10 months

EZ's got a serious noggin, doesn't he? Poor guy. This could potentially be a source of sensitivity for him later on down the road. Of course, my dad continually assures me EZ's hefty forehead is a result of a significantly well-developed brain...



Duly noted, Dr. Phil. :)

knock, knock...

Who's there?


My butt.


My butt who?


My butt that farted.

L's been huge into knock, knock jokes lately. He tries to add in potty humor when he thinks I'm not listening, because normally that kind of talk gets them sent to the porcelain throne where they can yell poop and pee-pee and private part names all they want. Boys come pre-wired for grody. Girls are gross, too, of course. M gives her few potty cents in here and there. But girl potty talk is not like boy potty talk. You know what I'm saying? And it doesn't change either. Because Bruce's brothers were here just recently, and... well, let's just say it doesn't change. I know I never had those kinds of conversations with my sisters. But unfortunately those boys are too big for me to send to the bathroom with their potty talk.

Speaking of "knock, knock, who's there?" if you are still reading this blog you deserve some kind of stamina medal for how much boring nothingness you can stand. I have a few excuses, though. One of them is the fact that I was watching 7 kids under the age of 8 for a few weeks (had my three nephews staying with us who are really amazing, well-behaved babes but I wanted to sleep when everyone else went to bed at the end of the day). One of them is the fact that the rest of the On family came into town to spend some quality time in hot-as-heck Houston (Kauti, I still think you and Josh could have stayed one more day!!). And one of them is the fact that I have been sporting a back injury, busy learning choreography for new classes, and last but not least, being slammed down by strep throat the past few days - all around and about the same time. (For the record, those last three things DO NOT GO TOGETHER.)

So anyway, here we are and whatdya know, we're mid-way through August already.

I was not good about taking pictures this whole time. Like I might not have lifted my camera at all. But luckily, Pam grabbed my camera a few times and there are some cuuuute shots that I will get around to uploading someday. But unfortunately, there were some things that never got captured on camera. Like getting to snuggle with 15-month-old Gavin before naptime. Or watching 4-year-old Mason's face when he got to pick out a treat at the YMCA snack bar. Or listening to the hilarious conversations between B and 6-year-old Ryan. Or drawing a picture for Ryan in Primary to remind him that he has 9 cousins and an Auntie Noelle that love him. Or having M run up to me after her cousin Lorelei arrived, "Mom! She's four and she's a girl like me!" (especially exciting after being surrounded by five boys for two weeks). Best of all, there was nary a fight between all ten cousins. It was miraculous. It was like they somehow knew they were family and that they were connected. Or maybe they were just trying to preserve Auntie Noelle's sanity.

But eventually everyone left and our house has felt sad and lonely. So sad and lonely, in fact, that B had the non-distracted stamina to throw an epic tantrum this evening before heading to the gym tonight. B. My eight-year-old. What the what?!? I'm going to chalk it up to sleep deprivation of the whole past month and the deflated feeling that comes when family leaves. I filmed the ludicrosity (not a word but should be) but my mother-in-law forbid (forbade?) me from posting it on the blog and mortifying him further. So I'll leave you instead with a sweeter scene from earlier in the day.

Untitled from noelle on on Vimeo.

For goodness' sake, man. Answer the poor girl. Do you wanna be the baby or not???

stylish + runner = stunner

I got an email a few weeks ago from the St. George Marathon organizer people with a "Just 63 days until race day!" I wanted to crap my pants. Let's talk about this marathon I signed up for on October 1st. Dumbest idea ever, people. Somehow I failed to register the fact that I would be training through this awesome heat. Running for 20 miles when it is 100 degrees and 90% humidity outside? Hugely stupid. Gigantically stupid. Hugantically stupid. I run at 5am and stash bags of ice in my car so that every 3 miles of dirt loop I can stuff more ice cubes down my sports bra. By the time I get back from my run, I don't look stylish or like a runner, and I definitely don't swagger like a stunner. I limp like I got clawed by bears and look like I got attacked by muddy groundhogs. Also, I am NOT NOT NOT NOT ready. NOT. I keep getting derailed from my training regimen by moving and back injuries and strep throat. I don't know why I do this to myself. So I'm stressing.

However, the only rusty lining in all this is that I get to wear cute running skorts to survive the sauna heat. Check out how filthy I am after a 15-mile run. (Sidenote: I've been switching out to my VF Bikilas the last couple miles of my long runs - sweet goodness for my hamstring tendonitis. I wish I could duplicate this on race day.)






I disgust myself. I even end up with dirt on my neck and face. When I walk through the door, Bruce is like, "What the...? How??" I don't know. Maybe when I'm stretching.



And maybe I've been here a few (dozen?) times already in the past six weeks.



When Bruce found this bag, he was like, "Again?" Some girls are addicted to shoes and handbags. Some are addicted to Lycra. And anyway, I remind him it's my job to be fit and legit, so I can't go around in some holey sweats. Please.

alright, blogosphere

I've been a bad hostess. I want to say it'll change, but life isn't letting up anytime soon. But I do have a little treat for you...

My brother, Jason, is getting married in about 5 weeks. To the most beautiful girl inside and out. We love her very much and are thrilled to be adding another sister. And if she can just handle all the drama our family brings, I think she will survive. If you want to see their website, take a look here. If you're like me, you will feel like putting these two in your pocket and walking around with them always for when times get sad and you need a little pick-me-up.

Also, my mom finally launched her website for her art! Hooray! See her peaceful paintings, portraits and landscapes here. Feel free to commission her for something for your home. I'm sure she'll get it done a lot faster for you and even give you priority over my (so far) 8-year long request. I'm like the shoemaker's child that goes without shoes, because the shoemaker is too busy making shoes for the rest of the world. Not bitter, of course. Just shoe-less.

So there you go. I have been thinking about you. Be back soon. xo.

first three weeks back in the homeland

So it might have been a little rough, emotionally, mentally (and maybe hormonally) speaking. I should have been so happy to be back in the U.S. again! I've decided it's because life just doesn't make sense. It's all in the irony. And the 80% humidity, I guess.

But what am I saying?!? Despite all the internal turmoil of my ungrateful heart, life here has been quite lovely as we've gradually fallen into a little routine of sorts and started to find our way around our new neighborhood and area. It is really fun living downtown this time around! I am loving all the easy access to... well, everything.

I enrolled M in a dance camp this week at the cutest dance school. LOVE. I am enrolling the boys in Capoeira classes. LOVE. My new running routes and the huge running population downtown. LOVE. We got a membership to the zoo, and next year we are definitely signing up L for a week-long zoo camp (Can you imagine?!? He will die). LOVE. I just got hired on to teach at the only YMCA in the nation that has all ten Les Mills programs. Are you kidding me?? LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

And not to mention all the great quirky, little things living downtown has to offer that we never would have experienced going back to The Woodlands, because I don't want to drive more than 15 minutes. (I'm inherently lazy, guys.) But currently, it takes me about 15 minutes to get anywhere around downtown Houston. And then we came home yesterday from picking up M to find Bruce had popped home as well for lunch. LOOOOOOVE.

Pics? Here you go.

Tutu had a birthday!


The boys set up a lemonade stand in our driveway that sits right along this bike path that runs through Houston. Sadly, not many people carry quarters whilst running, walking or biking, but Tutu and Yeye were regular customers. 



M was also a regular partaker of the goods. She, of course, just helped herself for free.



L watching for customers. When he would see bikers or runners in the distance, he would yell out, "Customers! Customers are coming!" And then he would follow it up with a "Lemonade stand! Lemonade stand! Twenty-five cents!" Blessed with a voice that carries for miles, this works out well for him (not so much when we're inside the house).















They have also been busy earning "mom bucks." I think it's fantastic when these guys fight over cleaning the bathroom for a bunch of paper money.





We visited the local library this week for a snake exhibit. This is a true testament of my unconditional love for them. L is just lucky that he was across the room when he announced, "Miss? My mom would like to touch the snake, please." I did, in fact, pet the snake and the memory of it still stings.









And EZ? He's still here. Getting all hyper like the rest of them.