SPLASH!

This summer is turning out to be a little different than I had envisioned it.  A few weeks ago I started having contractions on a daily basis, and so my doctors have suggested it is better for me and Baby Garrett to rest as much as possible and avoid doing strenuous things (Such as taking Noah to the pool by myself!).  Thanks to the generosity of Aunt Connie and Grandma Linda, we got a new pool for the back yard as well as a LOT of really fun pool toys! 

  Noah’s new favorite toy is a $2 cement mixer from Target (he puts anything that will fit into the back of it) – it goes in the pool, sandbox AND he sleeps with it at night! 

 

Trying to ease his way into the new pool – he decided the water was too cold

 

As Noah dumps water into his wagon, he doesn’t realize there are drains in the wheels

 

Trying to plug the holes

 

Wait!!  There are holes on BOTH sides??

 

Braving the pool again, he goes for the sprinkler

 

And then he jumped right in!

 

 

It was so fun the first time, he did it again and again and again!

 

Thanks Aunt Connie and Grandma Linda!  I think it’s going to be a fun summer

(A double helping of “thanks” Grandma Linda for blowing up the pool!!)

Little Knitter

Last week Noah saw me working on some knitting and INSISTED he give it a whirl!  I told him I thought it might be hard for a little guy.  He wouldn’t hear of it!  So, I got him a large pair of needles and some spare yarn, and he got to work.  It actually entertained him for about 2 hours – don’t know why I didn’t think of this before

 

 

So on this day, we only succeeded in creating the biggest tangled ball of yarn ever seen, but we’ll work on it – we have Christmas presents to start on!

Last Day of School!

It’s so hard to believe that Noah is already finished with school for the year!  It seems like just yesterday that we went to the open house in the fall!

 

Open House – September 2010

 

Last Day of School – May 2011

Noah has been very excited about the last day of school, talking constantly about “summer ‘cation” – I think he thought it was a place we actually go to.  I finally explained it just means he gets to spend more time with Mommy

 

When I came in for his party, Noah borrowed my camera to take pictures of his teachers and his friends:

Ms. Debbie showing her sweet smile

(Yes, Noah took this picture!!)

 

Noah’s silly friend, Avery

 

Ms. Laura passing out the very special scrapbooks that she and Ms. Debbie made for us. 

 

The first page I open, I see this…

When I put Noah’s BIG hand on this TINY hand, the tears started flowing! 

The book is so beautiful, I wish I could share every page with you.  

 

After lunch we were hoping to have a “water day” outside, but the high temperature for the day was only in the mid-60s = Brrrrr!  At the last minute, a mom in our class ordered a bounce house for the kids to play in (THANK YOU!!)!!  They had the best time ever!!

 

He almost couldn’t get to the slide fast enough!

 

You can just see how much fun he’s having!

 

Thank you so much Ms. Laura and Ms. Debbie for making it such a great year!  We have truly been blessed with such talented and caring teachers.  We will miss you!

Rock-a-Bye, Lovey

Last week we got a video monitor for when Baby Garrett comes.  I decided to test it out in Noah’s room (we never had a video monitor for him – sound only).  I was completely entertained, watching him settle down as he fell asleep.  Who needs television?!

The cutest thing was that Noah took a blanket, swaddled his lovey and then rocked him “to sleep” before he laid him down on the bed.  The next morning he brought swaddled lovey downstairs to show me what he had done. 

 

Then Noah asked me if Baby Garrett had a lovey.  I told him that he didn’t yet, but that we were going to pick out a lovey for him.  Noah said Garrett could have his lovey.  Awwww!  Does it get any better??

 

(Someone remind me of this generosity of spirit a couple years from now when they’re fighting over toys!)

The Pool is OPEN!

The pool actually opened on April 30th, but we waited a few days before braving that chilly water.  Noah doesn’t seem to notice it’s cold at all!

 

  Noah had fun playing with Kelly at the pool

 

Yep, it gets colder the deeper you go!

 

Pretending to water the plants

 

I love the pool

 

Sharing with Kelly (It’s HER toy!)

 

Supervising to make sure she does it right

Little Kicker

A couple weeks ago, Grandma Nancy came through town with Aunt Connie, Cousin Alex and Chip on their way to Charlotte.  Noah spent some time in the back yard, showing Grandma how to kick a ball.

  Playing soccer with Grandma and Pacey

 

“It’s easy, you just do this…”

 

Noah posing with his visitors – Chip, Cousin Alex, Aunt Connie and Grandma Nancy

 

Incidentally, Noah has improved a lot on kicking a ball.  I wish I would have gotten it on video, but he used to declare, “Watch THIS!”  He would step back and start running at the ball, swing his foot up, only for it to skim the top of the ball, causing him to fall backwards…very much like Charlie Brown only without the help of Lucy

 

Have scooter, will travel!

 

On Tuesday, Noah got a very fun delivery from the UPS man.  A scooter from Nana!  Because he had a really good day at school, we let him play with it right away, and he was thrilled!

 

He knew enough to put his helmet on, but I think the backpack was a little much.

 

It took him no time at all to figure out how to work it

 

Taking a rest

 

Noah was literally saying, “No pictures, please!” – like I’m the paparazzi!

 

Thanks Nana!!!  I love it!

 

On a funny side note, Noah came home from school on Thursday and asked for a “surprise”.  I reminded him that he already had a piece of gum after school, what else would he like.  His answer : “Um, maybe a scooter or something.” Maybe we need to revisit the idea of rewards or this could get really expensive! 

Mother’s Day Weekend

Mother’s Day was very special this year.  It started off on Saturday when Greg and Noah took me out to breakfast at Chateau Elan.

  Noah’s favorite part of breakfast was the cheese omelet.  I loved the cheese blintzes!

 

We told Noah that if he sat nicely at breakfast he could touch the water in the fountain before we left.

He probably would have gotten in and gone swimming if we let him!

 

And, of course, the very important job of pushing the elevator button!

 

After breakfast, we went by the jeweler, and Greg got my locket fixed.  The chain had been broken since December, and I’m glad I got to wear the boys’ pictures again – what a nice Mother’s Day treat!

We miss you, Wyatt and Jack!

 

Later Noah had a picnic lunch on the screened porch (we were still full from breakfast!!).  Noah enjoys sitting at his little picnic table.

  Mmmm…peanut butter sandwich shaped like a dinosaur!

 

Sharing an orange with Daddy

 

 

(He’s been doing this goofy half smile/wink lately when we want him to smile for the camera!)

 

On Sunday morning, Noah and Greg brought me breakfast in bed which was not quite a surprise… 

On  Saturday evening, Noah got back from the grocery store with Greg and said, “Mommy, we got you FLOWERS and your favorite MUFFINS!!”  The breakfast was still SO yummy even though it wasn’t a complete surprise!  After breakfast, Noah delivered my present on his bike:

 

Special delivery for Mommy!

 

 

Noah (with Daddy’s help, I’m sure) picked out a very nice gift – I got a very pretty Scentsy warmer that makes the whole house smell wonderful!

 

Thanks Greg and Noah for a wonderful Mother’s Day!!

A Little Backwards

While playing out in the backyard, Noah pulled out his toddler slide.  I figured he had outgrown it and so it would be something we would put away soon.  Instead, he found a new use for it!

 That look is saying to me, “You don’t think I’ll do it, do you?”

 

That was fun!

 

He’s down!

Petting Farm at Celebration

A couple weeks ago, Noah’s school had a Petting Farm come visit for the day.  Noah was SO excited at the idea.  I could tell he put a lot of thought into it because our conversation before school went like this:

Me:  Noah, there is going to be a Petting Farm at school.  What kind of animals do you want to see?

Noah: Will there be Monkeys there?  Elephants?

Me:  No – those are too big…maybe farm animals like ponies, cows, pigs, sheep, bunnies

Noah:  Oh…..A pony is too big to carry.  How will it get there? 

Me:  He’ll ride in a truck.

Noah:  But those animals don’t have hands like me and Mommy, so how will they drive?

Me: (Giggling) – Noah, they won’t drive.  The farmer will bring them.

Noah:  Who is the farmer?

Me:  Okay, time to go!!  Let’s go get in the car!  (This could have gone on all day)

  I snuck in to take a peek at Noah’s class before our Petting Farm time. They all were sitting so nicely listening to Ms. Laura tell them the rules.

(Sutton spied me and said, “Hey Noah! Your Mom’s here!!”  My cover was blown! Ha!)

 

Sizing up the pig

 

Brushing the donkey

 

Brushing the pony with Ella Rae

 

Pushing the girls on the swing