Christmas 2011

Nobles Christmas card photo

Christmas tree that we cut at the local tree farm, it's a November tradition

 Since Christmas was on a Sunday, the traditions were definitely broken.  We went out to lunch with Randy's mom on Friday before Christmas, then back to her house to exchange gifts.  Sunday morning the kids opened stockings (mostly candy) and then we went to 10:30 service.  Typically Calvary has a praise band, but for Christmas morning it was traditional Christmas carols with me at the piano.  Alyssa is serving as an intern in the children's ministry so she read from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 as some of the children acted out the story.

After worship we returned home for a non-traditional Christmas lunch of Chicken Marengo, which is a pasta dish. Randy's mom ate with us and watched as we exchanged gifts with one another.  It definitely made Christmas last longer, because typically all the gifts are opened by 10.  Maybe we have started a new tradition...wait until after lunch to open gifts!

Kate opening a new Wii game. We got our first gaming system last year, and it has been fun!

Alyssa knew this was a planner from Staples.com, so I didn't bother wrapping it.
Kate said, "she got one of those last year"  Obviously she isn't aware that they only last for one year!

Aaron opening the book "Radical"...hoping he'll read it.

Alyssa opening one of her MANY kitchen gifts. She graduates in May, and we anticipate her moving on
and needing  to cook for herself!

Carrie and her new backpack and Kavu rope bag.  She is set for college, minus the tuition!

 The day after Christmas 5 of 6 Nobles loaded in the van to visit my family in Florida.  Aaron stayed in Rome to work and take care of the cats.   My parents are in their late 80's, and still live on the family farm.  During the winter there is an abundance of citrus and pecans.  We look forward to helping them juice oranges, shell pecans and generally lend a hand for a few days.

Papa and Kate juicing oranges under the carport. We picked 5 buckets of oranges,and that didn't even make a dent on what is on the trees around the house!

 My eldest brother and his wife live 20 minutes from the farm, so we got to spend time with them each evening during our visit.  I'm so grateful for all they do for our parents.  They help manage the finances, take them to the doctors, to the grocery store and so much more.  When I visit I cook meals, and put them in the freezer for them to enjoy later.  I learned to cook from my mom, but she doesn't do it much anymore, it's too much for her to deal with.

My niece, Leslie, was home for Christmas from Soviet Georgia.  She is spending the year teaching English in a rural village near Turkey.  It was fun to see her, and hear about her experiences.  You can read about it at her blog.  We enjoyed playing Catch Phrase (even Papa answered a few) and Name 5 with her.  We also exchanged a few other games that require only silverware and your mind!

Carrie washing dishes, and cousin Leslie.

Alyssa and Kate chauffeured Nannie & Papa to the grocery store.  That is always an experience, because Nannie uses a walker and Papa a cane...it's a slow go.  The girls are very patient, loving & respectful of their elderly grandparents.  Alyssa left to go to Campus Outreach Conference after one full day at the farm, but I'm glad she got to visit.

Alyssa and the bowl of pecans she shelled.

Warm temperatures encouraged Carrie to try to juggle.  Yes, those are oranges!

We picked the low fruit, and used a ladder to get higher.  The rest of these Chinese Honeys need a cherry picker!
 Chinese Honeys are a treat that you can only find in central FL!

What do you do with rotten fruit? Batter UP!

Carrie pitches, Kate hits (hopefully), and the fruit flies

We are indeed blessed to have family with which to share the holidays!

Sunday before Christmas - new tradition

Last year on the Sunday before Christmas the family threw a surprise birthday party for me. The party was so much fun, that we decided to do it again...except it wasn't a birthday party or a surprise.  The same folks were invited to a gathering at the Landis' home in Kennesaw.  Those on the list were Berry grads who had been involved in the college ministry at Calvary.

Kelli helped plan this year's gathering

Adam & Florence Greene made it again this year!

Alyssa, Kate & Aaron chill on the couch....Broncos vs. Patriots on the big screen!

Ever spontaneous, the Pascual's came after I called to say  we missed them at the party!

The host couple, Drew & Emily

Nobles & Landis families

It was wonderful to spend time with these young adults & catch up with them.  Hailey, Jacin & Jackson Burns left before I got my camera out, but it was great to visit with them too. Thanks to Drew & Emily for so graciously hosting the event.

Once again it was the Sunday before Christmas, and the a cappella group, Straight No Chaser was performing in Atlanta.  I love this group and I'm what is affectionately known as a Chaser. Why? Because it's cool story (record deal because their YouTube video went viral) & they are an exceptionally talented group of guys.  This is our third time to see them live.  This year at the Atlanta Civic Center.  Here's a video to give you a taste.

Their shows are high energy, family friendly, and top notch.  Get tickets if they are ever in your area, you will not be disappointed.  I hope to see them again next year on the Sunday before Christmas!

Swim Fans!

I've been a fan of swimming since the days of Mark Spitz (see 1976 Olympics). I think it's an exciting sport & provides an excellent form of exercise. Plus it's a lifetime sport!  

Kate started swimming in 1st grade, and she LOVES it. Everyone at our house follows the swim culture. We watch it on the computer, on TV and read about it in Kate's Splash magazine.  Kate's a member of USA swimming, same as Michael Phelps.  I doubt Kate will be an Olympic swimmer, but she has fun with it and it has provided her with a lot of self confidence.  She is strong physically and mentally.  She loves the competition, and is getting faster every week.  She trains with Three Rivers Swim Club (TRSC) at Rome High.  Her coach is Brooks Coville & he teaches super technique while keeping it low key and fun for the kids.  He is also the father of Alex Coville, who will be at the Olympic Trials in 2012 - hoping to make the USA team in the sprints.

TRSC swimmers with Alex Coville (4th from left)

The first weekend in December was AT &T Winter Nationals at Georgia Tech.  Many high profile swimmers were there, and some that needed to make qualifying times for the Olympic Trials.  Alex and some of his Stanford teammates were there.  Kate, Carrie & Randy went to watch the finals on the 3rd night.  There were quite a few from Kate's swim club that attended.  

The next weekend was the annual Jingle Bell meet in Dalton Georgia.  This is a fun meet & Kate looks forward to it because the high-powered Atlanta swimmers don't typically attend.  This means she can get some hardware!  She came home with 3 medals and 2 ribbons. She also lowered her times in all 5 events, always good for a swimmer. 

Kate ready to step up on the blocks

 The following video is the 50 backstroke.  Kate is in the lane 2nd from the bottom.  She finished 2nd in the heat and overall in her age group!!

On December 16 & 17 Mutual of Omaha brought the Duel in the Pool to Atlanta.  So, back to Georgia Tech we go for more swimming.  This time I went with Kate & Carrie. It was Team USA vs. Team Europe.  We attended the Saturday afternoon session.  We had great seats, and saw some excellent swimming.  There was at least one world record, and several American records set at the meet.  Michael Phelps was not attendance, but many other famous & fabulous swimmers kept us cheering.

Missy Franklin is the newest star of swimming.  She turned 16 this summer. & is so fast.

Team USA 

Start of the 100 backstroke. Ryan Lochte in lane 4

London Calling!

USA! USA! USA!

Doors going into the pool had these great transparent posters. Soni is  Olympic breaststroker.

At the end of the meet we were able to get autographs from Missy Franklin and Brendan Hansen.  Hansen is 30 years old, and coming back to swimming after doing triathlons.  Look for him in the breaststroke in London.  You can be sure that we will be watching & cheering for Team USA.

Woo Hoo!!

It's been a long, bumpy, curvy road in education for Aaron, but I am happy to report that he made a 3.5 this semester! That is two A's and two B's in upper level geography classes! I'm still not sure when he'll actually graduate, but we are thankful for this semester. 


It was his first semester at Kennesaw State, and he commuted 2 days a week.  He worked 25-30 hours a week at Olive Garden in Rome, and refereed occasionally on the weekends.  He eats me out of house & home and has definitely put on some pounds, though I don't think it's all from my cooking. This semester he took 12 hours, and his classes started at 8 a.m.  He was usually on the road by 6:40.  Next semester he will have 15 hours, and start at the same time. He never missed a class, another huge feat!!


What do they say about boys taking longer to mature? 

Another Christmas Tradition

I've been going to band concerts for as long as I can remember!  I was in the band, my older brother was in the band, all my kids are in (or have been) in the band. Every year at the Christmas concert the Symphonic Band ends with Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.  This is one of my favorite songs & it doesn't seem like Christmas until I've hear the RHS band play this tune.

There are two distinct features of Sleigh Ride - the horse at the beginning & end of the song and the cracking of the whip in the middle of the piece.  Alyssa was in the percussion section and for several years was the designated whip player.  This year, Carrie had the honor of making the horse sound. This is done with muted trumpet.  Now for some reason, the director decided to move the 1st trumpets to the middle of the band, instead of having them on the end as usual - so it's a little hard to hear the horse.  Listen carefully and you'll hear the whinny at the very beginning & end of the piece.

To help you ring in the Christmas season, here is the Rome High Symphonic Band & Sleigh Ride!

Christmas Caroling

This is a tradition at the Nobles household, we go every year! I thought you might enjoy the history of Kathryn's caroling....glad you asked, here it is.

When I was growing up on the farm in Florida, our church youth group would go caroling. It was quite an event, we would start at the dairy down the road from my house and have the DAIRY BOWL. This was touch football in the pasture & it was not pattie free! While some were playing football, others would gather in the large kitchen of the Jost family & bake cookies.  The Jost family was known for their baking, and we just followed their lead.  As it got dark, we would go into town to carol.  We gave out the cookies when we caroled - usually widows in our church.  It was fun tromping around town in the dark with my friends, singing Christmas songs.  Thus, I carry on the tradition today.

I typically go caroling twice during the holidays...once with college kids, once with the children at church.  I like both events, but they are very different.  The college crowd is invited to "Carols, Cookies & Cocoa".  I bake lots of cookies for them to eat, and serve homemade hot cocoa.  We usually carol in my neighborhood, but have done it in various parts of Rome.

2011 Carolers: typical Berry ratio, only 2 guys, but we had 2 Shorter students too!

This is usually a Calvary event, but I invite my music friends from Berry to make sure we have some good singers...cause caroling is definitely better when you have folks that can sing!  The past two years I have had a huge turn out of music majors...they sound really good, though those sopranos can get on your nerves always ending the song with a really high note!  My neighbors love it when we come caroling.  We sing two songs and then We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  As one neighbor said, "just enough for me to be excited, listen and then you leave!"

In a few weeks I'll go caroling with the kids at church.  The children love running up and ringing the bell or knocking on the door.  We go to the apartment complex behind the church & often take a bag of cookies to those who will open their door.   We sing sacred & secular songs...same format - 2 songs & the closer.  Occasionally the door gets shut before we are finished!  I have sung to many a door that didn't open, but we sing for anyone who is willing to listen. As Buddy the Elf says, "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear"