Family

Aunt Jackie, Uncle Kenny and Jordyn came to visit this past week and we enjoyed hanging out, eating, swimming, hiking, site-seeing, fishing, and just being around family we haven't seen in several years.  So glad you could come - we are so grateful for you - next time Tori has to come!

Gone Fishin'

Uncle Kenny - nicknamed "Uncle Candy" by Lydia - took Samuel fishing the several days they were here last week and Samuel caught his first bass out of our lake.  He's hooked and can't wait to spend many more days casting, waiting and enjoying fishing.  Thanks Uncle Kenny!

Simple truth from little mouths

Yesterday, I had the doors open listening to the rain, thunder and lightning show - enjoying the cross breeze.  I love the rain.  I didn't mind the water splattering on the floor in the foyer and at the back door.  The big kids were both concerned about the lightning and kept asking - "Can we close the door MAMA?"  They were concerned/scared that they might get struck by lightning, I guess.

Finally, after a few requests to close the door - without prompting from me - Lydia ran through the house to Lucy and said "It's okay, Sissy, God will protect us!"  She answered their fear with a simple reminder.  In a world that would have us fear at every turn and avoid ALL risk at ALL cost we have to remember this truth - He is in control.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the Daddy's in my life (Big Papa, Daddy, Jeremy, and Jack).  You have been an amazing blessing to me and our munchins over the years.  We are truly blessed to have you in our lives!  Grateful to the Lord for you!

Hello SUMMER!!!

School's out.  Last week ended with a girl's playdate on Thursday with Lucy's friends and then a campout/sleepover with Samuel's friends on Friday.  Lots of laughter and fun had by all to kick off the summer.  Today Lucy has her Dress Rehearsal for her first recital and she is super excited - other than that - Here are some pics from our first week of summer -

Boys campout and a Mom and kiddos campout this week in the backyard

Bye-bye holey jeans - Hello cut-offs

Trip to the Pool on opening weekend

 Lots of coloring, arts and craft and play-dough

 We're up to 4 batches of Jello all ready

 One broken window - from a ball kicked by boy

There's been a girl's birthday party, fishing with neighbors, CLEANING, post-planning with Daddy and anticipation of more fun for the rest of the summer.

And then...

....And then there were FOUR!

13 years

At the end of a fun night with friends - 13 years together and we can still dance the night away

Friends

Friday night we got to spend with some of our dearest friends.  Friends who have been there through the "for better or for worsts" with us and who made an evening so much fun.  We celebrated a 40th birthday in style and enjoyed being with those friends, we danced and laughed and talked.  Grateful to the LORD for those who walk with us in this life - and for others who we thought of - thankful to the LORD for friends.  What a gift!

sharing

 One lick for me.....

 One lick for you.....

One lick for me.....

One lick for you....

Mother's Day bling!

Here are the goods - my Mother's Day BLING - the best bling - straight from little hands and hearts that truly love...with their string and beads they make my bling.  They spell out LOVE as colorful beads come from their colorful heart and find their way to my wrist.  What a great reminder of the purity of LOVE - the simplicity of what really matters.  Thanks sweet kiddos - I love being your MAMA!

1st Grade Award Day

Today - this one who dresses herself and fixes her own hair - who sings and dances, speaks Spanish and English and has now almost completed 1st grade - she got some pieces of paper with praise. Papers praising her Math, English and Spanish. But the sweet smile and sweet friends were bigger praise.

13 years

13 years ago I said "I do"

OK - I didn't really know what all was meant in that little "I do".  But I did.  And I meant it.  And I still do.

I knew it meant "for better or for worse" - and we've had some of that.

I knew it meant "wherever you go I'll go" - and I have.

I knew it meant "to have and to hold" - and we've held tight - through storms and joy.

I knew it was a promise and it was the biggest promise I'd ever make, the biggest promise that will shape me, that will mold me and change me - and a generation to come.  And it has - and it is.

Two became one - and it's been a beautiful mess ever since.

Love has a way of changing and shaping and forming and multiplying.  A strange adventure that never seems to end - like a visit to a new and exciting land AND being home next to the fire on the couch cuddled up ALL at the same time.  New and Old - familiar and unexplored.  Well worn paths and trails unblazed.

I'm grateful for the one who is my other half, who walks with me and grows with me in this adventure.  He is a part of me, my encourager, my helper, my friend, my defender - my husband.  I'm grateful for the ways we challenge one another - and I'm thankful, thankful, thankful for the last 13 years with him - packed with what was unimaginable but are now cherished memories and reminders of God's GREAT Faithfulness.

With all my love!

Art

It begins - that last month of school - the race toward summer that feels packed tighter than an overstuffed burrito. Tonight was the Art Show at the kids school. They love their art class.

(As a side - when I walked into the Gym and saw a poster board with big letters that read REPRODUCTIONs - I immediately thought - oh no! What are we in for - I thought this was an art show? Then I was pleasantly surprised when the board shows old master's art work and the classes were REPRODUCING the original prints. Whew!)

Samuel reproduced "The Sleeping Gypsy" by Henri Rousseau

Lucy Reproduced "The Scream" by Edvard Munch

Home of the Braves

 Back in April Jeremy and I went to an event for cancer survivors at the Braves game.  We enjoyed getting to walk around the field and get a different perspective on the game.  We sat in the shade with good seats and enjoyed a day out at the game together - celebrating the kindness of God to give us more precious time.

Unedited birthday questions for 3 year old

Favorite color - purple
favorite book - Princesses
favorite movie - Frozen
favorite song - Frozen
favorite food - macaroni and cheese
best friends - Madison, Audrey, Miles, Regan, Mommy, Brother, Cissy
Like to play with - Tarzan and Rapunzel
Favorite Super Hero - Batman
Favorite place to go - Steak and Shake (we've been once)

Christ is Risen!

Happy Easter from the Noonan's!



Sweet friends

We had some dear, sweet friends over today for Sunday lunch - we love them and are so glad they are a part of our lives.  We celebrated Lydia's birthday as well as Easter!

Easter Prep

We had a great weekend preparing for Easter.  Good Friday service on Friday night and family worship on Saturday night - and despite the rain, we hunted eggs and planted some flowers.  A great weekend with my sweet kiddos - grateful for them and their joy at life.

Spring

We had a visit with my sweet friend Christina and her youngest yesterday (we missed seeing the 2 oldest but hope to see them soon). The children played Legos and forts outside while we visited. What a beautiful day for a visit! After that, they generously gave us some passes to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. In my 14 years in Atlanta I've never been to the gardens and I was impressed. The children had a wonderful time and our short 2 1/2 hours there was not enough. Here are some pictures of my kiddos enjoying the spring time flowers - the tulips were amazing - most were taller than Lydia!

Peter Cottontail with Mrs. Cottontail and Flopsy