Wedding Extravaganza

With the Lennon and Funari families as big as they are, we've been to a lot of family weddings and had the chance to catch up with and see lots of family in recent months. Here are some pictures from weddings in NC and PA. More pics from visitng Gram Lennon to follow.  We captured them on the iPhone and have to get them uploaded.

Pappy and Heath

Grammy snuggling with Heath

Lexi preparing for Kev's wedding and very excited to attend her first wedding.

All dressed up and ready to go (with help from Grammy and Aunt Colleen)

The Lennon Clan

Time with cousin Ryan

Enjoying the dancing.  Lexi started and ended the dancing....

Watching the fun with Lily....

Heath loving his time with Aunt Colleen

Pics from Patrick and Heath's visit to NC

Funny Things

A couple cute, simple things Finn and Lexi have said recently to share:

"Mommy, mommy," Finn says in the middle of night.  I run in to his room.  "Yes, honey?" 
"I need my backpack." 

"Can we watch the commercials?" Lexi asks after their evening TV show has ended. Are they that desperate?

"Momma," Lex says in the middle of the night.  And then when I'm there beside her.  "Mom, I need a sweater."

Apple Picking

The leaves are already beginning to change here which means it's apple picking time! We look forward to apple picking with the kids every year and this year was no exception.  We learned that "crowded" in Maine is much different than "crowded" in Chicago.  The supposedly crowded orchard had rows and rows of unpicked apples with no one around.  Ahhhhh....the way apple picking should be. We've experienced years where apple picking was more of a treasure hunt to just find a ripe unpicked apple, so this was a nice surprise. We enjoyed the day with the Gilbert/Holsten clan and everyone enjoyed the apples and sunshine!

The apple picking mini crew (minus Heath) enjoying freshly picked apples

Jen and Sam

Swimming

Lexi and I sat through two whole swim sessions at the Y in Evanston. I mean it was supposed to be her swim class, but she never made it past the bench where parents watch from. So we basically made some donations to the Y.

Something had happened between the parent-tot class (where she was such an eager swimmer and always wanted to swim by herself) and the 3 year old (swim on your own) class and Lex decided the water was not for her.

Did she know that deep down I really, really cared and that her not wanting to swim would just eat away at me? Could I have a kid who didn't swim?

So two classes watching from the bench and a full year later, Lexi declares she's ready to swim again. "Yes, mommy, I won't be afraid anymore," she said. So I cautiously sign her up, not getting my hopes up and, honestly, trying not to think about it much so I won't obsess and ultimately make her nervous.

Finn, Heath (his first swim class ever) and Lex all are signed up for Saturday morning swim class at the Y in Freeport, ME. It takes a professional planner to get us all out of the house on time, breakfast eaten, teeth brushed (we think), dressed, swim gear, diapers, shower essentials, snacks, bottle. We manage somehow.

Lexi cries at first, but then she gets in. She swims. She loves it. I try not to cry. Such a sap, but then I realize Patrick feels the same. And just like that, she now loves swimming. It's that simple. Seriously, if I could translate my fears that easily... Hooray for you Lex, hooray!

(Sorry - the quality of these photos with the lighting in the pool is pretty bad)

Heath's first swim class

Beginnings

Apologies, as I am way behind with updates...

The week of Labor Day brought more firsts--Both Lex and Finn started new schools here in Maine. Lex slid right in like she'd been going all along and Finn will probably be running his preschool in a couple of months. He hardly noticed when we turned to leave. Certainly bittersweet for us to see how quickly they adjust and need us less and less. Ultimately, we're happy there seem to be few hiccups for the kids during this incredibly transitional period for us, the adults.

Lex in front of her school pointing to the fountain that sits by the front door

Jumping right into a coloring activity

Finny on his was to his first day of school

Here's Finny outside of his school on the first day.

Four

Lexi turned four on September 14th.

I'm sure all parents know what I mean when I say that I can remember the day she was born like it just happened last week. I remember the drive on LSD from Evanston to Prentice hospital in Chicago. I remember calling our parents and our best friends to say we were on our way--that she was on her way. I remember seeing her for the first time and wondering how I could love someone so intensely that I'd hardly known and that I'd really just met. Those first funny weeks when everything was new and an adventure. Changing diapers for the first time, bathing her for the first time. Asking everyone everything because we knew nothing.

And now she's four and we're still on an adventure. For her birthday she asked for a princess cake. Patrick made her a stunning cake! Sam, Jen, and Jess joined us for the festivities (and our Realtor, Rita, too). In school she was the line leader and 20 kids sang happy birthday--probably her proudest moment. She is still talking about it. Happy Birthday Lexi!

The happy birthday girl.

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Lexi helping to create her princess cake



Patrick working on the princess dress



Here's the final princess cake!



Let's not forget her favorite gift - the princess music box.

Starring Heath Bar

Nine times out of ten we call Heath, "Heath Bar". Lexi and Finny probably think that "Heath Bar" is his full name. I also call him "Big Boy" all the time because he literally is a big, big baby boy. I didn't want his milestones and achievements to get overshadowed just because he's not talking or moving about yet. Here are some of Heath's latest:

He's eating homemade solids



He loves to sit and play



He loves to swing



He loves big sis Lex who makes him belly laugh all the time



Here he is after a hot sweaty nap! Dad helped his hair a bit...



He loves to smile and we did finally move him to a big boy car seat. He's nosy, but has a sweet, sweet demeanor. And did you notice he's blond and still has blue eyes?!

Milestones

We finally took the plunge and moved Finn to a big boy bed. He was pretty excited to have his own thrown and figured out way to quickly that he could just get out when he wants to. It took Lexi at least 1/2 year to learn she could just get up and get out of her bed when she wanted to. Finn, on the other hand, shows up standing next to you without notice.

In his first night in his new bed, Lexi decided that she would snuggle with him and got in Finn's bed with him. This was taken on the iPhone. We just were not ready for the moment.

She really is a great big sis and I am certain it eased the transition for him.

BFF

We were lucky enough to have Beatrice and Keri visit us in late August. While we missed Eric and Hattie, we enjoyed every moment of beach going, dress-up, wildlife park adventures, and giggling. The girls (and Finn) picked right back up as though they hadn't been away from each other at all. These photos do not do the visit justice. I only wish we had Gretchen with us to catch these moments with her camera to truly relay the moment.


At the wildlife park.





A good one to save to share at Bebe's wedding!

Dress-up started moments after Bebe arrived at the house.


Pretending they are going on a trip.

We miss them already!