Thursday, August 14, 2008

Naked Tree Climbing

Need I say more?

The Unwinner

We played Old Maid for the first time a couple of nights ago. Finn was AMAZING! He got it right away and really enjoyed playing. I LOVE card games and board games. I just can't believe he's old enough for us to start doing these things. Anyway, while I was explaining the game I used the word loser. As in, the person who had the Old Maid card at the end of the game is the loser. Finn told me not to say loser as that was a "mean word." He has heard it in movies and was using it for a time. We talked a lot about how calling someone a loser might hurt feelings. If someone loses, that's one thing, but to call someone a loser could make them feel bad as most people like to be complimented on winning or just trying hard. Well, Finn didn't like me using the word loser and he said "the person holding the Old Maid card at the end of the game is the UNWINNER." Isn't that just a marvelous word? And so clever. Then, later, Finn was waiting for his turn and he said to me, "I just can't stop looking at your beautiful face." Could you just melt? I did. Jack did too. Our lovely boy.
We love y'all,
Michele,
Jack,
and Finnigan the Curious

Roo Roo Rassenfelder!


Uncle Roo was kind enough to drive all the way from Denver, Colorado to come visit his favorite nephew (and his favorite sister and mama). Finn was absolutely hysterical to see him and we sat on the front porch for almost 2! hours waiting for him. It also prompted us to spend some time in front of the map. Finn really liked seeing where Uncle started from and how far it was down to us. His point of reference for driving is "is it as far as it is to Grandmary's house?" That, to him, is the max amount of time that one could possibly drive. When I told him it was like driving to Grandmary's 5 or 6 times he almost blew a gasket. He immediately said that Uncle should take a jet airliner next time and "NEVER drive that far ever again." He's not a big fan of the car, as you can tell.
Uncle Roo was wonderful as ever. He played endlessly with Finn; let him crawl all over him; played batman and guns and swords and who-knows-what-all. I came in the house and found the bedroom door closed - they were hiding guns in the closet so no one could find them.
Poor Roo was exhausted upon arrival and just played his heart out. We are so grateful to have such a wonderful uncle. I'm also so grateful that Roo has a nephew to love.
Whenever we're all together I can't help but feel a bit of loss that Daddy is not living down the street as planned. I always hoped that him living close to a real family would make him feel better about life. He was so lonely. I think the next time Roo is here we could sit together with Finn and look at pictures of Daddy and talk about him. I will make a little photo album for us to sit with. Maybe we can bake a cake in honor of him - that man LOVED sweets JUST like his grandson. To me, Finn is like Daddy in lots of ways. Just little things, but I definitely see it.
We love y'all,
Michele,
Jack,
and Finnigan the Curious

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

FINNY CAN SWIM!!!

Today, August 5, 2008 is the day Finny started swimming!

Just a few days ago he still didn't like getting his face wet and now, voila, swimming! He told me that he just kept watching other people and thinking about it and then he just told himself, I KNOW I can, I KNOW I can and he did. We never did swim lessons because he didn't want to. We never pushed him to try anything - not even to blow bubbles or get his hair wet because he never liked it. I was really reluctant to get him floaties or even a float because I think children learn to depend on them instead of themselves, but he wanted them and so I did. He LOVED them and I now believe they were exactly what he needed to feel comfortable.

He and I were at Brentwood Pool (our neighborhood pool across the street from our house) and we were playing and having a great time. He said he was going to go all the way under water (which he never likes to do) and he did! He did that several times, staying under longer and longer. Then he said he felt like he was just going to swim. He asked me if I thought he could. Of course, I replied, "OF COURSE!" He then started doing a kind of dog paddle thingee. He asked me if that was real swimming. I said that I thought real swimming was when your legs were out straight behind. He said, "Oh, yea, that's right." He then lifted his chin, kind of threw himself out and started swimming! It still looks like a burro swimming, but, bgosh bgolly it's real swimming. He was absolutely delirious with joy as was I. He wanted to surprise Jack so when Jack got home (in record time because I told him there was something really important to see at home) we were waiting on the porch for him with his bathing suit and a towel. He was a little confused because Finn told him that he had learned a new Jedi trick but that he had to show it to him at the pool. We ran over (NO ONE else there) to the pool and Finn and I went into our previously rehearsed dialog. I acted bummed out that I had forgotten his floaties. I said I would go home and get them. Finn then said, no, no that he could go in without them. I had strict instructions to act worried and tell him he could NOT go in without his floaties (which I would never really say). At that point he jumped in and started swimming! Jack was so surprised. The pool closed just a few minutes after we got there so, in Holt family fashion, we hopped in the car and drove to another pool that stayed open until 9. Jack and Finn swam and swam and swam. Then we got cheapo Mexican food and went to bed on full bellies. Well, poor Jack had to go to the lab and check on some equipment, but Finn and I passed out.

Our boy can swim!

We love y'all,

Michele

Jack and

Finnigan the swimmer

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Oh, Daddy



Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear Daddy,
Happy Birthday to you!
I'm late in posting this as Jack's birthday was on July 27th. He turned the ripe young age of 43 this year.
Finn and I made him his annual chocolate cake, but, poor Daddy, didn't get any icing this year. It was sad. We just ran out of time and had to go to a birthday party for our friend, Zoey. Jack also tried to go soaring in a glider airplane and that didn't work out too well either (although he did get to go up). Kind of a bust of a birthday. We gave him 43 lasers of love light though, so maybe that helped.
Love y'all,
Michele,
Jack,
and Finnigan the Curious