Turkey Week

We were so lucky to spend Turkey Week with all of these wonderful family members (plus Auntie & Roger...minus Sammy & Zach)

For the past 7 years we have ALWAYS done a Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day.  When they didn't have one nearby--we MADE one--with bibs & everything!

1st up: Little Trotters

Next: the Trotters

They weren't messing around with the mile

Cruz (& a few others) got smart & got a ride for a bit from Pop Pop

Later we went bowling,

Grandma Annie snuggled the littlest two grand babies,

got a movie theatre almost all to ourselves, 

Daddy, Oshyn, & Cruz skied, 

and Gianna was blessed.

17 of 18 grandchildren all together, for multiple days, under one roof...they couldn't have been any happier.  We are so blessed and thankful on this Thanksgiving week for all we have.  Especially for such a fabulous family.

You know

 the boys have been having a good time 

when your pictures look like this at the end of the day...

Grammie

Grammie was here and I'm not sure which one of us was more excited!  The world feels happier & lighter when she is with us.  We adore her and try to soak up all of the minutes.  Until next time, we'll miss you!

November...

still going strong!!  

MMMmmmmm!  Only in CA

Putt Putt

One of the fun parts of having the temple up in Sacramento is that after we have visited, we have been able to explore a bit of Sac-town.  There is a fun rock climbing place, a ginormous trampoline place, a drive-in movie place, restaurants, outlet stores, you name it.  This time we decided to try something new.  Goofy golf, putt putt, mini golf...whatever you want to call it, that is what the adventure was today.  The boys had never been, so that always makes for added excitement for all.

Baby Putt Putt

I seem to vaguely remember that the lady of the crew beat all of the little & big men.  

Not that our highly competitive family keeps score or anything...

All Dressed up with LOTS of places to go

The 4 Nobs

Trunk-or-Treat at the church the Saturday before 

Party People!  We had our 2nd annual soup, trick-or-treating & dance party Halloween night

1st Halloween!  His spider basket is 1/2 his size :)

Tyce and his "wehbuzz"

Elder Nobmann & Cheerleader Bella 

Cruz's & his best buddy from school, Michael.  Surprise!  They were both Ninjas

We had a fun Halloween with lots of fun, candy & friends.  Just when we thought it was all over, a very heavy package arrived in the mail from Uncle Chad & Aunt Marcy...but that is another sugar high all in itself!

Carved

Pumpkin #1

 Pumpkin #2

 Pumpkin #3

3 Little pumpkins sitting on their chairs.

 # 4 is all tuckered out, but VERY very cute ;)

#33

Solo with Daddy

The day before the boys left for Seattle I got a call from the office saying that I needed to pick Cruz up because he had an earache.  I was bummed because #1 I had just finished up an appointment at Kaiser and thought I was going to have to turn around and go right back to get antibiotics for an ear infection & #2 Worried because Cruz was supposed to fly to Seattle & I can't think of anything worse than having an ear infection when flying.
Well, good news.  It turns out that Cruz stuck a lego money piece, about the size of a pencil eraser in diameter, in his ear at school (that he had brought from home).  His reasoning was so he wouldn't "distract the other kids from paying attention to the teacher" as he told me.  I got it out in about 2 seconds with some mini tweezers.  Whew!

The next day Cruz was surprised to have Daddy come home early.  He didn't know what was happening, but was pretty excited to have Daddy all to himself.  They took off & the rest is history except for these pictures I have to show for it.

The main reason for the trip...to see Ian play football (& to hang with Jackson :)

I assume Cruz had a grand time and a very little amount of sleep.  He cried when he got home & when I asked him what was wrong, he said he didn't want to come home. :)

Making Daddy proud

It was raining today.  Not drizzling (the pictures make it look almost dry--don't be deceived!) but REALLY raining!  A few days earlier I had told Beau I was a little bummed that it was going to start raining a bunch.  I didn't want to have to start driving the kids to school.  I love our little morning jog/bike ride.  It gets all of our blood pumping and its nice to get some fresh air.  He looked at me and said, "A little rain never hurt!  Who said you can't ride in the rain??"  Spoken from a true Seattle born rain man to a sunny Arizonian raised lady.  So I decided when it started raining, that it wasn't going to stop us!

The boys thought it was pretty fun to be getting all wet.  Glad their pant legs will stay dry at home...they wear shorts EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

Locking up!

These are the other kid's bikes who decided to ride to school in the rain also.

As we were parting, Oshyn's teacher from last year saw us coming out of the bike racks.  She said, "Oh look, there go the Nobmann's, the family that never drives their car!"  

Tyce and Kai all snuggly, warm & DRY

Bloody babies as Jenny would say :)

The things we do to impress! :)

Trying to Balance

to illustrate my point :)

my time & life in general.  To do what is most important & not get overwhelmed (at least not on a daily basis).  It's hard.  Really hard, but I want to do it--with a smile.  So I'm trying.  I've always liked this quote by Mae West: "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it".  Definitely not easy...but when was anything easy in life very gratifying?  I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can.

Snuggly sleep obsession

Every night before I go to bed, I feed Kai.  He is sooo tired when he's done that he always snuggles right up on my shoulder to go to sleep.  Before I put him in bed I always glance at him in the mirror & soak up the moment.  I never want to forget how sweet he looks so I've made Beau (& myself!) take pictures...I guess on multiple occasions!