The "Finnster, et al."

This past Saturday I participated in the Second Annual GET Gauntlet Games.  GET is the Gallatin Emerging Talent, which is basically the young (20 - 40 age) Gallatin Chamber of Commerce group. We meet every other Wednesday at Govan's Coffee House on the Square for an informational meeting.  We have different speakers on topics such as real estate, fitness and mortgages.  We also have weekend events - the Gauntlet Games. I was on the green team.  Now, I was the oldest person on our team by a full decade.  But despite the fact that I was really awful and uncoordinated, I had so much fun!  Next year I want to get a team from my Sunday School Class to participate. This is Lindsey and Derek - they are getting married in October. I would describe the Gauntlet Games as "adult field day."  We had the sack race, three legged race, plank race, water balloon dodge ball, tug of war and the dizzy bat race. I forgot that the older you get, the harder it...

During the last week of school, Finn had his first piano recital.  By this point he had been taking piano from Mrs. Odom for 4 months.  She selected "The Circle of Life" from the Lion King for Finn's piece.  He was so nervous!  He didn't really admit he was nervous, but I could tell.  Luckily he was second on the program, so he didn't have to sit with his nerves for too long. He did a really good job.  He sat at that piano with confident posture and beautiful hands. He hit a rough patch during the middle of the song. I was afraid that he might panic and and never recover.  But he kept his composure and finished strong. This was Will's expression the entire time Finn played. Immediately after Finn's performance, Will decided that he didn't want to sit still anymore so we spent the rest of the night in the foyer. Finn's look of relief after the performance.  He is just so handsome. The program from Finn's Performance. ...

On the last day of Second Grade, HCA presented awarded for academic excellence to the students.  Finn won the Math award, the Penmanship award, the Bible award and an award for making the "A" Honor Roll all year long.  We were very proud of him.   Afterward, the Second Grade class went down to their classroom for the end of the year party.  Mrs. Lockard and the Classroom moms decorated the room like a red carpet event.  Finn, his best friend Luke and Mrs. Lockard.  They also handed out field day awards.  Finn won blue ribbons in the 50 yard and 100 yard dash.  After the party, I went back to work and the boys went home with Gran.  Later than evening Finn's friend Luke, along with his mom and dad came over for dinner. It was a really great night!

Will is officially talking.  He speaks in full sentences and well thought out paragraphs.  Unfortunately I can't understand a word of it.  Believe it or not, this is actually an improvement.  He has been basically silent (absent crying and fussing) for most of his life.  It is great to finally hear him talk. It's almost like he says known how to talk the whole time, but just decided to actually do it one day. Now, not all of his words are indistinguishable.  Some of his new favorites are: 1. Watch Mama.  Any time Will plays with a toy or runs through the house he says "watch" or "Mama. Watch."  I get so tickled with him because he says so fast and choppy. 2. Will call Nana, Nanni.  He can also say "Papa." 3. Will loves to play with the WWE wrestling figures.  He doesn't know their proper names yet, so he call them collectively "bad guys." 4. Will can spot Batman from a mile away.  With a deep raspy voice he says "MatM...

On Friday evening we met the boys at Emily's community pool to celebrate Quinn's Fourth Birthday.  When I arrived I saw all three boys deep into a Light Saber fight.  Will was having a ball.  He was right in the middle of all of the kids just chopping them down with pool noodle light saber.  After cake and presents the boys went swimming.  Will was a little apprehensive about being in the water. I walked around with him in the kiddie pool for a while.  He didn't want to get in at all, but his need to get a beach ball floating around in the water overwhelmed him.  After a little bit, Grandad came to get him and they went into the big pool.  While Will was with dad I went over to watch Sam swim.  I was a little concerned that he would have forgotten all of his swimming skills over the winter, but I was so happy to see that he could swim both above and under the water. That next day Michael took Finn and Sam to canoe on the Harpeth....