Hi everyone! The last couple of months have been really crazy for us and we just didn't get the blog updated, and now that we have a moment of slightly slower craziness we thought we should take advantage of it! When did we get so busy in the first place?!
Ok, let's start with the easy stuff, and by that, I mean the stuff that has just happened (my memory is failing me lately!). Finn and I just got back from a super quick trip to Eugene. I got to go to Civil War (the football game between Oregon and Oregon State) and Finn got to spend the evening with Grandma (and he was all 'ducked' out in gear and play toys. The game was really fun, despite being 27 degrees (with wind). It was a lot of fun spending the evening with Belinda, Sheila, Dee and my dad. And what made it even more fun is Oregon won...meaning we are the PAC-10 champs and headed to the Rose Bowl! To our Beaver friends, it was a great game, your team played great and we will be rooting for you when you head to Vegas. What a season for both teams...hopefully the rest of the nation realizes West Coast Football is at the same caliber (if not a higher caliber) than many of the other conferences! Oregon should be proud of both of her teams.
We had a really nice visit with Nanny Pat who was here for 2 weeks over the Thanksgiving holiday. It was her first Thanksgiving, and I think she enjoyed it. Being a holiday all about food, who wouldn't! I even made the turkey for the first time ever. It was a bit of a learning experience, but turned out mostly good (just needed to go back in the oven for a few minutes). You can click the picture for more pictures from the day!
Pat also got in lots of play time with Finn, got to watch lots of movies, went to the Xmas tree farm, did some walks and park time, a trip to the zoo, a trip to the toystore, and we got a little shopping in too. It was great to spend that time with her and get Finn reacqainted too. It had been several months since he had seen his Nanny, and he took to her quickly.
In the past couple of weeks we have been getting in the Christmas spirit. We have gotten our Christmas tree, put up our stockings, went to Zoo Lights (at the Oregon Zoo), and shopped Amazon for our presents...yeah, we are not much for Black Friday shopping and tend to avoid it and the Mall at Xmas at all costs. The Xmas tree farm was fantastic. None of us had ever been to one and the weather could not have been more cooperative. We got our tree and Finn got to see a really cool train display and ride on a 'tractor-train'. For a 2-year-old, I have learned, there is nothing better. Click the picture for more pictures from the day!
Before Pat arrived we were having a pretty regular routine. Mick was doing lots of trips to California, and one of them was to attend a dinner to celebrate his 15 years with Synopsys. I know, you are wondering, how old was he when he started working there? The answer is 12. Only kidding, he was 15. They gave him a very nice watch with his name mispelled (you would think with that many years, they would know HOW to spell his name, but no) and some good food.
Finn has really been growing up the past 2 months, which is why I have been MIA when it comes to the blog. He is faster than ever with everything (I am having a hard time catching him before he gets to the neighbors bird bath and takes a nice big swig). I am not as concerned with Swine Flu as I am with Bird/Squirrel Flu at this point. Speaking of water, he is doing super well with his swimming, and no longer screams through his back floats (this is a major accomplishment!). In fact, he has even started to almost open his eyes! Front crawl and being under the water are still his favorites and he is starting to learn to dive. We are also teaching him to swim across the pool, which he can do under his own power, as long as we bring him up for air on occasion. He is really loving it more than ever and we really like the pool and instructor we have found (thanks Ang for the recomendation!). Click the picture for more pictures and new video of Finn swimming!
Finn's vocabulary has really taken off too, and his 2 favorite phrases at the moment are 1) HEY! What's that (insert something, like BIRD, here) doing here? and 2) What does that mean? Which usually translates to, 'what is this?' It has been fun being able to communicate a little better with him and has reduced some of the screaming in the house. He does like to run screaming "I got it, I got it, I got it" every time the phone rings. I am wondering if this is a window into our future!
Outside of work, Mick has been working on the car, which has had it's moments of triumph and failures. He is also gearing up to go snowboarding, but we'll see how long he lasts as his hips are beginning to get worse again. Poor guy should have bought stock in Advil years ago (and the rest of us too!).
As for me, I am keeping busy at home, getting to Eugene for a couple of Duck games, getting Finn geared up for skiing (he is doing really well walking around the house in his boots and skis), working on coming up with new recipes (I am really enjoying cooking new things lately), and getting everything ready for Xmas. What a busy time of year!
We have a couple of new videos to share too: Mick's anti-lag video (for any gear-heads that might be out there)
We will try to get an update online after we finish up celebrating the holidays. We want to wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season. We hope it is safe and wonderful and full of joy! Until 2010! Hugs and kisses!
10.12.09 - Birthdays, Parties, the Coast and a Wedding!
We have had a really busy month, but it has sure been a lot of fun!
We'll start where we left off last month with Finn's birthday. Since we weren't able to have a party the weekend of his birthday (it was Labor Day and we were the only ones in town!), we decided to post-pone it and have a combo birthday party with me (Sarah). Not only were we celebrating the birthdays, but we wanted to celebrate the kitchen project being finished, that summer was coming to an end, plus, we just really wanted to see our friends again...we feel like we have been living under a rock these last 2 years and haven't gotten out much. We had a really nice BBQ, and I think Finn's favorite part was when Gramma taught him how to sneak frosting off the edge of the cake. We have some pretty cute video of that, and I will try to get Mick to post it. We also did another trip to Oaks Park with our playgroup friends for the toddler time they have in the summer and it was blast! We learned that Finn does in fact like the big rides...he wanted to do the tilt-a-whirl, the rollercoaster, and he also went on the big rocking boat. He also tried out the big slide with the bumps and thought that was awesome. This is something we will definitely do again next summer!
Finn and a few playgroup pals giving us a glimpse into our futures...
After the BBQ, we had a week to recover before I was off to the coast for a Girls Weekend. Rather, I was invited by Belinda to help celebrate her final days of being a singleton...it was her bachelorette party (aka Hen Night for those in the UK). We got to spend a lovely weekend with her wonderful friends, shopping at the outlets, walking on the beach, eating, and imbibing. This was also my first night away from Finn ever, and though I was hoping I would sleep better, it didn't happen. I guess I have gotten into a pattern! Mick and Finn did great though (as I thought they would) Once we got back to Portland, things kicked into high gear with Sean and Belinda's wedding being only a week away. We helped where we could, we got to know some of their friends a bit better (especially the ones that had come over from Ireland) and we got to celebrate lots of birthdays. It seems half the wedding party had birthday that week (including Sean and myself). Apparently Sean and Belle have a thing for Libras!
Finally, the wedding was upon us. All of the girls went out for pedicures and lunch before the rehersal, and then we had a lovely dinner at Sean and Belle's, made by a very good family friend and chef from Eugene, Gianni. It was terrific! The next day we were up bright and early to head out to the Oregon Golf Club, where the wedding and reception were to be held. The day was a bit grey and chilly, so instead of having the ceremony in the rose garden, they held it in the Club House. It was a very cozy, romantic, touching, and at times funny ceremony. More than anything it was beautiful and full of love. I think it was one of the best ceremonies I have ever been to, complete with the Oregon Fight Song! Finn acted as ring bearer and did a fantastic job. He walked down the aisle, alone, slowly, and didn't get scared at all. He took the ring-pillow right to Bobby (Sean's best man), and then went over and spent the rest of the ceremony with Mick. All of this in a kilt! He was the cutest little ring bearer ever...but then we are outrageously biased! The rest of the night was good food and celebration and lots of dancing.
Once the wedding was over and everyone had gone home, things slowed down a bunch. We did get in one more trip to the coast and we were greeted with the most glorious weather (I don't think I have ever been to Cannon Beach on a blue-bird day with nary a gust of wind). My mom joined me, Finn, Sean, Belle, and Edward and Margaret (two very good friends of Belle and Sean's from Ireland). We had lunch at Mo's, had a great walk on the beach, ate ice cream, and introduced Edward and Margaret to the beachy confection...Salt Water Taffy.
This week, we are getting back into the flow of life. Swimming lessons are going well for Finn and he will now wear his goggles for the whole lesson (this has been a long time coming and sure makes life easier for him...not only can he see where he is going, but we don't get those nasty red eyes). The instructors say he may be getting close to moving up to the next level as he will swim off the steps to me, kicking feet and using arms. He is fantastic when it comes to the crawl/breast stroke...it is a bit of a hybrid at the moment. We are still working on getting him comfortable on his back, which is getting only slightly better. He screams through the whole thing, but is allowing it. Playgroup is also going well and we are starting to welcome lots more siblings into the group. One was just born and we have 2 more on the way! Very exciting times for everyone around us and we are thrilled for them. We are also getting ready for Halloween, so Finn and I went to the pumpkin patch this week. He got to ride on a train (which is huge, because he is totally train obsessed and is constantly asking to watch Thomas the Tank Engine...Mom, please do not buy him anything Thomas for Xmas!), and I got hear about how he wanted 'more train' for the entire 45 minute ride home. Based on that, I would say he liked it. He also loved jumping off the hay bales into the soft hay below. The hay bales were easily as tall as he is, but he would just run and jump right off. My cousin suggested a good rule I think we may have to instill...no jumping off things taller than you! I have a little dare-devil on my hands, between the jumping off tall objects and rollercoasters...how did that happen?
Mick has been busy on the track also. He got his car up and running and had a couple of good days, but it looks like something more needs repair now. Saturday he was at the track instructing a teen driving session. They go out and teach teen drivers about speed, how to handle it, and how to avoid being killed. I guess a Lake Oswego teen and his friends were killed last year when their car flipped at 100+ miles an hour. They were at a private airport, and the father of one of the kids killed supplied the school with lots of material to help more, so it never happens again. Mick really likes teaching the kids, and came home with lots of good stories.
As for me, I have taken up a new hobby. I have started knitting again. I have been wanting to get back into it, but wasn't able to find the time until now. I am starting off with a blanket to get back in the habit. I would like to move on to socks and hats eventually. We'll see!
That is pretty much what we have been up to. We hope this finds you all well. Hugs until next month!
9.8.09 - Kitchen done (mostly) and Finn turns 2!
Hello everyone! We hope the end of your summer is going well and the kids that are heading back to school are adjusting ok. This month has been busy and I am starting to have trouble remembering all that has happened.
Let's start with the most recent! Yesterday marked Finn's second birthday. We kept it fairly low key with breakfast in the morning, opening presents from Mum and Dad, playtime, a nap and some lunch. After lunch we decided it would be fun to treat Finn to something special, so we took him down to Oaks Park. We thought with it being the end of summer and folks being out of town for the holiday weekend it wouldn't be that busy. Little did we know that all of the Labor Unions have their Labor Day picnics at Oaks Park (or did this year). The place was packed! We went and bought a couple of tickets so Finn could try out a couple of rides. We started him off on these little cars (we figured it was a safe bet based on the fact it can be difficult to get him out of his little toy car), and he loved every minute of them.
After his turn was up, and we went to get him, he broke down crying and wanted 'Mo car, mo car'! We hauled him off to the carousel for a ride and then he wanted 'mo horse, mo horse!' We let him have 1 more turn on the cars before heading home (we needed to get home for dinner with Gramma, Sean and Belle, plus Mum ended up being 'blessed' by a bird while at Oaks Park and felt pretty gross the entire time). We can safely say that he enjoyed his amusement park rides! On the way home we stopped at the park for Finn to get out and run a bit, and then were off for sushi. We think Finn had a pretty good day!
During the rest of the month, we have been finishing up the kitchen, and outside of the last bit of trim, a mirror, and one switch plate, it is DONE!!! We are all really enjoying it, although I am having to get used to cooking with gas (it is really different and a lot hotter than electric!). I love it though and am really glad we made the change. The tile backsplash is up and finished. You can check out the pictures in the photo gallery, but here is one to give you a tiny, quick look:
I think I am gaining weight because I love to hang out in there and there are so many nice things to eat! Everything feels really good and we are getting more and more settled (almost everything has found a new home). You can see even more pictures in the gallery of the kitchen and how it got from point A to point B. Mick was very thorough with his documentation!
Mick felt compelled to get the kitchen finished so he would finally have some time to put his car back together. It has been sitting in pieces for the last few months, and I think that has been eating away at Mick. As of Saturday, the car was running! He took it to the dyno and found he has really low oil pressure or something along those lines (I am not a grease monkey and can only retain about 23% of what he tells me about his car). He is hoping to resolve the issue and be back on the track this month. We'll see how things go. We also just signed up with a team to do Chumpcar, which will happen on 31 Oct-1 Nov. They will have trick-or-treating for the kids out there, so Finn and I will go check it out for a bit (if anyone wants to join us, you are welcome...just let me know!). He is part of a team that will do the 24-hour race. The cars can only be worth $500, so this isn't exactly the kind of racing Mick is used to. For more info, click here: http://www.chumpcar.com/
Finn and I have been trying to reconnect with all of our friends after having been away so much this summer. It has been nice being in one place for a little bit (I love to travel, but it is really different than it used to be, and it is always good to be home!). We are finally getting Finn back on track with his sleep schedule...mostly. He has decided to be an early bird though. We just got back from his 2 year-old check up and the Doc says he is happy, healthy, and looking good. He is still sitting solidly in the 3%-tile for weight, but in the 60%-tile for height. His feet are growing like crazy and is a 7.5...I can't believe how big his feet are getting! It also seems his 2 year-old molars are breaking through on one side, so this could account for some things in regards to his sleep changes. She also commented on what a good boy he is...what she didn't know is he had just woken up from an unusually long nap and was in a really good mood! All in all though, he really is a good kid. He seems to respond well to time outs when needed. He is also giving the best hugs these days and still eats like a champ. Swimming is going really well right now too. Finn will jump off the steps and actually swim to you (under his own power by kicking and using his arms). He is starting to kind of be ok with back floats as long as you keep them short and he is allowed to keep screaming. He will kick his feet though!
We also got to have nice visits with my cousins who were down visiting from Alaska. It had been a long time since I had seen them, and I appreciate them making the time to see us.
We hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer (even though it was officially over yesterday according to the news)! Take care and much love!
8.11.09 - Back on the road...errr, sea and a whole new kitchen!
Boy, Finn and I just got home the other day and things have really been busy for McCully-Posner, Inc. Between traveling and construction, we have been all over the place (Finn and Sarah have been all over Washington and BC and Mick has been all over Portland and Ikea!).
Let's start with the kitchen, since that is why Finn and I left Mick to fend for himself. Before we left town, I helped Mick organize our 127 boxes containing the contents of our new kitchen and build the interiors of all of the cabinets. I also got all of the cabinets cleared out and packed up, all of the shelves taken out, and the doors taken off. I also organized (and was here) to have the garden window in the kitchen replaced, and what a huge difference that alone made! Once I left and Mick started the demolition (which I guess was fun, and I would have loved to take a hammer to some of those tiles too)! 3 weeks later (and many phone conversations to Canada...boy, I can't wait for this month's cell phone bill, ugh!) we came home and Mick had refinished the floors, installed all of the new cabinets, installed the fridge, dishwasher, microwave, and oven, all of the new cabinet doors and their interiors, the new hood and had organized for the granite counters to be installed the following day. Finn and I were in shock when we arrived. It was amazing. Here is a before picture and what we came home to, just to give you an idea:
Before we left...
Upon our arrival home...
Pretty big difference, eh? You are going to have to wait for final pictures until we get everything finished. While I was in Seattle I ordered and picked up our tile for the backsplash, so we will be working on that soon. Yesterday we ran into a little snafu, and we are working to correct that as I type...so things are going to change very slightly. We are hoping the gas will be turned on for us after our inspection early next week, so we have use of our cooktop finally (it looks nice sitting there, but I miss having burners!). Mom and I spent a day this week getting it all painted too, and that has started to bring it all together. All in all, it is going to be really great when it is finished, and it feels so much bigger! I have always thought the people who cried upon coming home to a home improvement project on TV were over-emotional, but now I know what they go through. I didn't cry, but I was speechless. Therefore...I nominate Michael Posner, Esq. for Husband of the Year 2009 for his amazing work on my kitchen, for sending me away with our kid for 3 weeks, and just being a great guy (and handsome too, I might add!).
Which is a nice segue to tell you about our boat trip. During the 3 weeks away, we had a lot of adventure. In fact some days were more adventure than we really wanted! Our second crossing, which took us across the Strait of Juan de Fuca (which we have all sorts of different pronunciations for that depending on the day), was really horrible. In fact, it was some of the biggest water I have seen being on a boat. I have always prided myself on never getting sea-sick, despite the number of years I have been on or around water (that was always my brother's job!). This crossing brought that boast to an end, and I have deemed that my '2-Chuck Crossing". I have to admit...it is horrible to be sea-sick! We were in 7-9 foot seas (water was coming over the bow nearly to the base of the mast), and we had 35 knot winds (so even though we were hiding behind the dodger, we were getting wet with water blowing in the sides). We left Port Townsend at 6:00a, so Finn and I were still sleeping when we hit the 'turbulence'. He popped up over the lea-cloth and screamed at me, then crawled over to my bed and we tried to hunker down, which was tough since our stateroom is in the bow of the boat. Every time the bow came crashing down, he and I came off the mattress about a foot (not exaggerating!). I thought it would pass quickly, and it didn't. After a half hour, I took us back to the aft stateroom to hunker down with my mom. By this time I was already feeling ill, and decided to go up and give my dad some company (I'm sure he enjoyed that, or not). We endured this for around 4 hours before ducking into Cattle Pass and calmer waters. Everyone who crossed that day said that was the worst they had ever seen it, and these are folks who have done sailing in far bigger waters than we. This crossing also got us ready for a tough return a few weeks later while crossing the Strait of Georgia. We saw slightly smaller seas there (4-6 foot with 25 knots of wind), and then had a fun experience of going through Gabriola Pass while the tide was going out (we were at full power, and going 1.9 knots, which is VERY slow). If we had slowed much more we were already planning our escape routes, which would have been tricky with the rapids we were in, the width of the pass, and the depth (it was very shallow). Other than those times, our time on the boat was quite relaxed. We had some really hot temps (in the 100s) and no wind, but plenty of water to swim in and a couple of really fantastic beaches to play on. At Savaray Island we went swimming off the boat and the water was nearly 80 degrees. Swimming there was the best part of the day, and Finn liked it so much he jumped in off the side of the boat himself and thought that was pretty cool (that is about a 4 foot drop but he thought it looked so much fun when we did it!).
On the trip, Finn learned lots of new things. His vocabulary is exploding right now and he is using new words everyday. He takes after both his folks and is VERY chatty (I keep looking for the string on his back to cut, but I can't find it!). During the day, he will just talk and talk and talk and we usually have no idea what it is he is talking about. He will get very adamant about something though and repeat it over and over. Sometimes we can figure it out, sometimes not. Despite his much larger vocabulary, his favorite words of the moment seem to be 'HI' and 'More'. He will say these over and over and over. If he sees a "BUS" and it passes, he will say bye-bye, and then MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE...until you tell him to keep looking and there might be another one. He also learned how to drive the dinghy and always wanted MORE of that too. He knows how to turn on the engine using the key, how to put it into gear and he likes to use the steering wheel (I know, big surprise there, right?). By the end of the trip, everyone was calling the dinghy Finn's Boat (which he of course started calling it the moment he drove it the first time). He also thought everyone else's dinghy was his boat. He may be taking after his Poppy with wanting so many boats!
He was also really good about wearing his life jacket (aka his 'Boat Coat'). He knew whenever he wanted to go out, he had to get it on. He would run and grab it and hand it to us. He even started trying to put on his own sunscreen, so I think we are instilling some good habits there!
Another fun thing about the trip was that he got to see lots of wildlife. We saw deer, raccoons, all sorts of sea life and he got up close and personal with starfish! The old kids were finding them along the dock and bringing them up for Finn to see. At first he was a little nervous about touching them, but the kids showed him how to be gentle and talked him into it, and the next thing you know he was stroking them and tossing them back in the water (sometimes a little quicker than the older kids wanted). He thought that was great!
Next month brings birthday number 2 for Finn, and we are trying to figure out what to do. With all of the action around the house, there hasn't been a lot of time for planning. Plus we have other things going on (like different activities surrounding my brother's wedding). Our lives are great, but full at the moment. Maybe one day, things will slow down a bit...we'll see!
We hope everyone survived the heat spell just fine and that the summer is treating you well. Until next month!
7.7.09 - Round the world in 3 weeks (or at least around Europe and back again!)
Hello! Did you miss us? I feel like so much has happened in the last 2 months, I am not sure where to begin, and I am not sure I can remember it all (much to your chagrin, I am sure!). Let's see what I can cobble together! Sorry, but I think it is going to be long (you may want to hit the restroom now!).
We will start with the car. Turns out the not-so-catastrophic turned into the catastrophic. So much so, that Mick has decided to take the summer off from racing his car, but will still be instructing at the track. He is a little devastated that he only got 400 miles out of the new engine before it blew after working so hard on the rebuild. He will be back next year though, and should get far more miles out of the car this time. Parts are currently being rebuilt, albeit slowly, because he has started on a few more projects...
...namely the new kitchen. We spent all of one weekend building and installing 3 cabinets (and when I say we, it was mostly Mick with some helpful/not-helpful work from me and a little assistance from my dad...and when I say little, they fixed all of the stuff I flubbed - unknowingly of course - and installed a whole other cabinet on top). So far, those 3 cabinets look fabulous. We have also shored up some other design detail like what we are doing for the backsplash (round tile...it is so cool looking!) and wall color. We have also been working on solving a few problems like what to do with the hole that is in the floor and how are we going to live without a garbage disposal (the porceline sink won't allow it). All I know, is it is going to be beautiful and we aren't going to be crawling all over each other anymore. We will be able to open the dishwasher and the oven at the same time. We can even get to the garbage when someone is working at the counter (the only really usable bit). I am a lucky girl to have a fellow build me a kitchen! Here is a sneak peak of the installed cabinets. They do not have hardware or trim or counters, but it gives you the idea.
The past couple of months have had a lot going on. We went to Europe and spent 3 weeks with family and friends. Finn did fantastic on the flights. It seems everyone wanted to leave England and not go to England, so on the way over he got a whole business class seat to himself and slept nearly the whole time. It was fabulous! The way home was a little harder since the plane was full and he only slept about 2 hours, but he was so good playing with his toys and hanging out, that he made some of the adults look bad! While we were in Europe we spent a lot of time in England (2 of the weeks). We learned that London is not exactly stroller friendly, which makes me wonder how the disabled get around? We were lucky that my brother was with us on one of the trips to town so he could help lift the stroller up and down all of the stairways in the Underground. We didn't have to worry about that on the second trip since the Underground workers were on strike and we weren't able to use the system. It was fun having Sean come to visit and Mick got to see him in a relaxed state and even commented that Sean and I didn't argue once the whole time! He must have been relaxed!
We really loved our visit to the London Aquarium. On the same day we also enjoyed a 6 mile walk, in an attempt to get Finn to fall and stay asleep. At the end, we were beat, but Finn was well rested. We may need to rethink that in the future! We got to spend some nice time with Mick's family, which allowed Finn to meet his aunt and uncle that he hadn't met yet, and to meet his only cousins (they got along like a house on fire...it was brilliant and he had a blast with them!). He also got to spend time with Nanny Pat, Mel, Grand-dad David, and Hettie, and got to meet his great-aunt Vivienne and great-uncle Koppel. You would think he might be overwhelmed by all of these new people, but he was a champ and enjoyed it all. He would walk into a house like he owned the place and help himself to anything...we may need to work on that!
After 2 weeks in England we winged on down to Zurich where we met up with my friend Christine for a couple of days. Mick got to eat a real Swiss-Fondue (he has only had my fondue and I am not sure which he likes best...and I learned I need to serve it with more kirsch and potatoes!). On top of that, Mick got to eat cheese for breakfast, cheese for lunch, and some cheese for dinner. Needless to say, he was a little bit cheesed-out, but has made a full recovery and is back eating cheese again. Finn found a new favorite in the swiss-yogurt, which has to be the best in the world (one of the reasons I gained 60lbs on my year long exchange there).
After 3 days in Biel (home of Rolex, which ironically is across the street from McDonalds), we rented a gutless-wonder and drove for 2.5 hours to what one person called, my "Motherland", Bazenheid. That is where a majority of my host family lives. The laid back life style of the country let us unwind a bit and we really enjoyed our visit with the whole family. It was so great to be back and reminds me why I love Switzerland so much. My host family is one of the greatest families in the world, combined with the amazing green farm lands and the Saenti's Mountains, and the lull of the cow bells - it is a slice of Heaven. Not to mention, said cows are some of the prettiest I have ever seen...seriously! Finn had lots of play time with all of the grandkids and even started speaking a few German words by the time we left (granted it was Swiss German, but we may have to build on that, much to Mick's dismay!). My German was coming back quicker than it did last time, which helped me build a little confidence in speaking with folks I didn't know. I am even considering joining a German conversation group here in Portland to try and keep it up.
Outside of all of that...we've kept busy here in Portland. Since we got back, we have started Finn at a new swimming pool and he is doing really well there. The curriculum is more his speed (and so are the other kids). The teacher is actually considering moving him up a level, so he can be a little more challenged. He still loves doing all of the same things and I think he has impressed her. With the heat we have been having, we are getting out to the parks with water. We went to 2 last week that were so much fun. Finn basically passed out at night after running around all day. It was great! He has really been growing physically (mainly in height, and he is up to a whopping 22lbs), with his vocabulary (he is using more and more words these days, which I am so thankful for!), and his tastes (in food and other things). Lately he has taken to hopping up in the massage chair, turning it on, and zoning out. He has also been enjoying haning from his rings (we will get some video up one of these days), swimming in his wading pool, and riding his bike. He has also figured out the new nozzle on the hose and can nearly water the back garden from the deck (this thing has the strongest 'jet' setting we have ever seen). I am starting to wonder if he might be a firefighter when he grows up.
Finn and I are getting ready to set off for a 3 week boat trip up to Desolation Sound with my parents after the big BBQ in Eugene next weekend. Last year on the boat was great, but we had a 9 month old who was crawling, and didn't need a lot of space. This year may be a bit more challenging since he is running all over! He just got his new life jacket and seems to like it so far, which is promising since he will need to wear it a lot!
That is it for now. We'll be back next month with another update. We hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th of July (if you celebrate!). Enjoy July! Hugs and kisses!
5.7.09 - More of the same and more of the more...
Wow! The last month flew by! I am trying to figure out where it went and what we have been up to! I have a feeling I missed most of it due to the fact I am reading the Twilight Series. I also have a feeling I have missed most of the new development Finn has gone through, so this is written based on what Mick tells me actually happened! We could be in trouble here!
Mick has been busy trying to shore everything up before we leave on our trip to the UK later in the month, and been working longer hours and doing trips to Cali for meetings and shows. Between now and then, I don't think we are going to see much of him as he has several product lauches coming up, including one for the day we leave. We should have plenty of time to see him on the flight to the UK though (if we aren't plugged into movies the whole way...although he did loose his favorite Bose headphones on the last trip to Cali - bummer, dude)! He has taken a little time for fun though, by traveling out to Grass Valley for a track event (it is out near the Dalles for those like me who have never heard of the place...boy, I need to get out more!). It is a brand spankin' new track that has officially scared the pants off Mick. Not sure if the ticks in the porta-potties or the blind corners did it, but he came back with a whole new respect for the track and a broken car (which means he only got one day of racing in). After getting home and assessing things the damage requires the engine to be replaced, lucky he had a spare already built. A broken flywheel bolt damaged the crank and before more damage is done he needs to tear down the engine and repair the crank. It's a cheap fix but requires many hours of garage labor. (Clearly you can see Mick is helping me with this, as I have no idea what he just said.)
Mick and I have had a long standing deal that for every dollar he spends on the car, I get a dollar. Lately he hasn't been paying up. We had talked about gutting our outdated, totally inefficient kitchen and putting things in to make it more user friendly. Mick has been goading me that it would be a couple of years before we did it, but I was playing with the Ikea kitchen planner just in case. It came in handy because Mick is making good on his end of the deal and we will be putting the new kitchen in this summer! Woo-hoo! I should actually say, Mick will be putting the new kitchen in this summer while Finn and I enjoy a 3 week boat trip through the San Juans up to Desolation Sound with my parents (don't worry, I will be sure to have the permission slip from Mick this time, that says it is fine for me to bring Finn back to the US after going to Canada and that we are still happily married - we had an issue with customs last summer, long story!). Mick asked us to leave so that he could work on it alone. He claims he will miss us, but I am thinking he will miss me most when he has to the things he doesn't like (such as painting) or needs help. We just bought all of our cabinets and have the counters paid for. We have bids in for the new gas line and the new window box and we are hoping some of this stuff qualifies for 'Stimulus Plan money'. Fingers crossed. It will be amazing to come home to, that is for sure! Mick, you are so awesome and I am pretty sure you will win the Husband-of-the-year Award!
Apparently Finn and I have been busy this month too. We did 2 trips to Eugene over 2 different weekends, and sadly both trips were to say goodbye to our friends. The first trip was to see my friend Hillary before she and her family moved to Texas. We got to go to her babyshower/going away party. That same weekend we were able to visit a few other friends and family members which was really nice. For the second trip down all 3 of us went to Eugene to go to a memorial service for our dear friend Ralph Lamar. We got to spend a lot of time with the Lamar's and their family (and our family), and it was a really lovely weekend, although I wish it had been on happier terms. Outside of these trips we have been spending time in the yard and I got the last 2 raised beds planted with our vegetables. What we aren't losing to the weather at this point, we are losing to the slugs. Mick claims this year is an exeriment, and we have found we are really good at growing potatoes and peas. We'll see what happens with the rest of it though (especially after I fertilize)! I may be buying more starts as we get further along.
Finn has been doing really well. We had a little swimming trauma recently, when we showed up for swimming lessons and found out our little pool has shut indefinitely. Sounds like there was some shady business going on. We had to find a new pool for Finn, and settled for one called Children of the Sea. Our first lesson was an absolute nightmare. It was during nap time, Finn was coming down ill, was all out of sorts, and being in a new place sent him into tears. After being sick for a couple of weeks, I switched sessions to one where there were older kids (like him and at the same skill set, which has been a huge help) and we are not swimming during nap time - this made the biggest difference. Outside of that, he has been spending lots of time outside with us in the garden or going to the park or on walks. He is climbing ladders now, actually climbing anything he can, which is a new trick and he is growing again. He is tall enough now to throw himself up on the sofa (you can see the video under the 'Movie Gallery'). He says 'uh-oh' a lot too. He has also found his inner 'no' and is saying that more frequently (but he always says it calmly and quietly and long...'noooooooooo'). He has figured out more body parts and is getting better with some words (he said 'wa-wer' last night as the terrential downpour was hitting all of our windows...we are so proud). He also likes to point out all of the 'sish' (aka fish) whenever we go anywhere. He is all boy and we find that most of the toys with wheels is what makes him most happy (and those seem to be the toys we put away at the end of the day, which makes Mick happy, because he thinks he is going to have company in the garage one of these days).
That is basically it for this month. You all get a reprieve next month as we will be traveling for the next update (so be prepared for a really long one in 2 months!). There will be lots of pictures posted after we return from our trip and we have just posted 2 new video clips of Finn if you wish to see what he is up to these days.
So, until July! Stay safe!
4.7.09 - And now we wait...for victory, veggies, or both!
Mother nature has graced us with some nice weather after one of the wettest and coldest Marchs in a very long time, and with that, everyone in Oregon was out working in their yards (and if they didn't have a yard to work in, they were outside soaking up a little bit of the golden stuff). I will say one thing about folks from the Northwest, and this is something that confuses people that visit here (or move here) in the Spring. We enjoy the sun more than most populations. If the sun comes out and it is 50 degrees, people will be in short sleeves, short pants and sandals (sometimes with their socks) and will be happy and walking around. It doesn't matter if you haven't had a tan. It doesn't even matter if you have shaved ladies! We are soaking up as much of those UVs and vitamin D as our 50+ SPF will allow and we are loving it!
Like most people, we also were out in the yard trying to get our veg planted for the summer and we feel so accomplished now. So far our summer menu consists of broccoli, celery, potatoes, peas, radishes, carrots, beets, 3 kinds of lettuce, parsley, basil, dill, horseradish (as long as I planted it in the right direction, because we really had a hard time figuring out which way was up), garlic and we always plant chives even though we don't eat them (great for pest reduction!). Mick is currently troubleshooting the new watering-system he just installed, and it looks great, but leaks a little more than he would like (which is to say it leaks, period). We are hoping we can stay on top of the slugs, which like to wipe us out and the moles that like to unearth things. We are 2 days in and looking pretty decent though (knock on lots of wood...it is still early). We have 2 more beds to plant with things like corn and sunflowers and squash and beans. Boy, I am making myself hungry...how about you? Finn has been spending lots of time milling around the yard (that is his favorite thing to do) and picking up sticks which is more helpful than it may sound.
Speaking of Finn, it seems he has grown 3 inches since his last appointment (at 15 months) and despite the fact that he eats like a champ, has only put on ounces. The doctor says he is heading in the right direction (despite being below the third, as in 3, percentile...if she isn't worried, we aren't worried). Regardless, he looks really healthy and is surpassing his milestones. His vocabulary is getting bigger and a little more clear. You just have to know what sounds to listen for. He is finally saying more (which sounds more like 'ma'), balloon (he finds everyone of them along our drives and that sounds like 'ba-ba-ba-ba'...I think he uses the Indonesian grammar, in the more times you say something the more of the thing there are and it makes it plural!). He also points out every dog still ('doh'). He has taken to smelling flowers too, which is slowing up life for us a bit, because every time he sees a plant he needs to stop and smell it. Digging up the garlic was fun and when he smelled it, he said 'mmmmm'. The boy loves flavor! Speaking of flavor, he is loving eating the grass too. I keep trying to tell him he is not a goat, or dog, but he saw Mina doing it and started trying it (I think he likes the feeling of the grass on his tongue). He is really good about trying all sorts of new foods, but I thought this was something he might not enjoy quite so much. I just hope he doesn't take too many more lessons from her! He is also getting a lot stronger these days and for the first time hung from the bars at the park. We have been working on this at his gym classes, but now has the strength (maybe it was that sunshine...no telling!).
Mick is also gearing up for more track days (yes, the pun was intended). He has several this month and next before we head off on vacation. He even is going to camp for one out in Grass Valley (I know, I was shocked when he told me he was camping too! He doesn't like camping anymore, plus we have all of the gear already!). So far the car is holding up well, and he is going to be taking full advantage of the tax credit for converting to a full E85 engine (woo-hoo! We can use all of the help possible...maybe race cars aren't that bad!). Not to mention that fuel is a lot less expensive than the race fuel he used to buy, which is a handy coincidence.
As for me, I am doing my thing. Finn and I spent a weekend in Eugene to help my mom ring in her latest 29th birthday (she really isn't ashamed to mention she has 56 years under her belt, but I was being nice). We had a really nice time visiting with friends while we were there (Belinda, Conni, Johnny, Greyson, Renee, Alisa, Raegan, DJ, and Colt...and unfortunately we missed seeing Hillary) and making new friends too (Georgina and CJ). We got to check out the not quite so new anymore library down there (it is beautiful and the kid's section is huge!). Mick stayed home and had a man's night at the house where apparently the topics of conversation were babies and taxes (you just can't get away from it, eh Mick?!) and they watched such awesome films as Barbarella and Death Race. I am so glad we were in Eugene.
Finn and I checked out the Tulip Festival in Woodburn today. Being the newbie to the festival, I only did a weather check and not a 'color check', and when we got there we found most of the blooms were still waiting for some warmer weather. We had a nice time anyway and took great pictures (you can check them out in the gallery). We may head back when things are a little more colorful...we'll see!
We hope you all have a fantastic April and Happy Easter (if you celebrate!). Until next month...much love!
3.7.09 - Milestones for everyone!
Wow, another month is gone. It is amazing how quickly time is going as winter is changing back into spring. We have continued to have a little bit of cold weather, and it has definitely gotten a bit wetter, but we have had some really amazing 'spring' days, with wonderful sunshine and mild temperatures. A very welcome sight after the colder than usual winter (not that we are complaining!). We have done a little more work in the garden, trying to get things cleaned up and prepared. After having Finn, this has been our first 'real' year back outside, and I forgot how much I enjoy it. Mick got the gardens turned and we will finish getting the soil prepped for the planting and the new raised gardens installed in as the weather permits. Finn loves being out there and as long as I get all of the dog-doo up ahead of time, he stays relatively clean (eww...). Next week I am going to get my seeds planted indoors so we have some good healthy starts, and I am hoping for some bumper crops this summer. Fingers crossed. There is really nothing better than growing your own food! One of these days I am going to talk Mick into chickens too! Ah, fresh eggs! Seriously, does it get better? With this weather, we are trying to spend more time walking and getting to the park too. It has been great to get some fresh air!
Yesterday marked our 5th wedding anniversary. We celebrated last night with a wonderful dinner at Mortons (gotta love steak...yum!!!) and then headed across the street to the Keller Auditorium for 'Wicked'. I got the tickets as a surprise for Mick, although he always guesses what his gift is. He is a sneaky devil and he guessed this time too. Man, I really thought I had him this time. I thought I was so smart. I was relieved to find out that he actually wanted to see the show (as musicals are generally not his favorite), but I bought the tickets with the knowledge that the 'Wizard of Oz' is one of his favorite movies. I am pretty sure he likes it for the flying monkeys, and apparently 'Judy Garland is hot.' The show was fantastic. The costumes and sets were incredible, and it was funnier than I remembered the book being. The woman playing Galinda really stole the show. Finn got to spend some quality time with Gramma.
Mick had a full weekend on the track, which I think he enjoyed. He didn't get to take his car out as much as he would have liked since he was instructing. Apparently the new track is a little 'slicker when wet' than the old track was and Mick came home with a good story about his sliding out. He did it in front of one of the guys in charge, and the guy made some comment about it is good to see that one of their Senior Instructors had enough experience to not only correct the situation, but also not slam into his BMW. He was impressed with Mick. After that weekend, Mick did decide that full weekends on the track do not provide him any relaxation time and also proved that his seat and safety harnesses really do put strain on those hips of his. His body isn't used to it anymore with the time off he had.
In car Movie (Large 20MB download - recorded in shake-o vision - requires Apple Quicktime player)
Today marks Finn's half birthday and that means he has hit the big 18-month milestone. We were all trying to figure out why it was a big milestone the other night a Moms-night-out, and we reckon it has to do with the development of the kids. All I know is Finn is growing like a weed, eating like a champ, sleeping like a baby, absorbing like a sponge...I have run out of sayings, but they are all true. His canines popped through 3 days ago (on top at least) after 3 weeks of agony suffered by the whole family. I am pretty sure we are keeping Hylands and the parent company of Motrin in the black with this recession. He also learned to say 'uh-oh' and will do it for everything, especially when he drops his own food off his tray or he is trying to figure something out. I hate how cute it is because it is hard to reprimand him for throwing food when you are laughing at the cute little face he makes when he says it. He is also loving his time at the Little Gym. We started going last month and it is a gym designed for kids and developing their motor skills. They also teach them some tumbling and it gets them moving and active. Finn is really good on the balance beam so far, but hasn't quite got the grasp of 'hanging on the bars'. He just drops off. I guess they figure that out around 2 anyway. We are still doing swimming lessons and he loves it. He has started running and jumping into the water now (this is something new as he would only sit and jump in before). He still likes to spend most of the time under water, but has learned he needs to come up for air on occasion. He is picking up new words every day it seems. Although it doesn't mean he will continuously use them. He is using 'bubble' more and has finally worked out the baby-sign for 'please'. Sure makes all of the screams, groans, whines and grunts seem more polite! Mick has also taught him how to take off his own shoes (a lesson mom could have waited on). He is a very clever little boy. Finn also entered into the coloring contest at our grocery store. And while he didn't win one of the great prizes, I think he shows great color skills. Trust me, I do not think I am raising the next Rembrant or Picaso...I carry the color-blindness gene and thought he did well getting certain colors near where they needed to be, which is encouraging!
We are in full swing of getting our travel plans sorted out. We have booked our flights to the UK this summer and will be enjoying some family time and travel. Finn will get to meet his cousins and lots of family while we are there. We are going to do some side trips as well to Scotland and Switzerland. It will be great to explore some new places and see old friends/family. We can't wait to get there, however we are working on a plan of attack for the flights. I think the one out won't be so bad as it is a red-eye, but the flight home will prove to be much more challenging.
Finn has also gotten into full swing 'Spring Cleaning'. He was hauling our heavy and really dirty fireplace brush around, and so Mick bought him his own broom. We thought you might enjoy a picture.
That is all from our end this month. We hope you all are doing well and you recover from the time change this weekend quickly. Happy St. Patricks day!
2.7.09 - Mina the Killer, Mick the Mechanic, Sarah the Mama, and Finn the 17-month older
Hello everyone! The snow has finally melted and the City of Portland is back to it's usual self (mostly complaining about the rain and politics). We had a few really nice days, in fact this week it feels like Spring has sprung with temps reaching almost into the 60s. The bulbs are starting to pop themselves out of the ground too, so we know it isn't too far off. We are forecasted to have another cold snap next week, so we are hoping it won't snow (the novelty has worn off for this snow-lover, plus the city shuts down and it is getting boring staying home).
With this nicer weather we have been trying to get outside as much as possible and have taken lots of trips to the park. On one such trip, Mina was having a bit of a sniff and came across a squirrel that was really fat for the winter, wasn't able to get away as quick as it would have liked. Needless to say, after much screaming, chasing and finally getting Mina by the scruff (while trying my best to keep my distance from said squirrel who was still showing signs of life at that point), the poor little critter didn't make it. Luckily, Finn was 20 feet away playing happily on the playstructure and had no idea what was happening. It appears Maya taught Mina a few things before she went to puppy heaven...we were just hoping they would be things like 'stay in the yard', 'don't wander away from home', etc. Mina has proven to be very quick...but only when she wants to be, because lets face it, she is lazy. And by the by, she's not all that smart either (but is incredibly sweet and amazing with Finn, especially when he is pile-driving her).
Mick on the other hand has been trying to spend more time inside...to work on the car. Track season is only a couple of weeks away at this point and that little, yellow wagon isn't going anywhere fast at the moment. In fact it won't go anywhere at all until Mick finally gets the engine put in (we could try pushing it around and see how fast we can get it moving...that could be a fun game). Mick has also increased his safety by removing all but 1 airbag (because who needs all that extra weight in the car anyway), the passenger seat (again who needs all that extra weight, and he didn't like people critiquing his driving), as well as a few other things. At the rate he is going, the car is going to turn into a go-kart, but a really fast go-kart! I think he is pretty excited about getting back on the track, especially after having such a great year last year. He is nearly finished rebuilding the engine and is hoping to have it all put back together within a week. Mick took Finn to his first Auto-Show because Finn is apparently bored with swimming as Mick has taken him swimming the past 3 weeks. I think Mick didn't want to go swimming and wanted to go to the auto-show. Fun how you can blame certain things on innocent by-standers who can't talk much. :)
Not too much is new with me. I have actually been getting out a little more and have started my climbing again. I am really enjoying that and having Belle back in town to climb with has been great. It is a little frustrating starting from scratch again (it had been 2 years), because my mind says I can climb something but my body isn't quite strong enough and lets me know. I just need to keep at it and I will get there. Last weekend I even took Finn with me and he thought it was great, but was a little confused by all of the people hanging off the walls. My mom was helping us and she would get him to hold onto the holds and make a little grunt with him. By the end of the climbing session he sounded like an Eastern-European Female Tennis Star with all of the grunts. Now he is trying to climb everything. We found a great park with a playstructure that has a climbing ramp (glorified and slightly safer ladder). He is loving that. On top of that, I have been spending time in the yard, trying to get things cleaned up a bit. I got a new cookbook which has inspired me for my gardens this year and I can't wait to get things planted. In fact my list is a little longer than I am probably going to manage and Mick says nothing gets planted until I figure out how it is going to be watered, especially since all of the hoses are a really fun play toy for Mina (and have been rearranged and moved to new areas of the yard). We have some work ahead of us before any planting and watering anyway. I am planning on putting in 4 new raised gardens, so we can expand out bounty. Finn has been a big help out there too, helping me pick up sticks, pointing out the airplanes (he actually said 'airplane' once so far...it sounded like he had a mouth full of marbles though), pulling up moss, playing with wind chimes, chasing Mina, and throwing rocks. All in a days work, right?
Speaking of Finn, he is doing great. He has picked up a love of dancing and will turn music on and spin round and round, or shake his arms and stamp his feet, or just bob his head. Mick thinks he is going to be a fan of techno, I spend more time with him during his awake hours than Mick and will do my best to influence other music with him. I don't think that constant beat for 45 minutes is good for his cognitive skills. I know it isn't good for mine! He also has started doing some of the hand movements for 'Itsy, Bitsy Spider.' Doesn't seem like much, but I am proud of him. He is also starting to talk a lot more and has several words he uses on a regular basis. Luckily for me, he is an eternal optomist and sometimes when I say no, he replies with 'yeah?' He hasn't figured out how to say 'no' yet, so I am enjoying that. He does managae to point everything out and will find every dog within a 3 mile radius. I guess I used to be that with McDonalds according to my mom, so he comes by it honestly! This week we started some tumbling classes at a place called The Little Gym. He is really liking all of that activity, especially when they bring out the balls. Swimming continues to go really well and he will not stay put on the bench. He is still throwing himself off the wall and bench constantly and is trying to swim over to us. He is getting to the point where he will kick hard enough to get his head above water now and take a breath before he goes back under. Today I am pretty sure he spent more time under water than above it. He absolutely loves it. He also gets his flirt on, on a regular basis and has been hitting on all of the girls at playgroup. On top of all of that excitement, when asked he can point out his eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and tummy. On occasion he can find his tongue, but that could be more of a fluke at this point.
Well, I need to wrap this up because it is getting too long. If you are interested in seeing our faces, we have new pictures and video posted for your enjoyment. Have a great February and Happy Valentines Day! See you next month!
1.4.09 - Happy New Year!
Happy New Year everyone! We hope your holidays were fantastic! We had a pretty busy month in December, so here is our update!
The month started off relatively slowly, with the same old rigamorol. We were going about our daily business, and then WHAM! We got hit with all sorts of snow (we had roughly 2 feet in our yard). For us, we really enjoyed it. Our cars travel well in the snow, most of our Xmas shopping had been done (and it was being delivered), and Finn was getting used to the cold before our trip to Whistler. Plus, it gave Mick time to build the sled for Finn. Everything he used was from the house and most of it was stuff I apparently 'wasn't using anymore.' Finn loves it though and it worked well walking him around neighborhood and Whistler. He has even learned to counter-balance in the corners!
The only down side to all of that snow was trying to get my brother into the Northwest from his interviews on the East coast/Ireland. I think he must have been booked on the only airline that was flying into Oregon at that point, because he got here only 4 hours later than he thought he was going to be able to. We were so glad since we were only going to have a few days with him before we set off for our trip north. We had a really nice Xmas with the whole family (which was the first time in a couple of years). Sean and Belle cooked us a really nice Xmas Eve dinner and we opened gifts that night, which was totally overwhelming for Finn. I am not sure if he was more excited about tearing paper or all of the new toys he got with flashing lights and noise! Needless to say, it took a long time to get him to go to sleep and he wasn't even waiting up for Santa! The next day we all slept in and then headed to the Houghtons for Xmas dinner. We had to cut out a little early since Mick and I hadn't packed (which if you know Mick, is highly unusual...he is usually packed for a trip a good 2 weeks before departure).
We were not really sure how the drive north was going to go with Finn. We just turned his car seat around to face front, which he likes. The first day we drove to Seattle and spent the night on the boat. We made a quick stop at the Pacific Science Center so Finn could get out and have some time to play before heading for dinner and sleep. Last time we were there he slept through a lot of it, so this time was a lot more fun. The next day we drove to Vancouver BC and met up with Conni and Johnny B. and had a really nice dinner out. Sunday we made our way up the Sea to Sky highway to our condo in our winter wonderland. It was a really great week and went by way too fast. We got in a couple of days of skiing which was great despite the areas needing a little more snow, and had a really nice relaxing time. Finn really enjoyed all of the time with Gramma and Poppy too. Gramma built him snow slides on the deck and Poppy was teaching him about computers while we were there. Finn is also working on perfecting his food throwing abilities and should be an all-star champion food fighter soon (this is making both Mick and I crazy but it is backing up my argument for a new kitchen...hey, we are going to have to paint anyway!).
While up in Whistler, much to the pleasure of both my dad and Mick, I succombed and finally bought a brain bucket. That's right, I am now a helmet wearing skier. I have never wanted to wear one after the injuries I sustained during crashes while ski racing (back then we wore motor-cross helmets that were heavier than I was...I looked like a bobby-pin skiing down the hill), but in a effort to be a good role-model for my kid, I did it. Hey, who says kids don't change you? And there is no proof the helmet helped, but I also got my groove back. After skiing like a 'gaper' (that is an industry term) for the past couple of years, I am happy to report I am back to my old self and am no longer embarrassed by my terrible form. It felt good and it turns out the edges on my skis actually do hold on hard pack/ice...weird!
Mick had a great time too and was happy to get back on the hill, but not so happy about his board cracking and was digging trenches all the way to the bottom of the mountain. "Dear Solomon Snowboards, the boards you have sold me keep breaking? What's up?" His hips held up great, but he strained his back and was down for a couple of days. It appears he is better now, but feels like he could do with another week off from work. He has done research into track days and is more determined now to get the car up and running again. The snow did not keep his car parts home (I am pretty sure he went down town on one of the worst days possible to drop off parts for repair...the things boys do for their cars, sigh).
We did the drive home from Whistler in one shot and found if we drive through the middle of the night, Finn will sleep and we cover more ground. Ok, so it wasn't the middle of the night, but we left around 5am and he did sleep a lot of the way. He did really well being in the car for the 8+ hours, and proved that he may do ok on the flight to the UK this summer. Fingers crossed! There is no stopping for fun once that jet takes off.
We have put new pictures and videos in the galleries for you to look at if you would like to see our faces. We hope you all had a safe holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in 2009! Cheers!
