This guy

is a snuggly cuddler! He loves to hug and rest his little head on our shoulders. He tackles and cuddles his brothers too and they giggle & laughs (unless he decides to give them a little bite). I've never had a little guy quite like this and I LOVE it!!

the Same

As fast as my kiddos are growing up, it was comforting to wake up this morning and realize that some things haven't changed....yet!

Oshyn came out of his room dressed in basketball short, jersey and a long sleeve white shirt underneath (like Daddy last Saturday) because at recess today him and a few friends--and SOME 2nd graders! will be playing a basketball game. I love my dress-up little man.

(some back then pictures--)

Cruz was rocking himself awake. So glad we bought the foam padding when we did!

and Tyce is still so very happy and cute! Not a day goes by that a smile doesn't come from being with this guy.

Boys

I am grateful for little boys.

I love love love that Tyce will lay his head down on my shoulder when he is tired or I sing "As I have loved you". I love his little Pebbles Flinstone babble voice that talks all day long and sometimes I want to drop something just to hear his little "Uh-oh!" Much to everyone's delight he is dancing machine and belly laugher. I am impressed that he tries to fold his little hands for prayers and says "amen".

I have a happy heart when Cruz wants to snuggle, and laugh that he always wants to play tag when we go to the park (as long as I'm "it"). I love our little 'bouts of alone time during the day. More and more happy days seem

to be showing up. Thumbs up and lots of giggles!

I love the incredible amount of excitement and positive energy that

Oshyn possesses. He wakes up with a bird singing on his shoulder daily. Everyday is "the best day EVER!" due to simple pleasures in life. I like quiet walks or drives in the car when he gives me insight on what's going on in that brain of his. Lots of numbers are usually included!

I want to cry with joy when I see the love these boys feel for each other. Those are my happiest moments for sure. I love to see how perfectly Tyce fits in the mix and how delighted everyone in our family is when he's around.

I love my life.

I am grateful for little boys.

Extreme tooth loosing

Oshyn lost two teeth in two days this past week. A little late to ask for them for Christmas, but he's so cute that if it lasts until he can ask for them for his birthday I may be okay with it.

He's not much of a wiggle-them-until-they're-hanging-by-thread type of guy I'm realizing. Like he said before "[he's] got better things to do". And I thought maybe once tying your tooth to floss to yank it would be enough. Well, I was wrong. As soon as his top tooth was a bit wiggly (read: not very, but a titch bit) he got the floss out and was waiting for Beau to get home to tie it to the door to slam it. Scared? Nope. Just the Mommy video-ing it with her eyes closed and one ear plugged. Tooth #3 out with a slam to the door and not even a peep or cry, just a lot of after-blood. Yum.

The next day it was apparent that pulling out (or should I say "Slamming out") #3 in this manner caused the next door neighbor tooth #4 to become very loose. Looser than I've seen any of his teeth actually--still not hanging by a thread, but i could actually see it moving back and forth. :) When Oshyn got home from school he was begging me to tie his tooth to some floss to slam it out too. I said "No way! You'll have to wait for Daddy." He continued to beg and said, "Please!! If you just tie it on, I'll slam the door!" Is he crazy?!? Needless to say I resisted this plea and Beau tied it up, did his own thing and when I got home from Mutual he looked like this...

Now these buddies are tooth-less twins again!

Hockey

Who would've thought a little date night with the big boys out to see the Stockton Thunder would be so crazy fun? These guys are a good time bottled up in little bodies ready to be set free!

Oshyn and Cruz were ready to party from the get go and after car dancing, meeting some friends, popcorn, nachos, and a few good 'ol hockey fights, we ended the party with a bang--they gave away free hockey sticks! We have been eating and sleeping hockey--indoor and out for the last week.

First Cut

(Before)

Tyce's hair has always amazed me. The fact that he has some...and has had some since he was a wee little guy. I love it. Well the day came that the little man's eyes were being covered with an inch plus of hair. So...I decided it was time for a trim, nothing serious--but now he can see.

Funny part is that what I cut off from his bangs was just as long as his older brother's 1st cuts, but their cuts were from the back (mullet style--they had none on top)--and they were almost twice as old. See?! Amazed.

[This is Oshyn and Cruz around their 1st birthdays]

'Tis a gift to be simple

We are so blessed with a grand family that lives on all ends of the U.S. (and beyond). We have been fortunate to spend so many years with each of them at different times and love to be with our extended family wherever they might be, so this year was different for us. We stayed at home for the holiday for the first time in 5 years. We missed family, but enjoyed the lack ofstress that comes with traveling and kept waiting for the craziness that never came. It was very simple. We tried out some new, and kept some old traditions for the season. It was a wonderful time as always because the reason for CHRISTmas is so superb in itself.

(boys pressies to each other: Cruz made O a tic-tac-toe board & pieces, they painted Tyce a train, and O made Cruz a puzzle of himself)

Some things I want to remember and possibly repeat:

*Toy give away on December 1st--Spring cleaning of toys in Winter!

*12 days of giving (jar of good deeds to finish and give to Jesus for his birthday)

*Polar Express at O's school on the big screen--with hot chocolate and bells for the kiddos

*Lodi Light parade

*Baking and decorating sugar cookies

*Living Nativity at St. Peter's

*FHE's about Jesus' birth and singing Christmas carols at bedtime

*Anderson's Light show

*Oakland temple activities/lights--Sing-a-long of Handel's Messiah

*Kids making gifts for each other

*Nice Christmas Eve dinner followed by reading Luke 2

and for the family we missed, we LOVED having Skype!

"He sees you when you're sleeping...

He knows when you're awake." Maybe that's the part that freaks Tyce out--I was a bit hesitant too as a kid and DID NOT want him coming through the air conditioner vent by MY room (no fireplace in Arizona). The "naughty or nice" deal will work wonders for 5 more days though...

I like ONE

The day began with a good 'ol flip to the car seat so Tyce can sit facing forward. The excitement didn't stop there though...
As soon as Daddy got home the festivities began! Tyce gets giddy and says "Haw haw!" when he sees donkeys, so we took that and ran with it. There was a bit of pin the tail on the donkey (thanks to a good idea from Bella and great donkey drawing). Then we went outside, before it got too dark, and got out our trusty bat to whack the pinata. Tyce LOVED it and was laughing so hard...then suddenly started crying--not sure if he felt bad for the donkey or if I was holding his hands too tight :) All of the kiddos took a turn and the pinata felt it! Everyone scrambled to pick up the "goodies" before we headed back inside.
What's a birthday without cake and ice cream? Tyce didn't waste too much time digging in. We made sure he had a fork so he wouldn't have to horde silverware later on in life like 'little man'. He laughed, chowed down, and got a few crumbs on his face. I knew he was done when he started throwing it on the floor.
When pressie time came, Tyce had some experienced present openers help him out. They may or may not have liked everything he opened more than he did. As they played with some cars and pop up turtles Tyce cruised his new rocket. ONE is BIG stuff! and we REALLY like ONE!

26.2

He did it again. Wow. To run that many miles, that fast and still have a charming smile at the end--that's fabulous and awesome. We enjoyed chasing him and actually catching him (barely) at a few spots along the way. I was so excited/flustered to see him each time that I didn't remember to take pictures until he was already passing us by, hence the shots of his back side. Beau is the one with white shorts and a black shirt on (play a little "Where's Beau?"). I am so proud of his dedication to prepare and accomplish a goal he worked so hard on for months. 26.2 see you again in 5 years.

Cruzisms and a little Christmas confusion

Cruz wanted to come downstairs and I told him as soon as he cleaned up his room he had the freedom to come down. He got a bit upset (like this was a new stipulation or something :) and said, "If a woman were here she'd go up there and clean it for me." I said, "What?!? Who told you that?" and without hesitation he said, "Teresa" (which is a family friend that FOR SURE would not say that). I called her right up and told her laughing. She said to tell Cruz to stop throwing her name around like that!

Occasionally I remind the boys what the real names of their parts are and it always comes back to me in some funny way...Oshyn's (when he was about 2 or 3) had to do with me asking what Daddy's other name was--his response started with a P not a B. Cruz has told me that, "Tyce grabbed my peanuts!"

C: Can you get the fly swapper so I can flice that fly?

C: Look! It's Jesus surfing!

A first for the Nobmann's

We picked up this lovely little lady last night from Marty's. Best for miles around they said. I believe them. She's a beaut!

This just may be a step (or 3) up from the past 8 years when we've rocked the 12 incher.

Our home feels good.

Him and I

had a REALLY good day today. And it was very needed. We thumbs up-ed all day long. I LOVE being with the boy I know is inside there somewhere. Don't be a stranger :)

O

This guy is one silly 6-year old. He's goofy and able to drive his brother (and me) crazy in an instant. He's a super helper with Tyce and does just about everything from entertainment by flying "super Tyce" to rescuing him from open toilets and flights of stairs and much much more (minus diaper duty).He is a monkey, a fence climber and a picture taking hater (unless he's the one behind the camera).

He's sweet and tender and I'm sure just about every other day I'm too hard on him.

O still says/does the darndest things...

One Saturday he came in our room to crawl in bed (like most mornings). When he opened the door, we looked at him and the clock, that read 6:55 am, and giggled. He was all dressed for his soccer game--cleats, shin guards and all. He laughed, "I can just hardly stand it!!" Oshyn loves soccer that much and couldn't wait for his game at 9am! :)

Tyce gives fabulously slimy kisses. When Oshyn gets a juicy one he's been known to say, "Well that didn't go so well."

I love when he says, "Heck Yeah!" I now try to reply in the same way--its much more fun. ie. Can we go to the park, Mom? Heck Yeah!

We just recently had our Primary Program at Church where the kids (and their teachers)

are in charge of the whole 1st hour. It was very obvious that Oshyn was a bit enthusiastic when singing the songs. He belted them out and I was crying from joy in seeing him up there and from my inner laughter that made me want to bottle up his zealous spirit forever.

Last week when writing sentences out for his spelling words he wrote:

Yes mom ol doow thate.

("Yes Mom I'll do that" for those of you without 6-year olds :)

I love it!

and I love him to pieces.

We're happy

REALLY HAPPY!

and will be even happier once that dang top tooth pops through!