Half a Decade

Noodle is five years old today!

And, again, no pics. I have them on my phone but cannot figure out how to download them onto the computer.

For her birthday, Noodle requested a mani-pedi and a movie. So yesterday, that's exactly what she got. She looked so cute and way too grown up for her own good as she sat in a cute little pink chair with butterfly wings on it. She was totally into getting pampered as her feet, legs, hands, and arms were massaged and her nails painted. She even got cute little designs on her nails. Too adorable. She thought she was a princess. Well, she IS!!!

Then we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens, which was really cute. She was so happy to go to the real movies. It was Noodle's perfect day.

And she is the best Noodle in the whole wide world!

When Noodle was born, she cried and cried and cried. I was so worried about her. It broke my heart to hear that little cry. But as soon as the nurses handed her to me, she stopped. Chicken Nugget and Noodle are five years apart, so I was a little bit scared that maybe I had lost my baby touch. But Noodle and I became close right away. I remember once when she was just about five or six months old, I had to leave her with a babysitter for a few hours. I hugged and kissed and cuddled little Noodle before handing her off, and I told the babysitter, "I'm not used to being away from her. She is just my little friend!"

The babysitter said she could tell that we were like a team. :o)

Now my little Noodle will be going off to big school next year. I can't believe it. Let me tell you, Noodle is really something special. She is very selective about handing out affection, and you know that it is really a treasure when Noodle gives you hugs and kisses. I've had to get used to that, since I'm an affectionate person, but it has just made me appreciate Noodle all the more.

Noodle loves to draw and paint and do any kinds of art. She also loves to sing. She is so talented, and she hangs a new picture on our bedroom door every other day. Noodle is very generous with her artwork, and when you come to visit us, you will not leave without about five pictures she has made for you.

Noodle, we love you so much and I am so glad you are part of our family! You are amazing! Happy birthday!

Sorry, But She's On A Roll . . .

We all got home today after freezing our Texas tails off, and I said we needed some hot chocolate so that we could warm our bones. Banana declined the offer for hot chocolate, and he walked away.

Noodle was concerned! She said, "If Banana doesn't drink any hot chocolate, then he'll never get his bones warm!"

Noodle's Latest Funny

We were piling into the van this morning, and Banana was still in the house getting his shoes. Noodle climbs calmly into the van and says, "Mamma, don't leave Banana behind. Because I don't want you to go to jail."

Noodle's Birthday Party

The birthday girl!

This is her "3" candle, after she ate the bottom of it. She blew it out, took it out of the cake, and just took a big bite of it. I guess it looks edible! She found out, it wasn't.

Her special cake!

Brother of the birthday girl, enjoying some hot dogs and chips.

The Tasty Names kids!

Some of the guests!

Happy Birthday to you!

She just blew out the candle in this pic.

We decorated cupcakes. Molly took the orange sprinkles that we were passing around and dumped them on her cake. She also dumped them straight into her mouth, but we unfortunately didn't get a shot of that one.

Two of the cupcakes that guests decorated.

Opening some great gifts!

Nice shot of the back of my head there . . . and some half-eaten bbq chicken on someone's plate.

Happy Birthday, Noodle!

Noodle's birthday was on Thursday! She turned three. We had her birthday party today, and it was so much fun! Pictures to come soon.

I love Noodle so much and am so glad that God sent her into our lives three years ago. We have been blessed beyond belief. She is wonderful, lively, fun, full of laughter and energy, and though she is a bit stingy with her hugs and sugars, the ones that she gives are outstanding!

We all love you Noodle! Happy birthday!

Kindness

Community is a wonderful thing.

We had not lived in Texas long when one day, Chicken Nugget and I were driving down the road. We saw out in a field that there were some Texas Longhorns and some white cranes all congregating together.

"Now that," said Chicken Nugget, in her usual dramatic way, "That is a community."

She had just learned in school about different species of animals who, though they may be very different in many ways, occupy the same space and help each other out in some way.

I really like that illustration of community.

I have several communities in my own life, as does most everyone. I have my family community, my immediate neighborhood, my Sunday school and the larger church as a whole; I have a work community, and my work community is inside a larger community, which many might know as a mall.

In the mall are several independent shopowners. One in particular, Mr. Sam, owns a formal dress shop. He comes into our store on occasion to buy nice work shirts. The first time I saw him, he had his back to me as he was speaking with another associate. I noticed that he had some lint on his suit jacket, so I got the lint brush and brushed it off for him. He left the store and returned with a pocket calendar and pen set with the name of his store on it, and told me if I needed anything for a special occasion, to come see him.

Mr. Sam is a dear grandpa of a man, with a thick accent; he is from Iran. He is full of gentleness and kindness and I am so glad he is part of my community. Since we met, I have made it a point to go into his store to look around if I can when I am on a break, and he particularly likes it if I am out shopping with the kids, that I bring the kids into the store so that he can see them. I don't see him often, but when I do, he always has warmth and kind words and a hug for me and the kids if they are with me. He is the same way to my coworkers and I would probably not be wrong in assuming, with everyone he knows.

Yesterday, I had some errands to run and decided to go by the mall to look at some sales. Mr. Sam was standing outside his store when the kids and I came by, and he was right there to greet us and make us feel special. Noodle started talking about her upcoming birthday party, and Mr. Sam said, "Come, you must come into my store."

We walked in and started looking around and he said, "You must choose a dress!"

I said, "Oh, Mr. Sam, I wish I could; they're all so beautiful."

He said, "No, no, it is my gift to Noodle for her birthday!"

I was stunned to the point of tears. Mr. Sam gave Noodle a dress right off the rack! He got her out of the stroller, asked her which dress she would like, and helped her find just the right size. She felt like a princess and didn't want to take the dress off. I tried to protest, but Sam said, "No, no, it is my gift. You choose which dress."

He quietly wrapped up the dress and handed me the bag, ducking his head and avoiding every one of my attempts to praise him.

This after telling me that business had been very slow for him just recently.

It may seem small to anyone else, this story. Not that incredible, not that exciting. But I am still emotional just thinking about it. It may have even small to Mr. Sam, but it was wonderful for Noodle and me. Thank you, Mr. Sam for your kindness.