11.10.10 - 4700 miles, birthday, and the weary travelers
Hello everyone! We had so much going on the last couple of months, we didn't have a chance to update the blog, so this might be a little longer than usual!
Just after the last blog, I celebrated the start of my 36th trip around the sun. I had a pretty low key birthday, as Mick was just getting back from Japan and I decided to take Finn down to Eugene for the Duck football game against Stanford. For those who do not live in the US or do not follow our football, the Ducks are currently the #1 team in the nation! This is especially exciting, as it is the first time in history. We'll see what the rest of the season brings (we have some tough contests ahead of us), but I have faith in the boys. I got to spend time with the family and we had a small celebration during the day with our friends (Conni and Gianni) with pizza and cake, and we finished up the day with a really nice dinner at Gianni's restaurant.
After we got back to Portland, we got word that the trailer was going to be ready for pick up at the end of October, so I got started getting the trip planned. I asked my mom to join me and Finn on the journey and we decided to make a little adventure out of it (it became more of an adventure than even we bargained for, but we'll get to that). There were several places along the way that I have always wanted to go to, but never had the chance, so we decided to make the time. We took in Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave, and the Mitchell Corn Palace (sounds exciting, doesn't it?). We got to see some really amazing things like wild bison and pronghorns, we got to cross the continental divide twice, we crossed the rockies, and we checked out Arches National Park (really want to get back here to see more at some point!). We also got ourselves caught, in what the news and the folks in the mid-west were calling 'the biggest storm in 70 years'. Awesome. We had 25-45mph constant winds with 65mph wind gusts. We decided to brave the roads as the direction we were traveling was either a tail or head wind. If we had been going north-south, I would have stayed where we were because Semi's (aka lorries) were being blown over. We eventually got to Minnesota, then Wisconsin, then Minnesota, then Wisconsin, and then back to Minnesota and had a successful trailer pick-up. With the weather, we altered our route, so we didn't get to travel through Iowa or Nebraska, but we did get to see more of Wyoming (which wasn't something we had intended) and finally made it to Colorado to see friends. We also traveled up to Ketchum to visit friends and check out Sun Valley. It was a lot of driving, but I think we all had a good time. Finn proved to be an excellent traveller...especially since our movies were not working, so we went old school with books and talking. Every now and then he got to play Dammo's games (on her iPhone) too.
Before we left on our trip, we made time for a trip out to the pumpkin patch with our friends from playgroup. The weather was nicer than we could have asked for and the kids had a great time. Even though Finn didn't get to go trick-or-treating (we were in Salt Lake that night), we wanted to get in the spirit a little bit. Plus, this pumpkin patch is so much fun! They have a boat to ride, a train to get back to the barn from the patch, loads of haybales and mazes to play on and in, and they have some really nice pumpkins (despite the terrible weather we have had this year).
While we were gone for 2 weeks, Mick was also out of town. He is pretty much doing weekly trips to California now for work, and we have been joking about hauling the trailer down so we can spend more time with him. During the weekends, he was able to spend time working on the car, which I think he has really needed. Things are starting to come together and I think he is seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. He had his first day on the track a few weeks ago, where he taught at the teen Street Survival school. He wasn't driving at all, but was able to get out there and teach the kids safe driving techniques. Mick always finds this school a lot of fun. He also had one other track day where he was out teaching a husband/wife team...apparently, that wasn't as much fun. He hasn't driven on the track yet, but he is looking forward to next spring when the season starts up again. In the mean time he has been working on finishing his new roll-cage and putting more safety into the car.
Finn in the mean time is doing great. His counting is getting much better (he can get to 10 with a little help...he forgets 6, 7, and 10, but manages the other numbers). The alphabet is starting to come along -- he is very good at certain parts of the song. School continues to go well too and he is making some nice friends and has finally started bringing home some art (during freetime he really likes playing with the marble track or the toy power tools, not painting). We may have to look at starting him in soccer soon...he has some mad dribbling skills! Swimming is also going really well. He is mastering his front crawl, he has great form with his dives, and they just started teaching him the butterfly kick. He is also able to get his head up for breaths while he is swimming. He is really loving it, especially on Saturday or Sundays where Mick takes him swimming and he gets to play a lot. His vocabulary is expanding everyday and he is having conversations with us about all sorts of things. It is amazing. I think he has grown again too, because all of his pants are too short! I can't believe how big he is....to think it was only 3 years ago he was born and now I have a full-fledged little boy! Finn also got to bowl for the first time yesterday, which he thought was great, and told me "I DO like bowling"!
With the holidays right around the corner we are starting to hunker down a bit. We hope this finds you all happy and healthy. Until next time! Hugs!
9.22.10 - An impromtu boat trip, a birthday, 2 visitors, and a first egg!
We have been busy! Summer is winding down, but it seems like things are moving faster than ever. Let's get into our recap from the last month and a half...a lot has happened!
My folks went on a second long boat trip this summer and invited us to join. I didn't really decide to go until Belinda asked if I would join her since she would be driving up alone. We left on a friday morning and got up to Anacortes by lunch, which is when we promtly set sail for Rosario. This is a resort I haven't been to since I was very young, and much of it was what I remembered. Parts of it had changed, a lot. Finn and I got to swim in their pool and enjoy an hour long organ concert with slide show, followed by a really nice dinner. After we stopped there we headed to Henry Island for a night, where we zipped over to Westcott Bay Sea Farms for some fresh clams (that was dad's catch for dinner). Mom and I set some crab pots and we ended up with only 1 keeper, but that was our catch for dinner. I didn't feel that great, so we decided to forego a stop at Friday Harbor and headed back to Anacortes the following day, which I think turned out to be better anyway. It gave us a lower key day for getting back to Portland on Monday.
After we got back from the boat trip, I decided to gather up my favorite people and punish all of us all with another half marathon. This took place in Eugene again, and we the innagural Women's Half Marathon. This time was better than the last. We ran over 8 of the 13.1 miles, finishing far better than we did the last one (I think the promised chocolate and champagne at the finish line had us moving a bit faster than we would otherwise!). I also didn't hurt nearly as bad in the days following, which was a plus, especially since we had a hugely busy week ahead of us!
The following week Finn had his 3rd birthday which was celebrated on the day at playgroup. Our dear friend Susan hosted a perfect little low-key party for him and he got to play with some of his favorite people. We came home, had lunch and a nap, did some pottery projects, and then waited for daddy to get home so we could eat a special birthday dinner and open up presents. Ma Nature even decided to celebrate by sending in record levels of rain that night (the record was set for the most rain in an hour for that day). Good thing we had comfort food for dinner! Finn even got a special movie night. He had a great day!
The day after Finn's birthday, he started school. I told you it was a busy week! So far it seems to be going well. He doesn't want to come home at night (even if we had a tough drop off), so I take that as a sign that he likes it. Folks at the school keep telling me how much they like him, so it sounds like he is behaving himself too. I am not sure if he is going through a phase or if this is all credited to his school, but in the last 2 weeks he has been incredibly articulate with his speach. He is putting together some complex sentences and is also correcting his own grammar (love this!). He really is a little boy now and not my little baby. It is so fun to watch this progress. At the end of the day, when he comes home, he is so tired he can hardly stand, so it seems they keep him really active too!
The following day (serious, really busy week!), Mick's Mother and Step-father arrived for a 9 day visit. Finn hadn't seen Nanny since last November, but seemed to remember her really well. He really enjoyed having them here (as did we). The time they were here was pretty low key, but we did get out for some nice excursions, like a trip to Bonneville and we zipped around town checking out all of the things they wanted to see. They also got to head to the park with Mick and Finn quite a bit, and also got to see one of Finn's swimming lessons (which are going really well...he is starting to do a front crawl now!).
While Pat and Mel were here, they also got to be a part of Finn's birthday party. We had a great day with fabulous weather and terrific friends. Finn had the best day and was totally wiped out by the end of the day. Our friends and family were very generous in their gifts and their time. We had a great time too!
Since Pat and Mel have headed back to the UK, we have had even more excitement. I know, I bet you thought our lives couldn't be more exciting, right?! We have just found out that our little "Dottie" has been started and they have started sending us the pictures of the construction. If you would like to follow along, the website is: http://tinycamper.com/customers/posner.htmThey said they will update the site every week or so. She should be finished by mid-October! I am starting to plan the trip out, so we'll see which route we end up taking!
One other exciting thing is that we had our FIRST EGG today! Looks like Eugenie will be avoiding the soup pot (for now)! We are so excited! I found it while Finn was at school today, but left it for him to find when he got home. He was so thrilled!
This blog has gotten really long, so we are going to leave it at this! We have posted lots of photos in the gallery, and I am not going to promise video...we will just try to get it posted one of these days! We'll catch up with you again next month! We hope you all are doing great. Much love!
8.9.10 - Ship's Ahoy with my little mate
Good grief! If I thought June flew by quick! I have no idea where July went! The last month was packed full of good adventure, so let's get into this!
A few days after I finished the last blog, mom and dad came to town. They stopped for a few days to visit with everyone and help with the wine bottling before we all headed up north to the boat for 2 weeks. Finn and I went over to help with the bottling too, and I am pretty sure he will be a pretty amazing sommelier someday. I can just see his resume reading something like "I starting bottling wine before the age of 3". He, of course, was not drinking any of the wine (although he did like smelling it and helping Poppy look into the big tanks to see how much was left), but he was fantastic at helping Dammo (aka Gramma) with getting the wine into the bottles.
After the day of bottling and mass-hysteria in packing (that was only me actually...I am a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to that!), Finn and I set off with my folks to Seattle to get the boat ready and set sail (or motor, because the wind is always blowing straight over the bow and usually isn't strong enough to move us). We used the first day to get the extra supplies we needed, prepared the boat for the journey, 'move in,' and enjoyed a night in Seattle, finding a new favorite Thai restaurant. The next morning we set off for 2 weeks in the San Juans and Gulf Islands, and we were not only greeted by some rather sleepy seals, but by a nice thick layer of fog. Welcome to summer! On top of that, the ships computer decided to die that morning, meaning the usual program we use for navigation was no longer available. Luckily, dad is smart enough to have back-up programs (even though he doesn't like them as much), and the radar worked fine, so he felt confident enough to head out.
Things definitely brightened up and the sun joined us once we got to Canada (what is it with them being the "Great White North" and having better weather than us Pac-Northwesterners anyway?). We went back to several locations we visited last year (Ganges, Ovens Island, Henry Island, Stewart Island, Friday Harbor) and we went to some places I haven't been to in a really long time, namely Tod Inlet, which is home to Buchart Gardens. This place is more amazing than I remember (but then there wasn't much I remembered, as I was 8 years old the last time). We got there nice and early, so we had the whole Japanese Garden to ourselves (and the one gardener who was watering) before all of the Japanese tourists arrived (and they came in droves!). The gardens are the pride and joy of BC and were established over 100 years ago.
Nearly 30 years ago, when we first visited, we had to anchor in the inlet which is home to lots of jelly-fish. In fact, there are more jelly fish there now than I remembered then, and while I find them amazing, I was trying to figure out how we used to swim without disturbing them. Most of them are the harmless variety, but we decided to save our swimming for the pool (at this location at least!). These days, there is a 4 star resort just across the bay and we moored there for 2 nights. It was probably the most kid-unfriendly place I have ever experienced, but it is a spa, and I suppose people do want to get away from children for a bit of a rest when they book at a spa (albeit, Finn was better behaved than most of the adults when we snuck him into the pool).
Finn also had a nice time swimming in the ocean at Ovens Island. While the water isn't as warm as he is used to, it was a rather warm day, and he jumped in cold-turkey, off the side of the boat (which is 4 feet up...give or take). That was a bit shocking for him (not knowing the water temp), but he kept going back in!
This year we also saw far more 'wild life' than we have in the past. We got to see dolphins, otters, sea lions, seals, loads of birds, jelly fish, anenomes, star fish, and crab! In fact, we set out the crab pot a few days during the trip and walked away with 7 'keepers'. The last ones were huge! With this, Finn was introduced to his first shell-fish (we also had shrimp and best as I can tell, he doesn't like shrimp, but he does like crab...especially when it is that fresh!). Unfortunately, we didn't see the Orcas this time (but they did go right by Henry Island while we were there...other folks moored near us did get some amazing video of an entire pod swimming by). If you want to see more pictures of our trip, you can check them out in the photo gallery.
We finished the trip with a stop in Port Townsend, and my aunt, uncle and cousin came to join us for dinner and a chat. It had been a while since we had seen them, so it was great catching up. My cousin Ben is so fantastic with Finn and Finn was wanting Ben to stay so they could play more. Hopefully they will get to see each other again soon!
The day after we got back to Portland, Finn and I got to see even more cousins! Bella, Isaiah, Stacey, Elizabeth, and Henry, along with my aunts Mary, Nancy and Ruth all stopped by for a visit. Finn was so excited to have so many people to play with, and at the end of the day, when everyone had left, he was saying he wanted his cousins back. He had such a good time, and so did I!
This last month we have noticed some new things Finn has been mastering. One is that his imagination is going wild. He is really pretending a lot more and is really grasping the concept of make-believe. He runs around the yard, flapping his arms yelling, "Mummy, look at me, look at me, I'm a bird". He also likes to pretend he is a penguin around potty time, when his pants are around his ankles. He likes to play with the stove, and when caught says, "but I'm tooking mummy!" Cute, but it isn't going to keep you from time-out, kiddo! The other thing he is mastering (in his mind at least), is trying to talk us into things. One morning (after Poppy gave him the special treat of staying up late to watch a movie), he was trying to get us to put another movie on for him to watch. The conversations went something like this:
Finn: I need to potty. All done. Now, movie!
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Finn: I need a movie mummy. Mummy: No you don't. Finn: I go ask Dammo. Dammo, I need a movie. Gramma: What did your mom say? Finn: She said yes! Gramma: No she didn't.
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Finn: Hey Poppy, look what I found! (the remote) Poppy: Great! Where did you find it? Finn: Right 'ere. (on the table). Now can I have a movie?
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Finn: I finished my breakfast. Now, movie! ---------------------
We also find it fun, that he does have certain words he is saying with an English accent. Things like 'again', 'water', 'Arnold', and 'here'. Not sure why he chose those words, but it is pretty cute!
While Finn and I were away, Mick stayed home. Originally he thought it was going to be great having the 2 weeks home alone, so he would be able to work on his car in the evenings. Turns out, 2 business trips came up that took him to California, so his dreams were dashed. He did get a full day on the car during a Saturday, but there is still a lot to do to get it running properly, and best as I can tell (as I don't speak car), there is a problem Mick hasn't worked out, doesn't know where it is coming from, or how to fix it. Knowing him, he will work it out and things will go fine until the next track day. He is getting geared up for a little bit of track time though, and is currently scheduled to instruct at the Survival Driving School for teens in October.
Since we have been back, we have been trying to get back on track and on schedule. We are getting ready to start Finn into preschool and I have started some training for a half-marathon I am walking/running with my mom, Belinda and our friend Renee next month (we'll see how well I keep up!). We also have been doing some chores around the house and I finally caved and bought some sod for the areas of the yard the grass just will not grow (now if the mole would take a hike and stop digging everything up, I would be much happier...ARGH!). The yard is looking like a patch-work quilt!
That is our last month. We hope your summer is going well! With the next blog we will have a 3 year old...I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone! Crazy looking back at old pictures and seeing how tiny he was!
Hugs and kisses!
7.14.10 - Another month, another hip...
Wow! I can't believe how fast June flew by (I suppose we have had a few things going on), and summer is finally here too! We went from 65 degrees to 95 degrees in only 2 days...if that isn't a shock to the system, I am not sure what is! The plants are loving this and the tomatoes are getting much bigger. Now, if a few more flower trellaces would show up, I will be so happy! We are enjoying some nice lettuce and lots of peas from the garden, so all of the work is starting to pay off. The potatoes are starting to flower too, so we are getting closer there too! No eggs from the chickens yet, but I am starting to watch for them...we are getting to that time!
The biggest news of the month is that Mick had his second surgery and is now in recovery. He just started back to work on the 6th, and worked from home the first week. The first day proved a little too much, and we had had to make some adjustments for him so he wasn't in total pain and agony in the evening (sitting for too long is really hard on him). He is working on adjustments with his desk at work now, but the red-tape is becoming more painful than sitting at this point! He also had his staples out and the doc says the x-rays look great (and contrary to popular belief, that is not a bicycle seat on the x-ray!)!
It turns out it was really the right time for Mick to do the surgery. The doc said this hip was 10 times worse than the other one and the arthritis was really bad also. Apparently, with arthritis, the bone turns rock hard and makes it impossible to find healthy bone you can attach an implant to. Mick was lucky enough to have 'justenough' healthy bone left (it was a close call, and the doc wasn't sure at first if they would be able to continue...after a quick test, it was determined they would procede). Due to the measures they had to take, the recovery has been a lot more painful for him, but the bright side is that there was no sign of pneumonia at all. In that regard, he is healthy!
Finn and I have been laying pretty low lately. We have been hanging out at home and playing in the yard (when it was dry enough). We have also been working on potty-training. While Mick was in the hospital, my mom came up to help and got Finn started (as he wasn't working with me very well), and things have really taken off. Without including any gory details, I would say he is totally potty-trained as long as he isn't wearing pants. The only problem is he is going to Catholic Preschool in September and I assume they are going to require them! We are working on it though, and he is doing really well. We can get out and about and haven't had any troubles. He especially likes to tell me "I need gas" and when ever we stop to fill the car, he always needs to go. I have no idea what it is about gas station bathrooms and him. Seriously! We are going into 'jellybean detox' with him, as he is now totally hooked on them (they were the special treat he got for telling us he needed to go to the potty).
Finn has continued with his swimming and is pulling off some new manuevers they have been working really hard on. Poor kid doesn't have a lot of weight on him and he sinks like a rock, so floating is pretty tough, but he more than makes up for it with other skills. They even put flippers on him the other day and he swam across the pool, taking only 1 breath along the way (that was all he needed and he did it on his own). Amazing! He was so fast. We also have gotten out with some friends to enjoy different pools in the area. Outside of swimming, we are enjoying other fun summer activities. We headed to the Preschool Time at Oaks Park (Finn just loves the roller coasters...and I love taking him!). It is so great. 2 hours of unlimited rides for $6, and it is all for kids under the age of 6. One of his favorite rides is the tilt-a-whirl...I just love hearing his squeels and giggles! There is so much more to do in the summer time! Mick also took Finn for some playtime at OMSI and one of the parks, which was lots of fun for Finn (there are pictures in the gallery). It also got Mick out of the house, which I think he was needing (and he was able to limit his walking).
In June, Mick also finished his latest trip around the sun and celebrated his 39th birthday. It wasn't that big of a celebration as he was preparing for his trip to the hospital, but we had a nice dinner out, and he got some nice gifts he is continuing to enjoy.
We had a fun 4th of July this year too. We were lucky enough to be invited by our neighbors to their 4th party in an 'undisclosed location'. They have a very loud cannon they like to set off, in honor of the holiday (I believe Mick has posted some video in the Movie Gallery for your viewing pleasure). So, on top of tastey food and nice people, we got to experience that for the first time. Finn thought it was great. The party was along the river and even though the sun wasn't out, it was fantastic (at least it was a dry 4th of July!)! Unfortunately, we had to come home before the fireworks started to make sure the chickens and dog were ok. None of them really care for the noise.
Last weekend we were in Eugene for the McCully Annual BBQ. It was a great time and it was so nice to see so many friends. Finn got the special treat of staying up really late at night because it was so hot, and I got the special treat once we got home of trying to get a really cranky boy back on track! The food was fantastic, the weather was wonderful and the company was great. We will try to get some pictures up soon (Mick was in charge and has been super busy!).
When we got home from Eugene, Mick and I decided it was time to take some action on something we have been researching for a little bit. We have really wanted to start getting back into camping and being outdoors, but it has been really difficult for Mick with his hips. We have been considering pop-up campers and little camper vans, and completely fell in love with a little 13' Teardrop Trailer. We placed our order this week and it looks like she will be completed for us in September (we will pick her up between the end of Sept-Nov in Minnesota and have a little camping vacation on the way home...just depends on what we are able to work out with our schedules). Here is what she looks like:
In honor of my grandparents always naming their RV's, and my grandmother being pretty special to me, we will call her Dottie. This little trailer comes with a comfy bed for a guy with some bad hips, a very small set of bunks that are perfect for Finn (until he gets big enough to want to sleep in a tent), and it comes with a camp kitchen in the back (if you want to see what it looks like inside, check out: www.tinycamper.com). Outside of that, we are camping! Mick's latest quote: "We're going to leave that sleeping on the hard ground stuff to the kids!" When did we get so old again? We felt like this was the perfect little vacation home for us.
That is pretty much all we have been up to lately. With summer, things are picking up with more play time with friends, getting out to parks, swimming more, time with family, a trip on the boat with my folks for a couple of week (Mick is staying home for that one), and hopefully a little more walking as Mick heals.
We hope summer is treating you all well! Feel free to check out the new pictures and videos! We will leave you with this picture of Finn learning to groom himself...although, I think his hair really is curly enough! Love to all!
6.7.10 - Whistler Vacation, movin' on out, and hoping to tan not rust!
We are on day 25 of 26 and counting in regards to the number of days we have had solid rain (another stat I heard was that we have had 7 weeks of solid rain, 1 week of overcast, and 2 days of sun...in the last 65 days). This has been the wettest May and June in 15 years, and as I recall, we didn't like it back then either. Folks in the Northwest are half-heartedly joking that we have gone from Mayvember to Junuary...summer appears to be coming on Sunday, but that isn't for sure as the forecasts keep changing. We are all hoping to dry out eventually and has this 'webfoot' thinking a move to warmer climates doesn't seem such a bad thing at this point!
We did get away for a nice little vacation to Whistler for a week. Getting out and enjoying the nature, the eating out (especially our favorite Indian restaurant), spending time together, and just getting away were the best parts. The fact that Whistler was having similiar weather to what we were leaving in Portland was the not so good part. Here are a couple of pictures from the trip...you can see more in the picture gallery.
The boys on the walk to Brandywine Falls.
Mummy and Finn at Nairn Falls.
Finn has a new love of waterfalls after our hikes too. We got to see 2 really amazing ones during the trip. The first was Brandywine Falls, which is incredibly high, and the other is Nairn Falls, which is a pot-hole falls. Nairn was incredibly powerful and I wondered what it would be like if it wasn't raining so hard and the snow wasn't still melting.
On our way home from Whistler we made a stop in Seattle to stay on the boat with my folks for a couple of days. Due to the weather, we didn't take Swansong out to see anything, but stayed right in Seattle. Since we usually hit the Pacific Science Center and the Zoo while we are there, we decided to try the Seattle Aquarium. It was a nice little aquarium. Finn got to see lots of different things and went crazy when he got to see the Clown fish. As he got to watch "Little Nemo" as a special treat on one of the especially rainy afternoons in Whistler, he immediately yelled "Mama, it's Nemo....YES!" and actually fist-pumped. It was like he had been looking all over the aquarium just for this one fish. They really played it up by putting a 'Dorey' in there too, and a slightly bigger Clown Fish so it did resemble the movie. After the aquarium, we thought we should go see the flying fish at Pike's Public Market, and we got super lucky. We showed up and they were closing up shop...we got to see the last fish being thrown for the day and Finn went crazy. He thought the men were really silly for throwing fish...and it took a couple of days for him to stop talking about it.
Finn even got to try out his new helmet...we didn't have his bike, so we improvised!
Over this last weekend, during a bit of really nice weather, I moved the 'Girls' out to their new coop. At first they looked at me like they had just landed on another planet. After a couple of minutes of just standing there, they started pecking and scratching and didn't stop until I forced them into the hen house for the night (it was more a coaxing with some really nice grapes...they go crazy for them!). The next morning we all woke up to the sky falling (it wasn't just raining, it was like people were actually pouring buckets on us, and I could hear laughter in the wind too!), and the girls were too scared to come out of their house for a while. I have put a clear shower curtain over the top of the run so they can be outside and stay dry (they don't like being wet, and they can get sick really easily when they are wet). Once they realized they were fine, they would stay dry, and the rain eased up a bit, they came out and went back to work clearing the area of worms, slugs and bugs...stopping only long enough to run and flap their wings. This morning they appeared to be as happy as chickens can appear! I think they are adjusting just fine and I am so happy to have my laundry room back. I forgot how big the space was!
Don't we look like happy chickens? :)
We had some fantastic news last week. Finn is going to be starting preschool in September! I fell in love with a preschool around the corner from our house, and since it is part of a church and the school is highly rated, it can be really hard for 'community' (i.e. non-parishiners) to get in. We have a wonderful neighbor who works for the school and kept checking for us, and it turns out there was a spot! We are so thrilled and I think Finn is really going to love going to school. It is a 3-day-a-week program where he will go for half days. Personally, I have mixed feelings about it: love the idea of time to myself to get things done, and for him to have lots of fun with new friends and learning all sorts of great stuff. On the flip-side I am loosing my side-kick for 18 hours a week. That is kind of big when you are used to 24/7 with them! I know he is going to do great and he can stay with this school all the way up to 8th grade if we all decide that is what is best.
We had a really great day last Saturday (weather-wise) to go out and see the carnage in the yard due to the extremely late frosts and got a couple of projects done (much of my garden is now dead). I got to finish my 'drainage' project (with lots of help from Mick!), which is going to hopefully help save the grass from the onslaught of water running down the concrete path right into it. I also got a new border put in and grass seed planted, although I am sure the seed is now in the flowerbeds after the torrent of rain yesterday. Here are a couple of pictures of what things are looking like.
This is the new drainage project. The water rushes down the ramp and slams into the grass, killing it. So we put in pea gravel to slow that down and hopefully save the grass. Granted, the grass doesn't look very nice right now, but we are working on that too! That big spot is where the tree was that we just took down and we will be patching things as we can.
This is the new border for the beds. I will be putting it along the far side of the lawn too. We have seed planted here for grass and are hoping it will actually grow. The package said we just needed to add water and sun. We have the water bit covered, but no idea if the sun is actually coming. That big patch of dirt is where the other tree was taken down and a pile of lumber sat for 6 years...it will be nice to have lawn again!
We are getting ready for another really busy month. Mick is traveling the next 2 weeks for work, which means the thought of buying a condo in Cali is looking more and more appealing. After all of that travel, he is heading back into the OR to have his left hip replaced. I think he is having mixed feelings about it all after the last go round, but he is going to be so much better off. After his appointment last week, the doctor says it won't be long before the hip completely locks and he currently only has 30% mobility in it right now. Sounds like a good time to do something! After this, he should be mostly pain-free (the only pain will be the recovery from the surgery). They are also taking extra measures to try and limit the risk of pnuemonia again, so we are shooting for 3 days in hospital, and then home! We'll give an update next month.
That is all of our latest. I am sure we will have lots more to share next month. We hope this finds you all well, and dry! Hugs and kisses!
5.9.10 - Big walk, big chickens, big boy!
Wow...where did April go? It seems like this year is flying by faster than ever! It may have a little something to do with us keeping ourselves so busy. Here is what we have been up to for the past month!
Belinda (my sister-in-law) asked if I wanted to walk the half marathon in Eugene along with her friend Sarah and my mom on 2 May. Not putting too much thought into it, and the fact that it is actually 13.1 miles, which I haven't walked in a very long time, I said 'SURE!' Following that was a couple of weeks of 'what was I thinking?' and not nearly enough time walking and training for the event. Finn and I took off for the weekend in Eugene, leaving Mick to his own devices in Portland. My brother had the weekend off from work, so he came down with Belle, which Finn especially liked, and we had a nice time with friends and family! The morning of the race we headed down to the start to meet up with 8,000 of our fellow walkers and runners, and Finn got to spend the morning with my Aunt Nancy. They were waiting for us at mile 9 (Finn walked with me just long enough to realize we had passed the park and he didn't want to miss that opportunity), and they also found us towards the end. Finn ran the last .2 miles with us, onto Hawyard Field to lots of cheers and plenty of "Ahhhhh, so CUTE"'s and crossed the finish line with us. He collected the medal for our friend Sarah and even got his picture taken (we are waiting for them to be posted and then we will share!). Here are a couple of pictures from the race, one I took while walking and one a friend took of us.
When all was said and done (with the walks back and forth from my mom's house to the start and from the finish), we walked around 15.5 miles. This walk has resulted in me getting 2 massages this week and a trip to the chiropractor (which was previously scheduled, but well timed). Will I do it again? I think so. And I think I will train next time, although I didn't hurt nearly as bad as I thought I would!
We have also continued our efforts in the yard. At this point, if I ever have to build another retaining wall, it will be too soon! I have put in a retaining wall in the side yard, to level out the ground for the chicken coop, put in a new path+drainage area (where the rain rolls down the hill and kills the grass making a huge mud pit...I just need pea gravel and we are done with that), we have taken out 2 dead/dying trees and planted a new peach tree, and have been working on the garden, which Mother Nature is single handedly trying to kill with all of these freezing temps, which are well past our 'last frost date'! I have managed to save most of the plants...I am just hoping they will actually produce food for us. What Mother Nature isn't getting the slugs are, so I have taken bigger action that usual. Things are coming along. Here are a couple of pictures and there are more in the gallery for you to look at if you are interested:
The Chicken Coop, and we are trying to grow a little grass there at the end. We are going to make it a little longer as they get a little bigger so they have more space to walk around and be protected.
The back garden area with the veg: We are still planting to make our growing season longer, but thing are starting to come up and we can't wait for harvest time!
As for Mick, he had the marathon weekend all alone and he wasn't sure what to do with himself. He did get to watch some movies with the surround sound on (a luxury we don't often indulge in because the house really projects noise and we have a light sleeping toddler). He also went to check on his car. He is currently having a full roll-cage installed. Once that is done, he will be rebuilding the engine for the 112th time (ok, not really 112, but it is the 6th or 7th time...I think). I suppose since he really shouldn't drive on the track right now, he needs his car-fix and this is a great way to do it. We are just getting out of his 'restriction' zone where he isn't allowed to do certain things, and it looks like his next surgery will be at the end of June (at least he won't be in the hospital for his birthday!). Work is really busy right now, especially since he has been given some new responsibilities, and even though his lungs are great now he had to push the next surgery out due to work conflicts.
The chicks are getting huge, and I can't prove it, but I think while we were in Eugene, Mick gave them growth hormones or something! I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked in the brooder! We have had them nearly 6 weeks, and this is what they look like now.
What a motely crew, right? My mom thinks they look a bit like the chicken version of "Charlie's Angels" in this picture. They are sporting that 'feahtered' look! HA! They are really getting their feathers in, which means they are actually starting to fly now. The weekend away gave Mick a chance to bond with them a bit and Eugenie (the yellow one) will actually hop up into his hands if he holds them out (she doesn't do this for me). I think she is taken with his accent like most women in America (that or he sounds familiar since she is an old English breed). With the new flight skill, we are finding them in funny spots and have had to pen them in a bit better. One of their favorite things to do is sit on top of the water bottle...they actually fight over this position (even though there is another spot on top of the food container, which is less often occupied). They also take after all women and love shiny things. If something is shiny, they run over and start pecking at it, getting all flustered. It is hilarious! I wonder if I have looked like that in the past when I got shiny things?
Finn is getting so big and has more energy than ever. He is all about moving and doing stuff and talking about it. Mick recently built him a zip line in the back yard and he has been having lots of fun with that (click HERE for the video). He absolutely loves it and I think the neighbor kids are too (I came home on Saturday to find most of them in the backyard having a great time...Finn yesterday asked if he could have kids in his yard to play, which means he must have liked it too!).
I mentioned that we have also taken out the 2 Mimosa trees in our backyard and Finn helped me stack the wood. In return for the favor, we have given him several stumps of his own to jump off, climb on, or hammer nails into. He is also getting very good with construction as he drives his tractors through the pea gravel scooping and dumping. Mick has just ordered him a Tonka Dump truck that he is going to go crazy over when it arrives.
Finn is doing great at swimming lessons and continues to spend more time under the water than above it. Mick is back to taking him swimming on the weekends, which they are both liking (although Mick is finding the big water slide is hurting his hips a bit - Finn got to go down on his own last weekend, which was a first!). Another first was Finn ringing the doorbell on his own. I hadn't realized he was tall enough to reach (since we have had to lift him, up to that point). I was bringing the groceries in and nearly dropped them when I heard it go off (not your regular melodic door bell, it is a very loud bell, which scared me)! We are also noticing every light inside and outside is being turned on (and we are trying to teach him if we aren't using it, we should also turn them off).
He is also a big help around the house and has taken on some responsibility for the animals. He insists on feeding Mina her breakfast and dinner, and also locks her in her crate when we leave the house (and lets her out when we get home). He keeps a close eye on her water and lets me know when she needs more. We have also started letting him hold the chicks by himself now that they are a little older and not quite so fragile.
Ok, this is getting rediculously long and I am sure you have other things you would rather be doing than reading more about our lives (especially with the nice weather forecasted!). We hope your May is going well so far and all of the mothers out there had a fabulous Mother's Day. Hugs from us to you! Until next month!
4.7.2010 - Big happenings at the McPosnerly Farm!
Happy April/Spring everyone! Hopefully you have had slightly drier and warmer weather than we have. It has been positively dreary here and we have had so little time outside...although we have taken full advantage when the weather was decent. We have had a lot going on, so let's get started!
First off, I have finally gotten my chicks! We'll start with their adorable pictures first:
This is Eleanore (aka Ellie)
This is Evangeline (aka Evie)
And lastly, this is Eugenie.
So far, they have been really fun (although we have only had them a week). They are proving to be quite lively, and have definite personalities. Finn is over the moon about them, Mina thinks they would make a nice appetizer, and Mick is wondering what he has gotten himself into. Their feathers are really starting to come in now (their little wings are no longer fluffy and there is a trace of tail-feathers as of yesterday). We will have them inside in the brooder for another 7-ish weeks, and then they will move to their coop outside. We just have to make sure those feathers are all in before we boot them into the great NW weather! We should see our first eggs in 4-5 months or so! Can't wait!
Outside of the chicks, I have also been working a lot on the yard and garden. We got a few things planted before it started to rain for 40 days and 40 nights, bringing along hail and freezing temps...I suppose this is spring time in Oregon, but it is not making my plants very happy. So far we have a couple of early tomatoes planted, arugula, buttercrunch lettuce, carrots, brocoli, 2 kinds of peas, brocoli,celery, garlic, some of the potatoes and lots of herbs. I have really been trying some new things and have been trying to channel my grandfather's spirit out there. He was an amazing gardener and these days I really wish I had paid more attention to what he did. He could grow anything...and LOADS of it.
Right after Mick's surgery (while we had some nice weather), I decided to put in a retaining wall, which my dad helped me finish up this past weekend (and I am not supposed to mention that Mick did end up helping a bit in the start too). It also incorporated a raised bed that is the new home to 2 of my blueberries (they hadn't been planted yet when the picture below was taken). Here is what it looks like now:
Mick has since asked me not to take on any other major construction projects while he isn't able to fully help. I have tentatively agreed, but I got a taste of heavy machinery with this project, so who knows. There has to be something else I can dig up! I also think he now sees me as being a little tougher than he thought.
Other big changes are afoot. Finn came in a couple of mornings back and said "Mummy, I need waffles, please!" Holy cow! Full sentences! I was shocked and got right on those waffles! Since then we have also been trying to teach the difference between 'want' and 'need', and aren't quite there. I often 'need' chocolate. I suppose, adults sometimes struggle with want and need too! He is doing great with all sorts of things. I am no longer in the swimming pool with him during his lessons which has been a bit of a change for both of us, but he continues to do great and is still under water more than he is above water (by choice). Mick came to lessons with us and did some video the other week, and you can check it out in the video section. Finn is spending lots of time with me in the yard too, and has been very successful in transplanting worms from my excavation site to the gardens (he has learned how good the worms are for the earth). There is going to be a battle for the worms between Finn and the chickens in the future...I just have a feeling! He has also become a 'garden grazer', and I am hoping this is going to be a good way to get him eating really good things through out his life (he sure likes the parsley!). Plus, let's face it...it all really tastes so much better! Plus, after watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, I want Finn to know what vegetables are called and where food comes from (if you haven't seen the show, you should check it out)!
We had some great news today that Mick has been given a clean bill of health and is even able to bend more than 90 degrees at the hips (he can go to 100 degrees! This is the difference between food in the lap and no food in the lap!). He has started doing some work on his car again too, which is making him happy. He is back to work, and did his first business trip down to California. On the trip he learned that his hip sets off the metal detectors at the airport, which he found disappointing. His breathing and lungs have improved and I would say he is back 100% in that regard. He is also doing small workouts when he is at work (and when he has a moment, which has been tough since he has been so busy lately).
We have lots of new pictures up in the gallery. Finn and I just went down to the Tulip Festival in Woodburn this week and had a really lovely afternoon (I had to drag him away kicking and screaming...literally!). There are more pictures of Finn playing and of the other things mentioned above.
We hope April treats you well! Until next month! Loves!
3.9.2010 - Hips, pneumonia, and a psuedo-bionic man...
Hello everyone! As we finally have some good news to report, we thought we would throw together a blog update. And promised (to Mick's sister), we will keep the gory details to a minimum, so I will be editing and posting the pictures, and will keep Mick from making everyone sick. Off we go...
Mick went in on 1 March to have his right hip replaced. The surgery went mostly well (the hip replacement went fantastically, and we will get to the part that didn't go so well in a minute). He has a brand new joint that is currently giving him very little pain, more mobility, and a better life (we are hoping). Here is a quick pic of the xray they took the day after the surgery so you can see his new 'parts' (this will be as gory as we get, don't worry!). These same bits will be put into his left hip next.
The really cool thing about this new joint, is when it wears out they can replace the ball of the joint and the plate in his pelvic bone, and he won't have to have new things drilled into his bones. This is the technology we were waiting for! Mick says he feels a little taller on the right side (new hip side) and when he brought it up with is doctor, he said Mick was about 2mm taller due to the hips being completely worn out and he is going to be back to his original height. Little did we know he was actually shrinking!
Now, the not so great news...during his surgery, Mick contracted aspirated pneumonia (as best as they can figure, and they are certainly scratching their heads about a 38-year old going under for 1.5 hours and coming out that ill...this is not normal). This landed him in the hospital and on oxygen (anywhere from level 2 to 8 litres) for nearly 5 days. Mick told them Monday, he wanted to try without and see how it went (they had reduced his oxygen dramatically at that point to 2 litres, so he figured he could handle it). He knew he needed to be off the oxygen to be released, and if you have ever spent more than 3 nights in a hospital, you know how badly he wanted to go home. One entire lung and half of the other was filled with fluid and they said he was one 'click' away from the ICU (they refered to the numbers on the oxygen meter in that regard...I guess 8 is the highest they will do before passing you off to someone else). He had a pretty miserable time in the hospital, but he can tell you which nurses are the best, and which are not.
Here is a picture from the hospital (before he went on oxygen).
Finn got lots of visits in and I am pretty sure he will associate hospitals with trains (one was always going by that we could see out Mick's window), and 'chickens' made out of the medical gloves. We still have a couple floating around the house and they have taken up residence in my chicken coup.
My mom has been up helping with Finn as I drove back and forth from the hospital and the first week Mick will have been home. While Mick was in the hospital, we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary (very low key...I was going to take a home cooked meal over to him, but he was so full from the anti-biotics and oxygen he asked for a rain check).
So now, he is home, he is totally off his pain meds and is walking with his full weight on the leg (using crutches only for stability). He has to be a bit careful when it comes to his movements, but is getting around really well. He suffered the mall the other day to get some new shoes he can slip on (since he isn't allowed to bend over for 3 months). His lungs seem to be getting better every day, although he is tired. His appetite is back with a vengence, and he is doing his best to overdose on anything with acidopholous to replace some of those good bacterias in his belly that the anti-biotics killed. He has a new found love of kefir for instance!
Finn has been fairing fairly well with everything. I think all of Mick's business travel before his surgery helped with Finn not being too upset with Mick not being home. Finn has been spending lots of time out in the yard with Gramma (aka Damma) and they got our peas planted, which is great (especially since it is so much earlier than last year and I am hoping they do better this year!). He has also continued to try and fix all of his cars and trucks (even though they aren't broken), and is determined to open the battery part of his bus, so we can change the batteries (I don't want it to work, but told him if he could figure out how it opens we will fix it...that should keep him busy for a while). This is definitely a glimpse into my future, and I just know I will be losing both of my boys to cars.
We also think he has gone through another growth spurt since lots of new lights are constantly being turned on both inside and out, different doors are being opened, and pants don't quite fit right. He is really a little boy, and not at all a baby anymore (there is no trace of that at all). He is still all about his cuddles and is kissing everyone (no discrimination between boys and girls) and everything (like Mina and his cars). He is still into dancing, but has taken to doing it right before bath time, on his stool, and clapping. He is doing a kind of dance like he sees on Sesame Street with stomping and clapping. He does it while counting and in the buff, which we find pretty hilarious. On the bright side, his numbers are getting much better and we are almost getting to 10! We will need to start working on letters eventually, so there may need to be a new dance we do. Swimming is going well and he is pushing off the wall into a back float and loves diving for his toys. He has also taken to jumping off the 3rd step (which we have had to put a stop to so he doesn't hit his head on a table). He loves riding his bike all over the yard (and my plants) and has been spending lots of time throwing rocks, balls, and climbing. He is also singing more often, which has been fun too and he still loves reading his books (either with us or on his own). His favorite colors continue to be yellow and then green (he is definitely my son). Whenever he sees an Oregon 'O' he always yells "GO DUCKS", although with their recent 'activity', I am not sure I really want him all that excited about them!
We just want to thank everyone who has visited Mick (both in the hospital and at home), who has sent flowers or brought gifts to him, for all of the support I have received, and for all of the offers of helped. It is times like these that we realize how lucky we are to have such wonderful people in our lives (we knew you were wonderful already, but we are extra reminded!).
Hopefully the next surgery will go a little smoother! We wish you all health and love and a Happy St. Patty's Day! Slainte!
2.8.2010 - Rememberances, love, travel and...
Hello everyone! Hope your month of January went well and your February has been good so far. All I can say is February is proving much better for me than January and gives me hope that 2010 is not going to be an awful year.
My year started off with the loss of my step-grandmother (although, she was a 'real' grandmother in every sense). She spent the last 5 years battling alzheimers and dementia and lost her battle in January. She was a really amazing woman in so many ways. When you were with her, you felt like the most important person in the world. She touched so many lives (not just our huge family, but she worked in the gait lab at the Shriners Hospital for children and brought joy to many there and helped many work through some pretty tough stuff we all take for granted). She was with me for so many major events in my life (graduations, my move to Portland, my wedding, various showers...she was even there when I signed the papers on my first house) and I feel so lucky to have had her in my life. She will truly be missed, is loved more than she probably knew, and we all feel she has gone to a much better place where she is whole again.
As of today (2/16), I have 5 days until Mick returns from his latest business trip (he is in Israel with a super quick stop-over in England to see the family). Based on this picture he sent me, I wonder how hard he is really working?
Actually, this was the first day he was there, which was still part of his travel day. Doesn't look to shabby though with the sea right there. He said he had a great walk that day and it was nice and warm (a big change from what we have going right now in Portland!). Everything else seems to be going well with his seminar and customer visits. Outside of this trip, Mick has done a lot of business travel, back and forth to California. After he gets back from Israel there is one last possible last trip to California (I am starting to think we need to get a second home down there) before....
HIP REPLACEMENT!!! That is right. The doctor finally informed Mick that since he is barely able to put on socks in the morning, the amount of Advil he is taking is no longer good for him, and that the bone spurs are back in a big way, it is time to put some metal into those hip joints. Plus, Mick loves being hand searched when he is going through security at the airport, and these hips will surely set off every metal detector (hope you can hear the sarcasm as I write this). Originally we had fears of doing it so early because the metal joints only last around 15 years each and you can only have 2 hip replacements in your life (because of the strength of the bone). Waiting these 2 years has proven to be a good thing because technology has provided a new joint that should last longer. The parts can be replaced without drilling into the bone, so you are looking at a future bionic man (I think with my gut and his hips we could be the perfect bionic couple! Finn, I hope you are taking care of yourself!). We are hoping this will allow him to be able to keep up with Finn (since Finn seems to be getting faster and faster and only has 2 speeds...off and on). Mick's first surgery will happen 1 March and the second will happen about 6 weeks later (that is all up in the air based on how quickly Mick recovers, which they think will be fast with him being way too younger for these procedures in the first place). We hope these hips will resemble the nearly 39 year old hips he should have!
In between his trips, he put together a great new roof under our deck so Finn has a dry space to play outside. Mick also built some really great climbing walls (we figured Finn was climbing the walls inside, so we should really give him something to climb outside and teach him to climb properly). Mick even got him his first pair of climbing shoes (they are only 3 sizes too big, but they are the smallest ones out there). My dad built a great new tire swing out of one of Mick's old race tires and Finn's favorite new toy is the cardboard box my rain barrel came in. Seriously, they should just sell empty boxes at Toys R Us. There are more pictures of the finished area in the gallery if you are interested.
We were able to get away for a long weekend in Sunriver, which I think we all needed. My folks were able to join us too. Dad skied with Mick and me for 2 days while Finn got some quality time with Gramma. Finn didn't get on his skis, but he was able to go sledding and swimming. We are hoping to get down to Eugene to ski before the season ends (which seems to be nearing with this fabulous El Nino year). Fingers crossed we get a little more snow to drag it out a little longer.
Finn has been going 100mph and shocks us constantly with a new ability or phrase. He is starting to master his sommersaults and has become a master of ball kicking. He is still a swinger (when it comes to his rings and tire swing) and his love of music has hit all time highs (most afternoons he asks me to turn on the music and then he pulls out his dinosaur puzzle to dance on...I guess that surface is better than the carpet). He will dance a good hour before tiring out. He is doing great with his swimming and surprised me at swimming lessons one day by pulling himself out of the pool alone. Now, it is hard to keep him in the pool (he climbs out, jumps in, climbs out, jumps in). Last weekend when I took him swimming he actually dove into the water on his own. We had been working on it, but he has really been more of a feet first jumping kind of guy. It was awesome! He also loves his coloring and we have gotten him some new paints to see what he thinks of that. He seems to really enjoy it! He also likes to bang on his little car with his hammer and uses his wrenches on the wheels. If you ask him what he is doing, he says "pixin' tars Mummy!" Ah, he is his father's son!
As for me, I have been working on planning what we are going to have in the garden, keeping a toddler active, looking at preschools, planning for our new chickens (we should be getting 3 chicks in the next 2 months...just want to get Mick through his first surgery first), and holding down the fort. Mick was nice enough to pull Finn aside before he left for Israel to let him know he was the man of the house while Mick is gone. Don't these boys know who really runs this place? :)
I took a couple of pictures of Finn the other day, so here is what he looks like (most recently...and not with the crazy-ish hair he had going while painting...just his usual crazy curly hair):
We have a bunch of new videos that I need Mick to edit, but we will get that posted in the next couple of weeks (before his surgery for sure), so check back if you are interested.
We hope your Valentines was full of love, your Presidents Day (if you celebrate) was full of honor, and we will be in touch before St Patty's Day. Slainte!
Love to all!
1.7.2010 - New years wishes!
Happy New Year's everyone! We trust you had a great and safe holiday season. The last month has flown by (as did the last year...did anyone happen to catch where 2009 actually went?), and staying true to ourselves, we kept plenty busy!
Let's see, after Pat left and we got our tree and all of the stuff that we posted last year, things got into full holiday swing. Mother Nature even tried to help get us in the spirit by dropping the temps into the 20s (and that was the HIGH folks), but giving us some amazing blue-bird days. Playing outside was fun and we took lots of walks, but could only stay out for short periods before the wind dropped the temperture so low we couldn't feel our faces anymore. I have to say, I prefer the cold and dry over this dark and wet! It is way nicer to be outside!
Mick's company told everyone to take a hike for the 2 weeks over the holidays, so he had a nice time being home with us and taking a little break. He was able to get up snowboarding a couple of times (where the temps were closer to 0), and he got his hips a little more used to that movement after a year off. They held up mostly well, but he is still keeping the makers of Advil in business. Hopefully all of that will change later in the year though.
We had a really nice day at my Aunt Jan's house with the whole Smith/McCully/Posner/Houghton/Durbin/Eddy/Taylor/McDonald clan. It is an annual event, and after hard play with the cousins, Finn was out! He had so much fun (as did everyone), and the White Elephant gift exchange was great too.
I spent most of the month getting things ready for Xmas and our trip to Whistler. We made Xmas dinner here at the house and I made my first prime rib...although Mick got all of the credit due to his constant surveillance of the new meat thermometer that he was gifted that morning. He did make his famous (in our family at least) Yorkshire Puddings and we enjoyed the meal with our whole family (Mom and Dad, Sean and Belle, David and Miami, and the 3 of us).
Finn spent most of the morning on Xmas delivering gifts to each of the people and helping them open them, which is a big change from last year! I think we all may have been a little too generous (that or we need to consolodate the gifts next year, because it took hours for him to finish and he took several breaks). It was a great day.
A few days later Mom, Finn and I flew to Vancouver where Mick and Dad were waiting to pick us up. We thought we would torture all of the holiday air travelers with Finn for an hour rather than him torturing us for 10 hours in the car. Our time in Whistler was fantastic and went way too quickly. Dad, Mick and I were able to get 3 really good days of skiing in, and Finn got on his skis 3 different days too. He did great and the squeals and giggles as he was shooshing down the hill were great (although the start was miserable due to him wanting to go on the chairlift, and us not understanding that).
We were also able to relax a bit and just get away...as well as enjoy a bit of proper Indian food (I just love the Tandoori Grill up there!). Thanks to the jerk who tried to blow up an airplane a week before, security was extra tight on the way home and we were full body searched on the way back to the states (if they are going to be that thorough, they should really buy me dinner first...or drinks at least! Best to be safe though!). Even Finn got his first frisking...I am so glad I got to be there to see that, such a proud moment.
Now, we are trying to get back into our routine. Swimming starts back up and it will be good to be getting back in the water as well as getting Finn out to play with his friends more (we have been holed up for a while and I think he needs more 'KID' time).
There are lots of pictures from Xmas and Whistler in the photo gallery (click here to view) and Mick will be putting up some video soon also (so watch for that).
