Bright Neon Flowers

Mother's Day. It's a good holiday.  I really love that it falls on a Sunday. Motherhood is a heavenly calling and it's so nice to feel the spirit testify the sacredness of the role. Back when we were "practicing" to have children, my heart ached on Mother's Day. I always knew I wanted to be a mother. It was a calling I dreamed of since before I can remember. Seeing the cute little primary children sing songs at the top of their lungs to their moms, was almost more than I could bare. That time in my life has only made me more grateful for the blessings I have now. This Sunday, I cried because it was little Noah B singing from the pulpit. Children Singing = Me Bawling. It doesn't matter what they sing. ;) I also sang in sacrament today with Brad and two of our friends. An acapella version of Love At Home. I love singing with Brad, melts my heart every time. One of the many reasons I love him... 

Speaking of loving him, ANOTHER reason I love him is the effort he gives special occasions. Like Mother's Day. Yesterday he took Noah out to run some "very special mommy errands". When they came back, Noah was beaming and couldn't wait until the next day to give me my presents. So, I received my beloved gifts last night. The ugliest/cutest flowers picked out by Noah (of course he opted for the artificially dyed BRIGHT NEON FLOWERS), a cake decorated by his two little hands (our local bakery ran a promo letting kids decorate cakes for their moms), the cutest hand written note (oh how they melt my heart), and a much needed spa gift card.

And of course Mother's day wouldn't be complete without paying tribute to two wonderful women who have blessed my life in more ways I can even imagine. My mother, and my mother-in-law.  1. My Mom. How grateful I am for all she did for me THEN, and now. I'm realizing how much she did years ago, and how much she continues to do for me daily. ;) She is truly the best example of what a mother should be. So grateful to call her mine. 2. And the woman who raised the man of my dreams. Without her, he wouldn't be the incredible man he is today. 

What a beautiful day to reflect on Mothers. XOXO, 

DEAR MOME (aka Mommy)

I knew the day would come, when Noah would learn to sound out little words and write them down. What I didn't know, was that his first attempt would be a letter,... to me.

He was at the top of the stairs yelling down to Daddy. What makes the "OOOOOO" sound Daddy? Tell Mommy NOT to come upstairs. :)

Somethings are worth scanning. And the original is worth keeping forever and ever.

I LUV YOU too Noah B. -
Luv, MOME

False Advertising

The other day, Noah came into the family room with a straw and an orange in his little hands. With a puzzled look on his face he said, "Why doesn't this work?"

Brad and I had no idea what he was talking about. "What doesn't work buddy?"

He tried showing us by poking the straw into the orange (to suck out orange juice).

"You can't do that silly boy." Frustrated, he ran into the kitchen and grabbed the Tropicana Orange Juice in our fridge and pointed at it. "See! It's the same! Straw, straw. Orange, orange!" He even had a striped straw.

Bwhahaha! He's right. It doesn't work. I'd call that false advertising Tropicana. Shame on you. ;)

I love that he noticed this picture, trusted it, and decided to try it. Sweet, sweet boy.

Say Abre!

So my girls like Dora. Wait,... they LOVE DORA. I am convinced they are going to learn Spanish before they learn English. ;)  Most recently they've become obsessed with the word "Abre". "Abre" means "Open".

They started out using it IN context. For example they would hold out there arms at the top of the stairs and not let me through until the magic word was said. Chloe: "Mommy, say Abre!" Me: "Abre".  Chloe: "Say PL-EASE" Me: "Please".

At first it was really cute. Until they started using it out of context.

Me: "Sophie, put your PJ bottoms on. One foot in..."

Sophie: "Say Abre".

Me: "Abre"

Sophie:"Say PLEASE".

ME: "Please. Now put your other foot in"

Sophie: "Say Abre"

Me: "ABRE!"

Sophie: "Say Please"

Me: "PLEASE!!!! Now put your shirt on."

Sophie: "Say Abre!"

Me: "ABRE!!! PLEASE!!!!"

REPEAT. REPEAT. REPEAT.

Quirky little girls. ;) Lots of "Abres and Pleases" going on in the Coates home. {The daily drawings on their tummies are a whole different topic. A suspenseful cliffhanger...}

{***Disclaimer --- Yes my girls look homeless in these pictures. And yes, I let them run around in their underwear all day. They are newly potty trained and pee 12-24 times a day. Makes it lots easier for me. ***}

Roses twice received.

Valentine's Day.  Brad wasn't home from school yet.  Noah walked out of his room with a dozen roses which he found hidden in his closet.  He walked down the stairs and proudly said, "Happy Valentine's Day Mommy". I replied, "Thanks Buddy! Does Daddy know you gave those to me?" He pauses, "Nope. But I thought it was great idea!" -HA.  I'd have to agree.

My heart melted.  I literally was a puddle.  I took the roses, tackled him, and kissed him all over.

They immediately went into a vase sitting on my table. :)

Later, once Brad came home from school and realized Noah's untimely delivery, he took them off the table. We had a good laugh.  Brad helped Noah with their ORIGINAL "scavenger hunt for mommy" plan.  So,... I received the same roses twice.  
-

I wouldn't have it any other way...

We need to up our Grocery Budget.

You think this is a joke. It's not. It's an every. day. routine. And it's getting expensive. And I just wish it would work for him already. --I finally told him the only way he could crawl on walls like spiderman was if he got bit by the magical spider that turned Peter Parker, into Spiderman.

He is now looking to be bitten by a magical spider.

If at first you don't succeed, TRY, TRY AGAIN.

14 days later... he is still trying.

We don't give up easily around here. ;)

Spiderman Potion

Lately Noah has been obsessed with Spiderman. He was Spidy for Halloween, and he has most recently discovered that Netflix has 5 seasons of Spiderman cartoon episodes. After watching an episode this morning he said, "Mom, I'm turning into spiderman. I just need to make some sticky goo for my hands". So, I sat back and watched. Watched as he grabbed water, his spiderman shaving gel, spiderman shampoo, and spiderman hair gel. He mixed it all together. He then announced, "I just need an egg." An EGG?! Oh boy. I about ended the science experiment right then and there, but I decided to let him create.

After cracking and mixing in the final ingredient, he took a deep breath, sighed, and said, "Gosh, I hope this works".

Yes, he tried sticking to the walls.  {I can't believe I let him}.

---

He concluded that, "It just needs another egg".

Why does this make me melt my heart so much? I made me laugh, shake my head, and get a little choked up somewhere along the way... These are the memories I will treasure forever.

 
I just wish that I could somehow magically make it work for him. 

 Cute boy.

Christmas Card 2011

Here is our Christmas Card for those of you who once again were not cool enough to receive them. {Don't feel bad. We really don't send very many out.} ;)

Noah's Bi-lingual Prayer

I'm sorry if this is any way, shape, or form sacrilegious to repeat, but I couldn't help but document.

Also, let me prefice this by saying that occasionally when we pray as a family, Brad speaks in Tagalog. Tagalog is the native language from his mission in the Philippines.

Noah: "Mommy can we say a prayer as a family".
Me: Thinking he must be super inspired or something,.... "Sure Buddy, Why?"
Noah: Because I speak in Spanish.
Me: "Uh. Ha. Okay. Sure Bud."


Brad is at school studying. Noah, Chloe, Sophie and I kneel.

Noah: " Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for “BuurrrRRRRR(rolling tounge) BURRRrrRRito. And urbrrugugugurrrl burrrreeeeto. Burrito. UlugulululrrrrrRRrr. BurrRRRrrito. Amen.

I am still laughing out loud. Where does he come up with this stuff? These are the moments that I will cherish forever. Forever and ever...

Spiderman and 2 Hot Chicks

In years past I have tried to make the whole family one big coordinating theme. This is the first year I have let go of all creative control over my kids' costumes. Noah's specifically. No four year old wants his mommy telling him what to be for Halloween. He wanted to be Spiderman, so SPIDERMAN it was.  He loved it and that's all that matters. Who cares that every other boy on the street was the exact same thing. ;)

   

I love this big brother hug that ONLY a big brother can give. Makes me smile...

And thanks to NeeNee for sending the most adorable fluffy chick costumes. These just made me smile. NeeNee insisted they were "TWO HOT CHICKS". I'd have to agree...

Chloe Mae

Sophie June

Get ready for a heart melter...

Say it with me.... AWWWW.
 

and a few more randoms {Yes, Brad and I grabbed last minute costumes out of our basement "dress-up box" lame.}

We found out the hard way that in South Bend, IN you don't try to trick-or-treat after 7 pm. I guess there was an announcement on the news that stated the "official" trick-or-treat time was 5-7 pm.  Sadly, we started heading out the door at 6:30. We thought it would be PRIME trick-or-treating time. Uh... nope. Most people had turned off their lights and the few that did answer their doors were out of candy. Brad was miffed. When we were kids, trick-or-treating started at dark, and went until about 10 pm. Not these days...

I think Noah got 4 or 5 pieces of candy. Poor little guy. He was soooo disappointed UNTIL his daddy made him trick-or-treat at our front door 5 times. Every time, Brad would drop handfuls of falling candy into his little bag and Noah would laugh with delight. REPEAT. REPEAT. REPEAT.

Don't you feel sorry for him. ;) He made out just fine.