The Canal

Each year, Rob's cousin Kirsten and her family throw this fantastic event of camping, eating, cribbage and oyster shucking at the family cabin in the Hood Canal. With the exception of two years, we always miss it due to travel schedules. However, we were finally able to make it for a night and it was so much fun. All of the Finke-Faw cousins and their kids were able to see each other in one place. We also loved getting to see the family friends of the Finke-Hansen clan. It's startling to see how the kids are almost outnumbering the adults. On Friday night there were 21 adults and 14 kids! All age ranges and all fun!

I think this trip also marked Mac's first ferry trip and he liked the windy deck and definitely was checking out some ladies (you'll see in one of the pictures). He also loved getting to sit on the table and look out the window. I think we could have left him and he may not have noticed until he was hungry again:).

Guess what? It's a slide show! I am hoping that as we enter fall and things calm down for us, I'll be caught up enough with photo uploads that I won't have to do it this way as much.

Crazytown

Just when we thought it might slow down, things just a get a little more unruly. We have a ton to share with everyone as Mac's social calendar continues to go big. For now though, I leave you with an admittedly longer video but I think you'll enjoy it. His giggles just don't quit and no, I won't reveal my secret of how we got him to laugh this long:).

Happy weekend!

Midwest Tour 2009 - Madison (go now)!

Our last stop was Madison, WI and it would have been perfect to have another day there. We did what everyone who's ever been to Madison told us to do - go have a beer (or a pitcher) on the terrace at the University of Wisconsin Student Memorial Union. We did it and everyone's love for it makes total sense, it's wonderful. We really didn't want to leave and I think if he could have told you himself, Mr. Mac didn't either. The setting is gorgeous, the people are so friendly, the beer is good and people watching makes time fly.

It was a nice way to wind down from the four days of wedding festivities and I think if we can swing it in the future, we'll definitely be making a return trip. The rest of the city is beautiful and the drive from Milwaukee is green, pretty peaceful and pleasant.

Here's Mr. Mac enjoying the MU, making more friends (including one of Madison's top musicians), and loving every minute of it!

Midwest Tour 2009 - Milwaukee

We had a really nice train ride from Chicago to Milwaukee. From the minute we entered Wisconsin, we were struck by how friendly everyone was. It didn't matter who, where, what or, when - every interaction we had was a positive one.
After a yummy lunch and beer in the historic Third Ward (Milwaukee's version of the north Pearl District) along the river, we got camp set up at our hotel and preceded to spend four days of celebrating two wonderful friends, now John and Jen Nelson. In between events we played and walked with Mac a ton.

Here's a slideshow of the first day and then I'll try to add some photos from the wedding, which was absolutely incredible and beautiful!

Pit stop - 11 months

While we try to get up to speed from our travels, I thought it would be good to mention Mac's antics on the day that marks his 11 months on the planet.

Guess what? Yes, he's still changing. Just today, I could swear he's grown and become more of a little boy while I was at work. Since turning ten months, he's had plenty of adventures, all the while working on his skills and letting his personality shine. Mr. Mac has officially presented us with his first word. I think given his affinity for Buster, it's appropriate that it is "dog." Actually, everything he's excited about is a dog. Forget calling us mama or dada, we're doog, daug, daaaag. While it may eventually be considered rude, Macadam is starting to love to point. At first (and still when he's tired) it was a hand held out like he expected you to kiss it. Now, it's a full fledged point.

He's also getting closer and closer to independent upright mobility...a.k.a. walking. At the very end of our trip to the Midwest he began to really use furniture and other moving objects to cruise. It's anyone's guess when he'll actually take those first steps but it's a great time watching him try.

We have more photos and stories from recent trips but for now, here's our little guy up to what he likes best - standing, being silly and making friends. Hopefully we can upload a video soon too.