LOOK WHAT I FOUND ON YOU TUBE...

Today I was sent a link to a YouTube video that was a tribute to my dance teacher who passed away a year ago. She was an incredible woman and dance teacher! I looked at more videos by the user who sent the video and found a video of me and my cousin Dean dancing at the US Open Swing Dance Championships when we were around 8. I thought you all might get a kick out of it. And yes, that is my real hair. Enjoy!!

VISITING WITH THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GIRLS

Halle Ganyo

Noelle and Macy Pray

Macy MacDiarmid, Halle Ganyo, Noelle, and Macy Pray

"Quick Runner"

Noelle and I flew to Sacramento and spent a long weekend with Grandma Julie and my girlfriends from college. We went to a baby shower celebrating the arrival of Cameron Pray. I also got to attend the MacDiarmid's church and got some good hang out time with Erica and Halle. It was really fun to spend time with my friend's kids and get to know them better. Noelle is incredibly busy these days (as everyone that was with her this weekend could now attest for) and is learning something new everyday!

Mustard Seed Ranch

I know that I don't usually include much writing in my blog but I wanted to share about our most recent experience as a family.

This past weekend Ryan, Noelle and I, in a family first, had the opportunity to go to Mustard Seed Ranch with a group of people from Rock Harbor to lend a hand in tending to the needs of this ranch. Although we went with the mindset that we were here to serve the staff and this ranch, we left with the understanding that they had poured so much into us.

The ranch is affiliated with the Orange County Rescue Mission and provides a safe place for emotionally hurting kids to go to bond with the animals in a way that it might not be safe to bond with humans just yet, because of the difficult things they have experienced in life. I can imagine that the staff really loves on them as well, now that I've met them. Many of the workers on the ranch are in a recovery process themselves and you can see that they live in community with each other, seeking God and loving one another. It is really an incredible place.

There were many moments before we left that I was concerned about bringing Noelle and thought what even is the point? I am so thankful that we did, because although she did slow us up a little, we still had wonderful interactions, got some good work done and had this wonderful experience as a family. I realized that it could potentially be a good thing for me to be stretched when it comes to mothering Noelle and not being in an environment that I could control and one that was hot, dirty and with animals :), but I didn't really want to be. God helped to prepare my heart and we ended up with great accomodations, room to play and had a lot of fun. I also saw how others enjoyed Noelle and I loved having her there to share in it with us.

I'm so thankful that Rock Harbor created some family friendly trips this summer and opened up the reality that even with a little baby there are exciting ways to serve and love others. In the back of my mind I thought that our trip seemed a little insignificant because there would be no kids there, it was only a weekend, and would some ranch work really make a difference? I left feeling like God made a difference in our hearts and with our presence and it was exciting.

Here is Noelle on the "Neigh, neigh" swing. It was made out of a tire and swang back and forth. How cool is that?

Ryan did some dirty work (really dirty!) and layed new floor for the two fattest pigs I've ever seen.

The Orange County Fair

Here are some pictures of Noelle's first trip to the fair. She was really too small for any of the rides but we did get on this one. Grandma and I played the fill the clown's mouth with water and pop the balloon game and won Noelle a monkey. She loved it and then stopped trying to chase down kids carrying stuffed animals.

N-O-E-L-L-E

I never realized that Noelle is such a difficult name for a baby to pronounce. She never really says her name but today she was going for it. It came out a little different each time.

Visiting Elmo with Grandpa!

For Father's Day I gave my dad tickets for us all to go to the sesame street exhibit at the discovery science center. There was so much for Noelle to see and do even as young as she is. The highlight was getting her picture taken with and meeting ELMO! I know she doesn't look very happy in the picture but she ran right to him and put her hands on his knees and gave him a kiss when we had to leave.

Father's Day

We went to the Irvine Regional Park and Zoo to celebrate Father's Day!

Picture Taking!

I was looking back over the pictures and realized how well the pictures capture what trying to take Noelle's picture looks like! What a funny girl!

So we sit her down and then she's up...

Then she's running...

Then she's pointing...

And in some cases, falling...

Then we start it all over again.




It might have made more sense to do a slide show of all the cutest pictures but these are too funny and so Noelle!

NOELLE'S ONE YEAR PICTURES

We got a lot of great pictures. As you can see here, some are really sweet and some are super silly! Every few pictures that were taken, she was off and running for the pond or after the ducks. I was absolutely exhausted by the end but it was worth it.

Playing at Daddy's Flag Football Game

Noelle took a really big bite of banana and thought my imitation was really funny.

Grandma's 50th Surprise Birthday Party!!!

Grandma's Family! Most had gone home when I took this picture.

The Neighbors!




Grandpa's Family

Friends from work!

Mother's Day

Here is Noelle shopping for Mother's Day!

Here we are at my cousin Lindsay's on Mother's Day. Noelle loves the pool, her family and her Uncle Brian's motorcycle.

At the Beach!

Noelle loves everything about the beach - the sand, the water (even though it was freezing), the birds, the shower, the trash and the umbrellas. In my opinion, it was way too exhausting but she sure had fun.

GRADUATION!

This past Sunday, April 29th I walked in my graduation. Last year I decided I wasn't going to even attempt making it to graduation because it was two days after my due date and I had one class that I would have to finish in summer. I opted to finish in the fall and hoped to return for the ceremony. It was really great to commemorate the hard work. Ryan was so supportive my entire time in seminary and knowing that it was important for me to celebrate graduation because it got lost in the move and Noelle's arrival (appropriately). Thank you Ryan and thank you mom, dad, grandma and grandpa, for supporting us so much through that final year and enabling me to finish! God was so faithful, what a great experience!

Noelle's First Swim in a Pool!

Here is Noelle and her daddy enjoying a swim in the Goebel's pool on our way up to Fresno this past weekend. We didn't have plans to swim but after Ryan put her feet in, there was no stopping her. She had to swim! She loves water!

Noelle The Rooster Washes Her Hands

Uncle Brian took this video at Noelle's Grandma and Grandpa's.

Hallelujah!

Please forgive my singing and enjoy Noelle's!!

Noelle's First Birthday

Noelle had a blast at her first birthday party. Here she is eating her first cupcake and celebrating with her grandpa mike, kaitlyn's family and her girlfriend Halle.