Pics n' Stuff

Abby and Jason's wedding. My two handsome guys.

Once again, props to Auntie Mary on her mad sewing skills! He loved being a moose!

I can put on my underwear by myself. 

Finished Basement. My hubby is phenomenal.

Dancing

He's 3!!!!

Fin is now a 3 year-old. Though, I must admit, I've been saying he's 3 for months now so the shock has worn off. 

He continues to like pre-school and gives his friends and teachers hugs before he leaves--they adore him. 

Dada took Fintan out for a really special treat one day while Mama was at the library.

Look. At. That. Face. 

 At my cousin's wedding last weekend; the boys were clearly having a blast!

Fin was so happy to hang out with Uncle Jason and Auntie Haley!

For days after Jason left, Fin would walk into the room where he slept and ask, "Where Uncle Jason go?" He likes his Uncle. We missed Auntie Kelsey this time around too!!! 

 My dear, dear friend Tarini MADE this dinosaur hat for Fin's birthday!! Is this the greatest hat you've ever seen?! He's really into dinosaurs right now. Couldn't have been more perfectly timed. He loves it.

Fintan's pumpkin bar birthday cake. 

Blowing out those candles!

Per usual, Abby was awesomely crafty with Fin and they made a "Feliz Cumpleanos" sign for his birthday party. He was very proud. 

Jeff's major squash event of the year was this week and it was a total success! Everyone had a blast, food was great, beer was flowing, guests, patrons, squash players all truly enjoyed themselves. It was a lot of hard work. So proud of that man...especially because...

He won the doubles championship!!! He had the hometown crowd on his side, everyone was going nuts, and he and Matty Jensen came back from 0-2 to win 3-2! What a great weekend for him. He played phenomenally. 

What was even more special is that his great friends came to town for it: Gary, Willy, Matty, and Doug. It was so nice to see our friends. 

The most special guest was Gary's son, Victor! He and Fintan got along really well (ahem, for the most part). Yesterday Fin already told me that he misses Victor and Victor is his "Best Friend". We all miss Victor already too. 

Fall Fin Update

Fintan started Spanish Immersion preschool this week. Jeff has had to do the drop-offs solo that's been really tough on them both. Lot's of tears but Nuggy gets in the groove pretty quickly. Staff at the school sent us a pic yesterday of him all smiles doing art. He's only going 3 days a week for 2.5 hours a day but it's still quite the transition for him. He says he has fun there and last night I asked him if he'd made any friends he replied, "No.....not yet!" That's our positive guy.

We knew when he started school that he'd be getting sick more and he already has proved us right. He has a gnarly cough. Last night he was coughing so hard he was making throw-up noises. Jeff and I were in his room comforting him, getting him medicine, water with the hall light on. After about 10 minutes he said, "Can you guys leave now and make it dark?" BWUAHAHAHA! We couldn't stop laughing. Totally not expected. 

Other things Fin says:

-When he's upset about not getting something he wants he pretty quickly says, "That's ok, next time". 

-I'll ask him something like, "Fin, I don't know where your truck is, do you?" He says, "I don't know either." 

-He is really good with directions almost always pointing the correct direction to "Nanabob's" or "Pop-pop and Mama D's" houses!

He potty-trained relatively easily. We don't have a frame of reference but as far as I can tell, it wasn't a big deal, the guy was totally a team-player. Accidents occasionally but that's to be expected.

Jeff worked like a mad man on our basement getting it painted, made two built-ins. It looks amazing! He has a big tournament coming up in October so he's also really busy with that. 

Fin asked: I share naked time with everybody? 

LOVES fishing

Mama and Fin fishing

He could not get enough of Great Grandma's raspberries.

A blondie in raspberry heaven

Mini-putt putt. Apparently the mornings at the driving range with Dada are paying off. He Birdied a hole! No special treatment, nothing. I shot par!

Rigged a ramp for Diego to get in and out of the water. Poor buddies hips aren't working so hot anymore.

Checking out big trucks used in the mines in northern mn. 

At the Soudan Mine. Where my Grandpa and Great-grandpa worked and my Grandma Managed! 

Proud to walk Diego

Someday...

Play

Bumper cars!

Other Things Fintan Says

Building: Bill-build
Fountain: Fa-Fa-Fa Mountain
Here you go: Eee-go
Please: Pease
Watching golf, someone comes close but doesn't sink a put: Almost in da hoe.
Saying no to something that he really wants to do: I try!

Funny Fin

Bebe (Abby, Fin's nanny) asked Fin if he wanted a brother or a sister. He put his finger on his mouth and said, "hmmm." After thinking about it he answered, "Banana Bread."

Too. Funny.



*no, we're not expecting! Abby was just wondering.

Spring Time

Fin is talking more and more these days. We catch about every other word and he speaks with such enthusiasm! Very expressive. Still sleeping well, eating well, etc.

He is super stoked that the weather is getting nice again; he's an outside kid. Loving "dolf" (golf) and digging in the garden with Dada. He "stoops" (scoops) all the dirt. Ever the good helper. Fin and Dad planted broccoli, lettuce, and asparagus last weekend. When it warms up a bit more we'll put in tomatoes, carrots, peppers, and who knows what else! Fun to have such a big garden to play with. 

Helping Dada clean Diego.

Look at his stellar drawing skills! He draws people!

Doo-doo-doo, Bowl on my head.

He likes to play the game where he pretends he's sleeping and then Mama goes in and wakes him up. Why does he like to "sleep" in the closet with his books? Who knows!

Fin and Mama saying Bye Bye to the first two years of medical school.

Two of Fin's favorite things: "dun oof" and "bacuum".

This means sun roof and vacuum. 

He LOVES vacuuming and setting up the cushions to be a little fort. 

It snowed quite a bit this winter and Diego and Fin loved it!

Snow Days in Late April are alright when you have this guy around to enjoy them! 

List of Current Nuggy Things

-Fin may look like his Mama but has the ginormous, sensitive heart of his Dada
-the energy of his Dada too
-Is still really into trains
-Likes to share his food when he's really enjoying it
-Tells funny stories
-Can't wait to be outside all the time
-Keeps asking to go to the beach
-When reading a book tries to crawl into pictures he really likes yelling, "In! In!"
-Figured out how to fake cry
-LOVES music: air guitar, air drums, air trumpet, dancing, lots of head nodding
-Draws Mama, Dada, and Nee-Neet really well! Head, eyes, mouth, body!
-Finally loves avocado (much to Mama's delight)
-Chooses cooked carrots over cookies
-Races anyone he can as much as he can

Old pics but they're over-due.

Nuggy rocking the cardigan.

Christmas at Bentlyville in "Du-doose! (duluth)"

There were fireworks and Fin told the riveting, hilarious story of:

"Du-doose! Boom boom boom! Bup-pa (grandpa)!"

Jeff and I went to Big Sky over Christmas. It was really fun! Great skiing, fun town. 

Nana grabbed a violin for Fin and he's so gentle with it. He actually makes decent contact with the strings. 

Snow Days and Snow Man!

Dad and Fintan bought me flowers during finals for good luck. Finny B was pretty proud :)

Fun in Snow

Getting his "hock hock" on

More Ski Pics

Dad flooding Fin's rink in our backyard. 

Nuggy helping Mama bake. 

More Bentlyville. 

Fin's really into playing air guitar these days. SO sweetie pie. 

Valentine's Day!

Jeff and I aren't big on Valentine's Day but Abby, Fin's amazing nanny, is totally into it! Fin and Abby have been making decorations for the house for weeks: streamers, hearts, paintings, tissue paper flowers, it's so fun!

When Abby came yesterday morning, she surprised Fin with a helium, heart shaped balloon, a teddy bear that sings, and a giant card. The kid was stoked. Then the spent the day baking cupcakes, decorating them with hearts, and making more crafts. When I got home they had even made a Valentine for me and Jeff. Candy, cards, and framed footprint from Fin, and Abby is into scrapbooking so she made a framed collage Fin pics! Seriously the best Valentine's Day ever.

We once again cannot believe our luck in finding such a great fit for our family in Abby.

We're All Well

Fin is still an awesome sleeper. 12+ hours/night + 2-3 hour nap during day. He LOVES his bed and loves sleeping.

He talks a lot now and we're understanding him more and more. Some of our favorite things he says:

"I help!" Which is said SO many times a day. Maybe just as much as he loves sleeping he loves helping.

"Orange." I can't even imagine how to convey how he says this word. Trust that it's amazing.

"Te Amo." Our new nanny Abby is so fantastic. We were so lucky to find her. She adores Fin (and he her), she's teaching him Spanish (instead of more he says "mas"), and I cam home to homemade chile rellenos tonight. Yeah, she is amazing.

He's still going to music class every Monday and he still enjoys it. Banging on drums, singing along, jumping around-it's in his wheelhouse.

We took him sledding on Sunday for the first time (down a big hill) and the little dare devil loved it. He went down the hill BY HIMSELF without any fear. Well, his face was priceless in transit but as soon as the tube stopped he was smiling and asking for more. We played with the Underhill's and built a snowman. Fin with his easy-going attitude was getting snowballs thrown at him, tackled by the boys, and just cracked up. He's so much freaking fun.

I said to Fin the other day, "Fin, if you put your balloon in the fan it'll pop and then it'll be gone. Is that a reality you're willing to face?" He looked an me and said, "Nope" and walked away with his balloon. Haha! Pretty funny.

Jeff is doing great things at work and I'm doing my best.