Leaf Play

Taking advantage of one of the last nice days (or so we assume!)

better

Tess had a little rash on her face last week (who am I kidding, it wasn't little) and I wanted to get some photos of her for future reference - or to show to the doctor. Of course she was in the mood to cooperate ["picture, mommy! picture"], so maybe i'll edit this one a bit and get it in a frame one of these days.

Everyone in this house is mesmerized by those eyes!

F-I-N-N

We were kinda surprised last week when Finn just - ya know - wrote his name in the driveway.

He told the whole neighborhood!

Apple Picking II

We went back to Reisingers Apple Country yesterday to re-up our apple supply and pick raspberries (and look at the foliage along Seneca Lake!) F and T enjoyed the wagon for the first 15 minutes or so then we picked and picked and then treated ourselves to MORE cider donuts. All in all a very successful autumn Sunday.

The best part was when they held hands in the car on the way home but I didn't get photographic evidence.

I Play Purses

I often bring Tess into my room to buy some time while getting ready. Until recently it was enough for her to sit in front of the shoe rack and pull off every pair, occasionally trying them on. She started getting bored with that though, so I gave her a few handbags to play with and this is definitely her New Favorite Thing. She says to me several times times a day, "I play purses!" As in, let me play with your purses! Quickly!

Yesterday I was cleaning off the porch and cutting the herbs up to freeze and it reminded me that her other favorite thing is "I taste basil" and proceed to rip off 2-3 basil leaves, stick them in her mouth and gag on them. I'm glad she likes basil, though. It's a mainstay iin our house.

Japanese crayons

One of the benefits of the Wags 6 living in Japan (we try to find good reasons!) is that they have access to super awesome art supplies such as the pastel crayons Finn received for his birthday. Those combined with the huge rolls of paper from Ikea and we may just get through the winter.

Here they are drawing a knuckleboom loader. Oh, and Tess's new words are "excavator" and "bucket truck." Not a huge surprise, right?

Happy G

Finn just drew his first letter for me! He said it's a "happy g" and if you look closely it is indeed a blue G with a purple smiley face. As soon as he can write his name he can get a library card, so maybe that's not too far away!

I'm walking!

I'm still not used to seeing Tess walk around. It's been a few weeks now and still seems so - I don't know - small? to be walking. She often will yell from the other room, "I'm walking!!" And then we'll hear either a little pitter patter or a boom, thankfully only seldom a crash followed by a cry.

We were walking around the dining room today and she put her sticky fingers ALL the way across the china cabinets. Then again, for good measure. I said (quietly, or so I thought), "Tess, you're killing me." And she said, "I'm killing you." Another lesson in Watch What You Say 101.

apples apples and more apples

It's apple picking season here! Well, of course we had to go. We went to this super-beautiful place overlooking Seneca Lake called Reisingers Apple Country. Tess fell asleep in the car so she and Nana missed out on the actual picking, but Finn and I had a great time. I think he ate 4-5 apples yesterday and another half dozen today, so he's feeling very healthy indeed, even after the apple cider donut-stravaganza.

Kid, check. Huge chair, check.

Relaxing on the way to the Honey Crisps. 

I love how focused he looks here

(and also his blue eyes)

(and also his little face)

(and also the scenic apple trees)

Tomorrow he's going to help me make apple crisp, and if that goes well we'll be making it every day until our 13 lbs of apples are gone!

first day of school

Finn's first day back to preschool was yesterday. He has a new classroom with a few other 3 year olds as well as 4 and 5 year olds, so it's a big change from last year but so far he seems to really like it. We all love Montessori and have no doubts that this year will be a success.

Leaving the house.

Most half-hearted wave ever. Is he 3 or 13?

(me laughing)

In lieu of a notebook where I write down the funny stuff my kids, I'm using this blog. So before I forget...

The other day he was saying that he needed some new school shoes and "maybe Mimi could order him some from babyzon.com." (Mimi - he doesn't really need new shoes quite yet.) (NOTE TO SELF: babyzon.com URL is available.)

Then yesterday I mentioned that we need a new broom and he said, "We should go to Home Depot. They have BEAUTIFUL red brooms and WONDERFUL red dustpans." I went to Bed, Bath instead but am still wondering if he was right about the Home Depot brooms?

Birthday Dreams

Finn asked me whose birthday was next and I said we have quite a few in our family (aunts, uncles, cousins) but the next one in our house is mine. This matters because it means we'll have cake.

Finn: What would you like for your birthday, Mommy?
Me: I'd like to go to a spa for the day. Can you arrange that?
Finn: You have to pick something from the Bruder truck catalog. How about a track loader?

matching dogs

Tess loves dogs. She seems to take a particular shine to dogs with similar hair color as her own. Our neighbors Robert and Michael have these two adorable spaniels (I think that's what they are?) and when they walk by she has a total cow of excitement. Not shown: Tess toddling toward the dogs. We might have this on video, in which case I'll post it!

Happy Birthday Granddad

Sometimes you just have to do the best you have with your talent, which can also be dependent on the mood(s) of your talent. I hope that despite F&T's willingness to perform this morning you'll know that the sentiment is there, and we hope you have a very happy birthday!

Helping

Finn is in the foreground with his trucks emulating Papa, who is busy putting an addition to their house in the background.

We are so enjoying these beautiful summer days!

16 months!

Tess with her friend Zip the Monkey

(the frighteningly life-like toy)

I'm sure that there are some parents of 16-month olds who use the potty 2-3x/day who don't feel smug about their child's potty-telligence, but I'm not one of those people. Let it be known that Tess was officially using the potty before she could walk. (She says "poo poo potty," and then she goes. It's a miracle of nature.) As of this week, she's now taking steps - albeit tiny and very tentative steps, and usually only to me - but it's happening. Did you read the part about the potty?

After she sat on the potty earlier today, we had this conversation.

Me (jumping up and down, which is what I do): Yay, Tess!

T: A-GAIN, Mommy.

Me: Yah, Tess!

T: A-GAIN, Mommy. Teeth, Mommy!

So I give her the toothbrush.

T: Thank you, Mommy.

Me: You're welcome.

T: You're welcome, Mommy.

She is such a joy. The nice thing is that she and Finn are also a joy together. Much of the time anyway. We're not living in wonderland - they fight, they push each other, but they also cuddle and give kisses and I love it. Finn's school starts in 18 days.

eating a peach

Finn came down a few minutes ahead of Tess and me this morning, and I walked into the kitchen to see him standing on his stepstool with a peach and giant scissors. When I asked what he was doing, he said "I'm eating a peach with this bulldozer ripper." At least he's becoming more independent, even if that means all of our sharp objects need to be hidden in upper cabinets, apparently.

let's hope not

Me: Aw, Tess has a little owie on her head. Finn, did you see what happened?

Finn: No, I didn't.

Me: Hmm, I wonder where it came from.

Finn: Well, it came from Papa's milling machine.

Baby on Bed

Ahh... The elusive day when they nap simultaneously (and yes, that's my head-print next to Tess). Even better I got to cuddle with them both. Bliss. To be followed by two very late bedtimes as they're both still asleep at 5:20.

Finn turns 3

It has been a big week in our household. Last Friday, Tess started using the potty. On Saturday morning, Finn walked into the bathroom and saw her using it again and ... he started wearing underwear and has been using the potty ever since. Needless to say everyone is pretty excited about his big-boy-ness and thankful that when school starts in a month, he'll be out of diapers.

Sunday was the big day - his third birthday! We had a wonderful party in Waverly and many of Finn's great aunts and uncles who happened to be in town joined us, it reminded me of birthdays growing up with so much family nearby, which made his party extra special. (As Katy told me about one of her friends - my kids will have kid parties when they start asking for them, haha.)

Yesterday Finn started climbing out of his crib and then he finally made it, so it was time to take down the crib and transition him into his toddler car bed. He fell asleep last night after many stories and some back-scratching and slept until 7 a.m.

Now for some party pics. Check out this CAKE!

Heather outdid herself with an awesome (and delicious!) construction cake.

She made fondant pylons that spelled "FINN"

My only regret is that we don't have video of "Happy Birthday"

or you'd be able to see and hear Finn singing louder than anyone else

Sitting in his adirondack chair opening presents.

He loves his John Deere tractor

(a gift from Uncle Pat and Aunt Neta, visiting from KS!)

The orange bow didn't seem to faze him.

Aunt Susan and Tess with Aunt Neta and Beckett.

Sandbox fun right before the rain REALLY started.

Finn received this terrific excavator from Jim & Colleen

... very handy for dumping sand into his wheelbarrow from Mimi & Papa!

Little Blossom

For all of our photos from Sunday here's the link.

THREE!

Happy Birthday to our FAVORITE 3-year-old!

We love you, Finn!

stoka party

The Stokas came up from Miami a couple of weekends ago and we had a GREAT time. The kids wore each other out, which was awesome - and it was fun watching them play together. We'll see you guys again in November if not sooner!

Enzo and Finn are almost the same size and had lots of fun together.

The kids on the putting green after dinner.

Tess in the baby pool (aka "tubby")

Yes, that's Tess on the mini excavator that

cousin Paul brought over to show the kids.

Enzo LOVED it!

(Finn and Massi opted out.)

Tess loves her Aunt Katy.

(And Uncle Dario.)

We had a great evening singing on the porch.

Enzo kept saying, "Again! Again!"

Biscotti

We're at the farmers market downtown and T is in heaven with her biscotti!

She had her 15 month checkup yesterday. Her nurse practitioner was amazed by how well she speaks (when Tess pointed at a poster and said "It's funny!" the lady about fell out of her chair) and she's not concerned about the not-yet-walking - which nobody else cares about either...

Weight: 20 lbs 4 oz (on the petite side)
Height: 29"
Head: XL (haha)

Sadly we also discovered that her sniffles and general misery in the past few days is the result of a double ear infection, her SIXTH :(
All of the biscotti you want, my sweet.

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15 months

Our sweet girl is 15 months old today! And she's about to walk without our helping hands ... in the meantime, practicing in her playpen (and possibly reacting to something funny on tv.)

Cousins

We are having so much fun with Katy, Dario, Massi and Enzo visiting from Miami. Tess and Enzo are playing so well together, it's very adorable. Poor Tess needs some doll accessoreies, stat ;)

wood river

One of these days I'll have time to catch up. But until then, here are some more photos from our trip!

Finn made himself right at home at the farm.

Tess managed to hold it together for a little while.

But as soon as she got comfortable with Aunt Mary Frances...

(a few minutes later.)

When people ask me where Tess's red hair came from,

Aunt Judy is the answer from the Wagoner side!

I LOVE this picture.

It was great to see Uncle Dennis and Aunt Jane!

if only

Finn: What are those things on your leg?

Me: Freckles.

F: We should go get the tweezers and get them off.

M: That would be great, but they are part of my skin. They come from being out in the sun too much, and they don't go away.

F: Well ... let's get the tweezers and get them off.