Merry!

So much to be grateful for this year~  Love to all!

2nd birthday

A little more low key than last year, when Ahren and I decided to go all out to celebrate our first year of surviving parenthood (and of course the birth of our child), we had a nice little celebration at home on Finn's actual birthday-  then a few days later, a few of Finn's friends came over for a small playdate-  and yes, there was funfetti.
Last year's shindig can be seen HERE.

look like your daddy?  yes. 

my sweet tooth babes-

present opening from her boy, B-dog

Playdate funfetti preview-  caught with your hand in the cupcakes...

...and later with your bud, Marley, caught with hand in cupcakes...

aftermath- 

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, LITTLE ONE!

Halloween, 2012

Yep- it's December 20th, and here is my Halloween update on Miss Finn.  It's been that kind of fall in so many great ways!  She was a bit overwhelmed by the celebrations of Halloween:  a par-tay at preschool, a par-tay for her Stroller Strides friends, and a night of trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood, which we now know gets way into any kind of holiday spirit.  We literally had to turn our lights off after over 300 trick-or treaters...  I think some of the festivities were scary to her, and looking at things through her eyes, I could understand.  It was really fun for us, though!  The parties were fun, and we had friends over to trick-or-treating, so everyone got to drink beer and hand out candy after a short lived trip around the block with the toddlers...

Par-Tay One at Preschool:  Hokie Bird

Par-Tay 2 at the incredible Bray residence

Night of Trick-or-Treating

trying to keep up with her friends!

had to post this house with the wine bar- red or white... and I couldn't partake...

Everyone!

Jane

This post has been a long time coming, and I kept avoiding it due to many things-  mainly the chaos of life, but also just needing some time to process that one of my very favorite people in the world is gone.  My grandmother passed away at the end of September, and my family and I have all had time to reflect on what a great life she led and how she left us all with the desire to find laughter in every possible situation.  She truly loved life like no one I've ever met- always the first to arrive at a party, always the last to leave-  as her memorial so appropriately stated: "She led a life full of energy, personality and never ending humor.  She loved to party, laugh, and dance. "  In the grandmotherly fashion, she was the first person to introduce me to a martini, and we definitely did our share of dancing... The opportunities she and my grandfather provided for all of us are endless.

Janie was always in my corner and always there for me.  And I will never forget her positive attitude no matter what life brought to her doorstep.  When she first got sick, over seven years ago, she entered rehab with eyes ahead, determined to be at my wedding just six weeks later, and of course she was...  It meant everything that she was able to see Finn for almost two years.  The last time I saw her, just days before her passing,  I reminded her about my second pregnancy with baby girl #2, and she looked at me, smiling, and simply said, "Delighted."

My great-grandparents and my grandmother, the bride, on her wedding day

At our wedding

Jane and Finn

Janie's loves

My brother and me and our own loves

All of Janie's grandchildren and great-grandchildren

My grandmother and grandfather