Hugging Lessons

So we've been teaching Pax about hugs and he's pretty much become a natural. This one came out of nowhere - Mom went in for some breakfast business when he was in his high chair and he just went after it.

Then I thought I'd get in on the action and then Mae wanted a hug (she is the hugging queen, after all).

And now, he pretty much dishes them out wherever, whenever.

Twinkies

Check this out. Mom got Pax out of bed the other morning and brought him down and little did she know, until we pointed out, that she and Pax were TWINS!!

 Night before I hit up the Hawks game again with Dad.

And get this - on our walk back to the bus we ran into Harold. You remember Harold the Rickshaw Driver, from THIS POST? Well, that night we couldn't pay Harold because we didn't have any cash but he wanted to take us home anyway and said to pay it forward. So it was amazing that we could hitch a ride with him and pay him back from our last ride.

Harold had two humongous fur blankets that we had on in the back of the rickshaw to keep us warm, so of we went through the west side streets with the music blaring again - this time Prince - and Harold got us home safely yet again.

My First Official Concerto

So this was it, my big day. I'd been practicing for weeks and my lessons had been going swimmingly, and the day had finally come for my first official piano concert.

I got all decked out and headed out to my school for an evening performance. I was so excited my mom was able to muster up the energy to make it to the show, and a pre-concert hug from her was a big boost for me.

Eli and Isaiah and Uncle Brian came a long way to watch me play. And Aunt Tasha watched Pax so that Mom could come. Nana and Papa also came to my show but Nana was so busy taking pictures we never got one with her actually in the photo... ugh.

After Hooper took his turn, it was my moment, and I seized it. Remember that Whitney Houston song, "One Moment in Time" - yah, well, Whitney (God rest her soul), she knew what she was singing about.

And then my teacher, Miss Victoria, joined me on stage for a duet.

And the crowd went wild.

Some post-show hugs from my favorite folks and it was on to a pizza party on my deck (Nadia was there and she played right after I did, so we were piano concerto buddies).

 And the lady who made me the pianist I am today.

Easter Weekend | Part II

So we left off Part I of the post with the big ol' bunny about to do what he does at my house. Well, he did. There were some sticker books and drawing pads left in our baskets...

And there was a serious egg hunt in our house.

Yep, bunny has a little bit of a foul sense of humor, I think.

And I hesitate to say this because I don't want strangers to start sending me facebook messages like I hear happens to people that win the lotto, but Mae and I are rich.

It was off to Nana's later that day for some more Easter festivities. The boys and I decorated Nana's holiday tree out front...

And then we got our grub on...

And then it was time for our third egg hunt of the weekend.

But wait, Finley, your'e not in the picture above... I see Corinne, Luke, Sophie, Isaiah, Mabel, Hannah and Eli.


Oh, right. Well, it might have been the tryptophan in the ham that... wait, nevermind... I don't know, I was really tired so I actually wanted to take a nap so I missed the egg hunt.

But you know who didn't? MJ.

So I wake up and it's then that I realize I'm really miffed that I missed the egg hunt. So Luke and Isaiah and Eli set up a whole separate egg hunt just for me out by the swingset. Moral of the story? Have awesome cousins.

Yep, sneaky spot, Eli, but I found it.

After the egg hunt Mae went all Landon Donovan on us and decided to show off her soccer moves.

When I say we put in a strong showing playing outside today, nothing shows that more than the remnants of dirt, sand and snot that Mabel Jane came inside with.

A few more nice pictures from the day/weekend of some of my favorite peeps:

Nana and Buddy

Mom and Dad

Mom with Noni and Aunt Debbie

Oh, and in case you didn't notice, when it's Easter, I bring it hardcore with the bunny ears.

And just when you thought I was the goofiest looking kid in this next photo, check out the kid behind me in line with the basket on his head. Well played, young Easter soldier.

3 Posts in One Day?? Yes, For My Mom

Yes, and this one is the most important.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mothers out there (too many to list), all of you who have become new mothers this past year (Gina C, Jess, Becky, Kelly) and all of you who are going to be mothers very soon (Laura, Gina F, Jana, Deeg, Heidi).

Happy Mother's Day to my Grandmas, thanks for all the love.

And most importantly to me, Happy Mother's Day to my mom, who is more than I could ever have asked for.