Finley's Wit and Harper's Crawl

So, Finley and I were driving the other day when she says,  unprovoked, "You're not as handsome as Jack. You're only a couple handsome, but Jack is all of the handsome. You're just a couple handsome, Daddy, but Jack is all day handsome."  Then, when we came home and told Shelley, Finley kindly demonstrated with her hands where Jack and I rank;  you can assume which hand I am.  I can only be grateful for her short arms or it might be worse.

I tried to post this video the other day, but it was too long, so I had to edit it into two separate videos. Take a look - Harper is getting after it and she LOVES Dixie.

Still Alive

So, I am a bit bothered by not being much of a man of my word, over four weeks since my last post. That certainly isn't any way to bump my readership over the 5 of you that come here to see picture of the girls. My apologies, but work is keeping me pretty busy, as are the two little mini-Shelleys.

They are both doing great - Finley is starting to break out of her separation anxiety - almost to the point of when she was a regular in daycare. She has been going twice a week to 1/2 day preschool and today she didn't cry at all when Shelley left. That is quite a contract to the full bore meltdown she had on day one and the smaller, yet powerful hurricane she unleashed the second time. In fact, yesterday at dance class, Shelley was able to join the other parents outside the studio for the first time in four classes, too.

As you can see, she is pretty busy, and we haven't even mentioned gymnastics on Friday nights, where she loves the trampoline and is becoming an accomplished performer -- the Russian judge gives her frequent face plants a 10 for degree of difficulty. She's growing great - she weighted 28.2 pounds tonight before her bath - almost as much as either of her much younger cousins!!

Harper is continuing her own development. She has decided she wants to crawl on her knees now, too, in addition to her army crawl. However, at almost the same time, she discovered standing; she now regularly pulls herself up into the standing position - tonight even getting so bold as to only hold on with one hand. As you'll see in the pictures below, she is growing up fast -- her hair is getting longer and a bit darker, all while accomplishing the feat of getting taller and chunkier.

The dogs are doing well, too. Monty is an old pro, given this is her sixth move as well, so she has already found all of the spots with the most sunlight for the best sleeping. The guy that put in our dog door put it too high, so while she can get out it, she refuses to come in it from the outside. So, as you can imagine, she just barks to get us to let her in. Needless to say, I'll be figuring out a workaround ASAP.

Jack and Dixie are the same as always, although I think they really, really miss their yard back in Chicago. However, this is made up by the fact that they have a gate that looks out onto the street, which given it is in more of a neighborhood than our last house, lets them see all of the action. When the school bus lets the kids off in the afternoon, you can't get him to come inside - he just sits there crying and barking at them; he couldn't be happier unless they came up to play! Dixie likes the house because of all of the carpeting and rugs we have, in contract to all of the tile and hardwood in Chicago.

Finally, we are good, too. Shelley is slowly, very slowly, getting into a routine with the girls. I think she enjoys the time she gets to spend with them, which is good, since it is 24 hours a day. She has signed up for the Nashville Country Music 1/2 Marathon this spring, probably just so she can get an hour to herself while she runs (good thing I am getting her a jogging stroller for her birthday - that way she can include the girls in this, too!!!!!).

Work is going well for me - I've been seeing a fair amount of Canada lately. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I was only 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle in a town called Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories. I would have taken some pictures, but there wasn't much to capture -- it looked like western Nebraska with more small trees and as many lakes as Minnesota.

Anyhow, this is more than you care about -- here are the pictures.

This is Harper in late August. She really likes to be outside - even now she loves to get pushed in the stroller during the dog walks.

You can see the misery on poor Jack's face about the backyard downsizing the Weinsteins did - I've tried to tell him that at least it isn't an apartment, but he still isn't pleased.

Finley's weekly dance class requires this uniform - but with slippers instead of Crocs. She got a tutu - a real one - at class.

This is her uniform for her line dancing class. That, thankfully, takes place in our house between her and her mother.

Daddy and 3/4s of his girls.

Papa Joel came up a few weeks back and helped out around the house. Even now, Finley says, "Papa Joel is so silly."

A small carnival came to a parking lot near our house about 3 weeks ago. This is Harper at the start of the festivities.

Finley really liked the Merry Go Round, but would not allow her mother to leave her side.

Instead of tea cups, they had strawberries. Finely is REALLY into Strawberry Shortcake right now, so this was the coolest thing ever for her. She kept say we were in a strawberry just like Strawberry Shortcake.

Harper, 15 minutes later.

As with the Lake County Fair before we left, Finley loved to drive. She continue to backseat drive when she is in the car with me -- "Eyes on the road, Dad;"" Both hands on top of the wheel;" "Radio off, Daddy."

She lives her own message, as she keeps her hands on the wheel turning the heck out of it the whole time.

My daughter, the Teamster.

So, at the last fair, she really liked the Dragon roller coaster. This one seemed to go much faster, which you can tell, by the look of abject horror on Finley's face.

The girls Great Aunt Sara sent each girl a pumpkin that has their name where the teeth of the jack o' lantern would be -- they are VERY cute. Harper loves to watch Finley.

As with Finley, Harps has a really good appetite. She looks pretty good wearing it, too.

She also likes to touch you while she is eating with her index finger, which you can sort of make out here.

As Finley said when she saw this picture, "Someones in trouble."

"Not me," Finley said.

So, not all of the pictures are always so photogenic - that she gets from me.

Or her sister, that still has vestiges of her "cheese" face from many months ago.

Finely, two videos. The first, from this week, shows how much Harper is jumping in her exersaucer.

Think of this one as our own little blooper reel at the end of a move -- it isn't as easy as it looks!

I also appologize for any typos or gramatical errors - I really wanted to get this up, but I'm pretty tired and don't have it in me to proofread tonight. I will try to look at it tomorrow, but don't want to delay posting.

I hope to get more up soon.

Catching Up - Through Early August

As promised, I have much to report, despite the glitch that seems to require I type with center justify. Despite that, I am pleased to report that we are all well, although we are all adjusting. Work is keeping me very busy, as all new jobs do, while Shelley is adjusting to be with the girls all day, and as she reminds me, it is ALL DAY LONG. The dogs seem to like the house, despite a yard that is much, much, much smaller than their old yard.

Moving to Canada has also been a good experience for the family. While it is obviously very similar to the US - many of the same brands, etc., it is the little things that have made it a good experience. First, there is much more diversity in Canada, with immigration coming from throughout the world. We have already found a great Vietnamese restaurant, Caribbean place (with oxtail stew), two Greek restaurants, and an all you can eat sushi spot that is our new Tacos el Norte (how we miss you so!!!). The grocery stores are different - smaller with fewer, less familiar choices, which has been a struggle sometimes. Shelley will only go to Whole Foods and Wal-Mart, which means that it's almost like she never left Chicago, except she wouldn't have been so desperate to go to Wal-Mart back home.

So, the pictures below are through about mid-August. In my next post, I will get you all caught up, but here is what you've missed during the time I was too lazy to post. I have provided a couple of videos, one from today, to hold you over until next time.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Susie (and Uncle Steve, too). This is from Harper's baptism, which we never posted pictures from in June.

The Hoschek's all came in out in force.

Posted just because it is a pretty good picture of me . . . and Nana Pat and Harper, too.

Finley was NOT happy at all of the attention Harper was getting at the church. Poor Nana Pat was forced to go outside the chapel to let Finley get her energy out . . . and not ruin the ceremony for Harper. At one point, I think she was going to dive into the baptismal font if that was what it was going to take!

The godparents - and a new record - 3 pretty good pictures of me in a row!!!

So, as you saw before, there go our goods onto the truck. Ontario, here we come.

Finley was pretty good with it all, and seem to really understand what was going on. But she still wanted to know, after the truck left, where was her couch?

So, we got to the house in Oakville, a Toronto suburb, on Friday and had to wait until Monday until the truck would arrive to deliver our things. This is the view from the front door into the house.

Our new kitchen.

Monty leading the nickle tour - what's up there?

Finley's Pepto Bismal colored bedroom. She loves it.

It didn't take Finley long to turn the kitchen into the playroom. I have no idea why she felt the need to go topless, either.

"Oh, Finley, you're so smart. F for Finley." Harper is already try to play to her sister's vanity.

Cousin Kelsey came to the house the week after we moved in to drive back with Nana Pat. Finley LOVED Kelsey and wouldn't leave her side.

We went to downtown Toronto one of the days she was here, and Harper is resting up on the train ride down.

Kelsey, who has started her sophomore year in college took advantage of the 19 year-old drinking age in Ontario to have her first beer EVER (just in case her mother or father see this). She tackled a Guinness, too, but over course she didn't like the taste of beer and just ordered a milk like her parents would have wanted (you're welcome, Kelsey).

Harper has been tackling real food for the last couple of months. Here she is eating a baby biscuit, but she is already up to almost all types of real, soft foods. She's even eaten her mother's homemade pizza and green tea ice cream.

The day downtown left Finley exhausted.

One thing Shelley does like about Canadian grocery stores, perhaps the only thing, is the double seat carts all the store have. Finley likes to sit next to Harper, too.

I know the video was not very clear from last month, but here is proof that Finley was on the roller coaster at the Lake County Fair. I know this is out of order, but this stupid blog program won't let me move it up in the right order.

This video makes me laugh. It is about 3 weeks old, but the only difference is that Harper just goes faster. She is doing great developmentally - she is on the move, she will pull herself up onto things, etc. The only thing -- she refuses to crawl on her knees. As you'll see here, she army crawls everywhere. She can shimmy all the way across the house, but only on her belly. Even today, three weeks later, she will crawl with her hands full of things, so she is quite good, but still as though she is in boot camp.

Finley's favorite song is California Girls by Katy Perry. As you will kind of hear, she loves to dance to it. Sadly, she dances as though she is the love child of Elaine from Seinfeld and Shae, but at least she loves the arts. This is from about two weeks ago.

So, as I close out, a tease for the next posting and a link to the video above. This is from this afternoon while we were driving to the store. I was trying to sing along, when she told me I should just listen to Katy. Then she started singing and it just made me laugh. Enjoy.

Next week I will post pictures from Finley's first dance class, Harper and Dixie, and more. Sorry for the delay in posts, but as I get into a routine, I hope to return to my weekly or biweekly posts. I hope you all are well.

We're Alive

So, I know it has almost been a month since we last posted, so I only ask you wait a few more days before the "Since We Left Off" post. I did want to let my loyal readers, all four of you, know we are alive and doing well. The girls are settling in and loving being home with their Momma all day, even though I am sure their Momma is craving adult interaction.

More to come shortly about the transition to Canada, how the girls are doing, and the dogs thoughts on having a tenth the yard they had before.

As you can see, Harper (or Lil' Sammie with less forehead, as Shelley calls her) has her top two teeth. Late breaking update - the upper canines are starting to drop this week. She's doing great - she already 20 pounds, which is just about eight behind her sister.

Other than the fact Finley doesn't allow Harper to have any toys of her own, they are doing great together. Fin is more than happy to let us know when Harper is commando crawling someplace she isn't supposed to. Harper has yet to crawl from her knees, but she has just about gone across the entire first floor scooting on her belly. When she gets to where she wants to go, she is pulling herself up, which she loves to do into Finley's purple polka dot chair. As you might imagine, Finley isn't crazy about that new trick.

We've gotten Finley enrolled in gymnastics again, which started last week, but she is most excited about her dance class, which starts Saturday. Shelley had to go to a dance supply store to pick up a leotard, tights, and ballet slippers -- all pink, for the class. As Finley is really into Angelina Ballerina and Olivia, she couldn't be more excited to dance.

That's all for now. I'm sorry I've been so remiss in posting, but as we get into more of a routine, I promise to return to my 7 to 10 to 14 day postings of the past. I hope you all are well and we miss everyone.

We've Arrived

I promise I will provide a more robust update shortly - we still haven't been able to dig our home computer out of boxes, but I did want to let you all know we've arrived. All is well and I'm optimistic that by September, we will have finished opening all of the cardboard boxes.

Here is a bit of a tease:



The truck in Libertyville packed us up.

Jack and Monty checking out the new digs before the chaos of the cardboard.

The girls are making their own fun in the kitchen - no worse for wear despite the international relocation -- they are legal Canadian residents.

It did, however, leave them wiped out. Please note how they seem to sleep EXACTLY the same way!!!

More videos of Finley driving, by popular demand. If you get the pleasure of driving while she's in the car, you'll see that she is now offering drivers education. She yells at Shelley and me to put our hands on the top of the steering wheel, put our phones down, etc. As you can see, her form is perfect.

Last few weeks - Grandpa & the Fair

So, this will be the last post before the Great Northern Migration. The movers come this week and by Friday, we will be living in the Toronto suburb of Oakville. Oakville is a nice suburb very similar to where we live now with a vibrant downtown right on the lake.

As for the family, everyone is well. Shelley is doing great, but she is adjusting to being home with the girls full-time. I think there will be lots of activities, and a gym with child care, when we get to Canada. Finley continues to be both very opinionated and very able to articulate those opinions. She's fully in the terrible twos, but will say the funniest things. You'll see a couple of videos of her below and with all kids, she is quite good at repeating (or singing) things she hears.

Harper is getting very big and all four of her front teeth have broken through. The top two just dropped in this past week, while the bottom two have been through for a couple of weeks. She is "talking" up a storm and is about to crawl any day now. In the coming weeks, I'll post some comparison pictures of the two girls at the same age, as it seem they look a great deal alike, save their coloring.

Here goes with the posting - as always click on the picture to enlarge:

We took Finley and Harper to the Lake County Fair last night. Finley had a great time on the rides, which you'll hear about below, but this was her favorite ride. She really enjoyed driving the purple car, and only the purple car.

You can see her turning the wheel and really focusing on her driving. Lately, when we are in the car, she'll yell at us for not having both hands on the wheel. Tonight, when I told her I did (they were on the bottom), she said they weren't on the right part of the wheel. She's so bossy, but if you've driven with her mother, you'll understand where she gets it!

Looking both ways before making a left turn.

In addition to the car, she got on these bumble bees, which went about 15 feet in the air. She had to sit on my lap and kept saying how high we were in the air.

Yep, back to the car. Only the purple car.

Again, pay attention to the focus. In addition to the rides, she really enjoyed her first corn dog, the corn on the cob (which she's had before), and the funnel cake (which she hadn't).

Monty is doing well, although the thunderstorms we've had lately have played havoc with her storm anxiety. She just shakes during the thunder and lightning, and lately she has taken to hiding under Finley's bed or in one of the closets. We hope that since our house in Canada will have fewer, smaller windows, perhaps the issues will be reduced.

Grandpa Steve came up for a visit this past week while I was in Anaheim. Grandpa and the girls went to Lambs Farm to see the animals and ride the little train around the park. Harper liked her first train ride, it seems.

Finely LOVES this tutu and will literally wear it everyday in a week. You are all (the 6 of you) going to be seeing this in the pictures ahead.

For example, Finely in said tutu with a goat. Shelley said Finley didn't want to leave the petting zoo she was having so much fun.

And a girl in a tutu brushing a lamb. She really is very affectionate with the dogs, esp. Dixie, who she'll walk up and hug up on all the time. Poor dog.

Speaking of dogs, Jack is feeling himself again. As you can see, his wound looks much, much better.

Harper has started eating the puffs and she loves them. They dissolve in her mouth and she just wants to shove them in her mouth. I can't deny paternity a trait like that.

As I mentioned, Finley loves her dogs and her Dixie especially. You will hear a bit below Finley showing her love in song.

Finley is a little sweaty Betty when she sleeps. No matter how hot, she likes to be under all of her covers. This rats nest doesn't represent an atypical morning when she wakes up.

The front view - she's still SO PRETTY.

So these videos below are from my new Blackberry, so there may be some formatting issues, as it appears the videos are very small. This one below requires an explanation. It is Finley singing each dog's "song." Shelley has a song she sings to each dog and Finley sings along with her. In the video below, she tackles her special arrangement of You are my Sunshine for Monty and a compilation of several Dixie's songs - Dixieland Delight, The Dixie Chicken, and If Heaven ain't a Lot Like Dixie. For those wondering, Jack's song is How Much is that Dog in the Window, mixed with Stomping in my Air Force Ones (long story).

Shelley took Finley on a little roller coaster at the Fair. With the video so small, you may not be able to see her, but they are on the back of the car.

This video is Finley describing the Fair last night. When we were trying to shoot the video, she insisted on getting RIGHT UP ON THE CAMERA, which is why she's so close.

Well, that's it for now, but I am sure I'll have some good pictures this week with the move coming. Wish us luck!