photo session

Those of you who haven't seen these on Facebook, here is a link to Brie's blog featuring the photos she took of F&T this morning. I'm SO looking forward to seeing more!

You know that your photographer is doing something right when after 50 minutes you think to yourself, "well, that was a total waste of time" ... and then as it turns out she has actually caught a few smiles between the running and ruckus. It amazes me every time.

soccer

Finn started playing soccer at the City's tot camp this week and he really likes it so far. He especially enjoys the shin guards. And his red ball.

He refuses to take a nap most days and is SO much easier to deal with when he has a few afternoon z's. Yesterday, at dinner...
Andrew: Finn, why do you refuse to take a nap during the day?
Finn: It's not natural for me to take a nap.
After which, we truly had no response.

tess and the duck

This is Tess last week enjoying what Andrew calls the "tooth-chipping kit" at our local park. No chipped teeth yet (and hopefully ever), thank goodness!

She was such a champ at her two-year-old checkup yesterday. Because I've spaced their shots out a little bit, she had a couple of them to catch up on and the nurse poked her once in each arm. Not only did she not even cry, but on the way out of the building, she said, "That was fun!" I tell ya. The differences between two kids can be pretty astounding at times.

Monkey

So focused on "using his muscles" to bring my tea at the Mothers Day tea party.

We call Finn our "monkey" for a reason. He acts like one, he sometimes sounds like one, let's face it - he's part monkey. He is also at a very trying age where he's old enough to want to be independent, dress himself, go to the bathroom himself, get his own food, etc. and not take a nap NEVER NO NOT EVER, even though he usually needs one. Being three and three-quarters and planning complex construction jobs the whole entire time he's awake is tough work.

So I guess it was to be expected today when, three months shy of turning four, he threw his first major in-store tantrum, the kind where you have to pick up and leave immediately while everyone else in the store is totally staring and thinking one of the following:  a) "oh, that poor mother" or b) "listen to that brat!" or c) "aw, look at his pretty little sister following behind while he's trying to bite his mother." Really quite the opposite of fun. Granted, I could have just purchased the very small, $16.99 chuggington or perhaps the $14.99 book on trucks that we already own and avoided the situation entirely, but it's the principle, friends. So out of Barnes and Noble we strode, screaming and biting, Tess following diligently behind, eyes wide.

I'm looking forward to "4" not because I have any delusions of him turning a corner instantly - oh heck, I DO have those delusions. But in the meantime we're trying to enjoy the monkey every day because when he's cute and fun, he's really cute and fun. And at the end of a long no-nap day when he falls asleep at 7:15, there's wine and a comfortable bed and 11 hours during which we recuperate.

Outside

We are outside these days as much as the weather, our schedules and the pollen will allow.

I just overheard Finn mumbling to hself while hosing off an old plastic fisher price toy: "why are all of these crappy cars made in China?!" lol. Even when he's been awake for what seems like 72 straight hours, he's still hilarious.

Mothers Day Tea

Finn's school invited all of the moms for tea yesterday and it was SO cute. They greeted us, served tea and snacks, sang songs and gave us each a necklace. His school is definitely one of the bonuses of living here. We are very lucky.

Kentucky Derby

Tess is ready for the party.