"Just another manic Monday"....

Today I decided Hannah was old enough to let her in on some of my great treasures...

Mommy helped her climb inside my red rider and go for a spin. Well, actually, she didn't like moving at all, so she just sat in the garage and took in the scenery.

After she got done with her turn, I decided to take it for a spin and....well, got in a little jam. Here's Hannah trying to help me out.

As you can see, I wasn't too weepy... I actually thought it was pretty fun to crash. After about 20 "crashes" mommy said that was enough!

I think Hannah could have spent hours outside. It was 72degrees, sunny, with a great fall breeze!

Somebody wasn't too happy they had to go inside to take a nap. Actually, this is how mommy found her after her nap....how she managed to get undressed is beyond me! Future escape artist!



But, all smiles when daddy's home and getting some night time giggles and cuddles in before bed.

(Papa and Noni - does this picture look like anybody you know???? say, 30 years ago????)

October sunshine

It was hard to resist getting outside today, the sun was shining, the air was crisp,

and it was a whole day filled with Hannah....

me,

and mommy.....
daddy joined us at lunch and spent the afternoon with us.
The world was great in the world of Noah today!

while the cats away, the mice will play

Now that I have school two days a week, Hannah has discovered the benefits of having the house to herself. She has taken a liking to my chair... I think it makes her feel like a big girl.




Of course, all she really wants to do is climb and STAND. You should see the struggles mommy and daddy have trying to get her to sit in a bath! Her baths are record time...in and out, before she literally climbs out!

She's also dabbling a bit in her trades.... anyone in the need of a plumber? She found it most intriguing to hear the clink of the lever! (cheap entertainment!)


She also has her eye on the furniture moving business. She can move chairs like no other. In fact, the other day I was standing on a chair helping mommy do the dishes and she pulled the chair right out from under me. I didn't know what hit me, as I sat there with my bum on the floor!

but how can you get mad at this sweet face?

This is me coming home from my 2nd day of school!
(As you can see, I'm into hats these days, so I thought I'd try mommy's on for size)

first day of preschool

All weekend mommy and daddy have been talking to me about going to school. I kept saying "now"? (because I have a really hard time with waiting :-) So, when I woke up this morning I knew today was the day!

(I thought I'd "jog" to school", but mommy said I had to wear my tennis shoes instead...)

I am really into being independent right now, so I really wanted to be able to pick out my outfit. Mommy thought I looked every-so-adorable, HOWEVER, thought daddy might be a bit embarrassed if I showed up with this on my head!~

I had a very hard time understanding that if today is the day, why we couldn't go RIGHT then? I stood at the door and stated "I'm ready"!!! starting at about 7:15.

Only, mommy said I had to wait until 8:00 - what does that mean anyway?

I just want everyone to know it was a 100% tear-free event! (I think Mommy did pretty well too :-) Mommy wasn't too sure how it was going to go when on the way there I asked, "mommy stay with me at school all day too?"...

I really think I'm going to like my new teacher and my new friends. Something mommy refers to as "socialization"!

general updates

Thought I'd spend some time to update everybody on the latest and greatest in my world! Hannah is getting to be a really good playmate....


I'm trying desperately to get her to say my name ("say No-ah....say Noah, Hannah...Nooooo- ahhhhh).

I also know my ABC's and am stuck on singing Twinkle-Twinkle little star. The amazing thing I've discovered is that the tune goes to just about anything I want to sing about, which have included diapers (just imagine it....singing diaper, diaper, diaper over and over again to the tune....catchy, right?).

I am almost 2 1/2 years old now... and getting more and more mature every day. I know how to count to 20 (well, okay, I get to thirteen and then jump right to 18, 19, 20~!) I am also learning the art of a second language and can count to 10 in Spanish (with assist when I get to sieta, that's just a tough one, don't you think?). I know my colors, my full name and the street I live on.

I have almost mastered the sitting still... to get my haircut.

and the spray-gun, which mommy things I've taken a liking too a little too much!
We've had a great start to our "fall" season (80-degree weather), but I'm also looking forward to some cool evenings, pumpkin pickin's and autumn wagon rides!

Go Gophers! (says Mommy)
Go Notre Dame (says Daddy and Auntie Teresa)....which, I've adopted as my favorite team.

mid-week playdate

Mommy and Auntie Sharon had a brilliant idea last week - a PLAYDATE!!! Auntie Sharon even took a 1/2-day off of work and Andrew came to our house....


it was a really warm, sunny fall day - so we got to spend the whole day outside.... looking for grasshoppers




and letting them crawl on us. Nature is fantastic! Notice the green, plush grass - one weekend of heavy rain and wah-lah.... flourishing lawn!

weekend get-away

Mommy and daddy thought they had a weekend get away, but really... Hannah and I are the ones you got the special treat. I got to go stay with Auntie Teresa ...

(this is me and Bridger waiting for Auntie Teresa to come pick us up....)

(and this is me giving mommy those ever so sweet blue-eyes good-byes as I happily sat in Auntie's car, with Bridger.....not a bit of sadness in my farewell! Impressive, right?)

and Hannah got to play with Noni and Papa for the whole weekend!

(here's Hannah sitting in Noni's car - ready to take on Papa :-)

The bummer of it all was that it rained, and rained, and rained.... but we still made the most of it.

Drew and Auntie Sharon came to Milwaukee and we all went to the Children's Museum.



Hannah spent lots of time cozy-ing up to Noni and Papa -









I joined Hannah at Noni and Papa's house on the last night, where I got to play with my new-favorite toy...the violin/guitar (it's really cool - it transitions back and forth, so I can be either a rock star OR a studious violinist. I can really play the part too, tucking it under my chin and swaying back and forth..

Here are a few pictures of mommy and daddy having a "responsible" weekend with their friends :-)

10 months, going on toddler

Hannah-bear has been so so cute lately... looking more and more like a toddler-2-B all the time. Mommy has been in her happy place now that Hannah's hair is long enough to squeeze into a barret.

But, even in her girly-hair-moments, she can still play with the best of 'em.

VRRRRRRRRRRroooooooooooooooooooommmmmm!

Next Generation Cousin Day

Mommy, my Auntie's and cousins were very fortunate to grow up right next door! They even have special cousin get togethers still (at their age :-).... so we got our little heads together (with Noni's help) and decided to host the first annual "Next Generation" cousins day.

Cousin Joy came with Drew.... and worked on some house fix-me-up kind of projects (apprentices of their mommies, daddies and uncles....)

Followed by some "girl talk"....

And then a huge family tradition (of the previous generation).....and went on a "neighborhood" ride. Ok, so... we didn't get too far on our bike, firetruck and horsie, but we sure had fun pretending!

Played a little basketball....look at that determination!

Then, of course, we got hungry (who wouldn't after all that hard-work of playing, and sharing...
so, we made COOKIES!

Can I see a show of hands of who likes cookies?

Noah's new favorite bedtime prayer is that of his friend, Boz, the Big Green Bear! And on this day it couldn't have been better stated:

It goes like this:

Thank you Lord as this day ends,
For my family and my friends;
Taking time to sit and pray.
Thank you Lord for this great day!


AMEN

(group hug!)