Finley's First Birthday Party

They are here!  We got Finley's pictures back from her birthday party.  I've been putting off blogging about it until I got the pictures.

It was all about our little Georgia peach.  The weather was sketchy but the rain showers cleared away and the kids were able to play outside.We moved the food out of the rain, then back outside.  It was muggy and not a typical hot July day but our little Tootsy didn't care!

It was super hectic getting everything done.  I said I will never do a big party again!  I think we all know that's not true.

First Day of Preschool: 3 Day 3's

Can it already be Hudson's second year of preschool?  Here we are, like it or not.  He woke up ready to go yesterday morning.  I asked him if he was excited and he said 'yes!'.

 When I was picking him up from school I noticed that the 2 year olds looked like tiny babies!  I can't believe that was him just last year.  Of course I got nothing out of him when I picked him up. Me: "What did you do today?"  Hudson: "I don't know."  Me: "Did you make any new friends?"  Hudson:  "I don't know."  And it went on like that.

He had such a wonderful class last year and wonderful teachers.  We have high expectations for this year.

Our Walking Girl

Oh yeah, did I mention that we have a walker?  Sometimes it's just easier to post things on Facebook.  The blog takes a backseat.

It started out slow.  A couple of steps here and there last month.  Then some more steps although she had to have a book in her hand (strange, I know).  Then a few more steps on her own but she had to have what she was walking to in sight and she did a strange little sideways shuffle.  Now for the past couple of weeks we have been in full walking mode!  She is super fast.  I will turn around and she will be on the other side of the house.  Here is a little sample from a few weeks ago.

This one is from yesterday at Catch Air.  I love how she points to where she wants  to go before she takes off.

Highlands

Our 8 year anniversary was on the 21st.  I thought that we were going to dinner but it turns out that it was all an elaborate scheme to get me out of town.  We went to Highlands NC with friends and had a nice relaxing weekend.  No plans, nowhere to be, no kids.

 By day we did some shopping, got pedicures (yes, all of us), ate, and did a little unexpected hiking.

You could walk under this waterfall!

By night we did a whole lot of sitting around and talking.  Everything seemed to close by around 7pm in the mountains.

We have grown less and less romantic as the years have rolled by.  On our actual anniversary it was business as usual:  taking care of kids and doing laundry.  I guess you know you have found the one when you can have fun folding towels.

The Fire Station

In typical boy fashion, Hudson loves trucks, tractors, trains and of course, fire trucks.  Last week we took a little field trip with Cole and Mayle to see Uncle Jess at his fire station.  They sprayed the water hose, slid down the big slide, tried on some fire helmets and even hid in some lockers.

 

Granny's 90th Birthday

Saturday we celebrated my Granny's 90th Birthday.  My mom had the whole Martin clan over to her house for food, cake and ice cream.

I'm just realizing that she looks afraid of the cake.

The whole Martin crew minus six who couldn't be there.

 Four generations.

 Our little Fin was taking some steps!  She had been taking a few steps at a time before that night but would do up to 8 steps in a row!  Strangely, she did have to be holding a book.  We will take what we can get

Finley's First Birthday

Our little Fin is one year old!  We tried to make it special and fun for her even though she won't remember it.

 Here she is with her gift from her Nana and Pop.  It was her Pop's when he was a little boy and he refinished it himself for her.

On her birthday we let her have spaghetti (which I guess is becoming a Wood Family first birthday tradition) for dinner, we gave her our gift, took the kids to the park to play and then got yogurt for dessert. 

Of course Hudson tries to take over her toys.  

Our one year old Fin Fin likes:

to pretend to brush her hair and answer the phone, to feed herself 

(but is a little picky),

kissing her baby dolls and stuffed animals, to have 

her teeth brushed, her brother, climbing, putting anything

and everything in her mouth, oatmeal and bananas,

smiling, being tickled under her chin.

 What a difference a year makes!