Carving Time

October 31, 2007, 8:36 am

Happy Halloween!!!



Papa and Noah take pumpkin carving very seriously. Noah draws the face, and Papa cuts off the top. Then Noah empties the seeds and Papa cuts out the face. This year they carved three pumpkins: a big scary one, a little crying Lily pumpkin, and a mad Noah pumpkin. (I prefer frosting sugar cookies).

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Her Own Field Trip

October 31, 2007, 8:18 am

Since Lily had to miss her first preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch earlier this month, I took Lily on her own field trip yesterday. It was 71 degrees and beautiful on October 30th. A perfect opportunity to pet rabbits, feed goats (or at least throw food at them), walk to a pumpkin patch, and pick out some pumpkins. Lily picked out only little pumpkins. I guess when you're 3 they're just the right size.

The photo shoot:


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1st Preschool Party

October 30, 2007, 4:34 pm

Lily attended her first preschool party this morning. She now understands that the Easter bunny does not come on Halloween, but she still asks what people are going to be for Christmas. Lily giggled uncontrollably when she saw me at her school. She thought it was HILARIOUS that her Mom was at her school.

She paraded through the school in her Uniqua costume, got wrapped up in toilet paper like a mummy (and with no expression on her face although she seemed to enjoy it afterwards), made a Halloween craft, ate a cupcake with lots of orange frosting (which she ate first), and most importantly got a treat bag. Lily loves treat bags. She'll be carrying it around for weeks...



Lily and her teachers, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Snyder:

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Lord Vader

October 28, 2007, 9:25 pm

After a winter of watching Star Wars and a Star Wars themed birthday party, Noah made the obvious choice and picked Darth Vader for his Halloween costume this year. He really likes being called Lord Vader. This Darth Vader can live without his mask and takes off the mask after about 5 minutes (it's just too hot).

Lord Vader at his 1st Grade desk:



Walking in the Halloween parade at school:



In the kitchen in all his glory:

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Uniqua!

October 28, 2007, 9:21 pm

This year I picked out Lily's costume merely for comfort. Lily likes soft clothes and refuses to wear anything she deems "scratchy." I have felt many cheap, scratchy Halloween costumes in my day, so I looked for something made of velour and found Uniqua, a Backyardigan (cartoon character). And Lily is pretty unique. Plus we do call her Pinky...

Lily giggled uncontrollably when she first saw herself in the Uniqua costume. The eyes on top of her head especially got her.



On the carousel at Boo at the Zoo:

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Sweetest Google Search Ever

October 26, 2007, 10:44 am

Noah is very excited for Christmas. He is eager for the Toys R Us big book to arrive. He loves circling toys that he wants, and the magazine is a wrinkled mess after a few weeks of Noah pouring over it. He also enjoys writing his Christmas list.

Yesterday Noah spent some time on the computer. This morning Nathan looked at the Google search bar and discovered the following two searches:

stoff forcrismus
stof for crismus

How sweet is that?

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Holiday Confusion

October 22, 2007, 9:09 pm

Lily said something recently that reveals she has some holiday confusion. It went something like this...

Lily: When I go to school for Christmas in my costume the Easter Bunny will bring me eggs for my pumpkin, right?

I had a hard time answering that question.

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Our Reader

October 19, 2007, 10:02 am

I asked Noah last week what his favorite subject at school was (assuming it was math as he whips out his math homework in about 1 minute every night), but he surprised me by answering reading. Noah loves reading on his own now, and he especially enjoys Dr. Seuss books. He has a bookmark to mark his place, and he even uses some nice inflection which I always compliment (I just can't stand monotone reading).

Noah didn't even mind the paparazzi taking some pictures as he read Green Eggs and Ham...



And to warm his Mama's heart, he even read some to Lily (and she even listened)...



Noah is also in the process of writing his own book entitled Fall is Here by Noah Tackett illustrated by Noah Tackett. He is on the 4th page and reports that the final draft will be 52 pages. Manuscript coming soon...

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Goal!

October 16, 2007, 12:17 pm

Noah started playing soccer last month, and Nathan and I found his games a little frustrating. Noah was always quite a distance away from the ball. He was very cautious and conservative on the field, ran very slowly, and would only kick the ball if it came right up to him. During a break at one game I told him to try to kick a goal. He got a little teary eyed and said, "I can't kick a goal Mom!"

At night after one of his games I got in bed with Noah to talk. I asked him what he thought about soccer. He said, "Well, I think I'm the 2nd best player. Parker is the best and then me." This made me laugh, but I was happy that he at least thought he was really good. As long as he was having fun...

Then he played his friend Emily's team last week and actually started running TO the ball. He showed some assertiveness and ran at a fast pace. Nathan and I were excited to see him involved in the game. Since that game, Noah has been right in the action and practices soccer every night.

Last night Noah started running to where his teammates would kick the ball. Rather than joining the herd of runners, he anticipated the moves of his teammates. And to our amazement and joy, Noah scored his first goal ever. He pumped his arms up and down and jumped around the field.

And he said he couldn't score a goal...

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Mama's Keys

October 16, 2007, 12:12 pm

So I had a rough start to my week last Monday when I could not find my keys or pager before leaving for work. I found a spare key to the car and asked Noah and Lily if they knew what happened to my keys. They both denied any involvement.

At work I called Nathan to tell him my woes. He went home and searched the house and garage for my keys and pager. Then he went to the soccer fields (where we were the night before) and then to my work to search my car. We were stumped...

After work, Nathan looked again through the garage and found my pager. We assumed that my keys fell out at the same time, but we couldn't find the keys. My friend Melissa recommended I look through the toy boxes in the house, but I told her that Noah and Lily never play with my keys. Besides they both denied taking my keys.

On Saturday morning I was at the computer checking my email when Noah walked up with a big grin on his face and my keys in his hands. I picked him up and twirled him around and kissed him and thanked him. Then of course I asked him...."Where were they?!"

My keys were in the toy box.

Hmmmm....

So I woke up Lily and told her that Noah found my keys. A big grin came across her face. I told her they were with the toys and asked if she knew who put them there. Lily responded, "I think the cleaning ladies put them there!" (We have a cleaning service come in each month).

(I didn't expect that response.)

I then asked Lily if she was playing with my keys, and she shook her head yes. I asked if she put them in with her toys, and again she shook her head yes.

There are two lessons to take away from this story.

Anyone?

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The Real Noah

October 13, 2007, 9:51 am

I attended my first field trip with Noah since he started grade school. Nathan has attended the field trips in the past, but Noah requested that I come to the pumpkin patch with him this year. I even rode on the bus with Noah and his friends.

As Noah and I entered his school, Noah ran up to multiple kids and hugged them and gave them special handshakes. My usually shy little boy was quite the social butterfly around his friends.

On the bus, Noah sat with his friend Jerry. I was in charge of Jerry and Noah. Noah's birthday is May 22nd and Jerry's birthday is May 23rd. They think this is a very cool fact. They are, after all, 1 day apart. Noah also pointed out that his birthday is the 22nd, Jerry's is the 23rd, and mine is the 24th.

Jerry and Noah:



Noah and Jerry wrestled on the bus, and I had to settle them down a few times. When boys are together and on a field trip they seem to go down about 10 notches in maturity.

At the pumpkin patch, Noah met a Native American and went in a real teepee. We rode on a haunted train ride (which actually scared his friend Emmalyn). Noah went on a hayrack ride (I had to avoid all hay activities due to my hay fever). Noah's favorite part was the hay maze where he ran through hay bales and came out covered in hay (not my favorite part per se). I enjoyed the hot chocolate during which Noah flirted with a girl named Madison while I watched and took a few pictures (Noah flirting involves him acting really immature and making girls laugh).

The flirt:



Then Noah picked out a pumpkin, and we rode the bus back to school. I hate to add that Noah cursed during the bus ride. I heard my sweet 6-year-old say the word "damn" as if he says it every day. I looked at him in shock and yelled, "Noah!" and his eyes immediately filled with tears. Perhaps he forgot his mother was on the bus with him. I also had to discipline all the kids as they chanted "Kade loves Ashley!" I stood up and said, "I'm Noah's Mom and you need to stop it!" and there was silence. I've never been so effective with a group of children. Perhaps being Noah's mom has its privileges.

I stayed and had lunch with Noah and his friends. Emmalyn and Noah sat on either side of me. The girls across from us played a game where they put their hands together like a gate and said "Break the gate" then the other person hits their hands and they ask "Who do you hate?" and then they say "That's who you date!" There is a lot of talk about "dating" and who loves whom in 1st grade. I just requested that the girls never say Noah when asked who they hate. Of course then they said Noah every time.

I enjoyed seeing the real Noah (besides the cursing), and I had the realization that I'm glad I'm not a 1st grade teacher.

Some highlights...





Kale, Carter, and Noah: (friends since preschool, and now they are all in the same 1st grade class)


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Achooo

October 13, 2007, 8:47 am

Poor Lily had to miss her first field trip with preschool. Since she started preschool last month, she has been talking about going to the pumpkin patch with her teachers and friends. She says, "I will teach them not to hurt the bunnies but to pet them nicely. And I will get a pumpkin!"

Lily came down with a cold this week, and on Thursday morning she looked miserable. I assured her that I would take her to the pumpkin patch to get a special pumpkin when she feels better...

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Dinner Conversations

October 11, 2007, 12:11 pm

The kids entertained Nathan and me at dinner last night. I asked Lily if she is learning about Jesus at preschool as she goes to a Christian school.

Lily: Yes, and one of the kids cries when we sing with pastor. We sing a song about Jesus.

Papa: Is Jesus nice?

Noah: Yes, Jesus is very nice! VERY!

Lily: And there's a brother Noah! He has a boat! (Excitedly pointing to her brother Noah).

Noah: That's not me. That's a different Noah.

Lily: (Touching her chin) I think I have a pimple coming in.

(Laughter from the parents)

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School Picture

October 10, 2007, 1:14 pm

When Noah started preschool at the age of 3, he had his first professional picture taken without me present. When I got the proofs back, I couldn't stop giggling and feeling a little heartbroken. Noah had a very forced smile with his mouth closed. His picture was truly the most awkward photo I'd ever seen. I'm not sure why the photographer thought it was acceptable. I ordered just one sheet of his photo so that Aunt JJ and I could each have a print to giggle at to the point of tears.

The next year in preschool Noah didn't smile quite as awkwardly, but I still just ordered a few prints. Then I decided to start coaching Noah on the fake smile. I told him to show some teeth and appear relaxed. We practiced in front of the mirror.

Noah's Kindergarten picture was pretty good. He appears a little more relaxed and is showing some teeth. He still seems awkward though.

Noah came home yesterday with his 1st grade pictures. He was very excited. You can be the judge...

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Zoo Day

October 8, 2007, 4:06 pm

Dawn and I took Emily, Noah, Lily, and Kevin to the zoo today. Despite the swarm of bees and occasional rain, we managed to have fun and see wallabies hopping, a white-handed gibbon up close, a lion pooping, and baby peccaries.

Noah and Emily didn't want to ride the train with us. Apparently trains are for babies. Lily wasn't very happy that Noah called her a baby. Dawn and I pointed out that we are big girls and happen to love the train.

Noah, Emily, and I took a walk through one of the trails, and I pretended I was Ginny from Harry Potter and Emily was Hermione and Noah was Ron. We used sticks for wands, but when I brought up Voldemort Ron and Hermione were suddenly behind me. I managed to get us safely back to Dawn.

Lily loves the animals and thinks they are all mommies, daddies, and babies. Her favorite animal today was the white-handed gibbon. She's a little afraid of the giraffes.

Kevin enjoyed the carousel much more than any of the animals. His enthusiasm for the carousel was infectious.

Some day it will be just me and Dawn at the zoo...

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From Lily's Mouth

October 5, 2007, 7:31 am

Some favorite quotes:

"Look! A flying fish!" (Pointing to a dragonfly)

"Mama, Papa is talking to me too much." (Made us laugh hysterically as Lily is the one who talks nonstop)

"Papa has brown skin. I have white skin. Mama has pimples."

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Well check-ups

October 4, 2007, 11:15 am

Due to countless requests for more posts, I thought I'd add one today (Ok, really just Jean asked for a new post).

I took Noah and Lily to the Dr. for their well check-ups. Lily was a mess. She did not want any shots. Noah was very calm and cooperative. During the eye exam, Lily refused to list any shapes. I still remember when Noah was 3 and cooperated with the eye exam trying to list all the shapes correctly. He called the hand shape French fries which made the nurse Juanita and I giggle. Lily is not like her brother, and she was not about to cooperate with Juanita. Juanita said, "Well usually when your first child is one way the next child is the opposite."

Noah had to sit down and read letters for his eye exam. He was very conscientious and read the letters carefully. Juanita commented on how smart he is, and then Noah was kind of full of himself and cracking jokes the rest of the time.

Noah is 4 feet tall now and 52 pounds. He's in the 75th percentile for height and almost the 75th for weight.

Lily is 3 feet tall now and 32 pounds. She's in the 50th percentile for height and weight.

Lily warmed up to the Dr. and allowed her to perform an exam on her. The Dr. asked if her name was Lily and Lily exclaimed, "Yes but my Papa calls me Lulu Black Bear!"

Lily had a TB test and two shots. Noah also received 2 shots. Noah didn't cry although he was clearly concerned. Lily screamed for quite a while and on the way out of the Dr.'s office yelled, "I NEVER WANT TO COME BACK TO THIS BAD PLACE AGAIN!"

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