11 months old already!!!

Noah has become QUITE the climber... any chance he gets to climb up onto the couch, he's back and forth, up and down, leaning and exploring, and having a ball. Throwing things over the side is always a hit!
Then comes the little chair... a chair I THOUGHT would be a great little thing for Noah to have. It's become a climbing agent. ha. He pushes it up to the couch, climbs up, and tries to get into as much trouble as possible. (what did I expect him to do with it? Sit in it? ha)

At least here, he's got Daddy to climb towards, so there is hope for a save, should he get a little too confident for his own good.

The "lean" always appears much worse than it really is (or am I just trying to convince myself of that?) ha.

Sure enough, Daddy saves the day, as the chair goes toppling over, and Noah tries to catch himself with one leg up, and one leg down... Daddy is always a savior!!!!!

"Mommy, I am just too cute to get into any mischief, right?" hee hee! Noah has learned to really ham it up for the camera. Yes, he melts our hearts!!!!

God Bless America!

Recently, we had one of our own community members come home from Iraq ~ his faithful service and willingness to do what is asked of him has helped secure our freedoms! What an exciting time for his family, to welcome him home.
I was asked, as Mayor, to tie on the Yellow Ribbon (no "old oak trees" in our vicinity, ha) to the pole on our street corner. What an honor to be a part (although pretty insignificant) of this service-member's homecoming! God Bless America... Land that I LOVE~

Please show your appreciation to our service men and women whenever you get a chance!

FINALIZED AT LAST!!!

Wow... the day finally arrived! We had our adoption hearing this week, with the Judge finally proclaiming that Noah is our son, forever and ever amen! It was a pretty powerful day... to think that just a year ago, we were oblivious to what the months ahead had in store for us. Now we look back over 2008, and sit in awe of the miraculous changes we weren't even expecting. We feel so very fortunate, however, to have the honor, privilege, and blessing of having Noah in our lives! He fits in perfectly with his big brothers, and to be honest, I feel Noah completes us all. This is truly a summary of a happy family!

Happy New Year, one and all! May 2009 be equally joyful, and filled with countless blessings.

Christmas Day Follies

On Christmas day, since it was the first time we've ever been home in our own house (without traveling to far-away family celebrations), we decided to gather with friends, and have a soup & snack potluck. Here, Noah exercises his responsibility of being the annoying little brother, as he stands in the way of the tv screen, where the teenagers were playing a new Wii that our friends got for Christmas. (way to go Noah... you're learning young, what your correct role is, ha). Being the active crew that everyone is, we knew the kids (young and old) would want to head to a local ice rink for some hockey time. The dad's didn't want the kids to have all the fun, so despite their lack of hockey skates, they headed for the ice right along with them. Matt even was talked into playing.... Matt, play hockey? Can you imagine?)! He ROCKED the ice!

You'll see below, he even ENJOYED it! It was cold out, but not nearly as cold as it has been... so it was the perfect outdoor hockey afternoon! NO WIND (that was the key).

Matt, Ben, and Ed all go after the puck... there was no mercy on the ice that day. The checking and the penalties were rampant, but without a referee to monitor them, we're just glad nobody got hurt. ha.

Us moms stood along the boards, showing Noah from the sidelines what a fun afternoon with the big kids was all about. PLUS, we had to have our cameras at the ready... nobody would believe we got ALL the boys (and Emily) to participate in one big activity. There are so many different interests, that we rarely find something that everyone wants to do together. It was a magical day.

This was one of the hardest shots to capture... making them stop the action long enough to snap the photo... proving that the three Hippen men enjoyed an afternoon together, WILLINGLY. (although the expressions on their faces wouldn't reflect joy, they really were having fun).

Christmas Fun!

This year was the first in a long time, that we didn't travel to family or friends for Christmas Eve. We spent a wonderful few days at home (well, except that the flu was circulating around our house), and Noah was just chomping at the bit to tear apart the brightly colored packages that had been taunting him from under the tree.
It amazed me that Noah was more excited about eating wrapping paper, than he was to play with his shiny new toys. I guess that's a typical draw for a 10 month old. ha.

We couldn't resist the temptation to outfit Noah in his camouflage jammies and hat. He carried around his new "huntin' dog" all over the place, but didn't leave the hat on beyond these few moments for the camera. He's growing up FAR too fast, and certainly is learning to have his own little personality come into play (sometimes it's a stubborn one, for sure).

"What do you want, dada?" Noah says to the camera, even tho I'm the one behind the lens. We cannot get him to say Mama for anything... everyone and everything is Dada. Could be worse I suppose, but one of these days, he's going to learn my name. hahaha. In the mean time, he's just a bundle of joy, and quite the cuddle bug.

Young Prodigy

Our boys enjoy playing piano together... a couple of true virtuosos. Matt spends many hours on the piano, and it's been really neat to see lately, that Noah just joins right in, and sits on the piano bench along with his oldest brother. Great music is heard in the Hippen Household, often.

Tenth Month of FUN!!!

Noah's become a true Viking fan! Go Vikes!!! His jersey is old (a Chris Carter Jersey), but his middle brother wore it faithfully for a couple years, so we figured Noah could sport the colors of the greatest team too! (No, you can't send him Packers clothes, dad).