Can't You Feel the Love Tonight...

I think I've mentioned before that The Lion King is one of Noah's newest obsessions. He plays Lion King with his animals, or just pretends to be the lions. (He is always Nala, much to Walt's chagrin). Here he is to entertain you, with a Lion King medley. Oh, and when he watched the video back he said "Do it again, I forgot to say "THANK YOU EVERYBODY, GOODNIGHT!" We didn't retape it, so your job as a viewer is to imagine him taking his bow at the end, just like all good rockstars do!

Family Fun Night

On Friday, after I got home from work, we headed out for family fun night. We got some food at the Get Go (Walt had coupons that were expiring and you know how he is with coupons!) and headed to White Oak park. We went to the grove where we had Noah's baptism picnic 3 years ago. We had some dinner, and then went on the slide (Noah), swang on the swings (me and Noah) and hunted pinecones. We also walked "through the forest", which was just the pine trees on the side of the grove, but Noah thought it was the forest. The weather was awesome, and it was just a great family night. It reminds me that 3 year olds don't need much to be truly entertained. I think we are going to make this a Friday night tradition, until it gets too cold. I forgot my camera, but that's us later taking crazy family photos. Another one of Noah's favorite things to do!

The Eye-Dee-Airy (or the Aviary)

A few weeks ago a group of us got up bright and early and headed to the Aviary. (or as Noah pronounces it, the "eye-dee-airy".) These sea eagles were the first winged creatures we encountered. The picture doesn't do them justice...their talons were big and pointy...their beaks were also big and pointy. They could swoop down and pick up one of my cats without any problem at all. And that, my friends, gives me the heebie jeebies. (Have I mentioned that I HATE birds?) But, the tickets were free and my family told me Noah would just love it, so I agreed to go. (And thank goodness the majority of the birds are behind glass).

The Aviary is a lot smaller than I thought, and for a bird hater like me, that was a-okay! We also ran in to two non-winged creatures who were also a big hit.

That's right, Dora and Diego were doing a special appearance that day. We were smart and got there right when the Aviary opened, so we only had to stand in a short line to meet the celebrities of the pre-school generation. On our way out, the line to meet them was snaked around the room and all the way down the hall -- the line to get in was out the door and down the sidewalk. Noah was really excited when he saw them walk in, so I'm glad he got to meet D-D-D-D-Dora! (you know the song!)

There he is with William, one of the birds in the tropical room where the birds are free to fly and walk around wherever. (I did NOT like those rooms at all!) You can see how he's pulling his hands back, I think that's because I kept saying "Don't touch him! Stay back!"

He and my dad did go in to the Lorikeet room and fed the birds some nectar. I let my dad take him in for some "Pa and Noah bonding time". Wasn't that big of me? The truth is, you couldn't pay me enough money to go in to a small enclosure with all of those birds flying at me wanting to drink that cup of nectar. No thank you! When we were at the Columbus Zoo, I stayed outside while Noah and Walt enjoyed that activity. I was watching and one of the winged creatures flew directly at my face -- I totally forgot it was enclosed in caging and screamed like I was being attacked. It landed on the fence a few feet from my face, and boy, was I embarrassed!

My mom and aunt secured us front row seats for the bird show. And all of the big birds flew right over our heads. I ducked, even though they told us not to. I couldn't help it. It was a fun day, but honestly, I'm glad we didn't pay to get in. Noah seemed to like it though, so I guess that's all that matters. He probably could have wondered around looking at the same birds over and over!

One Liners

Sometimes some of the funny things Noah says are just quick little one liners. Here are a few from the past few days.

On Saturday we picked my mom up and I told Noah to show her his new shoes. So she checks them out and says "wow! Those are really nice shoes!" To which Noah replied "Thanks! My mom bought me TWO!" I know, what a great mom I am, buying my kid two shoes. HA!

Last night after we put him in bed, we hear him starting down the stairs. Of course, he says he has to poop. (That's his excuse to get out of anything, because he knows we'll stop whatever and take him to try to poop...potty training - the bane of my existance!) Anyway, he goes in and doesn't go. (Because he really didn't have to, it was just a ploy to get out of bed one more time). So he walks over to me to kiss me again and says "I didn't poopy. I think I just had a little gas in my driveway". I can't even type that without laughing! I have no idea where he came up with that. But, of course, since last evening, that is now the new saying around our house!

I thought the picture above was rather fitting, seeing that he's in our driveway.

Nostalgic

I'm feeling nostalgic today - since Noah started school this week. Where has the time gone? I feel like it's wasn't that long ago that I found out I was pregnant, and next week it will be FOUR years. Wow! So, here is vintage Noah...taken about 3 years ago.

And this one, taken this weekend at the Aviary...what a difference such a short time makes!

Moms out there - enjoy every moment, every smile, every new little thing they do. I love the age that Noah's at now...we can have conversations, he's funny and still isn't embarrassed for me to kiss on him in public. But, many a days, I long for the little baby - when I could hold him for hours on end.

School days

Tuesday was Noah's first day of pre-school. He goes to a small in-home daycare 3 days a week, so we really wanted him to get used to a more structured "school-like" atmosphere. His daycare provider's son attends the same preschool and she's going to pick him up one day a week for us when she also gets her son.

Anyway, Tuesday was the day. He got new shoes, some new clothes and a brand new "Honk" lunchbox. (translation: honk = The Incredible Hulk). All weekend he had talked about going to school and said he was excited. But, when he got up on Tuesday and I said "today's the day you're going to school!" He started to cry! I felt awful. He kept saying "but, do I have to stay there??" I tried to assure him that he would be there only a little bit and then we'd pick him up.

So off we went to school. He posed for a pic with his lunchbox and when we pulled in he said "That's my school!" But, when we got to his room, he started to cling on to me and climb up my legs. I hugged him and told him he should go play with the kids. He just cried more. (And my heart broke). But, his nice teacher Miss Trudy came over and just kind of gently moved him away from Walt and me, and said "Show me this new lunchbox you brought!" And when she did that, we took that as our cue to leave.

I called about a half an hour later to check on him and they told me he cried for a minute and then he was fine. He was on his way to music class. He loves music, so I knew that would be right up his alley.

After school, he ran to me and was excited to see me. He told us that he sang "Sallie the camel has two humps" and played an instrument. (Those little stick things you rub/bang together). He also has a new girlfriend - he doesn't know her name, but he says she plays doctor and she was wearing something red like a ballerina. (Who knows what that means!) He says he's ready to go back today, and I hope there aren't any tears when Walt drops him off.