The Noehren's

13 years ago on August 28th Brian took me on a first date picnic to Ensign Point in Salt Lake City, so each year on August 28th we celebrate the beginning of our life together by picnicing it up!  Here we are yesterday at the UK Arboretum, photo courtesty of Haley.   Here is a list for my posterity (or in case I lose the hard copy) of our date locations: 1999 - Ensign Peak, Salt Lake City, Utah 2000 - A park in Manchester, Connecticut 2001 - Goshen Pass, Virginia 2002 - Glen Maury Park, Virginia 2003 - The sunporch of our Virginia house (since Haley was born 2 weeks before) 2004 - Glen Maury Park Pavilion, Virginia 2005 - Rittenhouse Park, Newark, Delaware 2006 - White Clay Creek State Park, Newark, Delaware 2007 - Park on the Trail, Newark, Delaware 2008 - Lunch Picnic on the Trail, Newark, Delaware 2009 - Veterans Park, Lexington, Kentucky 2010 - Bellawoods Park, Lexington, Kentucky 2011 - London, England Pub 2012 - UK Arboretum, Lexin...

Yesterday was the first day of school!  I was so excited and nervous for them that I could hardly sleep the night before!  They woke up very early and did great getting ready on their own.  Man, they are growing up!  Here is Grant's first bus ride! They both had rave reviews for their first days and were excited for day two.  I also had an amazing day to myself!  I think this is going to be a great year for all of us.

This year Haley got to celebrate her birthday 5 days early since Brian will be out of town for her actual birthday.  Lucky girl!  The kids successfully talked me into Chuck-e-Cheese parties this year, and our first not-at-home party was a huge hit for all of us! I'm pretty sure Haley smiled straight for the entire two hours.  It made me so happy to see her so happy! Here is the party crew.  Haley has some great friends.  Haley even won the "super bonus" on this game and won 250 tickets!  Lucky Girl! Tickets!  Tickets!  Tickets! More tickets!  She ended up with a total of 800 tickets - not nearly as much as her cousin Lauren's 1400 last month.  That one is for the books!  My happy Haley!  I love this girl so much!  Being her mom has been the most rewarding, yet the most challenging things I have ever done.  We have both learned and grown a lot over the last 9 years.  Oh what...

Last weekend Brian flew up to Connecticut for one last goodbye to the house and town he grew up in before the family heads south to Tampa.  I'm so glad he was able to go and have a great weekend with his sisters and family.  In true Brian fashion he ate at all of the traditional Noehren favorite restaurants one last time.  Over a 4 day period they managed to get to Pepe's Pizzaria, Johns Pizzaria, Ess A Bagel, China Pavilion, Merritt Canteen and Julia's Bakery (including t-shirts from the pizza joints!).  Not too shabby!  He was a happy man!  He was able to see Grandma and Grandpa Noehren - in their 90's and going strong!  He also got to hang out with his sisters and meet his adorable niece Lillian for the first time!  He and his dad spent a day roaming "the city" one last time.  They went to the top of the Empire State building,  and went to the World Trade Center Memorial, which was very touching - especially s...