The Lily Log

Noah these days

July 19, 2008, 9:37 am

Noah had his 7-year-old well check-up last week. He weighed in at 56 pounds and is 49 inches tall. I have heard him tell his friends that he's 70 pounds. At the mere age of 7 Noah already has a knack for exaggerating like his Mom, Aunt, and Grandpa. He knows how to tell a good story. He told his Dr. that his feet grew from a size 12 to a size 4 this year. I corrected him and said it was a size 13 to a size 3. I felt the Dr. liked Noah's version better, so I'll keep my mouth shut in the future.

We talked about Noah's growth with the Dr. and how big his head was at birth. She pulled out his growth chart, and Noah's head circumference was off the chart his first year of life. Noah thinks it's so funny that he had a large head as a baby. I say he's finally growing into it.

Noah had to get one shot, and he promised me he wouldn't cry. He didn't cry, but he limped for a while (again just like his Mom would do).

Here's Noah at his appointment anxiously awaiting his shot:

Nathan and Noah watched Ghostbusters last week, and Noah loved it. I went to the movie rental store last night and looked around for a good classic movie for Noah. I ended up with Karate Kid. I have never seen Noah enjoy a movie more. He was literally on the edge of his seat. He screamed when the Karate Kid won at the end. He then ran around the house practicing karate moves. We can't wait to show him all the classic movies from our youth now.

Last week Noah told me with wide eyes, "I've heard about a very healthy snack. It's apples with PEANUT BUTTER on them! Can we try it?"

I said sure and wondered why I had not given this to Noah sooner.

He added, "I learned about it on TV from an expert in healthy eating. An expert mom!"

Indiana Tackett: (ready for his friend Cade's Indiana Jones themed birthday party)

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Our almost 4-year-old

July 16, 2008, 10:53 am

Lily...
nonstop talker
"right? right? right?"
artist
organizer
candy connoisseur
mama to her babies
baby to her mama
sweet to her papa
always moving
climber
STUBBORN
beautiful smile
fluffy blond hair
crazy clothes
hoarder
giver of gum
pouty
tiny
silly
Lily...

[ 3 comments ] ( 21 views )

Breakfast with the Elephants

July 14, 2008, 11:28 am

After a busy week, I woke the kids up early on Saturday morning for Breakfast with the Elephants at the Zoo. I'm glad my family is so supportive of my love of elephants...they were all happy to go along. I think maybe they like elephants as much as I do.

Sophie and Babe, the elephants, were out and ready for breakfast. We had the same food they did--pastries and fresh fruit. Thank goodness elephants are vegetarians...

Noah and Lily were excited to throw grapes to the elephants and watch them pick up the tiny grapes with their trunks. We watched the elephants get their bath which they were very cooperative about but then covered themselves with dirt. We learned all sorts of facts about elephants and toured their barn.

Here are some pictures from our morning:

Noah and Lily are always excited to see Kevin's bench in the petting zoo. They requested I take their pictures sitting by Kevin's name.

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Chicken Duty

July 12, 2008, 8:49 pm

I have been in charge of Dawn's chickens over the past week while she is on vacation. I assumed that I would do most of the chicken duty, but Noah did almost all of the work. Noah loves the chickens, especially the hen named Hermione. The first two evenings we went to the Kruse house to put the chickens in the coop, Hermione ran across the length of their large backyard right up to Noah. This is an image that made me laugh all week. The third night I brought a camera, and of course she didn't do it anymore. I really wish I had captured it on video.

Noah and Lily were so excited to find eggs in the coop. They wanted to eat the fresh eggs right away, and I've never seen them eat eggs so quickly.

I went a few mornings by myself to let the chickens out, and the rooster pecked my feet (which were in flip flops). I learned to wear tennis shoes and take Noah with me. Whenever Noah was with me, the rooster left me alone. I think he could sense my slight fear when I was alone. Thankfully my 7-year-old son can protect me from a white, silky rooster.

Here are the kids receiving some lovin' from their favorite chicken, Hermione:

Playtime:

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Noah's Busy Week

July 12, 2008, 6:01 pm

Noah had a very full schedule last week. He went to his first Cub's Scout Day Camp and had an absolute blast. He came home with stories about shooting BB guns and bows. He went for hikes in the wilderness. He made a very cool mold of a deer's hoof (which is a prized possession now). He also learned about other countries and boomerangs. Noah kept mentioning the "trading post" and how he wanted to buy a "rabbit thing." So on Thursday I went with Noah and discovered that the trading post is this table set up with treasures for the boys to purchase. The rabbit thing was a rabbit skin. So Noah spent $5 on a rabbit skin and rabbit's foot. Oi.

I was one of the den walkers on woodworking day. So Noah and I had the task of building a birdhouse. We were just a tad frustrated as Noah can hammer a nail better than I can. I was helping 3 other boys and often said, "Your father should be here this day of all days!" But then we had fun playing games and eating lunch and of course shopping at the fantastic trading post. I hope to find out when woodworking day is next year and avoid that day in particular (they eventually build a huge toolbox when they are Bears which really scares me to think what ours would turn out like.) Nathan went with Noah to a water park and had fun swimming and going down slides. He lucked out.

I attended the closing ceremonies. Noah and his pack #308 were the Anacondas and wrote a cheer that they performed for all of the kids and parents. My only complaint about Cub's Scouts (well besides the woodworking) is that the Cub's leaders do A LOT of skits. I don't want to offend you, Aunt JJ, but I don't really like watching skits.

Along with Cub's camp, Noah had a baseball tournament on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night. He had a great time playing in his first tournament where the score was displayed just like the professionals. Noah was picked to be on the Pee Wee All Star team, which made him very proud. We'll be in Colorado the week of the All Star games, but he was excited to be picked.

Here are some pictures from Noah's busy week:

Baseball tournament:

Noah with the anaconda flag. Noah and I were always the first ones to arrive, and he loved getting the flag to their post.

Pack 308, The anacondas:

Video from Noah's baseball tournament:

Noah's hit

Noah scores

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Lily's Day

July 8, 2008, 9:57 am

On Monday, Lily's babysitter took the day off, so Nathan and I took Lily to work with us. She spent the morning at Mama's work and the afternoon at Papa's work. I packed her backpack full of coloring books and other items to keep her busy. I even packed her favorite doll (a girl doll named Kevin) along with a bottle and other baby necessities.

Lily was very excited for her special day, and she behaved very well at work with us. She enjoyed having a doughnut with me in the cafeteria and looking at the waterfall outside. Lily and I met Papa at Old MacDonald’s for lunch and then she spent the afternoon at Papa's work. They went home early and enjoyed some time together.

We commented on what a different person Lily is when we have one on one time with her. She is always fighting for attention with Noah, but when it's just Lily she's very sweet.

Check out her sweetness:

She made a bed out of two chairs in my office and watched some cartoons on my TV:

Ready to go to lunch:

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A Fun Forth and Fifth

July 6, 2008, 9:00 pm

We really enjoyed the long 4th of July weekend this year. The weather was perfect, and we had fun with family and friends. Some highlights included the East Moline 4th of July parade (complete with dancing horses), Lily swimming in the pool with no one holding her (thanks to Emily and Nicole), Noah building a model ship with Uncle Jason, sparklers and smoke rockets, and swimming all day at Ashlyn's birthday party.

Here are some pictures of the fun had by all:

The parade: Brandon, Ashlyn, Noah, and Lily

Noah and Brandon and their muscles:

No hands! Nicole, Emily, and Lily

Evening sparklers:

Noah and Uncle Jason and cool ship:

Girlfriends Ashlyn and Lily:

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Happy 4th of July!

July 4, 2008, 4:07 pm

Old Navy let me down this year. I normally buy matching shirts for the family and enjoy JJ's insults at our nerdiness, but this year Old Navy was sold out of 4th of July shirts. So I had to improvise and go with red and white. We are having a great 4th of July enjoying the beautiful weather and quality time with Grandpa Tackett and Uncle Jason. Bring on the food and fireworks!

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July 1st?!!

July 1, 2008, 9:19 pm

Noah was shocked all day that it's already July 1st. He wonders where June has gone. Summer does seem to fly by. Noah and Lily are very excited that Grandpa Tackett and Uncle Jason are coming for the holiday weekend tomorrow. They can't wait for many sleepovers. Get ready guys, Lily is gonna talk your ear off.

Here are Noah and Lily actually getting along and excited to swim in the neighbor's pool on a very warm July 1st:

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