Fin News and Christmas Photos

We had a great visit with Jay, Colleen and Fin however the little guy woke up Christmas morning with a deep croupy cough which seemed to materialize out of nowhere.  He's such a little trooper because even though you could see that he didn't feel well, there was absolutely no fussing or complaining on his part. Unfortunately he has gone downhill since their departure on Saturday and was hospitalized yesterday for persistant fever and dehydration.  :-(  I'm told that he's feeling better this morning but I'm still awaiting word as to whether or not he's going to be released today.  This was the little guy last night watching his nightly episode of Bubble Guppies from the hospital bed.

My heart breaks for the little guy and his parents, who I know must be drained. I'm waiting to hear if they need Grandma backup this week.  In the meantime I'd like to share a couple of happier family photos taken on Christmas Eve.

It was so nice to have us all together.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  I'll be sure to keep you posted on Fin's recovery and my whereabouts this week.

Happy Holidays!

The last month has been crazy busy but fortunately the madness has started to wind down. I do have a few things left to do but for the most part it should be a fairly quiet day.  Actually that may not be true since Jay and Fam are headed this way but that's a whole different kind of hectic, not to mention, the best Christmas present ever.

We plan to spend our evening with fifty of our closest friends and their families. Yes, my dear friends Kelley and Hans are hosting Christmas Eve dinner for fifty-nine.  She is in her element (O.M.G., right?) and we are all very thankful to be included in their "Danglish" festivities.

Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday.  I'm counting the minutes until I can get my hands on this dapper little guy...

I have no doubt that he will be a hit tonight with all of my girlfriends.  :-)

The Fin-Man Turns One

It's so hard to believe that a year has gone by already.  This cute newborn baby boy ...

 is now officially a toddler...

His parents recently held his first birthday party at a park near their home.  The number of attendees hovered close to thirty but out of repect to their children's privacy, only photos of our family will be shared here.

Naturally Fin had no clue as to the cause for such a fine celebration but he thoroughly enjoyed his independence. He was a man on the move which meant Grandma was also on the move.

I had lots of photos of his backside.

So much mulch, so little time.

There were playsets to climb...

Decorations to destroy...

And bubbles.  Lots of bubbles...

 


Fin proudly yielded his bubble wand as a sword...

(This kid is ALL boy.)

Of course there was cake.  The theme for Birthday Party #1 was Bubble Guppies.

He wasn't quite sure what to do with his Smash Cake....

  

but he eventually figured out that he was supposed to eat it...

Of course, a bath in the doggy water fountain was then in order.  This turned out to be way more fun than playing with cake.

Then it was time for some family photos...

Grandma #1...

Grandma #2 with Aunt Meg...

And Grandpa...who will never willingly pose for a photo.

And of course, presents.  LOTS of presents....

 (Can't have a Bubble Guppy party without a Bubble Puppy, courtesy of Aunt Meg.)

Look at this obscene Pile o' Presents ....

Thankfully his parents only have themselves to blame for this next one...

Fortunately it serves double duty as a "baby keeper."  :-)


And just think!  Christmas is only three days away....

The Rocking Chair

It can be said that I'm a hoarder and in a sense, I am.  But I consider myself a very select and organized saver.  My main source of saving comes in the form of sentimental treasures.  Take this rocking chair for example...

If you look closely at the photo you will notice that it is stenciled with Jay's name and the year 1983. My mother purchased this unfinished and presented it to Jay for his very first Christmas when he was ten months old.

(If I remember correctly, she and my father also bought him the cute outfit and the red step stool.  I believe Santa may have brought the Smurf slippers but I can't say for sure.)


He loved this chair and used it daily until he outgrew it.  I knew it was a keepsake so for the past 32 years it's been loving moved to eight different homes across the state of Florida. Why?  Because I knew one day there would be another special someone to enjoy the chair.

Enter Fin, just a week shy of twelve months old..

Last week I hauled this chair to it's ninth home.  The little guy was fast asleep for the night when I arrived but I set it out in anticipation of my o'dark thirty wake up call.  Fortunately for me the little guy "slept in" until 6:15.  (His parents were already long gone for their shifts at the hospital.)

It didn't take him long to figure out just what it was for...

And that, my friends, was the start of our day together.   :-)

Santa, Meet Fin

My jammed packed week/weekend was a fabulous success.  I'll post details later this week but right now I really need to start thinking about Christmas.  First up on my list are Christmas cards.  I think I was a bit over ambitious with my design this year and I'm going to be lucky to get them all out before next week.

Jay & Colleen's cards went out earlier last week so I think it's safe to share Fin's photo session with Santa.  The photos are adorable but the backstory is even cuter....they took him to the mall in a onesie, shopped for an outfit, ducked into the restroom to change him and then stood in line for Santa. No wonder the kid looked so dapper and fresh.  LOL!


 Enjoy and I'll be back in a day or two...

THE BEST Santa Claus ever!

Happenings

You won't see me for a bit.  I'm headed up to Orlando later today to hang out with Fin all day tomorrow while his parents are working.  I will head back home tomorrow night but will be back on the road Friday morning, south this time, to my girlfriend's house for bookclub.  (She's hosting and I promised her months ago that I would help her get her house Christmasy ready.)  Bookclub will be Saturday afternoon and then I'm headed north once again to meet up with Randy in West Palm Beach for his office Christmas party later that evening. We'll drive home that night and then it's back to Orlando first thing Sunday morning for Fin's first birthday celebration.

Soooooo...I'm gonna be MIA until next week.  LOL!

Tree Towne

Sunday was Christmas tree shopping day.  After a brief search elsewhere we ended up at our favorite lot, Tree Towne.  We left the choice up to Meg who chose this Noble Fir which she has named Tim. (She names everything.  LOL!)

Tim is a fine specimen of a tree.


While I was paying for Tim I caught a glimpse of Meg out on the little "merry-go-round."

You may remember from an October post just how much she loves that little thing.

 She didn't even mind it when I approached and snapped more photos.

 

This little piece of playground equipment will always hold a special place in all of our hearts.