Easter 2011

 

Puddle Stompin'

We went to feed the ducks.  But guess what?  They weren't there.

So, we puddle stomped.  Even though it was his first official time, the boy was really good. :)

We also had some giggles that dad evoked.

And a cute cheesy grin moment to melt momma's heart.

ten on ten

breakfast

A normal day of trying on multiple pairs of shoes before 9am.  Finnegan has a shoe obsession.  He went with green frog rain boots not pictured here.

 

 

 

Play time at Nathan's....

and also at Steven's.

 

 

2nd hour into our visit...note the toys and Cheerios strewn everywhere.  Three little boys will do that.  :)

Maybe time to make brownies during nap?

He finally fell asleep (too bad it was only for thirty minutes).

Practicing our colors with pop-up books.  Nathan and Steven have inspired us.

"It's alphabet radio!"

Time for Animalz...that can only mean one thing!

The finished product; best recipe ever.

 

 

 

Go me!  I finally remembered to take all of my 10 on 10 pictures and to upload them on the 10th.  That is a big deal for me. :)

Peter Rabbit

When I gave birth to Finnegan, Genevieve brought him a stuffed Peter Rabbit to the hospital.  For a while, Peter lived on the trunk in Finn's room until Jon and I decided he was old enough to have a few stuffed animals in his crib.  It was then that the bond was formed.  

Finnegan loves Peter and I daresay, Peter loves Finnegan.  They are best buds and I always hear that song, "People let me tell you 'bout my best friend..." playing in the background when I witness their moments together.  Finnegan totes his rabbit everywhere and usually freaks out if you take him out of his crib and he has forgotten to grab Peter's ears on the way out.  He hugs him as he is fully waking up in the morning or when he is still a bit cranky from nap.  Finnegan generally prefers to carry him by the ears or by his blue velvet jacket that nearly always has been pulled off of Peter's arms.  If Finnegan is playing alone in his room and lets out a yelp of frustration, 9 times out of 10 it is because he is trying to pull Peter out from between the rungs of the crib and the rabbit is stuck.  

Sometimes I listen to Finnegan at the door to his room and upon peeking in, see him standing in the middle of his crib "talking" to his animals which he has arranged in a semi-circle around him.  He lectures them and Peter is always front and center for these talks.  

On this particular day, Finnegan fell asleep sitting up and fell forward clutching onto Peter.  Only the ears are visible but he's the brown little bunny being suffocated by my baby. 

Wooden Bear

When I was young, my nanny and poppy Judson had a wooden bear on the wall of their farm house.  The rule was you had to be tall enough to reach the wooden bear in order to pull the string between his legs.  Of course, it was the perfect rule as by the time you were tall enough you weren't quite as enthralled with the idea of yanking on the string to make the bear's arms and legs move.  A kid would yank on it so many times it would most likely break.  An adult, not so much.

When my nanny passed away my mom asked if I would like anything of her's and I asked for the bear.  It hangs in our kitchen because that's where it hung at my nanny and poppy's house.  Finnegan is very interested in the bear, but he is only allowed to look at him from our arms and is not allowed to touch him yet.

A few years ago, Genevieve went to Morocco with my mom and brought me back a wooden owl.  He is kin of the bear; a brother from another mother, if you will.  He is fabulous.  He hangs in my dining room because animals as cool as these deserve their own room.  

Finnegan also curiously looks at the owl and every once in a while he gets to pull on the hook from underneath the owl, it being much sturdier and a wee bit younger than the bear.  

He is delighted when these chances arise.  Who wouldn't be?

60 Years

This past Saturday we celebrated my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary.  Their actual anniversary was last Thursday.  What an inspiration it is to see two people who have been together, working for their family and their partnership, for 60 years.  These aren't any two people either.  They are two of the most generous, loving, and caring individuals you will ever meet.  I am so blessed to have them in my life.  I really lucked out with having four wonderful grandparents, and I feel so fortunate to still have two of them in my life.

My nephews, niece, and their dad, Tony.

My poppy and his sister, my great Aunt Clara.

My brothers

When my poppy was courting my nanny he brought her spiced gum drops each and every time he visited.

We decided they would be the perfect favor for their anniversary brunch.

Not the best quality picture, but the best picture of my nieces and nephews entertaining Finnegan.  They pulled him all around the room in a laundry basket until he was squealing in giggles and woo-hooing for more.   Very sweet.

I can't believe I forgot to get a picture of them at the brunch, but this one is only a few year's old from my wedding day.  I love you, Grandma and Poppy!

These are the days of our lives

Finnegan has been busy learning, exploring, and testing boundaries. His favorite thing to do when he knows he shouldn't do something is to begin it and then throw a glance over his shoulder at you with a big grin. :)

Last weekend we went to the Cape to visit with Jon's parents and we had a really nice time. I have some pictures of the walk Jon and I took on the beach sans Finnegan but as they are on my phone it may be a while before I upload them. Below Finnegan bonds with his cousin/uncle, Lexie. Jon feels the title for this photo should be Dinner Guests and I believe him to be quite right.


First time painting

What does your house look like on snow days?
Finnegan trying on dad's staff id. As Jon forgot to wear it to work that day, Finnegan wore it nearly all of the day. He is very big with trying different things on right now. This morning he had worn four pairs of shoes before 9am. I use the word "pairs" fairly loosely as Finnegan decides what a pair constitutes. If it is one brown shoe and one black, that's what we do.
One of Finn's favorite books right now is All God's Critters. It's a book you sing and he generally likes it sung three times in a row. If you don't sing it just right, he will slide off of your lap, pull the book with him, and go find the other parent to sing it "the right way." I love the illustrations and am fairly certain his room may need a make-over this summer to hang some of the pictures up.
Wearing his Chewbaca shirt from Uncle Darryl and Auntie Paula. My brother proclaims this, "Finnbaca!"