The Boat

The other day Noah, Murray, and I were able to join Uncle Steve on his boat. Noah was on a boat a year ago, but he was pretty young, so I don't think he remembered.  Ali was there, along with a friend of hers. Noah adores Ali and loves to play with her and just watch her :) 

Being on the boat so fun because Noah was back and forth, hot and cold, about the way he felt about the boat. He was very excited about it at first, and didn't even make a peep about the life jacket. All was good at first, with just a little extra tight hand grip! Then we went fast. At first he was asking me if we could go slower, and when that didn't work, he asked me if we could go home. Is it bad that I was chuckling to myself?!?! 

As the day went on he became more comfortable, but never fully relaxed. He loved sitting on the back of the boat kicking his legs, but wouldn't jump to me in the water. He floated on a tube with Pa and the girls for a little bit. 

It was so adorable watching Noah interact with Ali and her friend. The way they spoke to him was cracking me up!! It was as if they could reason with him and convince him...no way Jose! In true toddler form Noah would say yes sometimes and no at other times, and really confuse them ~ Ha! The girls would jump in the water and he would say things like, "Do it again girwls?" "Good job girls!" 

The boat is my happy place and it was so nice to be out there!

Ya know how I said Noah adores her...the feeling is mutual. I think she would play with him all day long over her 4th grade buddies. She is such a sweetie. She wanted to sit with Noah, and when he wouldn't sit on her lap (on account of the fear ;) she sat next to him. When he wanted a chip with dip, she got up to get him one... You get the idea ~ a true sweetie!

The squished face makes me giggle :)

Playing is More Fun!

Oh, poor  blog...and to all of you (maybe 5 readers...wink wink :)

I haven't felt super motivated to blog and most of that is due to all the fun we've been having with Noah. So really, I blame him! Well, and the fact that I'm not usually willing to stay up late and do it. It's so fun to play outside and be in the garden with him. If he could, I think he would live outside. There hasn't been anything super exiting going on, just normal everyday fun :) Here are some iphone snapshots of what we have been up to:

Having fun on one of our many morning walks. Justin is doing Noah's "excited" face. The eyebrows go up, the arms go out to the side...it just kills me :) He loves to walk to the fountain near Safeway and throw pennies in it. I am thankful that he still enjoys going for walks in the stroller.

Produce from our garden! We are getting lots of blueberries this year.

These next photos are from the Healdsburg FFA Parade BBQ at my parents house. We look forward to  it every year. Justin couldn't make it because he was flying, but Noah and I had a blast. He even had a sucker and a cookie...very rare for him ;)

Fun times had by all! 

Excuse the food in his mouth, but this was our first zucchini! We planted MANY of these as they are Noah's favorite.

Howarth park fun!

My mom and I at a retirement dinner for Murray. He is retired!! So happy for him and all the adventures to come :)

A Mother's Day craft Noah brought home from church...with a rose. Melted my heart!

Here are a few videos of life lately:

Having some fun in one of his "big books," as he calls them. Mommy and Daddy are WAY over them, but he still loves to bring them out. Noah will sit for a few stories back to back now and we love reading with him. I feel like it took him a little longer than some to sit still for a story...his poor teachers...ha!! Curious George, Pete the Cat, Owl Babies, and Charlie the Ranch Dog are some of his favorites. 

Noah gets a big kick these days out of jumping. This day he was jumping and then landing on his knees, as well as describing the jump before he went. It was cracking me up.

He can hardly contain himself when we let him pick blueberries (or strawberries). 

The boy, The Pictures, The Friend

There really are no words to describe my feelings about these pictures! 

I love the boy more than anything I could have ever imagined, and I cherish the friend who took these photos for Noah's second birthday. 

Here are some of my favorites from the session :)

Cheers to our 2 year old, and cheers to Melissa Morelli Photography and my dear friend for these priceless and memorable photos!

The Party

My Gym is so very fun for little ones and Noah had such a great time celebrating his 2nd birthday there. On Sunday, the day after his birthday, he celebrated with his friends and family at his party. He was really excited about it, and of course a second cake~ha!

Here he is coming out on a birthday train and giving high-fives to everyone in the circle.

He was telling one of the My Gym gals how old he is! 

Miss Jenna Jo saying how old she is...

She said 5! Ha! 

Look at that cutie-pie Mister Wes, 7 months old!

Noah loves loves loves to hang!

Cambrie, like a pro!

This was a fun activity where the children were able to slide down a ramp on the rocking horse. PJ loved it and had no fear.

Noah and Stella having fun with Justin

Look at those smiles! Peekaboo :)

Parachute! Noah didn't mind going in the middle, but then he was also very excited to go under

Oh, the hoop, the basketball...that boy is obsessed!

I'm not really sure what Nonni is doing, but it made me laugh so I had to include it. She may hit me!

At one point the children were allowed to tag each other below the waist, which I was a little surprised by, but we rolled with it. The children were really confused as this is something they are usually told no to...the adults had more fun than the kiddos in this moment. Exhibit A: Justin. :)

Cambrie became creative :) Not sure what she is doing (in her mind), but it made me laugh when I was going through the pictures.

The "zip-line."  Noah loves it, but is usually pretty serious faced while on it. 

Sweet little Wes with his Momma

Go PJ go!

Nonni and Mommy

Hey Waylon! He loved the ball pit :)

Look at that face! 

Ready, Set, Go!

Miss Pippa, Stella's sister :) Happy to be with her Momma.

"Mmmm, how does this work?"

The cake, the candles! He loved the look of it and the idea of it, but not the act of eating it. Why does it have 5 candles on it? I have no idea...I didn't even think of only putting two on like normal people...

I just wanted to evenly fill up the top space...I'm weird, or I became distracted by all the birthday fun!

This was his face when he saw his cake~priceless.

The Giles family, with one more to come any day~yeehaw!

"I'm 2!" I love the way he tries to do two on his fingers.

Blowing out the candles

Daddy's are so fun :)

Love this face

Andrea and Waylon had so much fun and he celebrated his birthday a few days later

Noah was not very cooperative for this photo as it was at the very end and we were keeping him from his friends...how dare we...still cute though.

So fun, and a huge thank you goes out to My Gym and to 

Melissa Morelli for these photos.