Pedopalooza June 30th Winner

And the winner is...(drumroll please!).....

Geary!

Totals for week 1
Geary: 28300
Jeana: 27199

*I feel like the bad guy on Inspector Gadget, tapping my fingers together and saying, "I'll get you next time, Geary!"

The Great Linhart Pedopalooza

Contestants:
Geary Linhart (male) age 29
Jeana Linhart (female) age 28

Equipment:
Each constestant must use one pedometer.

Rules:
Contestants must wear their pedometers from the time they wake up until 9pm daily (excepting showers and other water activities). Each contestant will record the number of steps walked each day at 9pm. Steps will be tallied on Friday nights. The contestant with the most steps wins.

Prizes:
First prize will be $10 to be spent in whichever way the winner chooses.
Second prize will be lower blood pressure, increased energy, and that "healthy glow".

Tune in Friday to see who wins the first round of Pedopalooza!

Milestone

I was filling out some forms for Noah's preschool next year and I came across this question:

Is your child potty-trained? [] yes [] no

It was with great joy and a small florish that I checked YES!

Knock, knock! Who's There?

I saw this picture on the news last night and I have to admit that I am oddly fascinated. Can you even imagine going to see who's knocking at your front door and finding a 6 foot long alligator there? Photo by Richard Holinski: A 6-foot-long alligator climbs within inches of the doorbell after knocking into the front door of Roslyn and Robert Loretta's home on Penny Creek Drive in Sun City Hilton Head on Friday night. The reptile apparently was enticed into the couple's yard by the smell of teriyaki chicken. (click photo to enlarge)

Apparently, there are all kinds of alligators just roaming around suburbia. Last March an alligator was thrashing around on someone's front porch, using its head to bang on the door for more than an hour. Don't worry, it was captured and harvested.

And the people in L.A. still haven't captured Reggie...

Overheard

We've had contractors around our apartment for the last couple of weeks. They've been doing repairs inside and out, laying new decks, replacing sinks, and now they are painting the exterior of the buildings. It's slightly unsettling to look out your window and see a guy on a ladder. And I can hear every word they say, too. For example, this morning at 9am I heard, "Joe! Joe! Don't go up the ladder to the second floor yet. The tenant has not closed his blinds and...he has not put on a robe, yet."

Tattle Tale

Noah: Mom, you know what?
Jeana: What?
Noah: We don't say, "Oh sh*t."
Jeana: That's right, we never say that.
Noah: ...
Jeana: ...
Noah: ...
Jeana: Noah? Who said that to you?
Noah: Lili
Jeana: Did she get in trouble?
Noah: No.
Jeana: Are you telling me the truth right now?
Noah: No.
Jeana: ...
Noah: Mom?
Jeana: Yes?
Noah: We don't say, "Lili said 'oh, sh*t!'"

The Frog Song

Noah: Want me to sing a song for you, Mommy?
Jeana: Sure!
Noah: What you want me to sing about?
Jeana: Um...do you know any songs about frogs?
Noah: No...but I can make one up!

Frogs are green!
Other frogs are brown!
But they're not really frogs...
They are toes!

His Future Looks Bright

Noah tried on Geary's cap and gown tonight (his highschool students graduate tonight--Geary's Masters Degree commencement is in August). "What are you gonna do now, Noah?" "Um...probably go to Disneyland and be a dog doctor." "A vetrinarian?" "No. A dog doctor."

Cars

Ever since the previews for Cars have been showing on TV, Noah has said, "I'm gonna see that movie with my Grandpa!" Yesterday, that dream came true. Thank you Grandpa and Granny for taking us to see Cars! We had a great time!

Anatomically Correct

Noah drew this boy on his Magna Doodle today. He's starting to draw recognizable details. You can see hair, eyes, nose, smile, arms, legs, and...no it's not three legs... 

All that and bag o' chips

Noah: I want some chips!
Jeana: That's nice.
Noah: Can I have some chips?
Jeana: What's a nicer way to ask?
Noah: Can you please not say no?

Niecey Cuteness

Back in March/April, I made some cute iron-on t-shirts for our nieces, Analia and Karissa (a.k.a. Lili and Kiki). They recently had some great portraits taken at JCPenny and they wore the shirts! Look how adorable our girls are!




SmilesByWire® and JCPenney Portraits are trademarks of Lifetouch Inc.
©2006 Lifetouch Portrait Studios Inc.

Mr. Picasso Head

Make your own Picasso Family Portrait!

Did you know...

It takes approximately 15 towels (a.k.a. every towel you own) to clean up the flooded bathroom from when you forgot you were running a bath for your three year old son and aforementioned three year old didn't say anything because he was hiding in his room and being super quiet hoping that you would forget so that he wouldn't have to take a bath and all of sudden you thought, "Hey it's too quiet" and you went to check on your child and instead your foot landed in a very wet and squishy section of carpet and you noticed water pouring out from under the bathroom door and when you opened the door you heard this "whooooosh!" sound and warm water instantly surrounded your ankles? Oh, really? You've never done that? Oh...uh...yeah... Me neither. Heh...I gotta go wash some towels.

Swimming Lessons

Today was Noah's first day of swimming lessons! He's in the same class as his buddy Andrew and I think that helps him feel a little more secure. Here they are sportin' their new goggles! *Thanks to Cindy for the picture!

Meridian Park: A Photo Tour

Today we went one of the coolest parks I have ever been to. Meridian Park on 50th and Meridian in North Seattle. I loved that the play ground was part of the landscaping. Those other rock formations on the sides of this picture are slides, too. This is a cool maze that takes you through One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss. It's in English and Spanish--Noah already knew a lot of the spanish words from watching Dora the Explorer.
Speaking of Dora the Explorer, Noah is wearing a paperbag "backpack" that he made in Sunday School. The kids were "following Moses around." It was pretty funny seeing all these kids with bags on their backs singing "Backpack! Backpack!" Inside each "backpack" was a map and a paper "cell phone."

There was a lifesize bronze statue of Carl the dog at the park that kids could touch and climb on. I love art that is meant to be touched and explored!


Geary and Noah on a balancing toy. Kind of like a teeter-totter that you stand on!


There was also this crazy play structure with a climbing wall and floating pods. All the other parents liked watching Geary climb and slide all over it.



All around the playground there were pillars with these metal sculptures on them...

And at the base of the pillars were stones with well known book titles and authors. I am so in love with this park! I couldn't help but leave the boys at the playground and go exploring!

While I was exploring I found the Seattle Tilth Garden!

I saw several rabbits...

A beautiful mural... (which reminds me so much of my friend Suzy's artwork)

And this awesome mosaic wall!

When it was time to leave we noticed that there were little "chairs" in the rock walls. The whole place felt so fun and magical! I can't wait to go back!

Writing with Markers

I was working at the computer when I heard Noah say, "I'm a genius!" and then repeat, "I spelled me! Look, Mom! I spelled me!" When I looked over, I saw that Noah had indeed spelled out his name using markers.
I had to get out my box of Sharpies so that he could have enough markers to write MOM and DAD, too. I'm so proud of my boy! Preschool, here comes Noah!