Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Happy First Birthday Day Finn!


happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear me, finnley ann. . .
happy birthday to me!  

yippie, i'm 1 year old!

ahat a great day filled with fun new things, fun people, and lots of food!  thank you to everyone who made my special day soooooooo special. . .
the day started off with this amazing crown that auntie elvira knit.  the neat thing about this crown is that one it is knit out of paper, and two, it gets passed around to family/friends for their special day. . .now i am part of it's story!  thanks elvira, you are so thoughtful and I feel like a true birthday princess!

now what is the first thing that i want. . .
this looks interesting. . .ahh, a card from auntie krista and uncle nils!
. . .this is a fun card with a giraffe on the front that makes me go, mooooo!
now what's in this fun package that my cousins alden, soren, and august put together for me. . .

oh my favorite toy ever. . . a shaker that has a picture of soren on the end . . .
shake-a-shake-a. . . shake-a-shake-a. . .
. . . and a fun paper man with super colorful hair. . .
. . .and a book that has animals colored in with the name of it and what it sound's like. . . wow, this is a really cool book that i will keep forever and ever. . .thank you cousins!
grandma and grandpa stanek sent me a fun handmade plate that has my name and birthdate on it. . . it was made just for me!  thank you, xoxox!  ps. do you like my b-day outfit?
and grandma g and grandpa cool sent me my very own silver cup and silver spoon that both have a cute chickie on them. . . here goes my first bite. . . 
thank you, xoxoxo!
uncle gabe and uncle jason, thank you so much for my fun acrobat set. . .i have had so much fun sticking them all together! and my first real tutu, it is precious.   elvira, the sweater that you knit me is just beautiful. . .you are so talented. . . i will keep it forever and pass it on to my kids someday. . . soon, we will have a picture of me in it and we will send it to you!

today i felt like a true birthday princess. . .thanks again to everyone!
now it's time to party!
xoxox,
finnley the birthday girl.

Finnley's Ka-bob Ka-BASH Birthday Party!

We had a SUPER fun party in honor of my first birthday called Finn's Ka-bob Ka-BASH!  We ate kabobs in honor of the number 1.  

The kabob menu items included Whiskey Soaked Venison (from the deer daddy got last weekend), Pheasant Jalepeno Poppers, Chicken Teriyaki with pineapple, Sweet Potato Bacon with smoked paprika, Tater Tot and Weenie Dogs (my personal fav), Tomato Basil and Fresh Mozzarella with a balsamic reduction, and Mixed Fruit.  The sauces to accompany the kabobs included Yogurt Mint, Roasted Red Pepper, Coconut Curry and Peanut, Chipotle Lime, and a creamy Fruit Dip.  

A little something for everyone. . . YUMMO!   

Libbey and Amanda came over to help put all the kabobs together.  Thanks ladies, mom couldn't have done it without you!

Ahhhh. . . good times, good food, and great friends. . .
Me and daddy. . . i'm ready to party!
Folks showed up and right away a serious game of Holiday Jenga got on it's way. . .
Hi Odin. . .nice hat! (it's my toy bin that has the #1 on it)  Very Festive!
Go Tyrone Go!  Yummy. . . those kabobs are look'n mmmmmm good!
Oh look. . .back up.  Way to go daddy!
Yes!  Cake time. . . My very own Carrot Cake!  I'm not so sure about this candle lighting bit. . . 
and all this singing when everybody is looking at me. . .hmmmmm. . .can i just eat my cake?
mmmmmmmm. . .
i think i like the lemon cream cheese frosting the best. . .
but the rest of the cake will do. . .
20 minutes later. . .it's still delicious. . .i'm just taking my sweet old time. . .i like to what do you say. . .savor the flavor. . .
Wow!  Open presents while eating cake. . . here's my new pony i asked for (thanks kate and avery). . .and what a cool puzzle. . .Moo, Baa, Neey. . .all my favorites (thanks dokkens)!
What a good day!  
I'm now 1!!  Now it's time for some real fun . . .
'til next time,
finnley ann.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  

We spent my first Thanksgiving back in Wisconsin with Grandma Ginger and Grandpa Buck! (I call him "grandpa buck" because that is the first word I learned and when we're at there house- there are many of grandpa's bucks - i look up and point to them and say "buck"!)  

This trip was so fun because we got to see and spend time at a real cow farm near where grandpa grew up and where he and daddy hunt; I got to have total girl time with mommy and grandma; I got to go shopping with grandma; I got to see aunties and cousins; I got to see Santa for the first time; and I got to pre-celebrate my first birthday and eat birthday cake!!!

Here I am on the evening before the big road trip. . .I'm ready to go!  WI here we come!

We arrived in Yuba at the Cow farm to drop daddy off for some days of hunting. . .
Wow!  My first time seeing REAL cows. . .Moooo!
Put us to work Ray. . .
Then mommy and I continued onto Neenah. . . that night we got to spend time with aunties and cousins whose husbands/daddy's were also hunting!  
I had so much fun playing with my cousins. . .xoxo. . . 
Alec is such a good big cousin. . .
Yeah!!  Isley, Ella, Hailee, Me, Alec and Braden. . .
Sunday was the big Packer game!  Grandma Ginger and I were ready!!  
After  a Girl day of shopping, playing, cruising, and loving,  we got to skype with the boys. . .Hi Daddy!  Hi Grandpa!
All the action gave me sweet dreams while I slept with my Wisconsin Puppy and Monkey Bear
. . .zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Then we went back to the Cow Farm to meet up with daddy and grandpa. . .any luck guys?
At the top of this hill is where Daddy has been sitting. . .waiting. . .watching.  
We blew him a kiss hoping he would catch it. . .mmmmwa!
While the boys were out hunting, we girls were having fun. . . these look like headband material!
It wasn't long before the sun went down and the boys were in from the cold. . .I love my Grandpa Buck!
See the resemblance?  I'm Grandpa's little twin!
Thanksgiving was so special with Ray and Bridget Liska and their daughter Anna, Dick and Karen Levy, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Gabe, and Mommy and Daddy. . .

To our surprise, grandma brought a birthday cake and we had a little birthday celebration after dinner!  Happy Pre-Birthday to ME!
Really?  We have to take pictures before i can have my first bite of birthday cake?  Okay. . . quick!
ahhh yes. . .yummo!  There are so many colors on/in this cake. . . .delicious!
Now, the best part of celebrating your birthday at Thanksgiving is the next day you get to have Pumpkin Pie!!  Thanks grandma ginger!
I'm on a real saddle. . .ride'm cowgirl!!  All I need is a pony. . . please daddy. . . it is my birthday in a couple of days. . .!?
Well, this was a real good time. . .THANKS FOR EVERYTHING GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!
I love you!
Back to Colorado. . . .
xoxoxo,
finnley ann.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Now THIS is Colorado!

Dad had to go out of town for work for a week, so mom and I had some pretty fun girly adventures.  It began with my first summit of Independence Pass on a bike.  The neat part was that the pass was closed for the season so no cars could drive on it. . .it was just mom, me, penny, the open road and sunshiny skies baby. . .

Let's Go!
Wait!  Let's have some energy foods to get ready for our big climb!

Now, let's get biking!
Wahoo. . .  We made it to the top!!
 

Back so fast. . .whew, what a sweet down hill ride! 
Mom, I want to explore a bit before we head home. . .

All packed up!  Good ride'n mom!  What a fun day :)

One week later, the clouds came in and dumped a big load. . .of snow that is!  So it was ski time! It was a "Babes in the Backcountry" day with me, mom, libbey, amanda and dogs stella, osa, and penny!  Go ladies go!  


 Now, you may want to watch this at your own risk. . .if you think skiing at 11 months is kind of risky business. . .well, you might not be comfortable watching this video. . . but know that I LOVED IT!!

Joh and Wiley, we dedicated this run to you as we KNOW you would have been skiing this powder with us on this day had you still been in Leadville. . .we miss you :)

Now THIS is Colorado!!!!

Until our next adventure. . .y'all take care.
Happy Thanksgiving!
xoxox,
finnley ann.