Life on the Farm: August 2008

Saturday, August 23, 2008

The Olympics....

I must admit that I am a little obsessed with the Olympics. Even though I can look up the results and know the outcome before they show it on TV, I still feel compelled to stay up way too late watching the events.

The kids have also enjoyed it. Noah loved the swimming and wanted to get in the car and go there. I took some convincing, but he finally realized it was too far away.

Here are a few things the kids have learned from watching the Olympics:

Noah where are the Olympics?

-- They are far away... ya, in china, we need to take a plane or a boat to get there.

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Noah don't jump on the couch or do hand stands.

-- But, Mom it's like the Olympics. See? Like on the Olympics. See? My arms are strong like the Olympics. (from watching the trampoline and rings in gymnastics)

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Noah: Mom why are they hitting balls at each other? (watching volley ball and beach volley ball)

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This next one is thanks to Dan. You can decide if it is racism or being patriotic. (Just remember we have Korean, Filipino, Hispanic, Italian, Canadian, and African American relatives.) It started as we were trying to show him which ones to cheer for and they always put the flag of the countries on the screen.

Noah what flags do we like?

-- "We like the flag with the stripes and the stars"

Which flags don't we like?

-- "the naughty ones."

Which ones are naughty?

-- "the flag with the circle" (Japanese flag)

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What other things has he learned? He can hum along to our National Anthem. He knows the word trampoline and the names of other Olympic events.

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Zoe has learned:

"China"

"they're running"

"they're jumping"

"they're swimming"

"they're diving"

Did you know the Olympics could be so educational? I'm kind of glad they are ending this weekend, so I can get back to a normal sleep routine. However, I will miss the excitement and the teaching opportunities it has brought to my kids.

Double Trouble

Don't let their cute smiles fool you, they are trouble. What one doesn't think of the other one does. Plus Zoe loves to do what ever her big brother does, whether it's "good" or "bad".

Here are some funny things heard around the McDonald house in the past week:

Noah:

"Daddy, Zoe's drinking your potty water."
- - Zoe, managed to unscrew the bolt cover from the toilet and use it to scoop out water from the bowl.

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"Mommy, I need you to fix it. I don't want our Daddy to hit us."
-- He wanted me to close the cover on the thermostat. As for hitting? I don't know where he got that one, as Daddy never hits us.

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"Does Mickey Mouse have a penis?" silence on my end... he continues "yes, yes he does cause he's a boy, Minnie's a girl, Donald's a boy, Daisy's a girl....what's Goofy?"
-- I think that's pretty self explanatory.

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"Mommy this is my house, I'll share it with you...I'll share it with Daddy and Zoe too."
-- first thing out of his mouth after his afternoon nap.

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Zoe's picked up a few new words this past week too:

"gigant" (giant) - due to "the Little Einsteins"

"_itch" (witch) I won't fill in the letter I'm sure you can guess how she's says it. But, I assure you it is witch, because she and Noah love to pretend there is a witch down the hallway. (thanks again to "the Little Einsteins")

However this is my favorite, I'm actually trying to get it on video, as it is hilarious. Just to clarify, if my Sister-in-law Janet reads this, or any of her family, I mean no ill will. This is a result of their recent visit. Jacob is a month older than Zoe and lets just say he plays like a boy and at times, Zoe can be such a girl. So, they didn't always get along during the visit. But, she holds no hard feelings against him, she actually looks around our house for him on a daily basis.

"Where's Jayjup?" (where's Jacob) shoulders shrugging and looking every where for him. Under the table, behind the couch, etc....

followed by:

"he push" hands on her back and she pushes her tummy out

Black Eye

Here are some pictures of Noah's recent injury and no, I didn't beat him.

He got a black eye while playing at his favorite place - "the basketballs". He will tell you he hurt it on the second floor. I didn't see it happen first hand as I was helping Zoe climb up - when I heard a big thump and he started crying. I continued helping Zoe as I figured he must of slipped when he was running around - then one of the other parents said I think he hit his head. When I arrived at the scene his cheek was already swelling and the skin was broken a bit. From putting the pieces together and examining the play structure and the shape of the bruise I figured out that he ran into one of the guns. It didn't phase him all that much, we put some ice on it and then he continued playing.

Day 1:

Day 3: As with most bruises it looks worse as time goes by.

It's a Jungle in here...

Sometimes I feel like I live in a jungle or a zoo, rather than on a farm. This is what was going on in our house the other day.

Zoe a monkey goes ooh, ooh, aah, aah..... and then they would each take a turn. Zoe's monkey noise is closer to an ooh, eee...

Mommy, look the elephant goes "woo" with its trunk.
But what does the lion say? I simply replied Roar!!! He decided that was kind of scary.

We decided the turtle could say "snap" since we've seen them on movies eating leaves...

Mommy, what does the Giraffe say? I didn't have an answer for this one, so if anyone can help me I'd appreciate it.

Favorite past times....

I thought I'd share some of the creativity that goes on in this house when it comes to playing...

Here is a picture of train building. The cat toy where Zoe is seating is the Engine, the boxes are the cars, the blue bucket turned sideways is the caboose.

Fort building is becoming a frequent activity - Dan and Noah take turns doing the building. The one below is Dan's creation from last week.

Reading - the kids love books. Zoe will sit and listen to several at a time. Noah will even take a turn reading to her. As you can see, even our cat enjoys a good book one in awhile.

I have an equal opportunity house, even Noah and Zoe's friends enjoy a good snack once in awhile. Please excuse my folded laundry as it was wash day, but I had to share this. My kids love to play with their stuffed animals and dolls and use their imaginations. This was all their doing, notice all animal or doll has a seat at the table and crackers in front of them. Noah's response - they were hungry, I'm just trying to get them to eat something.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Hot August Nights: Final Round

Anyone who has had the opportunity to see Shauna's eyes when the light hits them in such a way that they envelop you, in such a way that they first catch your attention but then draw you in completely knows why I must soon lock Zoe in her room for eternity or at least until she is 25 and first allowed to date. I fear as I know first hand how it is to be smitten.

Well enough of beautiful girls, beautiful cars is why we are here . . . and the cars were aplenty. The kids lasted all 3 hours of the cruise which was awesome. Essentially the cruise is like a parade where the cars drive down the main street of Victorian Ave in Sparks revving their engines, showing off their hydraulics, shooting fire out of their exhaust pipes, throwing beads and candy to the kids and giving out lots of high 5's to those lined along the streets. The kids loved it and I think if we are here in coming years we will do more cruises and less other events as they capture the whole package.

Here's a very brief sample of what you missed:

Hot August Nights: Round 2!

Friday night following the "Show and Shine" we stayed here in Fernley and watched the Hot August Night Drags at the Reno-Fernley Raceway. It was horribly windy but we still had fun watching the muscle cars strut their stuff.

They had open pits as a special event so the kids got to see and hear the cars up close.

************ NASCAR SPOILER ALERT *******************

The future of NASCAR:

Watch out . . . he doesn't always use the wheel. (see previous posts) although he does pretty well on the pedals if you're looking for speed rather than control.

Zoe wasn't too interested in the cars until we got up close, and by close I mean trackside at the finish line. Zoe loves food, especially pasta . . . now cars? I think she really may be Daddy's girl.

Hot August Nights: Round 1

Shauna gave me temporary control of the Blog so fasten your seatbelts! First you'll notice a new look for our Blog, next some new updates that happen to be on my favorite thing about Reno . . . Hot August Nights!

We went on 3 nights the first being "Show and Shines" at the Atlantis, Peppermill, and then Grand Sierra Resort.

As a family we went to the first 2 locales together and had a lot of fun listening to the 50's music and breathing the 50's exhaust. Here is the fam with a 1939 Hupmobile:

Then it was "Guys Night" so Noah and I continued on to the GSR by ourselves. Noah loved the one on one time and 'kept saying "Mommy can't come, Zoe can't come, they's not boys. I a boy and Daddy's a boy, they's gurls. Only boys n come, huh Daddy, only boys n come."

Of the many cool cars Noah and I saw: "Eleanor" from Gone in 60 Seconds, a car licensed "Nonnas" Italian for "Grandma's" on a 1949 Cadillac similar to the one Noah's Great Grandmother Lillian had, and a monster truck that Noah got to sit in the wheel of. To finish the night off Noah got his own strawberry shake that prompted an equally sweet conversation: "I no have to share, Daddy?" "No, Noah it's just for you" "It's just por me. Just por Noah. . . Daddy?" "What Bubba?" "Do you want to share with Noah? It's dewicious." " No Bubba it's for you." "Daddy?" "Yes, Noah?" "I love you Daddy." "I love you too."

Friday, August 8, 2008

It's about time.....

I'm finally updating our family blog. We've been home for nearly a week now, but I don't always have the most cooperative kids. Sorry, for the delay.

We had a very fun filled family vacation and were sad to see it come to an end. We had fun seeing all sorts of family and taking a break from the Nevada heat. However, we didn't enjoy Zoe getting car sick.

Thanks Michelle and Scott for letting us crash at your house - we had a blast. Our house is always open if you ever make it to the Reno, Nevada area.

Here's the first thing the kids did when we got home....

Mickey Mouse ears and Playhouse Disney.

Some fun moments....

Everson playing with a watermelon, I wasn't quick enough to capture him trying to pick it up....

Zoe playing with her new "June" doll....

A Splash Park in Portland...

Zoe falling out of the dump truck....

Zoe playing video games...

Noah taking a turn....

Layla enjoying Michelle's Play land...sorry we broke your Mickey Mouse and Football....

Dozens of Cousins....

Noah got to meet and play with a lot of cousins...he refers to all of them as his "friends". Every time it was time to leave someones house he would cry for at least 30 minutes because he wanted his friends. His Auntie Sabrina wins, as it took us a good 15 minutes to get him in the car when we left her place, and then he managed to cry for another 90 minutes. Here are some pictures I managed to get of our extended family.

The newest cousin...Jayden Michael Hamilton (Dan's side of the family) born July 31st, 7 lbs 6 oz, 18 inches long...