Trip to Texas

Fin quotes:

Ellie is wearing all purple and grinning like a goof -

Fin says "That Ellie is Purpalarious!"

"Mommy you are a crocodile and I am a polka dot. I am a bagel and you are the bag of chips." (I am nearly certain he was not on any drugs?)

Singing The Beatles - "Here come the sun.. dodododo... Here comes the sun...And it's so bright"

Back in March Fin, Ellie and Mommy all took our trip with Nanna down to San Juan, TX to visit Pompa and Grandma Babe. (Don't forget the Babe! Fin will let you know her name is NOT Grandma.) It was Elle's first trip and I have to say I was so nervous. For as many trips Fin has been on, I have not had a single meltdown on a plane. But his little sister proved to be my little travel angel as well. We stayed a night in Corpus Christi before making the trip down to the border. Our hotel was right on the beach and Fin was in 7th heaven. My little man wants to be a surfer, I can tell. I really don't think he would ever, ever come out of the water if we didn't make him. He had a blast digging in the sand, throwing shells back in the water and running through the waves (which were freezing, he didn't care at all). It was so cute, he immediately picked up a shell and said "look, a shell for my nose!", remembering a picture I took of him in St. Padre last year. I love that he remembers fun times, like that.

 Humidity

 Awesome playground right on the beach

 We also found an amazing playground on the beach. It was kind of a maze and not at all fun for me to navigate with Ellie in her wrap, but Fin just loved it. There were ladders, bridges, slides and secret tunnels around every turn. He has turned into an absolute monkey.

Sometimes it's just impossible to get Fin to smile nicely...

 Ellie and Grandma Babe

Ellie and Pompa



The next day we made the drive to the border (and that's were Elle decided to make her displeasure with travel clear - poor Nanna had to sit in the back and try and keep her from screaming for hours). But we made it in the end and it was WONDERFUL to visit with my grandparents. Fin was so excited to see them and got to take a golf cart ride with seconds of arriving (he returned because he "had to pee".) He and I both love their little trailor community and I'm pretty sure if Nathan would let us, Fin and I would move into a Winnebago there. He really enjoys taking walks with Pompa and Babe around the trailor court and waving to friends and sometimes picking fresh citrus from the trees. Nanna, Fin, myself and Ellie (for a minute) all went swimming in the pool, where he made quite a splash with the retired folks, who all thought he was pretty cute. He really was getting the hang of swimming with a water noodle and loudly sang Row Row Row Your Boat while "driving" his raft. Ellie got in the water for the first time, as well. She didn't really seem to know what to make of it, but did OK for a little while before starting to cry a little. Pompa immediately rescued her back to his house while we played awhile longer.

As a bonus suprise while we were there, there just happened to be a carnival set up right across the street from where we all had dinner. Fin got to go down the Big Slide with Mommy, ride the carousel with Pompa, Dumbo flying ride with Nanna and then... ride the cars all by himself. I was so not ready for this step and in my wildest dreams did not think that he was. He picked a purple glittery car to drive and seemed excited, but I thought - best case scenario - he would hold back tears until the ride was over, at which point he would break down and scream to never leave him again. Worst case scenario - he panics as soon as the rides starts, trys to jump out before they can turn the ride off and we end up taking him to the hospital with broken bones. I was nervous to say the least. But goodness, no, he had the time of his life. He was laughing like a boy possessed, had no time to wave to Nanna and I as he circled by us. Beeping the horn and driving with all he had. I really think it may have been the happiest I've ever seen him. He rode it twice. I was so happy for him and also a little sad my baby is growing up so fast!

 "Horseys up down" with Pompa

 So busy driving, couldn't even stop to smile at Mommy!

We sure wish we could have stayed a little longer. I don't know anyone more fun than Pompa and Grandma Babe, it just thrills me to have Fin get to spend time with them. We can't wait to see them again. :)

Oh my, it's been awhile!

He thinks it's so funny when she pulls his hair and lets her do it on purpose.

He needed to be swaddled "Just like Ellie"

Fin has stuffed his jammie shirt and said "look at theeeese Nursies Mommy"

Blue Eyes :)

Storytime/Music time at the Tattered Cover bookstore

Umm, quintuple dunk! He said "look at THIS mommy!"

Fin quotes lately:

"Ellie will NOT be a cheerleader, Mommy. She's a girl. I'ma be a cheerleader."

(Asked if he wanted some lunch - he answered in a exasperated tone)
"Mom, I JUST had and yogurt pop AND a popsicle." Shakes his head at me and walks away. 

"Daddy's like beer".

After telling Fin to lay down in his bed while I went and got his milk for bedtime -
"Mommy I'm really sad."
Me: "why are you sad Fin"
"I'm just really sad at your mouth"

Fin: MOOOOOOOOMMMMMY. I can't sleep in my bed. I peed in there.
Me: You pee peed the bed?
Fin: Yes. I did.
I go inspect, the bed is soaked. really soaked.
Me: Fin are you sure this is pee pee.
Fin: Yes. I PEED THE BED!!!
Now I'm noticing the lid off the cup of water I had just given him and it's empty.
Me: Fin are you sure this is not water?
Fin: It's peppepeppepepepepeeeeee!
I can't believe the stinker, I know it's not pee pee. He swore up and down that it was. Too bad for him the bed was lined with waterproof pads, so 30 seconds later was stripped and dry. Nap time only slightly delayed. Score one Mommy.

Silly girl would not smile for a group pic.

Here's a pretty smile!

So lets see, where to start...?

Quick updates from the past month:

About a month or so ago Fin caught some sort of nasty virus which included a wicked fever that lasted several days. Normally this wouldn't be a big issue except that this time he was having (what I believe to be) febrile myoclonis. It was like a febrile seizure, sort of. But he had 4 of them and they didn't seem to affect him much. It was just like involuntary spasms that lasted only a couple seconds... Well it was enough to scare me into taking him to the ER to have him examined. They were afraid it might be Meningitis, so somehow talked me into letting them do a spinal tap and admitting him for the night. Needless to say it was an extremely unpleasant 48 hours. Though thankfully, he doesn't remember any of it now and would probably tell you it was all worth it since he got his favorite thing in the world as his good boy gift... Which brings me to THE GUITAR.

Fin is guitar CRAZY. crazy crazy crazy. He is either playing guitar (there are many versions - morning guitar: kinda quiet and slow, LOUD guitar, lunchtime guitar: not sure how this is different from LOUD though) or if not actually playing we are pretending to play. Pretty much 15+ hours a day. For a month and a half.
At his music class when his teacher gets out the guitar and asks what instrument is this? Fin loudly proclaims "AN ACOOOOUSTIC GUITAR!". Then he gives everyone a quick lesson on various varieties, "theres a Les Paul, a Strata caster, a Bass and the 'Cousic. Also, thankfully he really prefers to play with a pick. I am very happy about this since I am extremely paranoid about his fingers getting calloused from the strings. I see him being a lead singer though. I'm pretty sure we've got the 2025 winner of American Idol right here. The singing never ends. He knows so many songs. I LOVE IT!!!! :)

Playing at the Village where he has his Music Class

"Out came the sun and dried up all the rain"

Singing "You are my sunshine" under the parachute

Playing guitar with Miss Maureen, the love of his life

The Village has a little potty and Fin loves going "just like Daddy"

When he is not playing singer/songwriter lately he has still been our personal chef, though the cuisine has not branched out at all from watermelon, eggs and of course, the Butt Sandwich. And luckily, we have had such nice weather, we have been able to spend lots of time outside. He is such a monkey on the playground these days and can pretty well climb everything "all by himself" (we hear this all the time). He is so clearly my child as his favorite games basically involve bossing whoever he is playing with (usually me) and micromanaging every aspect of the game.

"Mommy, lets beepbeep these horns (on the playground steering wheel). NO Mommy not like that, say BeepBlllllll" (this was a noise I cannot make right with my tongue apparently) "NO don't put your hands like that, put them here and turn the wheel THIS way. Faster Mommy." And finally completely exasperated with me "Here Mommy I'll just help you like this (and this is all being said in his super high "baby talk" voice) "I'll just put my hands on your hands and help you and I'll say the beep beep and you pretend". So fun, plus I don't know if it's some kind of parental low when you two year old speaks condescendingly to you?

We are getting so excited for Rockies games to start. We have our first tickets on Sunday. Our little sports fan cannot wait. If he's half as excited about the Rockies as he had been about the Nuggets this season, I have a feeling we'll be season ticket holders in no time. Though it does seem that Basketball is his first passion. I'm afraid my genes may affect his dream of being a Nuggets player, as he has yet to hit the growth chart for his height... Luckily for now he is content to pretend. He always is Nene (his fav. player), I am Ty Lawson, Ellie is The Birdman and Daddy is Chauncey. He will not address the issue of the trades this season, I'm afraid it's just too much for the little man to take.

Ellie is developing her personality so quickly and so far is pretty much turning out to be Fin's opposite in every way. She is so outgoing and flirtatious. People walking down the street just stop in their tracks, her smile is hilarious. She rides around in the wrap looking like she just hit the lottery. I can't tell you how many times I've been talking to someone and they have to stop (at the store, at the Dr, etc...) and say "I'm so sorry I just can't even concentrate with her smiling and laughing at me. She's just so stinkin cute.
Not to say she can't switch gears on the turn of a dime. Because I'm assuring you the girl can scream. She absolutely hates her car seat and 99% of the time that she's in it she just howls like she's gonna die. The funny thing is that Fin (who still faces backward and doesn't mind the car seat a bit) can just sleep right through it. Seriously nearly hours of all out blood curdling screams and he doesn't even flinch. Sorta weird. I guess that's my good sleeper.

Otherwise she is just growing up so fast. She loves to be a part of things. Out to eat, she prefers to sit on the table and be a part of the conversation. She absolutely worships the ground her brother walks on. He barely needs to try to have her belly laughing like no one else can. She stares at him constantly and will sit with him every morning for Sesame Street. If Fin says it's cool, she's all about it. I LOVE it, he is an amazing big brother and I so look forward to seeing their relationship develop. He is just dying for her to be able to play with him. I'm guessing she wont appreciate the constant bossing around though. We shall see...

Well, I think that's long enough for now. We recently took a trip down to TX to visit Pompa and Grandma Babe. So that will be another story... :)

 Loving Daddy for his 31st bday

 Just what every two year old wants: Scotch

 So happy in her Jumpyroo

 Fin gets a guitar lesson from Uncle Danny

I love this picture!

I'm standing in the kitchen and Fin walks in -

Fin - "WHAT is going on in here?"

Me - (in the middle of sending a text) "umm, I'm cleaning the kitchen."

Fin - " You're not cleaning the kitchen Mom, your just pushing buttons"

Great, I'm already getting busted by my two year old...

Fin making goo goo sounds at Ellie and trying to get her to talk. He blew a raspberry and got spit all over Nathan's head. He looks at Nathan, very annoyed says "WHAT THE HELL DADDY?". I know the wrong thing to do is laugh, but we just lost it...

Making dinner he wanted some raw garlic from the cutting board. I say "hmm, I don't know if you'll like it Fin, it's really strong". Fin thinks I'm making a joke, "Moooooommy, it's so little, it's not very strong. I'm a big boy and I'm stronger." Well he ended up getting the raw garlic clove. Now he knows what I meant. "Mommy I DO NOT like this garlic.". Yep.

Fin wanted to give me a haircut. It was very professional, he used a wet comb and said snip, snip snip. All the time telling me "Mommy you look SOOOO handsome! You are SUCH a good boy!".

This week we went to the Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra with Nanna. They play in a big circle and all the kids get to sit on the stage in the middle and watch all the instruments. They do songs that are meant for little ones. It was very cool. Suprisingly, Fin's favorite was the Timpani Drum. They were pretty cool, but very loud. I'm a little nervous, I was really hoping he would be more excited by the cello's and violins.

Ok, now a whole bunch of pictures from the past month. I've been slacking since we've been sick... It's been a crazy few weeks, but LOTS of fun stuff.

Ellie in our favorite sweater made by Barb Maier

Fin playing at the Nature and Science Museum with his friends Noah and Aiden

 These boys ran around until they literally just fell over!

Then they found the pirate. Fin must have sat on his lap for at least a half an hour. I had to peel him off!

Fin's favorite game, basketball in stilettos. I don't know if Daddy is so amused. I think it's hilarious!

Fin was "relaxing with baby sister"

Passed out on Daddy

Fin and Elle watching Sesame Street together

Snuggling on the "bye-o" chair

Little Miss Pinky