Noble and Donetta Family Reunion

Setting up "camp" for the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It is always a treat to get to stay the night at their house!

Uncle Rob setting up the tent

Grandpa Pete and Jake

Cousins!

Aunt "Titi"!!!

Tour of the town. We had about 50 people on the back of a trailer, and my aunt drove us around town while my Grandpa explained the sights... It turned out to be quite fun!

More of the tour- The house where my great-grandmother and my great-grandfather met. Isn't it just lovely? 

More of the tour- House where my Grandpa was born

More of the tour- One of the neatest women I have ever meet--my Aunt Betty.

More of the tour- The canal, aka, the local swimming pool. Quite a few summer days were spent either jumping into the canal, or floating down it, to cool off. It really is as dirty as it looks... 

M with Grandma's cane. Surprising...

Making sock puppets

The reunion this year was a lot of fun! There was only one thing that really put a damper on things, and that was the fact that M only slept about an hour the entire night! What?! You heard me, an HOUR! I figured he wouldn't fall asleep with all of the other cousins in the tent, so when they settled down, I took him inside to sleep on the bed with Jake and I. Wow. Terrible night. He just would not fall asleep. Around 7am, Jake took him to the grocery store. On the way back, M finally fell asleep. We left him sleeping for about another two hours before we had to be back at the park. Needless to say, we all took a long nap after lunch!

Besides that, it was a wonderful couple of days! Thank you to all who put in the work to make the reunion a success! It is a tremendous blessing to be part of such a loving family that still makes time to gather with one another.

four (wonderful) years

This month, Jake and I had our fourth wedding anniversary. We were able to celebrate by going to the Temple and eating at the Cheesecake Factory.

As I look at this picture, I chuckle at how much we thought we knew each other on that day. And at how in shape we were... Okay, but really, we were just newbies. And truthfully, we still are newbies when it comes to marriage--especially in the eternal perspective. 

The last four years, with all the stresses and struggles of life, have been wonderful with Jake.

He is giving. He is patient. He is exceptionally hard-working. He is a wonderful father. He is fun.

And lest you think he is perfect--he isn't. (Although he is currently reading Pride and Prejudice with me, so he is pretty darn close...) But, to your surprise, neither am I! So it works out okay. I will say, though, I know he is a perfect match for me.

Richard G. Scott once said, "Marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered." I agree with that wholeheartedly. It takes continual effort to not be selfish in a marriage. With that said, I also know it is worth the effort to overcome tendencies or habits that can be hurtful to a marriage relationship.

I am thankful every day to be married for time and all eternity to my Jake. I'm so lucky he would choose me!

And now that I'm an expert and all (ha ha, I wish), here is my marriage advice for the day: 

Expressions of Love

up close to a firetruck

We pulled up to the grocery store today to see a fire truck by the front doors. I thought it would be fun for M to see it up close, so we parked and walked right by the truck. As we were passing, we saw a few firemen loading some groceries into the truck. They waved and I told them M loves fire trucks. They liked that fact and were more than happy to stop and talk to him. M was excited until the firemen asked him if he wanted to go look inside the truck. He didn't like that idea.

They were great to us. They had some plastic red hats on hand for little kids, one of which they gave to M. He played with it the entire time I did the shopping--and the rest of the day.

I would say it was a successful trip to Walmart!

30 things for 30 months

 This month M will be 30 months old.

He is such a fun, happy, and energetic little guy. I love the stage he is in right now--most days at least! He is quickly growing from a toddler to a little boy. There are so many things I don't want to forget about him at this age, so I made a list of things to remember. 30 to be exact, for 30 months.

1. The big guy has learned to put on his own flip-flops. And oh. my. cuteness. Just look at the picture.
2. He is still working on pronouncing 'girl.' When he says it, it comes out 'gril.' When we put on his Woody or Buzz underwear, he asks, "Where is Jessie the Cowgril?!"
3. His favorite place to be is outside. Period.
4. He enjoys playing with keys. He walks around with them trying to unlock everything in sight.
5. His favorite primary songs are Nephi's Courage, Follow the Prophet, Book of Mormon Stories, and I Hope They Call Me on a Mission.
6. For the most part, he can make his own bed.
7. Some of the friends he enjoys most are Adalynn and Gabe.
8. M is very kind and good at sharing.
9. He rarely takes a nap anymore, but he usually sleeps in until 9:30 or 10 every morning. Love that!
10. He has this obsession with canes and wheels.

11. M loves any chance he gets to drive the car with Dad.
12. Loves, loves, LOVES to swing! When I push him, he always asks, "Mom, can you get me higher?"
13. He takes any chance he can to wrestle Jake or I. As soon as Jake gets home, M says, "You want to wrestle, Dad?!"
14. He is potty trained! Wahoo!!! We are still working on going "poopoo," but it is coming along.
15. He loves going to the library and reading books. I love our reading time together. He goes non-stop, all day long, so it is nice when he'll sit with me and read.
16. He loves to wait for Dad to get home on his blue chair.
17. Likes to pick flowers and smell them. It melts my heart when he picks one and gives it to me.
18. M adores his nursery teacher, Sis. Diamond.
19. When we tell him we are going to see someone, the first thing out of his mouth is, "We can push the button," aka, the doorbell.
20. When I tuck him in, he says, "Good night, Mom. Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite."
21. Goes crazy with excitement when he gets to go swimming.
22. Loves, loves, loves to play with his tractors.
23. He likes to pray.
24. His favorite shows on TV are the Berenstein Bears and Gaspard and Lisa.
25. He will not go to sleep without his tractor blanket, Spider Man blanket, and Teddy.
26. He has always been, and still is, happy the second he wakes up.
27. Loves to see his cousin, Evva-Bevva.
28. Curious George, Arthur, and the Berenstein Bears are his favorite kind of books to read.
29. He has learned how to pedal on his little trike.
30. Seriously, he gives the best hugs and squeezes a Mom could ask for. He melts my heart every time he gives me one! 

A rare occasion, taking a nap

Made his own bed

Just swingin' away

Having a sleep-over with cousin Evva

Waiting for Dad to get home

M and his "cane"

Thanks for all of the love and happiness you bring into our family. We love you so much, Little Guy!

Saturday "Trike"

The other day we were able to go on a hike, or as M kept calling it, a "trike." It was nice to be up in the mountains. M's favorite part was the "cane" we found along the way. The kid is obsessed with canes, so it was a treasure find for sure! He is a funny little guy.

 We ended the hike by dipping our feet in the creek water. It was freezing, but M loved it. It was nice to spend some time together in the great outdoors!