Jeana: Noah, there is no part of you that looks Mexican whatsoever.
Noah: Yes there is!
Jeana: Nuh-uh. You don't look Mexican at all.
Noah: Yes. I. Do!
Jeana: Fine. What part of you looks Mexican?
Noah:...my muscles.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
One Year Old!
Tobin's First Year from Linhart on Vimeo.
You can wish Toby a Happy Birthday by leaving a signed comment below.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Back Online
We had a power outage last Tuesday that caused our Wireless Adapter to stop working. After many fruitless attempts at uninstalling and reinstalling the software we finally just went out and bought a new one. And now you know why it's been over a week since the last blog post. Sorry about that! More recaps of Linhart adventures/conversations/whatnot coming soon!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Love is...
Letting your baby brother pull your hair and your ears just because it makes him explode into delicious and extremely contagious giggles.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Lessons from Parenthood: Fighting Bad Guys
A couple weeks ago we treated Noah to a Happy Meal at McDonalds. While we were waiting in line he carefully examined the Happy Meal Toy display. They were characters from The Spiderwick Chronicles: fairies, goblins, bogarts, pixies and other fantasy creatures. Noah pointed to the ugliest goblin and said, "I hope I get that one."
I was surprised. Last year when the kids meal toys were Bionicles for boys he was afraid of them and opted to get the girl toy, Littlest Pet Shop or something like that. Why did he want a grotesque looking monster now?
"Why do you want that one?"
His answer was simple, "I need a bad guy." Geary nodded in agreement. "He has a lot of super heroes. He needs a bad guy for them to fight. It's important for his development." I could kind of see his point but part of me felt like maybe it was just a boy thing.
When Noah opened his Happy Meal, he had pulled out the ugly goblin. "Yes!" he grinned. I still wasn't impressed but I didn't say anything.
Over the next few days I noticed that Noah's good guy's went on bigger, more exciting adventures. The words "rescue" and "save" became more common in their dialogues. Suddenly, their missions had purpose and urgency. Larry Boy wasn't simply finding Bob the Builder when Bob got lost. Buzz Lightyear wasn't simply snatching Diego out of the way of falling rocks. There was now an enemy to stop; a source of evil that had to be conquered.
That's when I realized, it wasn't just a boy thing. It was a human thing. Our sense of justice is greater when there is a real enemy to overcome. We can choose good things over and over again, but we don't truly feel accomplished unless we destroy the bad thing. We can be responsible and noble and those are great things to be. But the sense of purpose and urgency to do right only comes when we recognize that there really are monsters to fight. It's important for our development.
I was surprised. Last year when the kids meal toys were Bionicles for boys he was afraid of them and opted to get the girl toy, Littlest Pet Shop or something like that. Why did he want a grotesque looking monster now?
"Why do you want that one?"
His answer was simple, "I need a bad guy." Geary nodded in agreement. "He has a lot of super heroes. He needs a bad guy for them to fight. It's important for his development." I could kind of see his point but part of me felt like maybe it was just a boy thing.
When Noah opened his Happy Meal, he had pulled out the ugly goblin. "Yes!" he grinned. I still wasn't impressed but I didn't say anything.
Over the next few days I noticed that Noah's good guy's went on bigger, more exciting adventures. The words "rescue" and "save" became more common in their dialogues. Suddenly, their missions had purpose and urgency. Larry Boy wasn't simply finding Bob the Builder when Bob got lost. Buzz Lightyear wasn't simply snatching Diego out of the way of falling rocks. There was now an enemy to stop; a source of evil that had to be conquered.
That's when I realized, it wasn't just a boy thing. It was a human thing. Our sense of justice is greater when there is a real enemy to overcome. We can choose good things over and over again, but we don't truly feel accomplished unless we destroy the bad thing. We can be responsible and noble and those are great things to be. But the sense of purpose and urgency to do right only comes when we recognize that there really are monsters to fight. It's important for our development.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Dr. Mario
Both boys are sick with runny noses and coughs. I, myself, have sinus pressure and sore throat. Geary has a headache. We had made plans to meet our friend Grace, and her new baby, at Ikea on Monday and I had to cancel. Today we were supposed to go to Bible Study. But the kids wouldn't have been allowed in child care. It has been a boring couple of days.
So what did we do? We got out my old Super Nintendo and I have been teaching Noah how to play Super Mario Brothers! He has been having a great time. My favorite thing is that he calls Luigi, "El Wedgie." As if he is a pair of too small spanish underwear.
So what did we do? We got out my old Super Nintendo and I have been teaching Noah how to play Super Mario Brothers! He has been having a great time. My favorite thing is that he calls Luigi, "El Wedgie." As if he is a pair of too small spanish underwear.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Macking
I have this memory from 7th grade. I was sitting with my group in Basics of Cooking class and one of my peers asked me, "Have you ever macked?" I didn't really know what she was talking about but I didn't want to sound stupid so I said, "Sure, of course!"
My classmate nodded approvingly and asked, "For how long?"
"Twenty minutes?" I timidly replied.
She nodded, "Yeah, you're lips starting hurting after that."
Turns out she was talking about kissing/making out.
The truth is: I never kissed a boy until I was 19 years old.
My classmate nodded approvingly and asked, "For how long?"
"Twenty minutes?" I timidly replied.
She nodded, "Yeah, you're lips starting hurting after that."
Turns out she was talking about kissing/making out.
The truth is: I never kissed a boy until I was 19 years old.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
More Than Meets the Eye
We made a great find at Goodwill last week. A Transformers toy for only $1.99.
Noah: Mom! Look! It's Octopus Crime!
____________________________
Updated to add, he now calls it "Ominous Crime."
Noah: Mom! Look! It's Octopus Crime!
____________________________
Updated to add, he now calls it "Ominous Crime."