Life's a Beach

We're on our first family vacation -- a trip to St. Joseph, Michigan with our friends the Millers. Not only is the beach soft and wide (and one of the top rated by Parents magazine -- oh how the reading material has changed in the last 10 months!), the Millers have a boat they keep docked here. Finn's first trip to the beach was a success -- with lots of sand consumed. I hope he likes sand and sun as much as his mama because I need some beach time every couple of years.

While southwest Michigan certainly isn't tropical, it's plenty warm. And the area has some serious blueberries -- which have been quite a hit with the boy. But they stain, so it's best for him to eat them naked.

And the boy is traveling in style now. This week he got the car seat that will be his hang out for years to come. Note the fauxhawk -- when there's lots of sunscreen on his head, it stands up perfectly!

Finnegan's First Fourth Finished Full of Fireworks on the Fifth

Well, Finn's first fourth of July was almost a bust what with the unrelenting rain. But he made the most of it. First by spending some great quality time with Grandma and Grandpa V while Mom & Dad used the rainy weather to see the first movie in a theatre in 8 months. Then we cooked out in the rain with our great neighbors (Thanks Marty, Anne-Marie and Jeramie) until the fireworks were cancelled.


So we found our way to the fifth of July and after a decent day around the house, we cooked out with more neighbors (Thanks Kate and Jason and Vivvy and Sam) and then caught the fireworks just close enough to see. Finn was interested if exhausted as he stared vacantly at the pretty colors while his mother provided some low volume "oooooohs" and "aaaahs."

Swim Classes

Swim classes are a bittersweet event for Finnegan. He enjoys it right up to when he really really doesn't. On the upside he sleeps really well the night after a swim class. It's great to watch he and Mama share time in the pool. He's a great little trooper. But you can just feel his frustration. He is a surprisingly strong little cuss who likes clinging to the side of the pool. I'm certain he will be enjoying it more next week.