Ohh Digger

Finn is a huge fan of 'diggers'...all shapes and sizes. Bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, skidsteers. He LOVES them! Daddy, just so happens to own a 'digger'. So while he was working on a job in our neighborhood Finn & I walked up to see him. Lucky for Finn, daddy had the time to let him ride. :) Finn is SO serious about the whole thing...really intense. It's so stinkin' cute!

Thank you daddy!! What a fun afternoon.

Tractor

We went down to visit Grandpa Larry and his super-cool tractor! Finn LOVES it. And Grandpa has taught him that a tractor says - 'put-put-put-put'. So cute!

Don't mind my loveliness....not!

This week

The first official week of summer. Hudson spent a few days at the lake house and then one night with his cousin, Cory, at grandma's. It was more fun for him since time with Finn right now is so limited. I had to carry him almost everywhere and he was totally frustrated with the full leg splint. We made the best of it.

Hudson lost his second tooth while at the beach house...he lost the tooth in the sand! So he had to write a note to the tooth fairy explaning what happened. She still rewarded him with a very cool $2 bill. He was thrilled! You can see his new smile on the video below.

Finn went to the ortho on Thursday afternoon and with the doctor's recommendation, he got a cast on his little leg. Thankfully its now under the knee which allows him to move easier. He also has a boot that helps him walk (more like run) around. It's only 48 hours since we've been home with the new cast and I am already repairing the boot with super glue. He's been on his feet so much that the cushy bottom to it is falling off! He is like a worm...in constant motion.

The other good news is that he is allowed to be in any 'clear' water...bath and pools. So we are hitting the water park tomorrow! Thursday night was his first real bath in 8 days...so when I started running the water I couldn't even walk out to grab his pj's and diaper...he was already trying to get in the tub, fully clothed. He's so much happier with this cast on (and so am I!). We'll now wait till July 2nd to have it removed.

His cute little piggies hanging out.

As for me, this week went by quickly with doc appts, errands and keeping Finn pre-occupied. Hudson and Shane are camping in WV this weekend, so I have been enjoying the house to myself. My mom watched Finn overnight yesterday because I hosted our neighborhood's bunco game. It was a rare treat to have the house to myself for a full 24 hours. I had a blast...and I was ready to pick Finn up today and get my snuggles again.

We didn't have enough people to play bunco last night, so we played left-right-center with quarters. We had sooo much fun! My jaw hurts from laughing. I still chuckled today when I thought about it. Then after we played some of the girls stayed and we lit the candles, fireplace and heater on the deck and danced our socks off till the wee hours of the morning. Good times...

Shane has been busy working crazy hours. We are thankful for the business and in the same breath, this time of year is always hard for all of us. The kids and I miss him and he is exhausted...physically and mentally. I'm so glad he's taking this little weekend get-a-way with Hudson before Hudson leaves for his summer visit with his mom. They're with my brother and nephew, riding 4-wheelers and being boys. Although I miss them, I'm making the best of my time reading, taking hot baths and not cooking! Its amazing how much less cleaning and laundry there is sans two boys.

May Videos

Finn is really disturbed when we chew gum and blow bubbles. Its so funny to watch his face...its like he thinks there is something wrong with our tongues.

Finn loves to feed himself and this includes stuffing as much into his mouth at one time as he possibly can. Here he is eating grilled cheese with chipmunk cheeks...so funny.

Finn loves to eat rice chex cereal with daddy every morning. They sit on the bar stools at the counter while I'm busy in the kitchen. I love to watch them...its so cute. Finn goes to town and usually is covered in milk by the time they're done. So this video is a quick clip of this morning ritual. It's sideways...sorry. Forgot that it won't convert in video mode.

Beauty Secrets of the Bible...

My girlfriend, Jennifer (you can see her in the CO post), sent me the coolest birthday gift ever!!! She sent me instructions from a book titled "Beauty Secrets of the Bible" by Ginger Garrett. Seeming I have been really tired of searching for skin care products sans Paraben and Petrolatum, I was THRILLED to hear about this very old and effective skin care line. I have been using it since it came in the mail and love, love, love it! Thankfully, my thoughtful friend sent me travel containers with the blends so I could get started immediately. Fun!

Cleanser

Milk Wash:

1 cup powedered goat's milk

1 cup quick-cooking oats

Put this into the food processor and then use a scoop, moistened with water...to a paste, to wash face & neck (or anywhere). The lactic acid in the milk helps fight aging, the oats soothe and manually exfoliate the skin...voila!

Honey Tonic:

Apply 1-2 drops of raw honey to wet fingertips and massage onto wet face, pat dry.

Helps the skin attract and retain moisture. Reduces fine lines & wrinkles and aids in treating break-outs. Fights aging by rebuilding collagen and elastin in the skin. Counteracts the pollution and harmful effects of the environment. And for the record...it is NOT sticky!!! Perfect!!

Olive Oil Moisturizer:

Place 2-3 drops of extra-virgin, organic olive oil onto your palm. Rub palms together and pat your face gently.

Packed full of nutrients and truly does a beautiful job of moisturizing w/o feeling greasy (or "smelling like an Italian restaurant" as the author quotes). So nice...

So I hope you try it. I hope you get the book and enjoy!!! I am SO very thrilled to have been clued into this beauty 'line'. :) So natural and works wonders. It's just what I was searching for and I feel good, finally, about what I'm putting on my skin...our largest organ.

More from Hudson's last day of school

Hudson at the beginning of kindergarten.

Hudson on his last day of kindergarten! Grown up!!!
Finn was thrilled to be outside and see his brother....at first.

Then he was bummed once he realized he couldn't get down. : (

So we took him over to the park for a walk and rode the swings, which cheered him up. :)

We're now down to 5 days....and counting

Hudson's new photos

Hudson's pictuers are on my photo website.

Check them out at:

www.CelebratingLifesMiracles.com

Today

So today marks a few landmarks for our family. First, Finn is home for his first full day in a leg splint. We are unsure at this point if its fractured or just sprained, but there was swelling on the bone so we will spend the next 7 days like this...

Trying to crawl....makes me want to cry.

Surprisingly, the mark on his forehead was from another day. We're guessing his leg injury happened when he fell in the living room, just before bed...running to try to catch up with daddy & Hudson to go upstairs. We're guessing he caught the edge of the couch and twisted his leg just before the fall. Doctor said this type of injury is so common w/ this age that they call it the "toddler fracture". We may get a full cast next week if it is broken. We're praying its just a sprain and they'll take the splint off and we'll be done. We'll see.

On a bright note, we are so thankful it was not his back or hips. Weds morning he would not sit up at all without crying/screaming. Of course, my mind was racing with horrible ideas and this is totally manageable. So we are thankful...for the diagnosis and the fact that we live somewhere that we have hospitals, x-rays, doctors and care that puts us at ease.

The other landmark is today is Hudson's last day as a kindergartener. Tonight when he comes home he'll officially be a 1st grader! Wow...hard to believe. Unfortunately, with Finn's extra care I didn't get a pic of H before he ran out to the bus stop, but I did snap one from our front porch of him with daddy....just like it was his first day. We look forward to next year!

Growing up fast

I know you see this mug all the time on my blog...but I had to post these photos. I cannot get over how grown up Finn is looking these days. His face is changing so much and I want to remember some of his fun expressions. I am also seeing how he is looking more and more like Shane. He still has my eyes & coloring...but I'm thinking the rest is all daddy.

This is his bashful look.

I think he looks like me here.

Then here he is all Shane. I could only dream of having these cheek bones.

OK, this is the one where he looks just like Shane.
Teaching him early...this is wine country. We may live there someday. So beautiful!

He was so excited to play in our wood holder. It's in the basement for the summer and he was having the time of his life while I got a few things from the pantry.

Oh...the sweetness. He LOVES his best friend George. I go up every night to watch him sleep and snuggle like this. I love it, love it, love it.

He'll play with George's eyes and give him kisses. It's so cute. Love you little man.

North Carolina

In late April my mom and I took Finn south to see my aunt and uncle in NC (my mom's brother). My uncle Mark is the one most of you know who went through multiple surgeries and had an open, gaping, abdomen wound (to put it lightly) for a year. He is another walking miracle in my life. I would go and stay with these guys for at least a week every summer when I was little. My aunt and I would sit on her front porch swing and talk all the time. We've remained close and I still love to go and stay with them. : )

We visited an old Moravian community area (I'm really bad at history...so bare with me). This is the church, there was another house and a fort. It was fun to walk around and read about the history. Of course, I remember none of it now. Lol

Mark & Terri
Finn getting a ride...Mark getting practice for their grandson (who is due any day now!!).

Peeking in the windows to see the old furniture and stove.

This was in the fort area.

Have you ever heard the version of ring around the rosey where they sing...the cows are in the meadow, eating buttercups? Apparently these flowers are buttercups and they were growing wild through the whole fort.

It still amazes me how well Mark recovered. We are so thankful!!
Terri always looks good...
These photos are from Reynolda Gardens. We went there and walked around one afternoon. Finn loved that their flowers were already in full bloom.
He had a blast walking around.

Thank you Mark & Terri for another relaxing, great stay! We love you!