Training

You see I haven't decided I want to walk yet so my siblings keep trying to help me get around.  I do just fine on all fours but they seem to think walking is the way to go OR riding this thing.  Now, I like this thing, it plays music and gives some laughs but sometimes I think they like it more than me.  Lucy really likes it and even rides it herself but I'm just not sure - yet.

Samuel's a good coach and gives some convincing arguments for the importance of getting around faster...

But as for me I think I'll stick to all-fours for now and practice up for scuba diving in the near in the future!

Fireflies

They're a blur in summer evening dusk, flitting from end to end of the yard, chasing the glow, wanting to hold a bit of the magic in their own hands.  They squeal with delight, race with open arms and stand still awaiting the flicker of light - the flicker of hope that they will hold another 'bug flame' for a brief moment before it is off again.  Several nights in a row the magic of these little pieces of amazing handiwork - HIS handiwork -  call them out into the fading sunlight to dance the dance of wonder in their PJ's and run with joy - a childlike joy - into the summer nights.

One Mama sits and watches them flit and jump and squeal.  She sees the magic, the wonder awakened in their hearts and dashes about to hold them tight before they are off again.  The days are fleeting - just a flash and they are gone.  She soaks them up one by one - the handiwork of a loving ONE - and is grateful for the long evenings of summer...for the short years with her little ones, even though they blur and whirl and spin they are sweet.

Legos, Legos and Chinese food

Today we ventured to town on MARTA and the kids loved riding the train. It's been a while since we lived in town and frequented public transportation but it was a good way to see the city today. We rode the train up to Phipps and met Jeremy and Lydia for a little fun at LEGOland. The big kids are really into Legos and loved the day (even if the noise factor was a little too Chuck-E-Cheese for me) and Lydia loved the Duplo blocks - she tasted quit a few. We were all impressed with the mini Atlanta Lego buildings and left after a full day enjoying all things Lego. Before the trek back out to the burbs we stopped by our favorite authentic Chinese restaurant, the last time we were there I was only a few weeks away from having Lydia!

Just can't contain the urge to dance

I caught Samuel dancing in the bottom of the ninth.

Water Park in the Yard Day

Lots of sunscreen, a spot in the shade, water hose on = a day full of fun together.

Stay cation 2012

We are enjoying a week together doing some things around town we've never taken the opportunity to do and spending time at the house enjoying some fun things together.  We started out Friday with a trip to see Brave (gotta see a movie with a arrow-shooting, red-headed celtic princess and mischievous red-headed brothers).  Monday we went to Stone Mountain park (to which I forgot my camera) but we had a wonderful time.  We've never been and I was surprised at how much fun we all had - riding the skyline up to the top (I wasn't hiking the mountain with punkin on my back), riding the train around the mountain, a first ever family putt-putt golf tournament, Geyser towers water fun, ropes course and a blanket on the lawn for the laser show.  We'll be venturing back.

Tuesday was $1 movies at AMC and Jeremy took the big kids to see HUGO.  We then went to the Braves game.  What a great game!  (Thanks Grandpa Noonan for watching sweet Lydia for us so that I could go too!)  Samuel loved the game and danced like crazy when the music was on.  He seemed to enjoy the game and the whole experience.  Lucy tended to enjoy the experience more than the game - about two batters into the top of the 1st inning she spotted the cotton candy man across the park and gave us blow by blow updates about where he was until he reached our section and we could purchase the long awaited treat.  We also got to visit with friends from church who were at the game.  In the last inning after Lucy has hollered and cheered and laughed through the game Jeremy turned to her and said "Lucy, do you know who's winning the game?"  to which she replied "Nope"  But she loved it all the same.

Today was water park in the yard day.  We played in the slip and slide, shot water guns, made a water wall, had a picnic and lego races in the water.  Hours of fun for the whole family.  We came in after being outside all day, took showers and headed to a cookout at church.  I did manage to get some pictures :)

Summer fun

We are right smack dab in the middle of Noonan Stay-cation 2012 and this is some of our fun from today...rub-a-dub-dub three redheads in a tub.

Father's Day

Lucy made this card for Jeremy at school and kept it until Father's Day - sweetness.

Come here...

Come here and give me a kiss!

The littles

Maybe I shouldn't call them that but they are the little guys of the bunch and it is so funny to watch Mason and Lydia play.  I honestly think Lydia is a little afraid of her little cousin Mason (4 months younger and almost 5 pounds heavier) and she may have some concerns that he is going to eat her up - though he is a rough and tumble little guy he is a such a sweet baby!

Grandma has her hands full...and I think Lydia thinks Mason is going to gnaw on her arm now that he;s got it...

 The perfect play for these two - Mason contained in his walker/exersaucer jeep and Lydia walking behind pushing.

 Hmmmm....gotta keep my eye on you fella.

Adventures of the cousins

We've played hard the last few days at the farm - mud puddle jumping and playing in the rain, UNO and BINGO on the porch, Davy Crocket and old westerns on TV, Blackberry picking, riding the ranger, pretending to be travelers and traveling all over the farm with wagons and 'kindling' to light (pretend) fires, tag, hide-n-go seek with Mama, swinging and playing Sheriff Lucy.  Loads of fun that makes for much laughter and hard sleep at night.  Here are the outlaws and Sheriff Lucy (yep - that is a pot holder for a holster tied around her waist with a bandana)

And one sweet thing - today during lunch since my two were fighting over who would give thanks - I let Wyatt pray.  He was so sweet "Thank you for my Mama and my Daddy, for the grass, and for my cousins. AMEN!"

 

Mud puddle jumping

Aquarium

Yesterday I took the children to the aquarium and we had a great time.  The children especially loved the touch pools (we went back 3 times), the penguins (I even crawled through with them) and the Ocean voyager exhibit (we went through it 4 different times).  The Dolphin Tales show was another exciting time to which Lucy exclaimed "Daddy won't believe his ears when he hears about this!"  We took our time, enjoyed the sites and went back and saw things that were interesting.  I loved having that time with the big kids while Jeremy watched Lydia.  Samuel and Lucy are growing so fast and it was neat to see their growing fascination with the world around them.