Bye, Bye, Mullet

Fin's hair was really getting long in the back and my attempts at trimming her bangs resulted in some pretty scary stuff. (Dana, you KNOW what I'm talkin' about!) So, it was time to try the professional haircut again. The first time I took her, she had been with me maybe six weeks. She played and watched me get my hair cut, and when it came her turn, you would think she had just come from a matinee of Sweeney Todd. Much thrashing and shrieking ensued.

Everything went much better today and I am happy to report the mullet is no more. She chose sitting in my lap over standing or using the booster. She was uncharateristcally cooperative and it was over in five minutes.

I can't find the charger for my camera battery, but the salon had a Polaroid for such occasions so the memory is now preserved.

You Know What I'm Thankful For?

Fin had her first school presentation... which she refused to participate in and instead glared at the little girl next to her. I found out later the child had dared to touch the little self-declared dictator thus setting off her funk. Then we "motored" (that's Gazette phrasing) to my parent's house for the long, Thanksgiving weekend. Em joined us and it was a nice, relaxing weekend. Fin had her first Thanksgiving dinner with our friends K & R and their family. So much food! She saw Santa for the first time and in typical kid fashion asked him for something completely out of left field that Santa's little helper didn't anticipate and now must brave the mall again to obtain. She saw her first flotilla and ate oysters and played on the beach in November and rode her big girl bike. She had quite the time. Mommy also got to do some things that were new (Jokers and Pegs... what an addictive game!) and some things that were almost forgotten (sleeping in). A good time was had by all.

Hey, you, get off of my cloud!





She's cute when she's not evil.


Grandpa let's me play in the water in November.


It was fun, even if I ended up wet and shivering.


At Thanksgiving dinner with Em.


Grandpa and Fin pushing Rusty in his stroller. Rusty is a cat. I repeat, Rusty is a cat.


See. (My parents never claimed to be mentally stable.)


Mommy gives great thanks.


Grandpa's little monkey.


Staying warm at the flotilla.


Hobos.


Cold, but still smiling.


SANTA!


Awwwwwww. Let's see that close up.


Riding bike in the garage with Grandpa.



Coloring with Emmy, Giraffe is supervising.


Stroller vs. Bike vs. Cat in Carriage: Race to the Death!!!!

Congrats to the 48 Team!

Only 91 days until Daytona!

There's No Denying You're a Mommy When...

Well, Fin is in a stage of repeating much of what I explain to her. She wants to make sure she has it. She has also been fighting off a stomach virus that is running through her pre-school class.

So, we are in Walgreens tonight getting some supplies, including children's Pepto. I explain that this is medicine, but it tastes good, like bubble gum, and that you take it when you are sick to your stomach. She takes it from me and about halfway up the aisle, I hear the sound of retching behind me. I whirl around, reaching into my purse for tissues, and there is Fin, mimicking throwing up in the middle of Walgreens. Then she points at the bottle and says, "Candy medicine, right?" Then she continues to "throw up" all the way to the front... terrifying the night stockers who flee from her path.

No pics for this post. You can thank me later.

Roo the Benevolent... Who Knew?

OK, a bit a background. I begged my parents for a cat of my own growing up. We were a cat household, but I had to share our two cats with my parents and my sister and I always found that terribly unfair. So, senior year of high school, homecoming night, my mom comes into the kitchen with an envelope box that she hands to me. The box is moving. I take off the top, and catch a glimpse of gray fur as the crazed kitten suicide jumps to the floor and disappears, only to be rediscovered under the guest room bed where she has pooped. That is how I met Roo. She has always been, let's say, "unique".

Fast forward seventeen years. I am getting ready to leave for China, and leave Roo for the longest time ever. She went to college with me and, for the last fourteen years, had been the only other heartbeat in my home. As excited as I was to bring home my daughter, I also felt more than a little sorry for Roo. Her quiet life was going to change drastically, just when her deteriorating health should have earned her some peace.

Fin and Roo avoided each other for awhile. Roo was uncertain about this fast, loud, shrunken person who had invaded. Fin didn't think Roo was much fun, especially after spending time with my mom's cat who is either too sweet or too stupid to run away. Then, Roo started coming into Fin's room for the nighttime routine. She would lay in the floor, eventually on the bed, while I read stories and we talked about our day. That was more than I had hoped for, but then Roo began to just accept Fin as part of the family. She even shows her more tolerance than anyone else, including me.

Imagine my delight that I got to capture this session of Fin playing "beauty shop" with Roo. My half-hearted attempts to stop her were more because I thought Roo might lose patience, but she never took even a swipe for show. If this had been anyone else but Fin, the video would have ended in a very bloody, Tarantinoesque manner. Instead, I have a sweet remembrance of my two girls together.

What a Treat!

This three-day weekend has been the longest time I have had to spend with Fin since the summer and it has been great. We went to arena racing Saturday night and to a couple of stores, but stuck pretty close to home, and to each other, the whole weekend. Here are some pics:

The 14-year-old in her heart (who has starting locking me out of her bedroom!), was annoyed I was taking a picture of her eating. The 4-year-old was thrilled to have chicken fingers and french fries for dinner!


The races are very poorly attended, which is a shame. But, it gives the kids free run of the Coliseum without bugging anyone.


Sunday, she noticed that Roonie Cat's fur was a bit disheveled. For a 17-year-old diabetic and arthritic cat, I think she is doing pretty well. Fin first lectured her, "Wash your hair, Roonie Cat! Take a bath!" Then, she mimed squirting on shampoo and lathering her hair. Poor Roo.


Meeting a new friend on the way to the pier today. She insisted it was a "horsey", but then she insists that Donkey in Shrek is a "horsey", too.


Enjoying the beautiful weather.


Watching the water, looking for fishies.


Could time possibly move slower than waiting for your first cup of cocoa to cool?


But, it's worth it!


That is good cocoa, when you even get it on your nose.


Now, she is sitting behind the curtain in the living room letting her cars look out the window.

There's No Denying You're a Mommy When...

... you attend your first children's performer show. For me, that was the Wiggles last night. Our friends Deb and Sam and their daughter, Elizabeth, invited Fin and me to be their guests at the Wiggles show. I was truly confused when the show started. For the Buffett fans out there, think back to your first concert. Juicy Fruit sticks flying past your face, "Salt! Salt! Salt!" chants the crowd... what the?!? There were some hardcore Wiggles fans in that arena and I felt completely lost. There were kids carrying artificial flowers, kids in pirate costumes with feather swords, kids with signs with things like "Wake up, Jeff!" on them. Now neither Elizabeth's or Fin's homes have digital cable, and the Wiggles are a rare find on t.v., so Deb, Sam and I were a little lost. It was like we innocently wandered onto a cult compound. Don't drink the Koolaid!

But, once the show started, any kid could get into it. They are professionals and they know how to engage. Fin didn't quite get it at first and spent the first couple of songs "taking pictures" with her imaginary camera, but she caught on and was soon dancing with the rest of them. She got the most excited when the dancing teddy bears came out. First, there was one dancing teddy bear. You would think that was enough... then out came ANOTHER teddy bear. Oh my, this couldn't possibly get any better, but wait! Yet another teddy bear. The room is vibrating with frenzied glee. And then, no! It can't be! YES!!! A FOURTH DANCING TEDDY BEAR!!! You would have thought they introduced the Beatles. In fact, there was a girl behind us that screamed just as loud and with as much fervor as those teeny-boppers at JFK every time Dorothy the Dinosaur came out... she the consumer of all of those artificial roses.

It was a fun, and eye-opening, evening. It was also great to see Deb and Elizabeth, who is a sweet and charming little lady.

Fin with her first concert ticket:


Elizabeth with her favorite seat in the house:


The Wiggles Crew:


DANCING TEDDY BEARS!



In other news...

Bonnie, this pic is for you!


You should see the other guy! Fin took a header on the playground today; busted lip and chin scratched. I think she will recover, and in the meantime, she is enjoying working it.

Go On With Your Bad Self, Grandma!

My mom, now better known as Fin's grandma, won first place in a photography competition in the category, "Life in Action". It was for this photograph taken at a balloon festival in Maine in 2006.


Way to go, Mom! She does sell prints of her work, framed and unframed. Email her, Linda, at Brierpatch14@aol.com for more info.

We Interrupt Your Normal Programming...

To remind you that we have it damn good. When was the last time you had to sleep on plywood? Me... never.


This picture was taken three weeks ago in Yanxi, China, by a lovely newlywed couple travelling the world for their first year of marriage. They were inspired to volunteer for this orphanage because of a personal connection to a little girl who was adopted from there into the U.S. I think they were surprised by what they found, I was. The wealth flooding China is not reaching those in the most need. The sad irony is that the people who are closest to these children do care deeply, but are without resources themselves. How helpless they must feel.

It is a great fortune to be born into a country with such extensive resources.

Read more of Derek and Shanna's incredible trip at One Year on Earth

Fall Pictures

We had a busy weekend. Visit from Grandma and Grandpa, field trip to the pumpkin patch on Friday, party at the Metheny's and arena racing on Saturday, and Fin's dedication at church on Sunday. (Oh, yeah, and some guy won his third straight race on Sunday.) It was a great weekend with many meaningful moments.

Pumpkin patch hayride:


Her "Mmmmmm, choc-o-lat" look:


For Mandy and BrYan:


Haypile:


The perfect pumpkin!


Enjoying the party by the water:




Good Fin playing with Ann Carter:


Evil Fin visits:


Super cute flag girl:


Watching racing with Grandpa:


Family and friends at the dedication:


Here's a video of her dancing at the party. The video server is having issues, so if it won't load, try again later.