Noble Family Reunion 2010

Oh my I can't even say how much fun the last week in July and the first week in August were:) It's always so fun to have family home for the summer to visit! This year it was kind of convenient cause we only overlapped for about 2 days. Jeremy and Morgan arrived a week before everyone else (pretty much). Then Curt and Jen, Stephanie and Andrew, and Matt were here the second week. Adam and Brandi came up on the weekends as much as schooling allowed.

We had the opportunity to play on the lake, tan, go shooting, Silverwood, and even squeezed in a couple 4 wheeler rides:) It was so eventful! I was able to have MOST of the second week of, but with mom being away from the theater too - and being short on managers - I had to work a few days!

It was super fun to have Cache and David play together. They'd chase and play and yell each others names, it was adorable! They had so much fun together and they are both getting to the age where they can actively communicate and play with one another. Growing up mom used to call it rough-housing, which they learned IMMEDIATELY in a wrestling match (more like rolling around)

Curt swimming with his sons' Cache and Casen

David learning to wake board:)

My attempt at helping him!

Hannah's first soda! haha

We were able to put up the bounce house for just a couple short days. I took the opportunity to play with David for just a little bit to keep the busy guy occupied. Man that thing can wear people out. Either that or I'm getting old - maybe it's a combination of both?

Tossing David around, oh he had so much fun:)

Building sand castles with the boys. It was so precious, Cache came up to me and asked me to help him build a castle, so I went over, and the anytime I'd get a decent one going, the boys would dig at it, or pour water over it. So finally I gave up and made a turtle instead. Satisfied with my own creation I walked away, only to soon after here complaints from both boys how they "needed my help to build a castle". What I had built was not sufficient enough for the young ones! The following day they asked Grandpa for some help also. It was a hit! Only there wasn't enough time or energy in the day to make a sand castle sufficient enough to satisfy their desires!

A day on the beach:) Mom, dad, Maggie (and her cousin Jessie) and I swimming:)

Morgan and I - taking tubing to a whole new level!

taking it down a notch for my niece Maggie. Although she is growing to be super cautious and get's real nervous!

On Saturday we took some family photos. It's not too often we're able to get together in the same place at once - we we make an attempt to snap a few candid shots for memories of our times together. Above is my sister-in-law Morgan holding our nephew Casen (Curt and Jen's son). Little Casen could probably pass as Morgan's little one too:)

Maggie and I hanging out on Grandpa's boat awaiting family pictures:)

We had an opportunity to also get photos with Grandpa and Grandma Noble. They have come out to the house in the past on the pontoon boat, but due to grandpa's health, we were unable to do it that way this year:) So we took the party to them VERY briefly as company is very much overwhelming to Grandpa at this point in time.

The whole family!

It's always entertaining getting together with my siblings! We have so much fun, and I love them to death. I couldn't ask for a more loving and supportive family!

In cache's words "my parents" and siblings!

Grandma and Grandpa with the 7 Frank and Trina Noble family grandchildren.

Me holding the newest edition to the family, Hannah!

The whole happy bunch:)

Well that's all folks, it's been fun! What an eventful summer here at the cabin. Now that family has all come and gone, and visitors taper off, we notice the nights getting cooler, and darker much quicker. The summer days don't feel as warm, and the summer fun is put on pause till we meet again next year! It'll be so fun to see the growth in the children over the next year! They'll be playing like mad next summer, and how very exciting that is!!!

Thank you Mom and Dad for the most beautiful family! You're the best!

All year long, we wait for sun.

This summer has been super crazy. I haven't been out on the water once prior to this weekend! It's part of growing up I guess, work work work - all day long! So tonight, Dad allowed some of my friend and I to go out in the boat. It was so much fun to go tubing. There was 7 of us Total :

Kim
Me
Matthew
Rob
Marquee (visitor from Alaska, too bad we can't keep her!)
Catherine and Jacob

We had a lot of fun just laughing, and messing around. Getting hurt, going fast, and swimming:)

Me yelling at Rob for his 2 minutes of horrible driving. Not that he's a bad boat driver, just not for pulling my dad's tube's:)

We tried one more time, but it didn't last long. But it was fun!

Me driving the boat!

Jacob and Marquee. Marquee is visiting from Alaska! Her grandparents are from Sandpoint, ID so she spends some of her summer's here! It was refreshing to have another new face around for awhile!

Kim enjoying the fun times

Matthew enjoying the fun!

Me sporting the summer boating shades! Morgan got these glasses for me for my 21st birthday a few weeks ago:) They've been quite the hot commodity.

Just before 9pm, I dropped everyone off at the beach and headed towards home. The sunset was gorgeous in the mirror so I attempted to capture it with my camera! A great evening spent with good friends. I couldn't be more lucky in the friends I have now:)

We are the architects and builders of our lives

"All the knowledge in the world would not amount to anything unless we put that knowledge into actual practice. We are the architects and builders of our lives, and if we fail to put our knowledge into actual practice and do the duties that devolve upon us we are making a failure of life."
President Heber J. Grant

Blessings truly do come in all shapes and sizes. I have been stressed out about saving enough money to go to school. It is really hard to find jobs in Rexburg, Idaho for students attending BYU - Idaho. I moved back in with my parents as of the first of July to save as much money as I can in preparation to return to school.

A few months ago it hit me like a load of bricks while pondering the scriptures. I was studying the 3rd book of Nephi, Chapter 9. It is where the Lord tells the people that he will no longer accept offerings and sacrifices. The only sacrifices to which he will receive is a broken heart and contrite spirit. I thought to myself, Perfect people don't need to be perfected. The Lord is here to help us in our time of need. To lend a shoulder to cry on in a time of need. To help us when we're weak, to pick us up off the floor when we're down. Through a broken heart and contrite spirit, Christ can enter our lives. I started crying to myself, everyone has their fair share of hardships, but what does this mean to me at this point in my life. What do I have to offer? I have a job, I have all the time in the world, but there is one thing I am missing right now. A key area that even my Patriarchal blessing talks about. I need to finish my education. I have been very undecided and back and forth the past few years about what I'm going to study, why I want to study that, and where I can apply it. After returning to BYUI last spring, I changed my major to Child Development with an undeclared minor. I could not have enjoyed the classes more. I gained a greater appreciate for child rearing, and family hardships. Knowing I needed to return to school wasn't the problem, it's not like I have NOT wanted to go to school the past year...but responsibilities and circumstances kept me here in Sandpoint. Something was keeping me here, for some reason I still do not know. Maybe it was a lesson to learn, maybe it was to lend a hand, maybe to save money...I have yet to discover why I was supposed to wait this long - but I am going back. I have set a goal - FINISH MY BACHELORS BEFORE I'M 25, and this will be done. I'm the type of individual that when I have an idea, and I apply myself as much as I physically, emotionally and spiritually can, I will achieve in some way.

I have resubmitted my application to BYUI to begin classes in the Winter 2011 (January) semester. I hope to hear back from the school within the next couple weeks. But this is all a side note to the real blessing at hand. So yes, returning to school is quite expensive, and where in the world would I come up with enough money to go back. In the past I have not qualified for grants by the FAFSA at all, but I applied anyway. We shall hear more information as soon as I am accepted and assigned a track at the university. But this particular blessing comes quite unexpected but very appreciated.

Being that I have never qualified for any grants from the FAFSA, I applied last spring to a program called the Heber J. Grant Scholarship Program. They take individuals who have suffered a hardship, or ones with extenuating circumstances, and financially help them through school on a need basis. I was awarded 2 semesters (a years) worth of scholarship. My award was half tuition ($850). Because it was to be applied the next semester - which would have been fall 2009 - I never actually used any of the money allotted. After withdrawing from school I thought the opportunity had dissipated. In talking with my sister, I determined it might be wise to reapply for this particular program, and contacted the office. Surprised, the lady looked up my information and informed me that the money has been set aside for me to use whenever I return to school. Oh what a blessing. I thought I was going to have a wait a semester AGAIN to get the reward, but I don't. I am so happy that things are coming together quite nicely. I have a couple girls I want to live with and have been in contact with, and financially everything is seeming so possible at this point. I am so grateful for the many blessings that have come to me the past few months. The lessons learned, and the support given. I couldn't have been blessed with a better family or more inspirational friends. Everyone has been real encouraging of me to do what I feel is best!

I can only hope BYUI accepts me to start in January. It would be a real long wait to be readmitted in April! Anyways, with good news comes by way of a hopeful attitude. I can't wait to see what this next chapter in my book of life has in store:)

so, food for thought on the matter:

"We have all drunk from wells we did not dig, and warmed ourselves by fires we did not build."

Country Boys and Girls

WELCOME TO NORTH IDAHO!

My brother was visiting last week, so I got a few friends together to go shooting. We went up the hill behind the cabin. Matt had a pallet in the back of his truck so we screwed some targets onto it! It was so much fun! Daniel and Matthew Bouse came along, with Kim, myself and Matt.

Kim Barbee

My brother Matt

Kim, Daniel and Matt

Kim

Matthew

Me

I would laugh every time

Daniel Bouse and his hand-gun

Thanks Matt for a fun time:) It was kind of fun to get out in the country and enjoy the nice weather shooting:)

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

This really touched my heart, so I thought I would share it. Enjoy:)

Party Like It's 1989

I woke up June 28th at approximately 10am to Jeremy with a trey of my favorite breakfast. Being that my oldest brother Jeremy was visiting with his in laws, I was sharing a room with his immediate family. I was sleeping on the top bunk. I went to sit up to take the breakfast in bed, and realized that the ceiling in the pink room (Victorian room) is too low to sit up in bed. I got up for the day and partook of my all time favorite breakfast - biscuits and gravy! It was the best, and it was the thought that really counts! After eating we went on a short little boat ride. My birthday cruise is what dad refered to it as!

Boyd and I on the Birthday cruise

being I was moving this particular weekend, I didn't have much time to spare that afternoon. I went right into my apartment following the short boat ride. I packed all afternoon trying to not be distracted by my phone BLOWING up with calls and texts wishing me a happy 21st! Around 3 pm I headed back to mom and dad's to shower as I was told to be ready by 5 pm to be picked up by Rob.

When he arrived he blindfolded me, and made me walk all the way up the driveway without vision, then drove around bottle bay and all the way out to the surprise destination! Good thing we talked the whole way and I didn't get car sick!

Before leaving the house, Morgan and Jackie insisted that I take the picture with beer (used for beer butt chicken or whatever) being that I just turned 21! haha. I'm blindfolded mind you, so I wasn't sure what I was handed.

Rob and I headed out the door to my surprise party!
We drove out to Brittney and Minta Kramers house where I took off my blindfold to be surprised by about 20 of my greatest friends! They made a home made slip and slide in their back yard, and were preparing to BBQ for dinner! After the slip and slid we played volleyball, then water balloon volleyball, then we put the soapy tarp under the volleyball net and played slip and slide volleyball. After the games we ate a great dinner and visited in the grass. When it started to get dark we picked up the lawn, and headed inside for some games. It was so much fun and I'm so grateful for all the many wonderful friends who made my 21st birthday the best it could be:) I loved every minute of my party and am thankful to my family for also making arrangements for me to celebrate with them later in the week on one of my nights off.

On Thursday I had my final walk through at my apartment with my complex manager. Everything went great! I hurried home to celebrate my 21st birthday with my parents, and family. I requested Chicken enchilada's for dinner, and my mom's famous Apple Cake! MmmMmm good:) Everything was so delicious, I'm so grateful for the best mother in the world! We even had enough enchilada's for a couple days of left overs! LOVE IT! The apple pudding cake is always a hit. I have never made it myself - but I know that mom always does it best! We also had enough cake for leftovers the following day. My mom knows us all too well!

Preparing to light the Candles.

Thanks Mom for the best birthday!

Jackson (Morgan's Nephew) and Maggie help me blow out the torch candle !

The torch candle wouldn't light so I held the lighter and blew it's flame out. It's all the same right:) At least I got a birthday wish!

I couldn't be more satisfied.

Mom and dad have gotten me pearls for my birthday almost every year since I was 12. This year they had Andrew pick some out at Farr's in Idaho Falls and mail them up. They are absolutely gorgeous, and I have worn them to work almost every day since!

I have the most wonderful mother in the world! I'm so grateful for all she does for me!

Thanks Dad for all the many blessings, advice and wonderful support you have given me the past year. I have grown and learned to appreciate my parents more and more on a daily basis. I truly do love them!

A place we like to call home

Welcome to Sandpoint, Idaho. The most beautiful place on the earth!

A couple weeks ago my friend Kaynie (which I met up in Alaska the summer of 2008) came up from Post Falls to visit for the weekend. That Saturday just so happened to be free chairlift day at Schweitzer ski resort. A few of us went up the mountain to explore and have a fun filled afternoon together. It was a gorgeous day. Not the most clear but still warm and sunny!

We took every opportunity to stop and take some photographs with one another. Before hiking around we asked a couple to take our picture and this is what he came up with. It seriously looks like we're standing in front of a backdrop!

Kim Barbee and I.

Matthew Bouse and I.

Rob Robinson and I.

Kaynie Nelson and I. (This is also the day I received my new hip sunglasses from Morgan! They were my birthday present, and they are AWESOME!)

Attempting to get a jumping picture. Epic fail.

After walking around, taking pictures, sword fighting and picking flowers, we headed back down the mountain! We saw a deer on the way down, and I was able to quickly turn and get a photo. The gentlemen who rode on our lift with us was telling us that they transplanted a caribou on the mountain last year, and have also had problems with bears more recently. Wish we could have seen one of them - would have taken me back a couple years to my time spent in Alaska. Oh how I miss it.