Noah Cardiel Holt | My life according to other people

Every year around Thanksgiving, Noah’s school has a “culture day” where they celebrate where everyone came from. They asked us to make a mobile to hang in his class showing where our family comes from (dragging my partial franco-american heritage through the mud), to bring in a dish reflecting that background, and to show up for an afternoon of singing and dancing by the little dudes and dudettes.

Tseday and Sienna started things off.

Alex and Logan.

“Big Old Tree”

Making a leaf mess.

Making a game of picking up the leaf mess.

Kate and Ms. Aransas wanted in on the action.

Audience Participation.

Interpretive dancing.

Logan went for it and almost did a flip but ended up landing on his noggin. Excitement is dangerous.

Hard to really appreciate without a video though right? Well, thank Kate.

Just as Noah and I had settled in and were having a look at all the candy he got at school, Andy and Aransas invited us over to trick or treat in their building. It wasn’t hard to motivate Noah.

Savannah was so excited to see us that she ran around the corner and fell.

In Savannah’s building people just left buckets of candy outside their door. Some people poke their heads out when they hear us outside, but mostly it was a free for all.

Of course, some people smartly left instructions.

Derbs when as Gwyneth Paltrow’s kid… Apple (I got bad jokes for days).

Maxine went as Supergirl.

Amelia

Tragedy struck when Noah’s bag busted.

Then Savannah wrecked again.

Seamus kept it together, even if he took off his costume.

Them girls…

The last raid before we went back to our building.

As we walked up to our apartment, Alexa on the first floor came out eager to give Noah a treat, and as we thanked her Honey came out of her apartment asking us to knock on her door.

Honey had an entire basket just for Noah.

Filled with amazing things like whoopee cushions.

And 3-d Glasses.

Honey even had tricks for Kate and I.

So sweet. Thanks Honey! And thanks to Andy and Aransas for inviting us to trick or treat with them.

Every year Noah’s school invades the government offices in their building taking back your stolen tax dollars one tootsie roll at a time. Like any good rebellion, you need a leader – in this case Ms. Yelena – and a good pep talk.

Noah’s costume of choice for this “occupation”: a parrot to represent the colorful lies of the 1%.

Send in the dragons first, to intimidate.

Then show ’em our strength in numbers!

See how nervous the “suits” are?

The “fall” of big business (I’m guessing).

Logan

Laila and her mom

Dr. Noah C.

Can’t let the man keep us down with crowded elevators.

Admit it, you don’t read my captions.

Back to the class to celebrate our success.

Nooria

Back in our apartment, taking stock of our loot.

…until… (to be continued)

Saturday we went up to Queens for Miles’ Halloween Themed 3rd Birthday. Noah’s Halloween costume wasn’t here yet so we went with a back up.

The siren is still a hit.

Once Noah said “hi”, the costume came off and he ran to play in the sand.

Mr. T pitied the fool that put Noah in a costume.

A spider (Miles) and Chris.

Ed Grimley.

Chris’ back up/backwards costume.

Tim and Ladonna had all these games for the kids to play. Like this eating a donut on a string with no hands game.

I witnessed cheating.

Then a game where everyone became mummies.

Even Chris and his friend got into it.

Then there was a witches broom race.

Refreshments.

“Trick or treating”.

Cake time.

Cupcake decorating.

Face stuffing.

Noah’s cupcake.

Saying “bye” through a sugar coma.

Thanks for inviting us Tim and Ladonna!

Emmett and Lisa offered their house up for Noah’s Birthday/Labor Day Party with The Urban’s, and you know we took them up on it. Here was my view from the grill…

Declan was having a good time.

Party!

Cake! (Made by Kate)

Nicole with the boys.

Presents!

Rescuing animals, so hot right now!

Declan relaxed in knowing that the following weekend would be his christening and he would show up “mr. seersucker shorts”.

Thanks to Emmett and Lisa for letting us make a mess of their house, and thanks to everyone for the great presents.