Hey Mr. Grumpy Gills

Tonight I went to see Finding Nemo on Ice with my co-worker and her 4 year old son.
It was the highlight of my week.

I especially loved the papa turtle with its flock of baby turtles.



And how incredible is it that there is a giant ice skating roller whale that is ultimately going to eat Marlin and Dora, all on the ice rink in front of thousands of little children.



I think I liked the whole experience more than my 4-year old friend.
Disney, you are brilliant. Apparently swimming and ice skating are more similar than I could ever have imagined.

The Jewel

This weekend the Jewel came to visit.

Need I say more.



She joined us for a magical weekend of apple picking.

This is disgusting, and I refused to participate, but bobbing for apples is apparently appropriate in many more places than just your middle school halloween parties. All I have to say is the Jewel is hardcore ( Rose and I were not.)




The Jewel also filled in as our weekend clergy. (I had a flash of the Jewel on the steps of tucker peforming sunday service.) Since Noel and I lost our "unity salt" that we performed in our unity salt ceremony at our wedding, the Jewel offered to re-perform the salt covenant ceremony. We then placed our "new" salt in a little baggie like this, placed it on our mantle, and are officially re-married with salt. Here are some post salt ceremony pictures ( with bouquet). Noel even wore a fancy sport coat.

Invention Convention

We have a raccoon problem. While I am asleep in the middle of the night, Noel claims that he is outside with a broom beating away raccoons. Today was the last straw for him, however. While my back was turned for maybe 2 minutes,Noel had hoisted our trash can mid-air.

Sorry, rodents of the backyard,
get your trash from somewhere ELSE.
Love, Noof and Noel.



Since I can't reach the trash can anymore, it looks like I am exempt from trash duty permanently. (Noel says that must mean I am about the same size as a raccoon.)

Volcano Cupcake

I tried to make a giant cupcake for my work pot luck. This is how it came out.






So much for opening up my own cupcakery. Noel referred to it as the volcano cake incident, which is a good description. There is still cake underneath the carpet. Needless to say, I brought a bag of apples to the potluck. Thanks to our new friends Sarah and Cody, who graciously ate the entire volcano cupcake.

Dedicated to Stevie

In order to explain the name of our blog, I must tell you that Stevie Wonder is my favorite singer. He has always been my favorite and continues to be my favorite. Windows down, windows up, in the morning, at night, it doesn't matter. Stevie is my favorite. Before Noel came around, Stevie Wonder was my boyfriend. He is oh so encouraging.



I knew I could marry Noel when he told me that he walked to Stevie Wonder. As the story is told, little baby Noel was crawling until he first heard Stevie Wonder on the radio. Then he walked. How fitting...the extra boost a child needs in the lyrics of a Stevie song.

Thank you, Stevie. Not only can my husband walk, he can climb. We owe you one.



Cheers and many thanks to Stevie!

Newlyweds <3 Canada

We just got married. kind of. I feel like I have been married forever. As I danced around the kitchen in an apron and sang to Charlottesville's hit radio station ( soft rock ? yes, please) , I couldn't help but feeling like my domestic life has reached an all new peak.

So a month and a half in, and still going strong. In a ploy to get people to read our awesome new blog, this is what you missed because you didn't come on the honeymoon with us.
Canada is lovely, and you even get a stamp on your passport.


Yes, this is a polar bear. No, we did not go to the Artic.
I just love all aquariums, no matter the city.



Everything that had the french word "Noel" in it, I made my husband stand in front of so I could take a picture. I was endlessly amused. He obediently complied.



Clearly I had a ball in Canada. You know how much I love fountains and kissy faces.


Mid-pose. How appropriate.
Our family's motto: Be prepared.
(that is why Noel takes out the trash 3 days before the garbage guys comes.
Or so he says.)


Best reason to road trip. I guarantee that if we had taken a plane, we would have missed this wonderful sign. How I wish we lived in a town with two exclamation points in its name!