more excitement

Opening presents

Here is just a sample of the excitement around this place this morning.  I can't edit videos so only short ones will work.  This one was short because I started crying and couldn't keep it together :)  I love getting to give gifts - my best Christmas ever.

Christmas Favorites

The Noonan kids deemed this "The best Christmas EVER"  They each had a present they never thought they'd get.  A Netherland's soccer jersey, Frozen dolls, and American Girl doll...and other presents they LOVED - serious excitement.  THANKS so much for all who made this possible.  This Mama cried most of the morning at their excitement and gratitude, I'm so glad I could give my children good gifts.  I love to see them giving each other gifts they saved up to buy, love seeing them overjoyed at getting EXACTLY what they wanted and loved being able to share this day with them.  Wish you were here!

Merry Christmas Morning!

Christmas Eve fun

It was warm (and wet) for Christmas Eve - so this is what we did

 Star WARS and playing outside barefooted in the rain, leaf races in the gutter and driveway hockey

Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas! 

Tidings of Comfort and Joy to you, from the Noonans

Puddinhead

what a sweet unexpected blessing!

The Weary World REJOICES

Welcome to our home and in our front door - into the mess and the joy of Christmas.  Look past the dirty dishes, the dirty floors, the left over homework, the unwanted papers, the toys, the noise, the random sock and the empty diaper boxes...we live here and work and clean and school and play...but we are a mess. 

We try really hard to make it all work but most days it doesn't look like it's supposed to.  That truth - the reality that even with my best intentions, hardest work and best laid plans I fall short - its a hard truth.  A truth that has to be dealt with by all of us.  We all fall short - even in our own expectations.  This grown-up human thing is hard (and it seemed hard at 13 and 23, too!) but there is HOPE that I cling to hard and it carries me - and I sing

"A thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices" ...for yonder breaks a new glorious morn

The Hope that Jesus comes into our mess and madness and makes our messy hearts right again.  My circumstances may never change, my grandkids may walk into the same house, the same mess, the same thoughts that swirl and weigh heavy BUT my heart is HOPEFUL and JOY hangs around in all of the nooks and crannies - right next to the spider webs and near the dust bunnies - filling us up and over flowing with laughter and lessons and peace in the storm.  We REJOICE - weary mom, weary world - REJOICE!

Centennial Olympic Park

 All 6 Noonan's in front of the Coca-Cola museum ornaments.  Fun times with the family.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

 ESPN was broadcasting from the Park and Samuel - who loves all things football, soccer, etc thought this was pretty cool.  We didn't linger long because we wanted to beat all the SEC championship traffic out of town

The blur and whirl of the season - full of lights and laughter

100 years of Relativity

My children have been wanting to see the Albert Einstein statue at Georgia Tech since they heard about it several months ago.  They even watched a documentary about Albert Einstein last week - and I'm sure they know more about Relativity than I do (I went to bed and they stayed up late watching it).

SO - we ventured to Tech last weekend to touch and see the statue.  It really is a great statue.  Albert isn't in his fancy attire but in "thinking" clothes - sandles, sweater, with notebook in hand - sitting under a tree.  Art spurs wonder and this statue certainly brought a couple of redheads a little bit of wonder.  Happy 100th anniversary of Relativity!

St. Nicolas Day

Each year we celebrate St. Nicolas Day around December 6.  The tradition in Romania involves leaving boots out for St. Nick to leave fruit, candy and decorated sticks/pinwheels (or coal) in over night.

As a family we've adopted this tradition as our way to celebrate St. Nick/Santa Claus.  We read about the real St. Nicolas and his heart for serving others, giving generously and helping the poor.  In the past we've tried to use this day for us to serve someone in the community - cookies to the fire station, sweeping a neighbors driveway, singing at the nursing home.  We want the kids to have the opportunity to be Santa to each other or to someone and have perspective as they head into the crazy Christmas season.  It doesn't always look so wonderful but hopefully the tradition will continue to evolve as we grow.  The tradition reminds me of the faithful men and women who have gone before me faithfully following Christ (like St. Nicolas), reminds me of the dear friends I made in Romania and the JOY and wonder of the season through my children's eyes.

This year the theme has been SIMPLE - for pretty much any celebration we have so - we made pancakes, decorated them and got a little toy in their shoes left carefully by the fire.

#4 is ONE

This happened a few weeks ago - Puddinhead turned 1. 

All of the siblings were super excited to sing Happy Birthday and celebrate.  We went with the low-key "Kroger cupcake and just a toothbrush for a present" theme.  It worked out really well. 

The birthday boy liked it and we enjoyed the simple celebration laughing at him shoving cake in his mouth and then carrying his toothbrush around like he'd won a prize.  Simple life - simple joys.

Happy Birthday Puddinhead (AKA Chubby Churro)!  We love you and are so glad the LORD sent you into our lives when we least expected it.  You bring us joy, keep our lives moving forward with the daily routine and remind us of the simple joy of life.  You are crawling, climbing the stairs and starting to cruise around, have 7 teeth and a little peach fuzz that looks like it'll be red one day.  We are looking forward to enjoying you in the coming year!

Give Thanks

Yall - these munchkins have my heart

Give Thanks, to the LORD!  A command I don't always feel like doing but it always does my heart good.

It's perspective - pulling the beautiful truth right out out of the swirling mess that I (too easily) let divert my mind and heart from what is true and important.  This is it folks - these littles ones

surgery sucess

Last week, sweet lucy had another surgery to get her tongue clipped.  Samuel had the same surgery several years ago and we're hoping this helps with speech and constant sore throat.  She's recovered and ready to roll some "r" s.

sweet little buddy

Thanks, pink polka dot shoes.  You have served us well!

Happy Anniversary

My sweet Mama and Daddy celebrate their anniversary today.  What a beautiful picture of tenacious love and years of keeping on! 

We were looking forward to celebrating with them today but life happens and special events often go by quietly, without fanfair or colorful celebration.  The event isn't any less precious or important - or the people who make it possible. 

We love you so much and are so grateful for your love and care in the quiet, often unseen places of life.  In the ordinary days - life and love grow and encourage me tremendously. 

Thanks for keeping on.  Thanks for loving. 
Thanks for holding on in the storms and continuing to fight and love and laugh. 

We love you so much!  Have a great day continuing to walk in the ordinary of life!