Noah Cardiel Holt | My life according to other people

A couple weeks ago walking over to Grant and Kate’s to eat some crabs. Sketchy sky making us walk a little faster.

The party was co-hosted by Ren’s mom Ellen.

Savannah provided the music.

Oliver was the… jester?

And Derby, the accountant.

Back from NH and back to school (and work). A few days after getting back from NH, Kate and I brought cupcakes to Noah’s school to celebrate Noah’s birthday with his class.

Ms. Yelena had each of his friends tell him what they hope he gets for his birthday.

Leo.

Alex.

After the birthday party the kids all “moved up” to the next classroom where they would be starting Pre-kindergarten.

Ms. Ella won’t be moving up with the kids. She’s helped out in Noah’s classes for the last two years.

It got emotional.

The day after Noah’s NH birthday, sitting in Nana and Grampa’s living room checking out some of the great presents.

That afternoon Aunt Mindy, Nana, and I went to check out “Stump The Hummer”.

You can see more of that chaos here, Stump The Hummer. For dinner we drove down the street to a pig roast that Aunt Mindy’s friends were having.

Great last day in NH.

You want to know how to be a really popular Aunt? Make this the first thing you do in the morning.

As a present to Noah, Kate and I borrowed Grampa’s MG and went hiking, leaving him behind to be wildly spoiled by everyone around.

I won’t bore you with a bunch hiking photos, but I got a few.

Nancy Cascades.

WARNING! The following contains stats!! – 89% of NH has forest cover, that’s the highest percentage in the lower 48. And on the trail up to Nancy Pond you can find “one of the two largest remaining areas of virgin spruce-fir forest in the state” (peep) where “the median age of trees is about 254 years” (peep).

Meanwhile, back in Milan, the hero of our story was dealing with challenges of his own.

Noah’s main challenge, which new gun to play with.

Zach and Dillon helping with his new Legos.

Aunt Mindy’s theme appropriate chocolate lollipops.

Borrowing one of Grampa’s “juice” koozies.

Aunt Mindy’s cake.

The Aunt Mindy/Noah collaborative cupcakes.

Then the entertainment showed up.

Opening a few presents before bed.

Audience encouragement.

A whole box of animals!! (Sharks, a turtle, penquins…)

Good day.

Home.

Milan Hill State Park.

Finding things dropped on purpose.

Grandparenting.

The state park was closed for a little while and when they eventually reopened it they made it more camper friendly. This is one of 4 Yurts they constructed along with 6 (?) campsites with platforms for tents.

Free continental breakfast.

Back at the compound, checking out Nina and Jaspers pond.

A “natural break” at the playground where I went to elementary school.

Jaycee!

Ice cream with no wipes = photo killer.

Later, trapping wild animals.

Dinner.

It was good to be home.