Tag Archives: pancakes

April 24, 2016

IMG_5823Pancake-maker-helper Mr. Finn here.  One personality trait about Finn that has been the same as long as he’s been able to express it – Finn always wants to help and do what Mommy and Daddy are doing.  I don’t know, perhaps most kids are this way, but I’m talking he’s like that down to what we are eating off our plates! If we make dinner and I put everything that Kevin and I are having, except perhaps one item (one time I didn’t give him any lasagne – why I’m not sure, because he does like it!) on his plate, he quickly sees what he is missing and asks for it. He’s the same way about helping in the kitchen. Anytime I bake (sadly, I do that more often than make full-on dinners) he is in the kitchen in an instant saying “I want to help!”.  So here he is helping Daddy make some mini pancakes. IMG_5825Spring is in full swing at Millcreek, which means I’m gone long days and also working Saturday’s for the next several weeks.  The pictures are few, but they are cute reminders of how blessed we are having Debbie care for Finn. She has been with our family for 2 1/2 years and we are grateful for that. Multiple times per week Finn goes on fun outings to the zoo, the local parks, the splash pad, pet store, library story time, book store, Franklin Park Conservatory, COSI, Culver’s, Handel’s (ice cream places, of course) and such. And when he’s home she has an educational plan for the week too with a letter, number, color and concept or skill she works on with him. He paints, colors, makes all kinds of fun art work, does science experiments and Debbie takes photos of their adventures and crafts and puts them in our app so we can see them while we’re away at work. I really love seeing his adventures and how happy he is – these photos are from Debbie this week! IMG_5675 IMG_5820 IMG_5817 IMG_5803 IMG_5802 IMG_5804 IMG_5797 IMG_5796We enjoyed a fun evening with the Howard’s this weekend. Kevin and other friends helped Chris build benches in their gazebo and at the end of the night there was a fun cookout with everyone. Finn was there throughout the afternoon with Kevin (I was working) and loved playing with the other kids. Jake, Nicole’s son, even made a short “basket” for Finn so he could shoot hoops with them in the driveway :). IMG_5827And this is always my favorite week of spring in the garden, when the blooms of our Korean Spice Viburnum open up.  They have the prettiest pink buds that open to the most wonderful smelling flowers.  I just love it.  Every year I go out in the morning that the first open and take a photo before I go to work. They don’t bloom for long, but their scent fills up our patio and porch and I’m in heaven!IMG_5811 IMG_5809

February 28, 2016

IMG_4503Finn has been giving Lily lots of snuggles and cuddles lately.  He loves her so, and actually every night part of the routine is to give Lily a hug and a kiss.  Lately he’s been asking her to wag her tail before he’ll give her a hug and a kiss.  And he asks Kevin and I to raise our hands, “Who wants a hug and kiss?”.  Silly boy.IMG_4498 IMG_4494One evening this week Finn wanted to snuggle and while he was sitting in my lap he said “put me in your shirt”. It was rather funny, actually, but sure enough he ended up inside my black t-shirt and we walked around a bit. It totally reminded me of when I had him in the hospital, nearly 3 years ago, and I snuggled him inside my black shirt as a tiny newborn. This sweet boy is growing up far too quickly! IMG_4509-2 IMG_4514Daddy is spoiling us with all of these pancakes lately.  Check out his latest creation! I did add the finishing touches of the face!IMG_4505 IMG_4506Kevin’s car was in need of some TLC in the form of many repairs, most of which we had a shop perform. His Dad was kind enough to come up on a Sunday afternoon to work with Kevin to put new front brakes and struts on his Jeep.  It went well for the most part, other than a broken bolt on the right side, so they weren’t able to install the right strut just yet.  But the brakes are in on the front.  Shew, that was a lot work! Papa brought a lot of his tools and when I took him out to the garage to show him what they were doing he said “what’s that mess?”.  Silly boy. IMG_4520 IMG_4522 IMG_4521I’ve been enjoying Avacados for quite awhile it seems. My quick go-to is Avacado Toast. Sometimes I fancy it up with salt and pepper.  My sweet hubby packed me some bread slices in my lunch bag one day and when I got them out to toast them at work he’d left me a sweet note! <3.  My other new thing is peanut butter toast with banana coins. One evening I’d made myself two slices for dinner, and before I knew it, Finn asked for a piece – and he ate the entire thing! IMG_4492 IMG_4523Finn has been enjoying lots of art projects, adventures, and outdoor time when the weather is nice lately. We sure are blessed that he is in such loving hands with Debbie!IMG_4504IMG_4491 IMG_4490 IMG_4488 IMG_4487 IMG_4486 IMG_4485 IMG_4484And this particular photo Debbie put in our app that we use to communicate. Griffin was holding the dogs blue ball and Debbie took a photo of Finn riding on his airplane in his room. She put a little caption that read “The sweetest game, Finn says ‘I’m flying to heaven to bring Cammie her ball to play with'”.  He has the most loving heart. IMG_4489

June 21, 2015

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This silly boy loves to run through the house with his broom singing Frosty the Snowman – even in June! He absolutely loves to “help” clean the floor. When we use our floor duster he likes to use his broom. Such a big helper. And did I mention he likes to do most all things by him “self” too?

It has been a week filled with sadness in our home, but also a time that has filled our heart with warmth at the family and friends who are a part of our lives and surround us in the good times and the bad. The Manning’s brought a delicious dinner to us on Friday and we enjoyed their company. Finn loved having fun and playing with all of the girls and at the end we decided to head to Graeter’s for more ice cream. Finn has developed a bit of a shyness and it was so fun to see him just go off with the girls and head into the grass to catch fireflies. He even talked to two other young girls he’d never met before who put fireflies on his arm and hands. IMG_20150619_083644614_HDR IMG_20150619_200510142 IMG_20150619_211318873Part of our night time routine is singing songs before bed. We usually sing 3 or 4, including Frosty the Snowman, Mr. Moon (a song I made up on the way home once when Finn was screaming and screaming, and it has become a regular now), Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Jesus Loves Me.  Finn knows many of the words to several of the songs. We often hear him singing in the morning when he wakes up. Here he is with a part of Jesus Loves me:

Last Fall in October Kevin heard about the Buckeye Country Superfest concerts that were going to take place at the ‘shoe (Ohio Stadium). It was a two-day fest, with big names in country music playing from 6-11pm both Saturday and Sunday nights. He bought tickets and also a sweet parking pass which allowed us to park right outside of Ohio Stadium. Jim and Pat had recently purchased an RV and they graciously offered it to us to use so we could hang out in the lot prior to the concerts each day.  Given the week we had, I wasn’t sure either of us were up for going as we really just wanted to be home together with Finn. But at Kevin’s urging, we decided to force ourselves to get out and have some fun.  The weather was great for both concerts despite the days filled with rain leading up to them. We had a fun time together enjoying some food, beverages, and listening to so many artists including David Nail, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Cole Swindell, Lee Brice, and Tyler Farr. We missed Cassadee Pope and Parmalee as we were hanging out in the parking lot during these openers, but we were ok with that ;).  Oh, and did I mention that during the Rascal Flatts performance (they are from OH) Urban Meyer came on stage with National Championship trophy. That was pretty cool to see. It was a really well organized event. IMG_20150620_165508401_HDR IMG_20150620_202442335IMG_20150620_202452237_HDR IMG_20150620_202549855_HDR IMG_20150620_203919038_HDR IMG_20150620_211854 IMG_20150621_175536908_HDR IMG_20150621_202330710_HDR IMG_20150621_220240451_HDR IMG_20150620_213918548_HDR 20150620_225104-1 IMG_20150620_225924047

Kevin was gracious enough to go to the marathon concert on Father’s Day!  We started the day with church and then home to open Father’s day gifts. Finn made his daddy a picture frame that he painted (with the help of Debbie, of course!) and filled it with a favorite picture of he and his dad. IMG_20150621_142438124

While we were all home together this week Finn and daddy made special pancakes one morning. He is quite the helper in the kitchen and particularly likes dumping and mixing. We also enjoyed lots of snuggles watching Sesame Street, Dino Train, and playing with puzzles. Finn is really good at putting his 2-piece dinosaur puzzles together all by himself. IMG_20150620_094927772_HDR IMG_20150620_094942035 IMG_20150620_095149703 IMG_20150620_100940532 IMG_20150620_100947960 IMG_20150620_103041803 IMG_20150620_105108208 IMG_20150620_105330911 IMG_20150620_110239628 IMG_20150620_115843558_HDR