Funny Papers

Back from an exciting trip to NYC to meet up with many dear friends. After all that exhausting travel, it was a delight to stop at Mimi and Papa's for dinner and a quick bath before heading home. They especially liked having Papa read the funny papers to them!

After the funny papers had been read (and in the case of some strips re-read) Finn returned to his all consuming work with his trucks while Tess, as usual, preferred to stay and cuddle with Papa.

Separation Anxiety

Our little girl doesn't always like it very much when I leave. We have a new book called "My Working Mom" that is her new favorite because it explains what the kid's witch/mommy does when she leaves for work on her broom. Tess gets particularly ticked when I go to yoga. For example, today.

T: where are you going?

Me: I'm going to yoga while you have quiet time, then we will make a plan.

T: NO YOGA!!!!!

Me: yes, only for an hour.

T: (whimpering) Can't you do yoga at home?

Me: I like to go to a studio, with a teacher.

T: I'm a teacher.

Me:You're not certified.

T: I'm certified.

Me: No, you're not.

T: I am. I really am.

The short story is that after a couple of books, I went to yoga and she is sleeping in her big girl bed - everyone wins.    

Shhh

Fine, if you say I must take a nap, I shall. But I shall fall asleep on the pillows next to my new giant bed, whilst wearing my owl costume, atop my favorite Rapunzel dress. See you verily in a couple of hours!

Status

Tess is almost back to her normal self. Right now they are both completely zonked out napping, probably because its 95 degrees out. So glad my little girl's "ammonia" is gone!

Memorial Day weekend

I don't want to be a big ol' wet blanket but this weekend has been a huge drag. Windy, cold, literally freezing. More importantly, Tess didn't really bounce back last week after taking 5 days of antibiotics, and on Saturday we left a really fun birthday party after an hour because "she just wanted to be home." So sad. I almost took her to the hospital that day but we waited until Sunday - good thing we went then, though, because the pediatrician sent us to the hospital for an X-ray which informed us that she does indeed have double pneumonia. Wha?! Thankfully she's now on an oral steroid and antibiotics (both of which I'm not a huge fan of, but the steam showers and thyme oil route didn't seem terribly practical.) This morning she woke up coughing at 6 a.m. and immediately asked for the nebulizer and Lalaloopsy on tv. Finn lucked out and spent the night with Mimi and Papa last night and Tess slept through the night at home and seems much better today. We will probably skip the pool opening today, seeing as how it's 59 degrees outside.

Anyway, I wanted to post some photos Papa took a couple of weeks ago, along with his narrative. It's difficult to remember what it was like to be hot ... although it's supposed to be in the 90s by the end of this week again. Crazy weather seems to be the norm anymore!

(From Papa, May 6): Finn started his usual playing with chains, shackles, etc – hooking them to the tractor bucket while I did a couple of piddly things I could do and still watch his exploration.  I decided he needed some sun screen so we came in to see Mimi and get that (Tess had just started her nap).  As we were leaving the garage he asked if he could drive the Jeep out to the barn – I said sure.  One thing led to another – he decided that the Jeep could be a tow truck.  He loaded all the small chains, the big can of shackles/hooks and then went and got a lot of his tools.  As you can see he did repairs on the Cozy Coupe as well as lots of towing.

Red

Tess is home sick from school today. She had quite a fever and the dr thought she might have pneumonia yesterday. (Scary! But she seems better now.) I wanted to take her picture but she wouldn't let me... I loved this shot of her strawberry waves all the same.

pipeline

Finn brushed aside environmentalist protests and pressed ahead with his plan to run a pipeline through our sun-room today. 

lax practice

Exhausted at the end of practice. I am not sure I was even aware of the existence of lacrosse as a sport when I was four and a half...

Finn hearts Casella

Casella is our garbage hauler service, and they do a terrific job (they show up and don't leave anything behind, don't require us to sort out recyclables and even accept those oddly shaped blue wine bottles, etc.) Finn is really impressed by them and earlier today drew this picture to display his admiration. We're hoping for a free month.

first tee golf

Finn started the spring session for Golf today and was super excited. He did great and is especially strong on the long put (he made a "hole in one" today). As usual Finn was the youngest by a significant margin but he really holds his own (with the exception of the drive in which he tends to hit ground a couple inches short of the ball). . 

Instructor: "How many people here today are seven?"
Nine or ten hands go up
Instructor: "How many people here today are six?"
about three hands go up
Instructor: "How many people here today are five?"
No hands
Instructor: "How many people here today are four?"
Finn raises his hands
Instructor: "OK -does anybody have any questions?"
Finn raises his hands
Finn "When do we get to learn how to drive the carts?

mechanic

Eavesdropping on a conversation:

Finn -What seems to be the problem?
Tess -My Car is broken.
Finn -Well, you've come to the right place.
Tess -Its an electric car.
Finn -(pauses, puts hand in face for a moment then looks back up) Oh wow...this is going to be expensive.

Look Who's Three!

Tess had a big kid bike waiting for her at breakfast. She is so excited!

Snooze

You know the feeling when you were a little kid and you've been out playing all day and it's just ... too ... hard to stay awake at the restaurant that your family has decided to go to at 6:00 ... And this happens. Finn sleeping across my lap, sweet little guy.

wheels

Finn is equal parts thrilled and terrified about the new bicycle we bought for him (impulse buy at L.L. Bean this weekend ... it was so cute, we couldn't resist.) He is super excited about the water bottle and also the NINE reflectors on the bike. As long as he doesn't take it apart with an allen wrench before he  learns to ride it, we'll be all set for long rides around the park this summer!

Best Friends

Tess and her friend Caroline were born 19 days apart. Caroline's birthday is today and we were happy to celebrate with her!! Three years have gone by awfully quickly.

Carousel

We went to the mall in Rochester yesterday and rode the carousel. As usual Tess went straight for the horse and Finn chose a less-intimidating bench. As my friend Pam said, what an adrenaline junkie!!

In his defense, when they rode it again on our way out, Andrew coerced both of them onto horses and it was a big hit :)

easter funnies

Sorry we've been a little short on photos lately ... it's getting old taking photos of the kids in their winter coats, hats and mittens but stay tuned ... in the meantime, here are a couple of conversations from yesterday.

Finn: The Easter Bunny is just a person dressed up in an outfit, right?
Me: Um ... yeah. Yeah. It is.
Finn: See, Tess? The Easter Bunny isn't real. That's what I thought.
Me: But the Easter Bunny can be a feeling, you know, like how we love each other?
Finn: I'd like a Go-go-squeez.

Tess: Can I say grace?
Me: Sure.
Tess: Thank you for the food we eat! Thank you for the water we drink! AND WE DON'T DRINK SODA! AMEN!

Grocery Shopping

Me: Maybe we'll go to Wegmans after church.
Finn: We could go to Tops in Waverly.
Me: But Wegmans is right here.
F: I like Tops.
Tess: I like Talbots.

SPD

This was taken last Sunday and many of you probably saw this on Facebook but for those who didn't, here are our leprechaun explorers.

Wynwood Art Walk

Our last day in Miami ... We are seeing some amazing art on the walls of the Wynwood art district while Katy gets her hair done!