Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful time down in VA last week seeing my side of the family and giving Finley some quality cousin time.  As some of you may recall, Finley and his cousin Owen had the same exact due date back in 2009 but with Finley coming early and Owen taking an extended stay on the inside, the boys are just about a month apart.  Friday night and Christmas day, the boys got some time to play together and it was so fun to watch.  Despite their differences, they seemed to be two peas in a pod at times!

The first pict looks like an old polaroid I dug out from the 70s, but it is in fact a picture taken with Dan's apparently ghetto phone camera.   At least someone caught the cuteness on film!

Finley shared his love of the guitar with Owen while we all desperately tried to capture this adorable moment.

Things dissolved from there as we prepped for a family shot...

But luckily my dad was to snap a few photos for the Mixter scrapbook (and our blog!).

Finley also shared his new wooden play menorah with his dear cousin.

Not to be left in the dust by the boys, Owen's little sister, Finley's cousin Natalie got into the action.  Finley was more than happy to include her, he seems to have quite a fondness for small fries these days.

The most surprising part was that Finley was very eager for me to pick up Natalie.  "Mommy hold Na-wie?" he asked over and over until I obliged.

He just loved to get right up into her face and say "Hi Na-wie" over and over. So sweet!

And just when you thought Finley was spoiled enough by cousins, we went over to Dan's cousin Eric's house to see his brood.  Mia is nearly 4 and Jake turned 1 at Thanksgiving.  Eric got most of the pictures that I'll have to steal from him later, but here are Mia and Finley on the swing set.

At one point, Mia hopped off her swing and hopped back on on her belly and I said, "Wow, you're just like Superman" and Mia quickly retorted, "No, I'm Tinkerbell."  Dan and I both laughed and commented how boy-centric our lives have become!!  Here's the goodbye hug that Eric grabbed before we left.

Great Uncle Bernie couldn't be left out so Finley gave him a hearty goodbye handshake!

It was fun to see those guys in their new house, but it was back to Grammy and Granddad's after that to order our Christmas Eve Chinese food!

I didn't take a great deal of other photos, but here are some random shots from our time down there.

Another sepia-like shot from Dan's phone, what a good smile on a crappy camera!

Some day this photo will be on the inside of one of his album covers...thanks for the shot, Aunt Caitlin!

A present from Owen and his family: Zig the Big Rig!

My dad took us on a fun subway/metro adventure one morning and Finley LOVED being on the train!

Grammy, Aunt Caitlin, Finley and I also went to a nearby playground one afternoon and Caitlin showed Finley how to really have fun!

My dad put Finley to work spreading mulch out back and Finley was more than willing to help!

And loading some firewood into the wheelbarrow!

All in all, a wonderful time had by all and Finley continues to ask where his Grammy and Dan-dad are and what they are doing...I think we'll have to see them again soon or I'll run out answers that pacify the determined little guy!

Two takes of the our Forseter trio to end this post, Happy New Year to all!

Dan and I look better in the first, but Finley looks much happier in the second :)