Look at that cute smile and those eyes! I think Finn is going to have a couple more teeth within the next week or so as he has been chewing anything, he can (balls, toys, carrots, apples, you name it) and especially today he has had a really runny nose. And nap time has been a bit irregular this past week too – he is quite tired and wants to go “nigh nigh” but then he will lay in his bed and babble for an hour or two if you let him!

We are thankful for our friends who hosted us for dinner the last few days. We are so looking forward to having our kitchen back together and making some home cooked meals! We spent Friday evening with the Manning’s enjoying a lovely cookout. Finn loved taking in all of the play time with 5 girls! Unfortunately, we didn’t snap too many photos during our visit – but there is one of Finn demonstrating his cookie monster skills and another with Samantha in the backyard swinging.  Saturday evening the Ackerman’s invited us over for a lovely dinner as well. W and E wanted to bob for apples, so Finn thought that was pretty funny – and just pulled one out with his hands and started eating it! I think it felt pretty good on his teeth. After dinner everyone kicked around the soccer ball – it was a SUPER humid and warm evening. Finn was a little sweat box, and since he had soaked his shirt with the apple “bobbing” he went shirtless the rest of the evening 🙂 Saturday morning Kevin and I took Finn to his first “Build and Grow” activity at Lowe’s. They periodically have these kid’s activities on Saturday mornings where they build something – and they are totally free (you just have to pre-register online)! The kids get an apron, name tag, and a hammer that they bring back each time the return for an activity. The activity changes each time. Then they receive a little patch that can be ironed on the apron. Finn and Daddy made a robot puppet! You can tell, even though it was a brief 15 minute activity, he was ready for nap time by the end 🙂 Sunday was a fun filled day too. First up, the Next Step Sunday at NPC. Finn got his first “tatoos” at the Children’s table with the help of E (a doggie, and pictured here, a dragon). Later that afternoon we gathered to celebrate cousin Rowan’s 3rd birthday!  It was a steamy and humid afternoon at Homestead Park, but Finn had a blast wondering around and playing with all of the kids (and there were a TON of them, only part of them are in the birthday cake photo!). His favorite part was going on the “ride” in the wagon! Remodeling update: the kitchen island countertops are complete! Yay! They were finished on Friday, and Saturday Kevin was able to set and connect the induction cooktop. The perimeter counters were brought on Friday as well, but the color at the seems and between pieces just wasn’t going to cut it (per Kevin and the installers) so they took them back to the shop (AGAIN) and Kevin made two trips there on Friday to select new pieces from which they will re-cut the entire perimeter.  Ugh.  Painstaking process! The caulking for the laundry room sink, family room bar sink, and the pantry was completed as well. We are making progress. Hopefully the remaining counters will be completed this week and once they are set the appliances will be installed. We are also waiting on some remaining cabinet parts and trim to arrive to complete the cabinetry part of the project.  On Monday we met with an interior designer to help us pick out colors and pull everything together. We were able to pick out our main kitchen/family room/hallway color, the powder bathroom color, a new laundry room color, and a color for the office.  On Wednesday and Thursday I painted the bathroom and on Friday the toilet was installed (though there is a small leak that needs fixed).  I’ll put a photo of that up next week as I haven’t taken one yet!