Early Christmas!

This weekend we had Christmas early with my mom and her husband Walt. My brother and his family were supposed to be there but had to cancel because their dog got sick. We missed them but still had a great time. Walt made us Beef Wellington (which is filet mignon covered in a puff pastry and gorgonzola cheese... VERY yummy!) and we enjoyed a very delicious dinner together! We opened presents and it was fun to see Noah start to get the hang of it. Noah went to bed and all the adults got to watch a movie. We ended up staying the night as it was most convenient (plus it was snowing!!). Thanks mom and Walt for a fun time!

"Ninja Class"

I started taking Noah to this gymnastics tumbling class a few weeks ago at the Y. It's a fun little class where the little kiddos can climb around all the equipment and play to their hearts content. I think Noah enjoys it and I love being able to get out of the house in the cold weather. When I first told Luke of wanting to go to this class, he said "only on the exception that you call it Ninja Class", so "Ninja Class" it is!!! :)

Thanksgiving Weekend

This Thanksgiving we were blessed to be able to go to Sunriver with Luke's family and stay about 5 days. We had a great time hanging out, riding bikes, going in the hot tub, playing apples to apples, watching Noah open his presents, and of course, eating great food! Oh yeah, and Luke went indoor surfing too!! It was a memorable time!

Happy Birthday Noah!!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Noah,

Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!

A birthday bash!

We had a birthday party for Noah tonight to celebrate him turning one tomorrow! What fun we had! It was so cute helping him open his presents while he mostly just ate the wrapping paper :)

We sang him happy birthday and gave him his own pumpkin muffin with a little bit of frosting on it (not as fun as a whole cake, I know). After eyeing it for a few minutes I broke it up into smaller pieces and then he stuffed his face! I Can't believe it's been a whole year!


Blowing out the candle
He got a rubber bouncy cow
Noah was more interested in the paper :)
Luke made his famous bagels! YUM!

In Labor

Last year on this very day, I was going through the hardest, most rigorous, most wonderful thing I have ever experienced! After 24 hours, no drugs, and an episiotomy, out came my beautiful son. What a gift from God!
We have a little calendar in our bathroom with beautiful quotes and scriptures about prayer and on November 23rd this is what it read:
"Labor at prayer! There is nothing thrilling about a laboring man's work, but is is the laboring man who makes the conceptions of the genius possible; and it is the laboring saint who makes the conception of his Master possible" Oswald Chambers
Cool, huh?

Growing

Some of you don't know that we have a tortoise as a pet. Yes, his name is David and he was a gift from Luke for my 24th birthday (a funny story), so we've had him for over 3 years.
In all this time, we have known he has grown but have never physically seen him grow.. until now. We woke up yesterday morning to find these black lines on David's shell.... new growth. Kind of neat, isn't it? No wonder he has been eating like crazy!

The Simple Things

I love how at this age, Noah is pretty entertained by simple things. Last night I made a fort for him to crawl around in.... it was evidence by his delightful screams that he LOVED it!

What we've been up to

Although fall is my favorite season, it also seems to be one of the busiest. Thus I have neglected catching you all up on what is happening with us.
Lets start with Luke.....
Luke started playing soccer this fall with an adult league here in Ashland. He made it through about 4 games before he hurt his quad muscle! We had fun going down to the field on Monday nights and watching him. He was planning on doing the 1st Annual Ashland Marathon in November but didn't get proper training due to his injury, but I'm sure he'll do it next year!

He also started the college ministry on Tuesday nights instead of Friday's and has limited the people who go to those who are specifically college students, so they can have a group of their own. He teaches a Monday noon study at SOU as well, which is a great time for the students to come and be refreshed in the Lord.
On top of that he has also started a "third Sunday service" which is on Saturday nights at our church. The Lord is truly blessing these ministries and continuing the good work which he began in Luke! I stand amazed at the love and obedience he has for God!

Luke is also an amazing daddy and Noah is just absolutely attached to him as soon as he walks in the door. They are funny, those two.....


On to Noah.......


This boy is such a joy to our hearts!!! I honestly don't go a day without thanking the Lord for him, he is such a blessing and brings so much joy to our lives!

These last few weeks for him have brought exciting changes. He began to walk last week and decided to take 5 whole steps his first crack at it. Just yesterday Luke finally got to see him take some steps (8). I never realized how exciting it could be watching him grow and learn new things!

On top of that, he is dancing, singing, clapping, and learning simple commands like "go get your baby". A note about that; we do not let him play with dolls, but yesterday Luke gave him this little baby (actually a little rubber figure of what a baby looks like in utero at 12 weeks). Noah instantly loved this thing and started sucking on its head. Luke took him on a walk and brought it with him and someone commented "he is sucking on a fetus"! I'm sure it looked weird!
Anyways later that day, Luke told Noah "go get your baby" and Noah crawled right into the living room and came back into the kitchen holding it in his hand! We were ecstatic :) .
Such a smart boy!

As for me.....I've been busy being a mommy!!! And a wife!!!!! :)
I can't think of anything too interesting to say! I'm finally going to cut my LONG hair (it's driving me nuts) as Noah tends to get his fingers caught in it.
Some of you know that I play guitar, and I have been asked to lead worship next month for a ladies seminar at our church. It's been a long time, so I'm starting to practice and get some callouses again.
Other than that, I'm looking forward to spending some time with family during the holidays and have been planning a birthday party for a little boy who will turn one next month!

Fall is in the air

We took Noah to the pumpkin patch last weekend. It was so cute to put him in a big pile of pumpkins and take pictures. We also went on a hay ride and there were animals to pet and look at (Noah was kind of freaked out by them, especially the bunny). Here are a few pics!

End of Summer

So I haven't blogged in a while due to the fact that we've been busy with various things, and because we haven't had internet for a few days.
Summer ended with birthdays, lazy afternoons in the park, and football games. Here are a few pics to prove it! :)

Elijah & Toni Visit!

Malachi

Cousins

Grandma with her grandkiddies

Malachi playing with Mary


This Labor Day Weekend was special because my brother and his wife and their kids came to visit from Bend. I hadn't even seen Mary yet, who is now 4 1/2 months old! She is an absolute sweetie. And Malachi is now 1 1/2 and quite the toddler. He like to play "tackle" with Elijah and they run around with the football and tackle each other :) . We had a great time catching up with them and having delicious meals out at my mom's house compliments of Walt. We wish we could see them more often!!!!!

Weekend Fun

We headed up to Newport for a couple days to hang out with the family. It was absolutely beautiful weather for the Oregon Coast!

Then we headed to Alsea, Oregon to go to Casey & Leah's wedding. Casey is Luke's homeboy from high school.

Back in Ashland on Sunday we celebrated my 27th birthday by going out to Pasta Piatti. I had some yummy shrimp pesto linguine and for desert, Tiramisu of course! Is it just me, or does 27 sound...so, grown up? I realize I AM grown up, but somewhere inside I always feel about 16 :).

Washington Trip

Noah and I just got back from a 4 day trip to Washington (state) to see my family. My cousin Nicole who I spent the summers with as a kid, came up from Utah as well as my cousin Tone and his wife Jennie. My grandma and great grandma live up there along with lots of aunts and uncles. We flew up on Thursday and my mom flew up on Friday. We had a great time just hanging out and catching up with everyone. They all got to meet Noah for the first time and I got to meet Nicole's kids and Tone's wife and kids. The trip felt way too short but I am thankful that I got to see everyone and have time together! It's too bad we don't all live closer, but I am hearing rumors of a Newell family reunion starting next year! Even though I brought a camera, I did not take a single picture so I'll post as soon as someone emails me some :) .

Happy Birthday / Anniversary!!

Happy Birthday to you mom!!! And happy 36th anniversary! You guys are awesome and we love you very much! It's cute to see that after all these years you are still so in love, what a great example you have set and what a testimony of the Lord's faithfulness. Have a beautfiul day!

Mean Muggin

This is classic.

Hillclimb 08'

View from our house

Running up the last stretch to the top

He made it!

Yesterday Luke ran the countries 3rd most vertical gain mountain race (5700 vertical feet). The picture I took above is the view from our house looking at Mount Ashland (the red arrow). The race started downtown in the park and went all the way to the very tippy top of Mt. A. This was his second time doing this yearly race here in Ashland. Besides getting some really intense leg cramps he came in 41st place out of 250!! Great job honey!!!

Friday

Noah and his daddy

Having Lunch at the Park

At the Fountain

Zechariah & Noah in Luke's charge