy got this for Tommy to wear to church for his Christmas outfit....I called her and asked, "Did you know they were jammies?" She was shocked and said, "No! I thought it was his Christmas outfit." Well, Tommy sported those jammies to church every weekend in December and lots of days in between because we loved them so much. Now Noah gets to wear them, too. LOVE hand-me-downs!!! Especially ones with great memories attached with them!

Arches National Park- November 23, 2010

Charlie with Noah: Aug. 22 & Nov. 22, 2010

Kids at the South Rim

Santa Fe (Nov.20,2010)

We are standing in front of the front doors to St. Francis church in Santa Fe. It is a beautiful Catholic church we enjoyed touring with the kids. Sarah had no clue and wanted to know what the prayer kneelers were in front of the pews (both Charlie and I grew up with these in our home churches). Charlie taught the kids about the paintings which depicted the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ being the stations of the cross which he was taught as a child to pray through once a year. Paris wanted to know who sat in the fancy wooden throne. Fletcher wanted to know why there was a gate with a jail-looking area. We had a great time exploring this special cathedral.

Family Grand Canyon Pictures (Nov.21, 2010)

We drove the 12 hours to the Grand Canyon only to arrive at the park ranger station to Earl greeting us with, "There is no visibility. The weather is gonna be like this until Wednesday (it was noon on Sunday when we arrived). Are you sure you still want to go in to the park (for $25)?" Uhhhh, yeah, we do! We just spent the better part of two days driving our VERY excited kiddos all the way across two states to get here...YES, we want to go in no matter what the weather conditions are! Well, we PRAYED all the way to the first observation overlook parking lot and begged God to clear the snow filled skies so we could see His creation! As we sat in the parking lot with snow POURING down and winds causing all kinds of rokus around us, we had to laugh. WHAT in the world?!?! We let Noah nurse and kept praying and laughing! A few minutes later, the snow was lighter, the winds less ferocious, and we were bundled with the winter jackets I packed (thinking we'd never need!) We made a dash for it and wonder of wonders, we got to see God's handiwork! WOW, was it spectacular!! I was squealing, jumping up and down, thanking God for pushing back the clouds and parting the fog so we could enjoy His creation. Marvelous! Wowzer, was it everything I expected it to be! The French tourists were enamored with Noah and giggley at my zealous reception of the spectacular views! I know they thought I was crazy. I thought they were a bit funny for being so preoccupied with Noah when one of the most amazing sights EVER was just beyond the baby!

Funny Tommy quotes from Nov.13, 2010

When I asked Tommy if he had "pee pee coming," he replied, "No. Pee pee sleepin'- my penis."

When we visited a barn today, Tommy walked up to the chicken coop poking his nose through the wire to greet the hens and said, "Hi ah cockadoodles!" "Cockadoo!"

When he saw the Polish hen in the next coop, he said, "Ahhh, MOHAWK! Silly!" (the Polish hen's head was covered with flopping hair!)

When I was sitting at the kitchen table holding Noah on my knee facing out towards the den, Tommy came over and got down on Noah's level. He put his face right up to Noah's and said, "Noah, see me. Me good guy!" and then kissed the top of his head. (ahhh, I melted!)

Then later Tommy was pretending Noah needed saving..."Help Noah! Tommy save the day!"

Picture of the little brothers taken in mid-October:

Picture taken end of August:
October:

One of Tommy's most frequent statements to Noah (probably averaging three times daily throughout the month of November), "Noah, you grow up, you watch Batman, ME!" Tommy always says this statement with his face less than an inch from Noah's, his nose almost touching Noah's nose. He always ends the statement with his mouth wide open in a very exuberant expression of excitement for he knows this must be a super exciting thought for his little brother to anticipate being big enough to enjoy such a special activity with his beloved older brother! Tommy acts as if Noah is counting the days already until he is old enough (brave enough) to be allowed to watch such a fun big kid show.

Tommy's statement is translated: "Noah, when you grow up you will be able to watch Batman with me!"

End of September with the yellow aspen leaves:

Noah's sisters holding him for the first time

August 22, 2010:

Biggest Brother Fletcher lovin' just born Noah

August 22, 2010:

Meeting Dough Dough for the first time

August 22, 2010

Precious Napper

Summer 2010:

Favorite Mommy & Paris pictures...

July 2010 at the top of Mt. Evans:

April 2010 at South Platte River:

Paris: Nov. 7, 2010

"Mom, I'm strong in this shirt! See my sleeves!" as she pointed to the puffy shoulders...

Paris told me on the way to church today, "Mom, I had the BEST dream! I dreamed I was riding a foal across the field! I was bareback and just holding the mane. It was a brown foal with a black mane and tail. It had white on his legs."

"Oh, cool, Pay Pay. You were riding a bay with white socks."

"Ha! Ha! How funny that he has socks, Mom!" "It was the bestest dream EVER!"

(She melts me with her love of horses!)

Tommy and William

A picture of the cousins in July enjoying their "yahyees" together. They were both pretty much LOVING lollies as two year olds and thought they were the best treats ever! Tommy pronounced the word lolly, "lahahlah" by wiggling his tongue quickly from left to right four times in the most ridiculously cute manner. We'd hear, "Lahahlah POP? Lahahlah Pop?!" after naps most afternoons for a few months straight when he was particularly into lollies and wanted a reward.

November 7, 2010

While we were at the skate park tonight, I was talking to Gammy and Tommy rode by and heard me say something that interested him. It's no surprise that it was the word "Batman" that caught his attention. I stopped to tell Tommy that cousin William received a Batman from a friend, and he threw both arms up straight above his head and cheered, "Weee-who!! Yaaay!!" and then rode off on his Strider bike.

Baby Noah all dressed up (few weeks old)

Noah September 2010

One day old Noah