five months

Even though I'm a little annoyed that it took us two and a half hours to get Tess to sleep tonight, it's impossible to feel anything but warm fuzzies for her. This is such a fun age, when babies start to do so many things at once. She's sitting (almost by herself), eating fruits and veggies (and mum mums) and rolling on occasion. Sigh. Before we know it, she'll be off to college. So for now, we shall enjoy her sweet little baby self to the fullest, even if it is 10 pm and her bedtime was two hours ago.

school!

We were pretty darn excited about Finn's first day of school (aka toddler playgroup) at Montessori today.

He looked so cute with his new backpack/snack bag.

Upon seeing this pumpkin at the front door: "Oh, WOW! Let's carry it."

Cute little cubby.

Looking around, getting a sense of this momentous occasion.

First one in the door!

The two Finns (really).

There are also two Bens,

and two little girls who do not have the same name.

This is where I left him happily for the next hour and a half.

What a great morning! We love school!

Niagara Falls

She thinks: It's possible that we are too close.

Tess and Mom accompanied me to Niagara Falls yesterday and today so that I could attend an urban planning conference, which turned out to be an interesting couple of days and a nice excuse to see yet another new and beautiful part of the state.

Unfortunately since Tess doesn't have a passport yet, we couldn't traipse over to the Canada side, lest the TSA accuse us of bringing a TERROR BABY back to the USA. So instead we just took a long walk on the American side (again, beautiful - just a little lame compared to the super-cool Canadian side, what with their rotating space needle restaurant and all) and then headed back today, and now we are exhausted and going to bed. Verily I shall attempt to upload more photos tomorrow before we head to fetch Finn from his equally-exhausted grandparents.

he's mine, all right

This is the first week we've been able to get a photo of Finn holding his baby sister (in his old pj's) since he usually loses interest after 5 seconds and turns to drop her onto the ground. For those 5 seconds though? Pretty cute.

This week is so busy it's sort of a terrifying sneak peek into what the rest of our lives are going to be like. Getting ready for school to start next week, packing for a quick trip to a conference in Niagara Falls, and trying to see new friends and plan for visitors - all fun but tiring too.

But before I go, here's the reason for this post's title.

Earlier this week, in the car.

Me: Hey, Finn, do you want to go to the library tomorrow?

Finn: No thanks, just to Target.

day at the lake

As the saying goes, the next best thing to having a lake house/boat/etc is having relatives with a lake house/boat/etc. Lucky us! Andrew's cousin Bridget and her family recently scored a lake house at Conesus Lake, one of the finger lakes that isn't too far from Corning. So we decided to go up and visit on what was perhaps the crummiest day of Labor Day weekend but still a lovely time to get out and see them. Next summer is going to be so much more awesome thanks to John and Bridget. And their boat. Please invite us. ok thanks.

Tess was really not psyched about her baby life jacket.

Ella and Finn survey the scene.

Bridget and Beckett (who just turned 1)

She loves the camera!

Had we been blessed with an additional 20 degrees and a bottle of tequila,

we'd have been set!! (Next year!)

Captain Finn

His hair is coming in, and it's bee-u-tiful.

He will definitely need a haircut by the time he's 3.

orientation

Finn is starting at Montessori in a few weeks. He will be in the two-year-olds' toddler playgroup for four hours a week. As you would imagine, the orientation this week was pretty intense.

Naturally he made a beeline for the sandpile.

So many new trucks to investigate!

The bubble table? Also cool (although organic bubbles are a bit lame.)

I love his expression here.

Hello. My name is FINN.

He wanted to listen to my heart. So sweet.

He had such a good time that when I said it was time to leave, he didn't even look up, just said, "No, I'm fine!" ... needless to say, we were the last to leave. I hope the first week (in 3 weeks!) goes as smoothly.

the negotiator

I forgot to mention Finn's new skill in the last post. Or it's a skill that he's working to perfect, anyway. We're trying to get him interested in the potty with the use of M&M's. Naturally, he thinks that he should get M&M's regardless of whether or not he uses the potty.

Finn (holding up the timer): It's time for a BLUE M&M.

Me: No, it's not quite time yet. You haven't even used the potty yet.

F: (folding hands in front of him) Ok, just 10 orange M&M's.

Me: No M&M's yet, Finn.

F: Ok, just one green one and one orange one.

Me: (silence)

F: Ok, just two green ones.

He's nothing if not persistent.

cake party

It seems like forever ago that we celebrated Papa's birthday but I've just now organized the photos from Heather, my mom and our camera ... we had a great party (and the perfect chocolate cake! with tool candles!)

If I smile sweetly, maybe I'll get some cake with my rice cereal!

Oh, there is cake in MY future for sure.

Putting together some new trucks for Finn.

Aunt Heather's cakes are the BEST!