Last weekend as a three year old!

Lucy turns 4 tomorrow and we have been celebrating this last weekend of being three by spending time with Grandma and Papa from FL and Grandpa Noonan and Joanna. Samuel has had a full weekend of a soccer game and a percussion concert at church (I'll post more on that later) that kept our event calendar busy for the grandparents.

After Samuel's game on Saturday all the grandparents were at the house for a while and Grandpa Noonan gave Lucy the birthday present he made for her - isn't this amazing! He is so handy with woodworking and made this dress up/closet for Lucy and Butterfly Kitty. Last night and this morning she spent quite a bit of time sorting through her dress up clothes and hanging them up, putting them on, asking if she could go to the store in them. As you know my kiddos love to dress up and this dress up center will be used daily in our house - what a great birthday gift! Thanks Grandpa Noonan!

Spring-time Artists

Today we spent the morning playing outside and painting beautiful spring flowers. The girls braved the breeze and enjoyed the sunshine while I got a surprise visit from my dear friend, Michelle! Thanks for stopping by.

Flying away

Samuel has been wanting to build a jet pack but, as I mentioned before, I'm not a rocket scientist so cardboard will have to do for now. We watched a show called Design Squad that shows kids making models of things and then building the real thing. The latest show was about a winged glider - so Samuel wanted to make one. Here is his prototype (no wings - just flintstone feet)- he even made it around the cul-de-sac a couple of times before he crashed. Lucy had her own version.
The buttons, bombs, steering wheel, etc.
Lucy's version
The last leg of the trip around the cul-de-sac
The happy creator/inventor

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!

This past Saturday some of the girls from church threw a shower for Butterfly Kitty and me. The women of SouthPoint PCA have been a huge blessing over the past three years we have lived here and this was just another example of their love and friendship!

I was overwhelmed at their generosity and care for me. I am so grateful for some time to think about baby #3 and begin to get excited that she will actually be here soon. It's been hard to think and get prepared for her arrival. I was reminded by one of my friends that God knows every hair on this little one's head and all ready knows all of the days of her life and has chosen to put her in our family...a good thought to be reminded of.

When I got home, Lucy helped me unpack everything and put it on our shelf - she carefully laid everything out and talked about what we would do with the baby wash, the wipes, etc. She saw a little hair bow and said "She is going to be so cute in this Mama!" It was neat to see how excited she was to see all of the blessings other gave to us. We prayed and thanked God for all of HIS provision through others.

THANK you to all of you who gave so much for us! We greatly appreciate being "showered" with your kindness! Thank you! Thank you!

Friday

Samuel had 'Donuts with Dad' at school this morning. He recited Psalm 23 and gave Jeremy some things he made for him - he drew a picture of Jeremy with a bushy beard. I love that Samuel is memorizing God's word.

Lucy and I went to a 1/2 price day at a consignment sale - I got one maternity shirt for a $1 and I let Lucy pick out one outfit for Butterfly Kitty - I want her to be able to give things to her little sister and she is super excited.

I went to the OB today for my 34 week check up and everything looks good. I'm measuring just right and the heartbeat was strong. So grateful! I was highly encouraged/chided to get registered at the hospital, get my birth plan to them and get that infant car seat but I know it'll be a while so I'll get on it soon. I was hoping the midwife would say Butterfly Kitty is about 22 pounds by this point (it would explain the weight gain) but seems she is between 4-5 pounds - I'm getting excited but in all reality it could be as much as 8 more weeks or as little as 4 weeks - wow.

Tonight Jeremy decided we would use our Cracker Barrel gift cards from Christmas to eat out so that I didn't have to cook - again I was grateful - a much needed break from cooking and cleaning and yummy dinner for us all.

Samuel earned his "stay up late night" from our manners jar. He wanted to know more about World War I so Jeremy showed him a couple of youtube videos on WWI and now they are playing the Wii. Fun times in the Noonan house.

Thursday: St. Patrick's Day

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

My little leprechaun!

We started the day off with a little green for breakfast - green smoothies, zuchinni muffins and sprinkles on the plate with green eggs (minus the ham - Sam I am!). Have a wonderful day celebrating with green, rainbows and the reminder of St. Patrick's love of the LORD!


We had a little tea party at the house with the girls and few other friends - and lots of playing while the mom's got to talk. We had a great St. Patty's day. At dinner we talked about the Trinity and it was so sweet to hear Lucy and Samuel talk about God - especially the "Ho-we Pirit" as Lucy calls Him. (from the stories we read, St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach about how God is one God but three persons - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) Lucy and I took a pic before we headed to soccer practice for brother. Here is a picture of me with my girls. Lucy and Butterfly Kitty (she's the size of a pineapple this week so I thought we could put a pineapple in the picture for comparison).

Wednesday

Princesses by morning and...

...Ballerinas by the afternoon (Lucy down-the-street joined Lucy for ballet today and had a great time!)

We also spent some time getting ready for St.Patty's day with a little muffin baking (spinach and zuchinni - AKA. special leprechaun fruit - thrown in for color and moisture to our whole wheat chocolate chip muffins!)
and the girls made some rainbows out of beads.




Random reading material for today -
Mulan
Peter Pan (a portion of the original)
Little Critters
Tangled
The Beginning Reader's Bible
Patrick Saint of Ireland

Tuesday

Random thoughts after a day of watching 4 children on a rainy day

I'm so glad skin stretches...I have 7 more weeks and not any more room in the inn...seriously how can my belly grow any more? I just wish this stretchable skin was a little more elastic on the recoil.

If I were stuck on a desert island the food/drink I would miss the most would be sweet tea.

My children are laughing uncontrollably because Lucy tooted in the bathtub and they are taking turns trying to guess what is smells like - a proud Mama moment for sure (fun times with a 5 year old boy and his little sister!)

Samuel's homework was to write 3 sentences about Cars. "Cars are coul [cool]. Cars hav welse [wheels]. Cars hav moters [motors]."

Lucy was super sweet today while L was crying she made up a story about a little girl named Lucy who helps a little girl named L. She tried to pat her back and read to her while I made her a cup of milk - sweet girl.

We had fresh pineapple today for snack - a whole, fresh pineapple from Aldi for .99 cents.

You can tell what we had for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner without even asking a single person in my home - just look at my floor.

Lucy quote for the day
Lucy: "Mama, can we go to the park that is 2 inches from the barber shop?"
Mama: "Maybe, but it's a little more than 2 inches from the barber shop."
Lucy: "oh, yeah, can we go to the park that is 2 years from the barber shop."

I truly think being a Mama is the best job/position/experience ever.

Just keeping it real folks

PS - I thought I would add my random reading material for the day
A Shelter in the time of Storm (just a bit of it)
Magic School Bus in the Bat Cave
Thor's Big Adventures
Patrick, Saint of Ireland
Gigi: The Pink Ballerina
I did finish rereading this two nights ago

Monday

The Noonan house was full of giggles and girls today. We had a great time with the sweet girls from down the street, making things, eating snacks, playing with dolls, dressing up and watching some Strawberry Shortcake!
and I even had this sweet things asleep in my bed for the afternoon...
don't you love the feet!!

We ended the day by playing outside and enjoying time with Jordan and Connor - aren't these two cute?

It was a colorful (almost) spring day in the yard and a great start to the week!

Babies

This week I feel the weight (literally and figuratively) of being 33 weeks along with baby number three and the reality that in just a few short weeks a newborn will be a part of our family. I still have some necessary prep to be ready for Butterfly Kitty...1. register at the hospital 2. rest so that Butterfly Kitty doesn't come sooner than she needs to 3. find infant car seat and a few other necessities before her arrival 4. finish cleaning out nursing books/materials to turn study corner in bedroom into a nursery 5. enjoy time with Lucy and Samuel as we wait for this new addition to our family 6. trust the Lord that all the detail will work out - He is always faithful!

I've been looking over pics from the last several years and being reminded of Samuel's arrival and Lucy's arrival. I can't imagine life without them and its so emotion stirring to look back at those pics and remember how quickly time passes. I want to just soak up every minute.

Here are a few pics I found of Lucy's arrival - I love to see Samuel's joy at discovering his sister. I hope the wonder of new addition will be welcome and exciting to them this time too.

This is taken the afternoon before Lucy was born (he was 19 months old) - he's never really known life without Lucy. What a stinking cutie!
Waiting for Lucy
She's arrived safe and sound. As you might remember we didn't know if Lucy was a boy or a girl - but I just "knew" she was a girl - my little Lucy.
It's been all smiles ever since....well, most of the time.

Pure Joy!

Today was Samuel's first soccer game. What a beautiful day for a soccer game! Samuel had a permanent smile plastered on his face the whole game and had so much fun. As you may know, Samuel is a verbal child and had to narrate the whole game. He talked, screamed and squealed with delight (Jeremy and I wondered if he would be hoarse at the end of the game) the whole time, "get the ball", "go the other way," "Whahooo!", "I got it", "did you see that?" I laughed and smile the whole first 5-10 minutes he played because he was having such a great time and enjoying the playing he just seemed full of JOY. I was actually surprised at how well he did - he's definitely a runner and enjoyed the game. Lucy had a great time playing with some of the other little sisters - beautiful morning to be at the field at watch my kiddos out in the sunshine.

Lucy with the girls...
Samuel kicking off
All smiles!

Bench time (they try to play all players equally so he sat about half the game but didn't seem to mind)

Growing up

It's something I can't stop...my oldest is growing up. I'm more emotional about this lately - I'm sure its the pregnancy hormones or maybe this is just how the next 13 years will be. This week several things happened -

1. Samuel tied his shoes without help.
2. At a mid-year parent teacher conference Samuel's teacher said she has seen him grow and mature this year so much, especially in the area of self-control (ie. not talking when the teacher is talking)
3. He asked for some of Jeremy's Dr. Pepper - he hasn't liked carbonated drinks up til now because he said they were "spicy" but from whatever influence - he likes the spicy stuff.
4. He did his laundry almost all by himself. He can't fold shirts yet but he's pretty good at pants and pj's. He can move the laundry around (in the washer, to the dryer, to the basket, fold the pants and help me put them all away - whew! I love it!)

Can't believe it.

Make your own spring

If the weather keeps wanting to act like winter...just make your own spring.

Silly Bandz

I know I've mentioned this before but this year the craze has been these shaped rubber bands called SILLY BANDZ (or whatever knock off version you can find). Lucy has loved them and often wants to "trade" with me. She gave me some silly bands so that I could trade with her. This week we traded again...

Quotes

Lucy combines 'horrible' and 'terrible' to create her own word 't-orrible'

Used in a sentence

"Mama, it's so windy out here. The wind is torrible!"

Mema and Papa

We had a chance to make it to Jax for a quick visit while we were in FL to visit my Mema and Papa (AKA. Mimi and Big Papa). I loved getting the chance to see them and spend time with them. I'm so grateful for them and their love for us (and that Papa shared some of his York peppermint patties with me and Butterfly Kitty)! We love you Mema and Papa!!

This is just too sweet!

Soccer Mom

I have an announcement to make...this week I became a soccer mom. Samuel started soccer practice this week and has his first game in a couple of Saturdays. Y'all I really fit the picture of a suburban soccer mom. Let me paint the picture - In addition to my two kiddos I had two sweet girls from down the street - so, that makes 4 children under the age of 5, one obviously pregnant lady, one picnic dinner, one stroller, one excited kid in soccer practice gear all loaded up in our minivan headed for the soccer field. Samuel had a great time and enjoyed every minute - I'm so excited to see him enjoying life!!!

Grandma Time

While Samuel and I spent time together - Lucy and Grandma had some special time together. They had a little tea party, took a leisurely walk down to the mailbox before lounging on the porch. Sweet time!

Blast from the Past

I read a blog post by my cousin, Angela, about her pregnancy nostalgia and have had similar feelings. I especially had these feelings driving home from my parents last week. Reminded of how precious a gift time with family is. I just loved remembering the events of the week and remembering my own childhood. Being pregnant makes me think about how I grew up, what it was like for me to birth my first, what I looked like when I had my second, what did my brother and I do for Easter when we were kids, what is important to me as a mom and a person? Angela posted a couple of pics - one of the two of us with our Granny and Grandpa Kinsey when we were less than a year old, taken in the front of my Great Granddaddy and Grandma Ezell's yard which is now my parent's yard (I'm the bald one on the right with my grandpa in the first pic). Enjoy! and I'm thinking I need to get a scanner for some of those old pics!

Robot Construction

While at the farm I wanted to be able to spend some special time with Samuel - he's been asking for some time just with me and I thought that would be a great time to make it happen. I asked him what he wanted to do and he said eat a picnic on the porch and make something with me. So we decided on robots. We went to Papa's barn and found odd and end pieces of metal, scraps and things on the ground and then used grandma's glue gun to stick it all together on some tomato cans. We had a great time creating together and he's played with them ever since. Great afternoon with my guy.

Making a hideout for the robots
Octopus man is in the middle and his two sidekicks (six eyes and disk man). They also have a pet robot on the side.

Eating lunch and all of our creative parts and pieces.