Noe News is Good News

Why we love the Arboretum

When it's too much to handle at home- the mess, the arguing, the boredom- I run away to the Arboretum with the kids. We can all relax and enjoy ourselves here. The kids can run freely. On an especially awful day this week, we escaped there with a picnic. And I left feeling much much better.

 





Joselyn did not eat the pennies. I don't know why she laid them next to her food, lol. Made me laugh.



Runny nose and pouty lip. A sight often seen around the Noe household.

We fed our leftover bread to the fish- I don't know what it was but this really brought a smile to my face to see all the fish attacking the food!



Joselyn and Landen saw two girls climbing a tree and thought it was a great idea. I helped them up and they held on.



I've got myself two little tree huggers!







I am really excited that they will be opening the Children's Garden soon. Have you heard about it? It's going to be so fun- we will be there all the time. I just know it!

Let's Go Fly A Kite

While I was out being pampered last Saturday, Adam took the kids to Jacobson Park where they flew kites and played with his brother Jared's remote control cars. He took a few pictures on his phone that I just fell in love with... and you should see the videos too!! I'll try and get some downloaded. I am WAY overdue on posting videos!

Apparently, the kids were deathly afraid of the kites at first.  But after some warming up, even Landen was able to fly the kits all by himself. Gosh- he looks so cute!

What sweeter picture than two siblings running holding hands as the sun sets?

Rain rain can't wait to for you to come again another day!

Kentucky weather is seriously soooooo strange! Just this morning we've had rain, sunshine, and almost blizzard-like snow which lasted less than 20 minutes. As soon as Joselyn saw the rain, she begged and begged to get her raincoat on and go outside with her new umbrella.It was really cold outside, so we stayed really close to the house and hung out in the garage. It didn't take long for the wind to pick up as well as the rain, but we enjoyed the 15 minutes outside anyway, and I got to take some cute pictures of the kids in their rain gear!

I am in LOVE with this picture of Landen. I think I will frame it. Look at that sweet smile on his face!



And yes, I am so in love with Joselyn's umbrella and rain coat. The umbrella is sold out now, but it was such a great deal! SO CUTE! I bought all the rain gear at Old Navy.

 I'm really looking forward to walks in the rain this spring and splashing in rain puddles!

January is almost over!

1 more week!!! I really just don't like January. Stuck inside too much and we all get restless. It was fun to get to the gym at the beginning of last week, but we can't go when we're all sick! We all took turns with a stomach bug  at the end of last week- we just can't keep sickness out of the house!

To stay positive, a lot of good has happened this month. The only symptoms I had with the stomach bug was an upset stomach, fever and chills- and that was only for a night. I didn't get the bad parts! It helped me to take better care of my family who took such great care of ME when I had the shingles! I've lost 5 pounds this past week just by working out and eating healthier! I'm sure some of that is water weight  yaddi-yadda, but it sure is motivating!

I took the kids outside to play in the snow today and it was FUN!

Joselyn was soooo excited to try out a snow angel! She had seen it done for the first time on TV the other day and it was the first thing she said when we walked out- "I want to do a snow angel!" She was so cute slowly crouching down into the snow and laying down in it. The snow really isn't deep enough for one, but it was stil cute!

Then Landen and Joselyn had a snowball fight full of laughs and giggles.

They even tasted the snow and said it was yummy! I'll take their word for it.

But I will admit- I am ready for spring. I bought the kids some really cute rain gear that I am dying to use! Walks in the spring showers? You BET!! It's going to be fun!

I love it when Landen sticks out his bottom lip.

Poor little lip is so chapped! I smothered it with chapstick right before this picture!

Kids on the bed

There is something very sweet about Children playing on their beds. It's one of my favorite things to photograph. Babies on beds, toddlers on beds, families on beds together- playing and smiling. Joselyn's room lets in the most beautiful light, and I love it when the kids start playing on her bed. This time I grabbed my camera. You can tell in some of these pictures that Joselyn really does not like me taking pictures of her much. I hope she grows out of this- I really really do! After some bribes with tic-tacs there were a few more smiles. (we have to keep those in stock for occasions like these)

Before Fall is too far away...

Back in the beginning of November, I took the kids with me for Chelsea's photo shoot. We found this really great park in Madison County (after crossing over the FERRY!! They had a blast...) and there were TONS AND TONS of leaves! The leaves became the biggest "bed" ever to my kids. They jumped in the leaves and pretended to take naps in the leaves. They were having so much fun together it just made me so happy...











Jos and Landen's hair was filled with dirt and small leaf pieces that were really hard to wash out of their hair (especailly Joselyn's) but isn't their happiness just worth it? I think so.



I know Landen is really happy when he actually lets Joselyn hug him. He usually doesn't like it. But this time he was giddy that his sister was hugging him- and Joselyn's face says it all about the happiness SHE felt inside that her little brother let her hug him tight!











Gosh, I'm about to start crying! There is something so sweet about the bond these two have and it has such power over me! It got me thinking about how tonight Joselyn called Landen over and said "Come 'ere bud! Want me to read you a book?" and he got excited and said "YEAH!!" and ran to sit next to her... and how yesterday when a little boy was picking on Landen at Kid to Kid (a kids clothes consignment shop) Joselyn told that little boy "Be nice to him. He's my brother!" and then pushed him away. Maybe not the best thing to do, but I was touched by her protectiveness. They definitely have their fights, but I hope from the bottom of my heart that they will continue to strengthen this bond that they are forming.

The Kitchen Sink

There are many things that I have had to "get used to" as a mother. Hard things... and one thing that always has thrown me a curve ball is what to do while I cook and wash dishes. Up until recently, the kids were kind of too young to be involved so it was always a challenge just letting them cry or whine while I did those things. I know there are many of you mothers out there who have this down, but I struggle. Especially since I'm not a great cook to begin with and it takes all my concentration just to get it done... if I even do. In an effort to make things a little easier, I moved Joselyn's play kitchen set downstairs where her and Landen could "cook" while I cooked. It has worked wonders. So my next step was to try and figure out how to keep them out of the dishwasher and off my pants while I washed the dishes (that seem to stack up in no time and that I avoid).

I finally figured it out. I filled one side of the sink with a little bit of water and dishsoap and pulled two chairs up to the sink. Then I let the kids play in the bubbles and water next to me while I use the other side of the sink to rinse dishes and put them in the dishwasher. This works wonders... keeps them occupied a long time... even after I've finished with the dishes!

Anyway, the other day after I had finished washing the dishes, I sat down at the kitchen table with Adam to have a conversation while the kids continued to play in the bubbles. Landen and Joselyn were giggling having fun and it was a nice sound :) I looked back to check on them and found them in the sink. Taking a "bath". In their clothes. Landen still in his diaper (which I had thankfully JUST changed!) Adam and I laughed so hard and then ran to get our cameras.

I honestly don't know how they both fit in there and still managed to stay giggly and happy.

Splashing in the rain puddles

Over the summer I dreamt of playing in puddles with the kids... all decked out in rain boots. And so I kept my eyes out for some nice used ones for the kids and bought me a pair. They have occasionally been brought out as an object of play, but they have mostly sat in the closet unused... until today. The kids were begging to go outside but it was still a little wet from the rain... then I remembered the boots. We each put our boots on and jumped in puddles! It was very fulfilling and the kids had so much fun!







Don't you love how one of Landen's boots is under his jeans and the other leg is all scrunched up?









Oh and can I just say how excited how I am that Adam is home the rest of the week! It's been SOOOO nice. Not just because he is really good at helping around the house, but it's just fun spending time with him! I know the kids agree... today he took Joselyn out on a daddy daughter date suring Landen's nap time. She was so excited to go out with him and came back with a huge satisfied grin on her face.



Speaking of my awesome husband... I'm gonna take a much needed break RIGHT NOW and go and spend some time with him! Movie night and pizza here I come!

Photo Shoot at Waveland

There were so many reasons why a photo shoot was in order...

1. Birthdays coming up and I needed to document
2. Christmas updates
3. It was a beautiful fall friday and we had nothing else to do!

I came very prepared with lots of orange tic-tacs (Great idea Kauti- works like a charm!!) and other treats and brought along some props. I was expecting the worst, but hoping for the best. But I wasn't going to let it stress me out. Mainly I just wanted the kids to have some fun!

But they surprised me and did wonderfully!! I am so happy to have these pictures of my children to remember them and how they are right here and right now! I mostly got pictures of Joselyn and a few of the 2 together since Landen just had his photos taken by my talented friend Stacie!! You MUST go look at them!

Here are the pics I took of the kids (pre-dog bite!)

I love Joselyn's little finger to her mouth... she does this when she is acting shy or she's nervous. She is definitely acting here. Landen just wants his candy and is taking it very seriously.


I love that I caught this part of Joselyn- her silly laughing cute little self.

I can't believe I actually got my kids to do this!! It was one of my first shots... I don't know if they would have done this further in to our shoot...

These just about make me cry... Joselyn seems so grown up here in my eyes...

Some cute Landen faces with his pouty bottom lip. Don't you just want to pinch those cheeks? They are so pincheable!!









I was being very very silly but nothing I was doing could get Landen to laugh! Silly boy.







This took a lot of breaks and a lot of bribery. But OH so worth it!! I love my babies!!

Boyd Orchards

Today I picked up Autumn and Melanie and took them with us to Boyd Orchards to meet my friend Sarah and her two boys, Max and Sam. This time I took my camera :) It was very crazy- but is was also crazy fun! And it was such a perfect day for the pumpkin patch. When we went a few days ago, it was almost too cold- but it was sunny and mid 70s today. Perfect fall day :)

We didn't get to go on the hay ride ( or as the kids call it a train ride) on Tuesday so I made sure we did today. Max hopped on with us and sat down by Joselyn. I told them to hold on tight and Max grabbed Joselyn's arm. And then Joselyn laid her head on his shoulder. Aww......

















I was very camera happy today...



The kids of course loved the animals too- Joselyn especially has a thing for them. She loved one of the Llamas and was letting it eat right out of her hand. And in true Joselyn fashion was talking to it and carrying on a conversation. So funny.





Landen loved the little goat and the rooster. He kept on giggling when he'd hear the rooster!





We then picked out some pumpkins and made the kids all line up for a picture. Melanie had the idea of putting pumpkins on their heads and I thought it was adorable! We couldn't get them all to do it... (hmm... whose kids wouldn't participate??) but it was still cute!







Oh- funny story. So there were some school buses parked close to this pumpkin patch and Joselyn ran off toward them- after getting someone to watch Landen I went by the buses and couldn't find her. I tried not to panic, but decided to look IN the buses- and there she was on the front seat of one of them talking to the driver. My little socialite! And I guess all those times we've sang wheels on the bus has made it so that she has no fear of buses either.

Dum-dums were the reward for the pumpkin patch pictures, ha ha.

We also attempted other pictures near the Hay. This wasn't so successful but I did get some funny out-takes. Joselyn's pout just kills me.










And just in case you noticed all the hay in Joselyn's hair, she did that to herself.





I am always SO MUCH better at taking pictures of other people's kids. Max and Sam are hard to take bad pictures of though.

My favorite...

And what better way to end our fun time than with Boyd Orchards' yummy apple cider donuts?