King Noah

The first time Noah got into Lili's dress up box, he pulled out this get up and declared, "Look at me! I'm a queen!" He has since pulled out the crown and sceptor to play KING Noah several times. Here he is at Lili's birthday party (notice the bug shirt). The guy in the background is John Johnson, mathematician.

Noah's Prayer

Jesus...thank you...Grandpa Bob, Grandma, Grandpa Eldred, Lila, cows...um Granny, Grandpa....sheep, ducks... Amen! Mommy, I want more pray!

--Noah James Linhart
(March 28th 2005)

We had a great weekend in Albany visiting Geary's parents. Their new house is beautiful and it was really comfortable to stay in. I even got to have a fix of Trading Spaces and other TLC/HGTV cable design shows. The highlight of my weekend was helping Nila with some home improvement projects on her cute new house. When she gets done, it is going to be so charming!

We really missed visiting the farm (everyone was sick) but maybe Noah and I will be able to go down to Newberg in a few weeks to help with Nila's house some more.

Anyway, to all the folks we saw, thank you for a great Easter! And to those we didn't get to see, we missed you and hope to see you really soon!

Berries

This morning Noah asked for waffles for breakfast. I pulled out a box of Blueberry Toaster Waffles which started this conversation:
Noah: That's a strawberry!
Jeana: No, that's a blueberry.
Noah: (pointing to the picture of a book on the waffle box) That's a library!

As a pun lover, I think I might be raising some serious competition for myself.

Here are some paintings I did for Analia's new Fairy Princess Big Girl Room. I've been helping Anita transform their old office for a couple of months and it's almost done. It just needs a few finishing touches and then it will look like Fairy Princess Wonderland. I'm pretty proud of us. Aren't these little imps cute? Lili was "model" for all of them.

Need for Affection

This morning, Noah and I were driving home from shopping and he said, "Mommy, gimme a KISS." I told him that I would love to give him a kiss but that he would have wait since I couldn't reach his carseat. As soon as we got home and I took him out of the car, he stomped one foot and said, "Mommy, I need a kiss, right now!"

New Feature on Linhart Live

As people would RSVP for Lili's party they would ask me what they should give her for a birthday gift. I found myself wishing that the Johnsons had a wish list that anybody could see. That inspired me to make a Linhart wish list that everyone could see. I decided to make it a new feature on Linhart Live. Starting right now, you can click our Wish List link on the right. This way you'll never have to be in that "I wish I knew what Noah (or Geary or Jeana) wanted" boat. We'll update it every once in a while and you can check it when we have birthdays coming up, or whatever. Also, if you (and I'm mostly talking to family members, here) would like to have your own wish lists posted on our Wish List site, just email it to Jeana. I hope this is helpful!

Were you lost?

This morning when I was getting Noah dressed, he poked his head through the neck hole in his shirt and said, "Peek-a-boo! I found me!"

Happy Birthday, Analia!

In honor of Analia's third birthday, here is a fun game to play! Click on the snowman to get the bat ready. Click on the snowman again when the penguin dives. So far, my longest distance has been 315. What's your best score?

The Ducks are Coming!

A bunch of relatives from Oregon are coming up to celebrate Analia's birthday. Here's Noah wearing an Oregon Ducks hat. My favorite in this in this picture is how the too big hat is forcing Noah's ears to fold over. He looks like an elf child.

Night of the Lost Binky

So on Monday night/Tuesday morning (it was about 2:30 am) we woke up to Noah calling, "Daddy! I neeeeed you!" I quickly pretended to be asleep and Geary groggily went into Noah's room. This is the conversation I overheard:

Geary: What do you need, buddy?
Noah: Where my binky is?
Geary: Oh...you lost your binky? Well lets look for it.
(5-7 minutes of scurrying, scavenging sounds)
Geary: I can't find it, Noah. Can you go back to sleep without it?
Noah: Okay...I need my binky! Please!
Geary: I can't find it. Can you please go to sleep without. We'll look in the morning.
Noah: (wide awake now) I know what to do!
Geary: What?
Noah: I don't know...
Jeana: (snort) (giggle)
Geary: Can I get some help here, Jeana?
Jeana: Uh...(fake snores)
Noah: Here it is! Yay! I got it!

Geary came back to bed and said, "I refuse to get up again, tonight." So at 4:30 am, when we heard Noah calling again, Geary kicked me and said, "Your turn." I found Noah sitting up in bed and this the conversation Geary overheard:

Jeana: Noah, it's night-night time.
Noah: I want to watch Bob Mato!
Jeana: Not right now. Lay down and go back to sleep.
(quiet rustling while Jeana gets Noah situated)
Jeana: Okay, good night. I'll see you in the morning.
Noah: Mommy?
Jeana: (sigh) Yes, Noah?
Noah: I yuv you...

Don't you just want to eat him up?!?

Recorded Telephone Conversation

Last night I received a phone call from my niece. Here's how it went:

Jeana: Hello...
Anita: Hi, do you mind if Lili talks to you for a minute?
Jeana: Not at all...Hi Lili! How are you?
Analia: Fine, um...Aunt Jeana, can I talk to Noah?
Jeana: Noah's already in bed. I'm sorry.
Analia: Oh. Is Uncle Geary there?
Jeana: No, sorry he's at school, tonight.
Analia: Oh. I'm sooorrry. You're home all alone? You don't have any friends?
Jeana: (hiding a giggle) Well, you're my friend, aren't you?
Analia: Uh...no, (scurrying in the background) I have to go now! Bye!

_______

If you received an email from me titled, The World in Seven Pictures, but couldn't see the actual pictures, click here. But be warned! One picture in particular is pretty graphic and may be found slightly offensive.

Going Bye Bye

Yesterday afternoon, Geary took Noah for a walk. When they came back, Noah broke down crying at the front door saying, "I want more bye-bye!" He had a full 10 minute tantrum. (Yeah, if he has anymore meltdowns this week, I think my brains will have officially turned to mush.) I waited until he had calmed down and then asked what Mommy needed before we could go bye-bye. He looked me over and said, "You need shoes."

We ended up going shopping for cake supplies for Analia's birthday. I'm going to try to duplicate this caterpillar cake. We went to three different stores and then Noah announced, "That was a great bye-bye...go home?"

What sound does a motorcycle make?

Tonight we took the Kingston Ferry over to this little burger joint for dinner with the Carlsons. It was a family date night. While we were on the ferry, Andrew had a great time looking at all the cars and motorcycles. He didn't do it tonight, but I was reminded of the last time we took a ferry together. Chad would ask, "What sound does a motorcyle make?" and Andrew's eyes would light up as he said, "Mmmm, BA, ba, baaaa!"

In other news, I had my toe surgery check up today. All is looking well, but I have keep a bandaid on my toe for another couple of weeks. At least it's just a bandaid and not a clown nose.

Memorize your lines, Daddy!

Purple grapes are so good, according to Noah they should be called "greats." Noah ate at least three bunches of grapes at dinner tonight.

Noah: May I have more greats, please?
Geary: You want more?!?
Noah: No, no. Daddy, say, "Yes, you may!"

After receiving his fourth bunch...

Noah: Mmm. Thank you much.

Proof that kids can sleep anywhere.

Noah sleeping in Grandpa Eldred's arms...on a tractor.

Inside Voice/Outside Voice.

Today Geary took Noah to the library and the park. When they got home I asked Noah what they did. He whispered, "See fish at library*," and shouted, "Slide at the park!

*Yes, he does pronounce "library" correctly. He is our son, after all.

The goldfish cracker distraction tecnique...

I gave a little baggie of goldfish crackers to Noah as we left the mall yesterday. He was munching on them while we drove over to Target and after we had been in Target for about 5 minutes, he looked up with wide eyes and asked, "Where am I?" He had been so intent on fishing the little snack out of the bag, he didn't even realize we had changed locations!

Obsessing

Have you ever wanted something so badly, but were pretty sure you couldn't have it? That is how I am feeling after looking at this house...again. I looked at it when it was in danger of foreclosing...and we couldn't afford it. I looked at when it was foreclosed...and we still couldn't afford it. It's for sale again, with beautiful, perfect, gorgeous renovation...and we definitely can't afford it, now. But I can't get it out of my mind! I'm obsessing. It's just a tiny house, but it is so cute and I can just picture how I would decorate it and how we would live in it. It's also a stones throw away from Geary's school. Seriously, you can see his school from the front yard. Ugh! I feel like it would take a miracle to ever have this house. And a super miracle to guard my heart from wanting it so badly. I know I should be content with all the blessings God has given us...but I know God also provides miraculous gifts (I'm talking $221,950 miraculous). So, should we pursue this? Is it too much to expect God to perform such an expensive miracle? Or is the lesson "learning to be content"? Am I supposed to accept that we will never (at least it seems like never) be able to afford a home and just let this adorable, convenient, already-painted-the-right-colors-house go? God, I need some direction! Friends and family, pray for us!

Self Talk Affirmation

As I'm writing this, Noah is seated at his little table eating a hotdog. Every time he takes a bite he says, "Good job, Noah!" or "Great work," or "Way to go, Noah!" It is all I can do to not fall to ground and roll around in a hysterical fit of laughter. Obviously, we use praise as a motivator for good behavior. I so wish you could see this right now!

Oh, now he's added, "Yay, you did it!" and "Thank you, very much!" My eyes are watering from laughing so hard.

Breakfast & Movies

This morning at breakfast:

Noah: Mommy, I want some juice.
Jeana: Can you ask in a nicer way?
Noah: May I have juice, please? And popcorn!

I think we all have movies on the brain. Here is a great article about a film reviewer with a christian worldview. Tell us your thoughts!

Irony in the Oscars

The college students in my small group have been using the word "ironically" when they really mean "coincidentally" or "interestingly" or "sadly". They remind me of Alanis Morisette--the only irony in her most famous song, Ironic, is that the "ironic" events she describes are not ironic at all; they are simply unfortunate. (She should have titled her song, Murphy's Law.) Granted, irony is a difficult concept to define, but the word lover in me will not allow it to be used incorrectly. I've been trying to come up with great examples of irony and with all the Oscar buzz on television, I think I've found one.

For years Julie Andrews played the part the part of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady on stage. Julie Andrews was originally going to be in the movie but the producers thought she wasn't a big enough name to draw in movie-goers. So, they cast Audrey Hepburn and it seemed like she was the right choice because she was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award. But on the night of the big awards ceremony, guess who won the Oscar? Julie Andrews, who starred in Mary Poppins in the same year.

Do you have any fantastic examples of irony? I'd love to hear them!

The Negotiations Continue

If you were a fly on the wall of our bathroom, this morning you would have heard this:

Jeana: Noah, are you ready to take a bath?
Noah: No! No baf right now.
Jeana: Yes, you need a bath. We can have bubbles and boats...
Noah: No bubbles. I take a baf...with HORSES.

If you were a fly on our wall, your giant fly eyes would have seen the look that clearly said, "I got you, Mom...no way are you going to be able to come up with horses for my bath.

Good thing Noah has a Little People Farm Set...complete with two horses. Ha.