Growing Pains!

I have been trying to get my pictures organized and all in one place, so that I can start working on a few scrapbooks that I haven't had time for over the last several years. I am very excited and looking forward to the project. It is something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I decided that I want to make a school scrapbook, and as I began to collect each of these pictures it caused me to stop and reflect. I titled this blog "Growing Pains," not for Noble, but for his mom!!!

This is the first day of kindergarten. We lived in Arlington at the time, and Noble went to Key Elementary. We had so much fun shopping for all of his school supplies, and especially the Hot Wheels lunch box and backpack. My mom was with us for Noble's first week of school, mostly to provide moral support for me. Thanks, Mom! Everything was packed in the backpack, in fact, I think it weighed more than Noble. John carried it for him, until he began to notice all the other children wearing theirs. He promptly asked to wear his, and it looked sooooo big on him, but he shouldered the weight alone so that he could be a "big kid." Pause for a few tears! : )

Look at him!! Isn't he handsome!! So very thoughtful and full of insight! Over the past six years we have watched him grow into the wonderful, intelligent, generous, honest, friendly, righteous, and Noble kiddo that he has become. We are truly blessed.

Kindergarten is so exciting!!

1st grade in Midland

at Pease Communication & Technology Magnet School

with Ms. Kilborn.

We love Pease!! Noble and I both attend school at Pease. I teach sixth grade, and I really love being a teacher. I especially love being where Noble is, which is part of my growing pains. He will be in sixth grade this year, and then onto jr. high!! Ugh!! Noble had a great year in first grade, and we love Ms. Kilborn. She was alot of fun for Noble, and she worked really hard with him to be able to put space between words. Noble is a super duper reader, and is a master at most things, but in first grade it was hard to see where one word ended and another began. Thanks, Ms. Kilborn!

First day of school in 2nd grade

Second grade was a difficult year for Noble, not because of academics. He experienced his first time with a teacher whose personality was very stressful for Noble. I know that this is probably the first of many, but it was a struggle for us as parents to watch him have to handle this at the age of seven. We all made it after several parent teacher conferences, mouth ulcers, cursive handwriting, and a partridge in a pear tree. So here is a toast to all the kids who survive stressful teachers. You made it!!! Yippee!!

Kite Day - 3rd Grade

Noble had a great time in 3rd grade. His teacher was Ms. Young, whom he adored, and she adored him. He really needed to be loved and nurtured after his 2nd grade year. They had and have a very special relationship, especially politically speaking!! They are bitter rivals when it comes to politics. She continues to wish him well and is one of his biggest fans.

Spelling Bee Winner - 4th grade

Noble had an exceptional year in fourth grade. His teacher was Ms. Gomez. She now teaches 6th grade with me, and we love her!! Noble also started GEM in fourth grade, after being in Project Think and Quest. We also love Ms. Hooper our Project Think teacher!!! Noble can tell a story like nobody's business, and he can tell it again and again with more flair than before. It is one of many wonderful talents that he has, but if you want him to write it down that is a different story!! Ms. Gomez had her hands full with him, because in Texas 4th grade is the writing TAKS test. Now Noble has aced the reading and the math, no problem!! But now he has to write!! Ugh! After a rough start and looooooottttttsssss of late nights, Noble blossomed into a spectacular writer. He is even published!! He won a contest for the Midland Reporter Telegram, and was the front page story on Thanksgiving Day. He wrote a beautiful composition about how thankful he was for his dad. He and John had their picture taken and splashed all over the front page. Noble was most excited that his picture was 10 times as big as the one of the President of the United States pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey!! Go Noble!! He also won first place in the science fair and first place in the spelling bee. Awesome!! He made the Destination Imagination travel team at GEM, and developed into a great team member and problem solver.

Awards Assembly - 5th Grade

Noble's teacher in 5th grade was Mr. Adame. It was great for Noble to have a male teacher. Mr. Adame is a good man and a great role model. Noble had another super year. He made a perfect score on the Reading and Science TAKS tests, and missed just one question on the Math. He was the only 5th grade student at Pease to ace the Science test! Rock on, dude! Of course, if you read the Destination Imagination blog you know that his team and he placed 10th and 2nd in the world at Global Finals. Way to go!!

So as you can see I have much to be thankful for, a beautiful young man with talent and integrity. Noble is this mother's dream!! As I watch him grow, I know that he is blessed with a sharp mind, a quick wit, a knack for all things humorous, and a smile as big as Texas. We waited and prayed for him for a long time, and couldn't even begin to thank our Father in Heaven enough for the perfect child sent to us. But it is also times like this that I wish time could slow down just a little bit, and that I remember to savor each moment because he is growing up so very fast. So no matter your situation, because I have wonderful friends that WILL BE great mothers, hug you little ones, treasure them always, and find strength in growing pains.

After all, graduation will come way too soon!!

While you were sleeping!

Noble is on occasion quite the prankster as you can see from the picture of his dad. Noble wanted me to hurry and bring the camera, so that he could document this one. He has done this once before with squirt cheese, but John did not think that was very funny. Even though Noble got in quite a bit of trouble for the "cheese" makeup the last time, he did contemplate it again this time. He inquired, "Mom, where is the squirt cheese?" I replied sternly, "Noble, that is not a good idea!" He remembered, "Oh, yeah! I forgot." So if you are ever asleep on the couch at our house, you never know what might have happened while you were sleeping. Be afraid, very afraid, because it might end up blog material! ; )

Dad of the Year!

My husband, John, is an amazing dad! He is very patient and generous with his time. He rarely, if ever, complains!! Father's day is around the corner, and I just wanted to shout from the mountain tops (if there were some around here) what an awesome dad he is!!

For example, Noble had a scout day camp yesterday and today, and John really wanted to be able to go with him. So Thursday he worked until 2 am Friday morning at his insurance office trying to get ahead of the game, so that he could feel slightly more comfortable about being away from the office all day Friday. When he got home about 2 am, he cleaned out and loaded his car for camp. He awoke Friday morning at 6:30 to get Noble and himself feed and ready. At 7:30 am he picked up another boy who needed a ride. At 8:00 am he met up with the Ashton crew to drive out to the ranch to help set up for the camp and be ready for the boys by 10 am. He then had a blast doing all sorts of things: collecting wood, building fires with flint and steel, hiking, etc., in 100 degree heat. Noble and he arrived back at our home covered in dirt around 5 pm, and he took a shower, ate a quick sandwich, and went out to help a client that had had a car accident earlier in the day. At 6 pm he went to work at Lowes, and he arrived back home at 1:30 am this morning. He then visited with me about things that I had done all day, ate some soup, and went to bed.

He got up this morning to do it all over again.
What a wonderful man and an incredible dad!!!
I love you very much, John!!