happy 38th, jonathan!

tooth fairy tales

We're not quite there yet- to the whole tooth fairy exchange business- but I'm always thinking ahead, and just ordered this absolutely adorable, appropriately-fairy-sized, completely magical little piece of painted wood made into a door... Comes with a ladder, and a tooth pot, and a scrolled note from Miss Fairy herself.

Avery is SO very into fairies right now, and Tinkerbelle, and magic flying sparkle dust, and glittery wings. I just love it. Here's hoping (when the time comes) this is a big hit!

notre dame, in

The next sentimental stop was...well...golden! Returning to South Bend for the first time since Jonathan and I met there (almost 7 years ago) was pretty surreal. I showed Avery & Christian where I used to live at Saint Mary's, prompting conversations like this:

Avery: "Mama! You lived in a castle!? Like Cinderella?"
Me: "Yes, pretty much just like Cinderella. Only there wasn't any air conditioning, and I shared a bathroom with 20 other girls, and we stayed up late watching scary movies and drinking lots of beverages."
Avery: "Oh, that sounds SO fun! Dad- I when I get grown up I want to live in a castle like Rapunzel too, and have popcorn parties with my sippy cup of juice!"

While on campus, it was the strangest feeling of time lived and spent. When I was living in this spot, on this lawn, at a much younger age, I experienced this space so very differently than how I did now. The person that I was in this place last was young. I hadn't met the man I was to marry yet. I didn't have any kids, or even a thought of what those kids would be like, or how my life would be different. It was almost a time-warp sort of feeling; strange, nastalgic, grateful, and memorable.

I felt so lucky to have had the opportunity to go to such an unbelievable school, at a time when I didn't even realize it. Only years after leaving have I slowly realized in many different fashions just how much I gained from my experience there; unbelievable friendships, great business and social connections & introductions, a continuing foundation for faith, and a lifetime of pride in both the SMC and ND school traditions. It's a great world-wide family to be apart of. I'm also happy to have found someone in a spouse that gets what it means to bleed blue and gold. Jonathan finished his MBA at ND in '07 just before we moved to Chicago.

This trip was also made that much sweeter as we met up with great friends, the Boro family, in the Bend. With a total of 5 kids under the age of four, we toured the campuses, went tailgating, and for the first time, started our very own family tradition under the golden dome. Watching Avery and Christian run around the green in front of Touchdown Jesus...seeing Avery kneel and fold her hands and say a prayer down at the Grotto...and watching Christian learn to do the Fighting Irish arm pumps from the real leprechaun himself...Priceless.

Click HERE for all of the pics. Password: Finch

chicago, il

City lights, skyscrapers, fantastic food, and kid-friendly wanderings. I just love Chicago. SO much. We miss living there - amongst easy access to funky cocktail lounges, historic architecture, mid-west mentality, and the best Italian food west of Italy.

The kids loved exploring the Lincoln Park Zoo. And, we soaked up walking the lakeside trail - home of our once-upon-a-time half marathon training grounds. It's really the city where Jonathan and I fell in love, and started planning our lives together...so needless to say, we had quite a bit of sentimental excursions: Taking the kids to eat at our 'ol favorite Thai restaurant Penny's Noodles, touring our old Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods, hitting up Navy Pier, and a fabulous date night to Rose Angelis (home of the big-as-your-head tiramisu).

Warm weather, always something to do, and two terrific little travelers made our stop in Chi-town a fantastic one.

Click HERE for all of the pics. Password: Finch

disneyland - aneheim, ca

Sticky-sugary hands, sweaty sun-kissed cheeks, whining, crying, and waiting in lines. It's really a magical place! Just kidding. Well, not really. All of that non-fun is definitely included, but I will say that despite the occasional sugar-induced meltdown, we really DID have a magical time. I give you scenerio number 253:

(After 8+ hours in the park, a whiny Avery wants to be carried everywhere, and just as we make our way to the exit, she spots....Minnie Mouse!)

Avery: "Mama! Mama! There's Minnie! Let's go see her!"

Me: "Sweetie, we can wait in that really really really long line and meet Minnie, or we can go right now to have some yummy dinner and you can have your chocolate sucker and cotton candy for dessert."

(Long pause of deliberation, with a look of exhaustion on her face.)

Avery: "Ok, mama. Let's meet Minnie."

Me: "Uhhhhh. OK! We're here. Let's get in line!"

And then A & C slept for 12 hours that night. And, so did mom & dad.

Click HERE for all of the pics. Password: Finch

laguna beach, ca

Warm sun, silky sand, big waves, and grandma Judy! Avery and Christian couldn't have been more excited. After a stroll down Laguna Beachs' main drag, a local Mexican dinner, and way too much ice cream, we ventured onto the beach for a nice stroll, sand playing, and a few educational talks about waves and how they will come back to you (you don't have to run out to them, Christian).

It's always fun to watch the kids experience elements that they aren't quite used to. In true gender role fashion, Avery combed the sand for pretty shells while Christian picked up every slimy piece of seaweed, and gooey snail remains, and dug in the mud, and threw rocks. All had fun!

Click HERE for all of the pics. Password: Finch

newport beach, ca

Newport was the determined middle-ground destination, located perfectly between the wedding we were attending in LA, and Disneyland in Anaheim. It turned out to be a fantastic spot for us! The Marriott Coastal Villas were packed with multiple pools, game rooms, playgrounds, and easy access to family-friendly restaurants and beaches. Avery (the Fish) was in heaven in the pool, and would have stayed in the water all day/every day if we'd only let her.

Avery: "Look, mama! My fingers are sooooo wrinkly!"
Me: "You don't say. You've only been swimming for 4 hours."

This was our first stop on the trip, and was filled with some much needed R&R.

Click HERE for all of the pics. Password: Finch

halloween

Oh, to be 3 years old again and can't help but smile in awe when your mom snaps on some green glittery wings. And, then when your mom ties your hair up in a big round bun on the top of your head just like Tinkerbelle, it makes you want to fly around the room and jump up and down on mom & dad's big bed. Avery made me smile.

Oh, to be 1 years old again and be thrown into a world of strangeness where everyone around you is dressed as something weird. When mom puts a full bodysuit on you and it has fake abs and forearm muscles to boot, you just poke each pillowy muscle one by one, and then look up and grin at everyone. You may even want to fly around the room like your big sister. She may have wings, but you have magical flying power. Christian made me smile. It was a great Halloween.

Click HERE for all of the pics. Password: Finch

9 lives.

My friend Heather has some fantastic Truths of Motherhood that I love.  They are much more meaningful than this. 

I may need 9 lives to get through my every day. For now, here are my 9 truths:

1) There is a pink Minnie Mouse tricycle in the bathroom. Actually- in the shower, in the bathroom. And, baby doll Rosie is sleeping in the sink, with the hand towel covering her up.

2) I drink out of sippy cups...on a normal basis. Granted it's because I am just looking for a quick sip of liquid to either swallow vitamins with, or because it's the only thing sitting on the end table right next to me in the living room, and I'm eating salty popcorn, and don't feel like getting up.

3) I have a professionally-perfected vault over 3-foot high gates, as to not touch it at all while clearing myself into the office and trapping little people behind.

4) The catch-all tray for keys and wallets is filled with broken crayons, glittery hair clips, pacifiers (even though Christian hasn't used one in over a year), and long lost legos.

5) A big fabric box filled with diapers and wipes and lotions is literally the centerpiece of our dining table.

6) At any one time, a person could scrounge up a hearty snack (maybe even enough for lunch) from the floor of our car.

7) I have to literally sneak out of the house if I want to avoid a full-blown melt-down of little creatures that "want to go toooooooooo".

8) Tragedy has struck the Finch house when there aren't any more apple squeezers in the fridge.

9) At 7:30pm, the clouds part, a rainbow is visible, and angels sing sweet music.