Runaway Stoller!

On Thursday we were able to go to the Santa Barbara Zoo. We were so excited! How could you beat looking at Elephants and Gorillas while hearing the waves crash? The foliage and the grounds were just gorgeous. Here were are with the Zebras, one of which has a crooked neck. We heard a little boy telling his friend that they cannot do surgery on him because it would 'really be just too much for him to take.' It was really cute.

The most interesting part of the afternoon was right after we saw the giraffe. We were standing at the top of a VERY LARGE hill when suddenly the stroller started rolling away - FAST - with Noelle in it!!! It truly was the scariest moment of my life. I went racing after it and we both crashed into a block wall with all kinds of on lookers. I had visions of my precious baby being seriously hurt or worse! But, luckily all that happened was on impact her head bumped the wall. She just has a funny mark on her forehead that is almost gone. The Mom was the one who actually received more damage! Here is a picture of all of those that love the gore! A gash on my hip that is now all black in blue and so SORE. There is also a bump on my head along with other scrapes and bruises. I know that Heavenly Father sent angels to watch over us that day for many reasons. One example is that the stroller straps that go over Noelle's shoulders were too long and just hung off of her. For some reason as we got out of the car at the Zoo I tightened them down. They had been that way for months! The stroller could have tip and/or rolled over, many scenarios that make me shudder could have played out, I am so grateful that we both walked away with relatively no injuries. As soon as we got home Noelle was doing what she does best (besides screaming) she ran out the door to play. She learned how to climb up and go down the slide by herself. She is such a big girl!!!!!

It's Been Too Long!

I know it has waaaaay too much time has passed since our last post. That last two weeks have just gotten away from me! I have taken some picture with out blog in mind, though! So, here goes, it's gonna be a long one. Here Noelle is after our afternoon at the Farmer's Market! We bought all kinds of yummy fruits and veggies, herbs and we got some pretty flowers. We had a lot of fun walking around and tasting everything. I think strawberries are definitely her favorite food, though! We will be sad when the season is over because she eats them every single day! They are so yummy and juicy!


I am SOOO glad I was able to get the camera in time for this one! I was running the shower so I could get in and then I turn around! There is Noelle enjoying the COLD water running all over her, I did not even hear her get in! She did not seam to mind the cold water at all. She is so silly. We have so much fun during the day. She is always surprising me with silly new things she comes up with! Many times it has involved water! I am so grateful for the chance to be a Mommy - especially hers! She is such a sweet blessing.

Last week we finally did something I have been wanting to do since we move here was go to the Ronald Reagan Library. We went with our sweet friend Stephanie Lovio and really did enjoy ourselves! I really was not sure what to expect... It was just a library full of all kinds of memorabilia of him and his life. From his childhood, his acting career, marriage to Nancy, presidency, etc. We also toured airforce one. Sorry the picture on the left is blurry but it's the only one we took!




Finally I have to post about Noelle's musical talents! She has always loved music and things that make noise but now she can really play on a real instrument. Aaron's Grandpa was able to get us a used (kinda older- but free!) piano and Noelle LOVES it. None of us play it (yet!) but we know that our children will and wanted to take advantage of a free one while we had the chance!

Out On A Family Walk

Last night we went on a walk down to the park. Here is Noelle as we are getting ready to go with her Daddy. She is drinking her favorite: V-8 juice. How funny is that? But, you certainly won't hear any complaints from me!

We had a lot of fun walking around everywhere looking and all of the neighbors dogs and playing on the slide. Last Noelle had the best time going for a ride in a box being pulled by Daddy! After all the fun was over we had dinner and bedtime. Being a family is the best.

What's On The Floor?

Can you look REALLY hard and see what this is? I bet you all the money in the world you cannot guess what this is.

It's pee! Yep, good 'ol urine .......... on my family room floor!

I was changing Noelle's diaper and she scrambled right away from me. She stands up with no diaper on and immediately starts to go pee! Ahhhhhhhh! At least she got over to the tile and did not do it on the carpet.

I was really in a groove cleaning downstairs so I did not want to run up and do the whole bath thing so I just hosed her off in the kitchen sink, soaped her down with some vanilla hand soap from the Bath & Body Works and called it good.

Last I dried her off with a clean kitchen towel, she really loved playing in the sink and was very upset that I took her out! I was finally done with that mess except for cleaning the floor!

Playing At Isabella's House

So, I have been doing someone a favor and been watching her three month until school gets out, here we are playing at their house:

Noelle LOVES to play in this car but she gets very frustrated when she cannot crawl out the bottom of it. We did this over and over again. Finally, I got sick of pulling her out from underneath and we went back inside.

Lunch Time

A lunch of mixed veggies (the ONLY kind she will eat), plums, cheerios, cheese, and milk! It was an awesome buffet! Mealtime certainly is Noelle's favorite time of the day!








Please don't mind the dark piece of plum that is stuck in her teeth!

More Egg Hunting!

After our church hunt we had so much fun hunting for Eggs at Aunties House. (I had to change her dress because the wheather was too chilly for the other dress she was wearing! And that silly sweater would not stay on!) After a yummy lunch of ham, potato salad, beans, fruit, and cole slaw - the hunt was on! Noelle was really into it. She went all over looking for the eggs and when she saw them she started grunting, "oh, oh, oh, oh." It pulled at my heart strings to watch these priceless moments. After she had found a few eggs we would just slip one out and hide it for her again. It did not take long for this smart little girl to figure out what we were doing with her eggs. She noticed that the pale was not filling up like it should! Then she joined in on the fun and would hide them again so she could find them!
After all the fun hiding the kids were cracking open those eggs to find the fun toys and yummy candy inside. Uncle Matthew really enjoyed helping his niece figure out how to open the eggs and get the jelly beans inside. Mommy was not happy with that at all! But Noelle sure loved it! Look at that cheek filled with that yummy sweetness! As if that all was not enough we all sang happy birthday to Evynn. She turned seven today! I did not get a picture of that, too bad. But she loved blowing out her candles and opening presents. She got a lot of cute things, and lots of money! After all the festivities were over everyone had a great time enjoying each other's company. The children loved playing with one another and counting each other's eggs. We all had a great time and by evening we were just worn out! We said good night and came home. Noelle got her bath and bed, while mommy was up late getting things for Easter dinner started. Tomorrow will be more celebration!

Easter Egg Hunting

We had a very fun morning at our ward Easter egg hunt. We enjoyed bagels and juice first and then the hunting began! Well, that is for everyone else. Noelle wanted nothing to do with picking up eggs! She just wanted her Daddy to hold her. She refused any of it! Kids were running around everywhere so excited and we tried everything to get her to try.......but no luck.

After awhile she got to spend some time with the basket of eggs her Daddy picked up Noelle got interested in playing with them. She picked each one up and shook it to see what kind of noise it made and then put it back in the basket. One by one... It was pretty fun. She also enjoyed carrying the basket around the parking lot and showing it to everyone. Fun times were had by all!

What a Difference A Day Makes

And an IV helps, too! Noelle is feeling much, much better this morning. Look at that smile! She slept until about 5:30 - I went and got her and she took a couple sips of Pedialyte and then she fell back to asleep as we snuggled in bed. She popped her head up about 8:30 and said, "Da-yee?" Sorry, baby Daddy already left for work. We have had a couple more sips to drink, a nibble on a banana, and a couple bites of oatmeal. She only had a tiny bit of that come back up. Looks like we are on the road to recovery! Whew!

Calling In Sick

Don't you wish you could sometimes?


Poor little Noelle has been SOOOOOO sick! It started Sunday night as we were pulling up to Uncle Jason and Aunt Kate's to pick up our car. She puked ALL over the inside of the car. They were great at helping us clean out the car and clean up Noelle because every time we got her ready to go - up it would come again. I won't even mention their carpet. Why do kids always miss the towel? This continued for most of the night. We tried to get her a few sips of water in the morning but they just came right back up. Monday Noelle and her Mommy spent the entire day on the couch. She just laid there the whole time. While I gave her little squirts of Pedialyte through a medicine syringe so she would not get sick again. Look at her poor little face. She is so miserable. Then the fever started! It was a long night of 103 degree fever with lots of Tylenol that did not work but warm baths that did. I am so tired. Tuesday began much of the same, except now she would refused to drink anything. The last she drank was some out of a cup around 2:00 am that came right back up. Around Noon I really began to worry and called the Ped office for the 3rd time and I insisted I wanted to bring her in. They said their was no room but a Nurse would call me back. An hour later I called back. They said she had been at Lunch but would call me soon. I waited another hour and as I was on hold again they called the other line and told me to take her to the Urgent Care because she was dehydrated and needed an IV. THANKS! I should have just followed my Mommy gut and taken her right in.

Having the IV put in was a seriously traumatic experience for all involved! She is so strong! It took me, Daddy, and two nurses to hold her down. I was crying so much I think I got a little dehydrated, too! Her veins were really flat because she was so dehydrated so finding where to stick was hard. After trying in the foot they got one in her arm. Finally, Aaron and I sat there for an hour hold her while the fluids drained in. She did perk up some and ate a few Cheerios so they let us take her home. She is still feeling really bad.....she threw up the Cheerios and the little drink I got her to take in when we got home. Tonight will be a long battle.....Aaron is leaving for mutual and I am going to have to park it on the couch again... Wish me luck!




Look at this poor little girl who is feeling so sick and has holes poked in her.