Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Onion Peel

Who needs toys?!

Have you ever seen him sit this still (ok, with a puzzle, perhaps). There weren't even any tears.

Friday, December 4, 2009

St. Nicholas Day

Finn knows his numbers but doesn't assign days yet, so we sped up St. Nicholas day by a few days so he could enojy is present before I took him back to the Hat on the 9th so Daniel could study....


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Oscillation


Ransom's been doing this crazy moonwalk or crab walk or oscillation thing on his back and I try to catch it here but it's pretty scarce - but the cuteness isn't!


Ah, but here we see it in essence - crazy, hey?!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Storytime Bubbles!

No Bubbles...

...just a really sweet boy.



He's been waking and blowing bubbles - or making motor boat sounds - so cute! I'll get it on video soon.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Puzzle Zone

I found this puzzle tricky the first time I did it. Finn's been in a puzzle zone of late and so I thought I'd try him on this one. In the first video, he had popped in he pieces you already see in seconds - and then I recorded him getting stumped :)


Singing to the Pony




I didn't know it was a microphone, did you?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Dizzy Bullfrog

Who knew bullfrogs spun in circles (apparently Finn has the inside scoop).

Saturday, November 21, 2009

MIXING!



PlayDate Company!


Just like "old times"!


Mr. Fumper Sasmsa II really likes the big fish tank. Unbeknownst to Finneas, Mr. Fumper Samsa I found the relocation too stressful. Whoops. We'll teach him about death perhaps with Mr. Fumper Samsa III


Ransom's got a group of ladies...

Friday, November 13, 2009

Davy, Davy Dumpling

This is Ransom's favorite rhyme - he starts laughing already when you ask him, "should we do 'Davy, Davy Dumpling'?"

Thursday, November 5, 2009

"Just a Little Unimog"!


(the very last line of the video is his own permutation of "It's just a little billy goat" from a favorite book)



Sunday, November 1, 2009

Aprons

Aunt Leina brought some of the aprons that our Grandma had made for us long ago. She had folded them all so neatly in a box, but Finn insisted on examining them all - and modelling them!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Cal-cula-tor

We found Finn here... Playing all by himself... sweetie...

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Forarwi


We came into his room and he had lined all his cars up as you see...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Cubby

Finn fits perfectly in Nana Barbour's garbage cubby in the kitchen! We enjoyed thanksgiving as familie-Barbour, all together for the first time in two years!

Barbour Toy Box!

Are these even viewable? If I change the brightness settings on our monitor, I can see what's going on. Perhaps they're not even worth posting - some feedback please? :)


Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Dark Giraffe

A recycling run is an easy trip for a new mother of two. I drive the car and they stay in their car seats: easy! But what did we spot by the tin bin? A brand-new giraffe suit! Sweet! Finn wore it as pajamas this night :)



Don't forget to always check out our Picasa site; there's a nice picture of Finn in this attire on our "new" couch.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Best 80 cents spent at the MCC Thrift Store




Finn's Papa taught him that his nipples are "vestigial" - and this video captures his first attempt to apply his new-found knowledge.



Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Dr. Panda


Transcript: "cat", "naughty", "pulls off her bandage", "goldfish", but it is very difficult to "put a bandage around the bowl", the giraffe is "very good"...


"being brave", "ill", "dose of (oil)", "feel better, he says", "tired"...


...the horse is tired from "running round the garden", "cold", "mummy", "sitting down", "feel well, she says", "Panda", "doctor", "look after you"...

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

ABC...




We returned from a family reunion in Cypress Hills for the long weekend and someone there told us that Finn had sung them the whole song - and indeed he can!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The River!

The chokecherries and wild cranberries were ripe... What a lovely destination - Finn's (and our) favorite! We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed the entire morning out there together.


Saturday, August 29, 2009

Mr. Greg!


I came into Finn's room hearing this; we hadn't mentioned Greg's name for weeks - but Finn had just found his long lost blue Volvo XC wagon and this is what he was saying...

:)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Stay-cation.

Who needs to GO camping when it's all in our own backyard?

All right, there are no mountains in the background; we will go away for that :)



Friday, August 14, 2009

A Favorite Book

Not the most impressive reading from our first son, but a sweet clip caught on video:

The words Finn says (in order), are:
"Archduke"
"Howling with fright"
"orders"
"head"
"eyes"
"blinded"

Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Morning of.




(May it be said that birthing tubs are the most amazing thing!)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

As long as he's not eating it!

Finn can help us take off all the peeling paint from our siding! Papa was sure to wash Finn's hands after.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Kowalsky!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Never Cry Wolf




(Welcome back to Canada, Grandpa and Grandma Barbour!)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

I think we're being toyed with.


He had it perfect multiple times before the camera came out... gah!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Some Things Never Get Old

Construction and Prose Recitation, or Quick! Somebody Read Him Milton!

So Finn disappeared into his room after we got home from some morning errands and was busy for quite a while - and curious mom that I am, I came into "spy": here he had put on his hat all by himself and was as you see here...

SO adorable!

So, ok, it's not exactly an artful oration, but we haven't read from his "Panda the Race Car Driver" book in a month or so and he perfectly repeated the text from one page - did I say perfectly? What a guy!


Thanks, Nathan and Steph for his Christmas presents (construction toys and shirt! :)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Elephant Reprise

He came out of his room wearing it again:

We've Fought Off Scurvy for Another Day


Usually, he gives one each to Daniel and I and then he eats his - this was the first time he almost ate his before giving the last one away - hence our "uh oh's"... :)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Moving Colours

So Jennifer, since you suggested showing Finn the "Monkeys on the Bed" video, he asked no less than 20 times that day to watch it. Here is the last viewing of the day - and he is still completely mesmerized!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Dump

Our neighbourhood is one in Saskatoon has the coolest garbage system! We all have a square dumpster on wheels that we take out to the street once a week in the summer (once every two weeks in the winter) and they have these special trucks with a robotic arm that reaches out, picks up the dumpster and lifts it and empties it into the truck's back. Finn enjoys watching it come each week.

Looks like I should try for another video of it - and actually go outside to film it so the tree isn't in the way! (and Finn's comment about the truck behind the garbage truck is in reference to our sweet next door neighbours who drove us out of town last night in their truck to buy up a "new (to us)" ($25!) deep freeze because ours broke).

Friday, July 3, 2009

Typical Evening Antics

...so great, yet so "normal", I haven't recorded it... until now :)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Finn showed up in the living room with this "new" find from his toybox.


Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

Elevator or Alligator?

After our visit to the Biology building, we headed to the Ag building to ride the elevator (Finn kept yelling "Alligator!")...





He was caught and consequences (for not listening to "come") were appropriately meted out.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Dagu

These little critters are at the University where we took Nathan, Steph, and their girls to see the dinosaur skeletons. Even Steph was amazed by the dinosaur's size; I guess she hasn't yet been to Drumheller. There are also some habitat-specific aquariums full of special fish, some birds, lizards and toads.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Special Cousin Visit!

Complete with even MORE presents...

But best of all, family-company! And in my size!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Big Boys


Didn't quite catch all the action here, but Finn tries to duplicate Papa's exercises! He runs off asking for "apple seed" which is his word for the one vitamin C tablet he gets to chew when Papa comes home :)

Monday, June 22, 2009

A Morning Bath - Whatever for?

Because of a record explosion in my britches - and to try out my new bubble blower from Aunt Jill!




Sunday, June 21, 2009

Present from Grandpa & Grandma B!

All the way from Germany! Thanks! And thanks, Aunt Jill, for bringing it up.


Finn's pretty excited about his big boy farm puzzle.

Laser Stomp

Looks like Bora is in good company :)


Friday, June 19, 2009

Finn WON a Bike!

It was Grandma's idea to walk to visit Papa just before he finished work so we could all walk together to Canadian Tire...


The story is that I received a phone call yesterday and the lady on the other side asked if she could speak to Finn. Annoyed, (thinking it was a telemarketer), I said in a deadpan voice that Finn was only 2 years old - and she quickly went on to say that he had won a bike at Canadian Tire! Last week, Finn and I had gone through the self-check-out stations twice and he noticed the fancy blue bike hanging from the ceiling and the till-helper-lady suggested we enter the draw - which we did! The odds! And on his birthday, too!

Of course, we missed recording the exclamations, "Bike! Bike! Ride it? Ride it??"! It came with a helmet (for a 5 year old), knee pads, and a little horn. He may fit the bike in 2 years? :)

Finn's Birthday Morning

Well what a special day. Made special because Aunt Leina, Uncle Joe, Grandma and Grandpa drove up from Medicine Hat to spend the weekend with us. We first enjoyed a waffle brunch feast (but not before Finn opened his first present of red sandals from Grandpa and Grandma) and then enjoyed the morning outside after Finn opened some sandbox toys that were immediately put to use!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Stump!


The "Daisy - drop your guns!" is a quote from one of his books about a clumsy cowboy who saves the day (without violence :)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Jackpot!

Finn visited his Great-Grandparents this weekend and we were surprised to find that his Great-Aunt Laura and Uncle Jamie had left a box for him... full of Jamie's vintage toys from when he was a kid. See for yourself how Finn responded!


This is the kind of stuff we search for every weekend at garage sales and here it arrived en masse - and much more special because it's from someone we know! We wrote Jamie's name or initials on the bottom of all the cars.


Finn would wake up in the morning or from his nap asking for them! I don't think anything we have for him for his birthday this Friday will hold a candle to this... :)




Still going strong on day two:





Thanks so much, Jamie and Laura.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sidewalk Chalk

To think that we found the whole pail for a $1 at the MCC thrift store!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

I Love Grapefruit

This is Finn's first time eating a grapefruit half all by himself:



Tuesday, June 9, 2009


Thanks, Grandpa K for making all the shapes for my box! I've been playing with it a lot lately.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Drawcar! Drawcar! (one word)




Ok, well he didn't say it during this peek at a colouring episode, but it's usually peppered with the title phrase "DRAWCAR, Drawcar!?!". :)

SpaceMan

Comfy-Cozy, Tuck-it, tuck-it!

All by himself, we heard him in the other room:

Awwww....

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Falling Into Place


He said this word out of the blue a month or so ago when we were at my Mom's in MH - he was carrying a large plastic version of the animal and said it loud and clear, all of a sudden! What a guy...


Like Finn's "new" table? I've been looking for one for a long time and found it by chance at the Salvation Army here. Hooray!

Sunday, May 31, 2009



Terepocki Toy Loan

Whenever Finn is lucky enough to get downstairs, he is totally in a zone for 20-30 minutes if he finds Iris and Hazel's "old" Fisher Price people/house/bus. The Terepockis are packing to leave today for the summer in Nelson. We'd rather have them than their toys! But Finn is thrilled to play with them for sure. (After they left, he started asking: "Hazel? Gone: car, Mrs. Cathy's car. Iris? Gone. Drive away..." :( Awww!)

On a more materialistic note, if any of you ever find any vintage Fisher Price little people toys (barn, camper, house, A-frame, bus, etc.), please pick it up for us!! You would be most gratefully reimbursed. :)

As for the toque, he selected this particular one a while ago from the winter clothes storage bin before it was put away and repeatedly dons it throughout the day.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Cabin Beach-Park

Finn survived his second canoe ride (this time to the beach) remarkably well - although his Papa did all the paddling because Mama was on full Finn-duty. Canoes are tippy! And little boys wily!

Finn's first "ride" on a big-boy (not infant-seat) swing!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Kinsmen Park Saskatoon

Chris and Cathy met us at this local downtown park and we enjoyed spending a wee visit with them Sunday afternoon. On the carosel, Finn preferred the stationary deer to the moving carosel horses. But he still talks about it, " "Member? Deer? Merry-go-round?"! Best $1 we've spent all week!



The train was a big hit, too. Afterwards, all we heard was "Again? Again?". Temporary tears ensued when he heard that we'd have to come back sometime. Which we will :)

Monday, May 11, 2009

At Grandpa and Grandma K's





New Dresses

It was Iris' birthday yesterday so she got her pink dress and we waited a day to give Hazel hers - this morning. It was a miraculously warm day, so they both wore them to daycare and Chris drove them in the Chariot - two peas in a pod - or princesses in their carriage? Darling.

Chris told us later that when (usually more reserved) Hazel arrived at daycare, she spread her skirt and shouted, "LOOK AT MY NEW DRESS!"

Some Pics:






















Thursday, May 7, 2009

Bread and Bunnies

Witness the daily morning routine:


"Bread! Bagel! Waffle! Pita! Toast! Cancake!" are used interchangeably in the hopes of acquiring any type of morning carbohydrate...

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Samich Artist in Training

Earl and the Veyron

Present from Germany!




Did you notice that he started saying "car!" before we even opened the box; and started saying "Audi" the moment he saw the packaged cars?! Weird.





Thank-you Grandpa and Grandma! I say "Veyron" and "Audi" and those are my favorite cars right now.

Farm





We took a special Sunday afternoon trip to go see some lambs at a neighbour's farm (Meridith Knodel) and he didn't really pay much attention to them! He was more interested in their "pack" of cats...

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

White is the New Green




So much for yard work; 5 minutes later the blizzard came and left 6" of the fluffy white stuff on all the new green stuff! Oi:

Lethbridge Revisited - and BORA too!







Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Muddin'




The gate is open! AHH! Renae runs from the kitchen to prevent the boy from completing his compulsive run to the street!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Bedtime Potty





For the record, after one solid success back in January, we've had months of daily "potty-sitting" with no "results" (as is the case here). But as of April 17th, there has been a total been 3 significant successes: as usual, Finn says "Potty!" but these times, after a leisurely read, 2 - #2's have resulted and 1 - #1. Come on, that's really exciting!

Here's the Drill:

Helmet

Anybody Home?

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

ManDiva Rides Again!





It's Melting! ...and MUDDY! Fun!



Barbour Water Torture

(We're in the centre and very back of the frame)...

Unfortunately, Finn started crying before we even left the change room and didn't really stop until we returned to the same change room and he discovered (to my surprise!) the delights of a big, tiled family-change-room shower. Wet-faced giggles ensued. Bizarre.
This was the first time we'd been to this facility, so we're going next week to "practice" (the class is cancelled during Easter break), so hopefully our next lesson will be a more positive experience for both!?

Monday, April 6, 2009

Sweet Cheeks


I love the things he talks about when he wakes - the other day, the first thing he said was "Theresa", the neighbour lady next door whom we visit each week!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

2009 Sandbox Debut




Pretty special - and exciting to spend more time outside - although the sand does look a bit frozen still!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Wake






I love seeing the recognition spread over his features when I say the word "smoothie". His pregnant mamma likes to have one per a day and hence Finn asks for them repeatedly throughout the day: "soonie! soonie!"

Wonderful Wild Place (with dogs everywhere!)

Finn and I went on attempt #2 to find a "wild place" by the river (so we can take Nathan & Stephanie and their girls when they come to visit) and this time, we succeeded! I was enriched by being out of doors in such a beautiful place and Finn was in his glory as this park is the major off-leash dog-walk in Saskatoon; we saw no fewer than 20 canines who all gave him "juiceeee" kisses...












I think he ate "yellow" snow only once...?

Friday, April 3, 2009

Before-Breakfast Colouring with Papa





White Truck!

This is Finn's first consistent and very repeated favorite phrase (and so articulate!) - he asks every morning to be held up to the kitchen window to see the truck parked behind the fence across the alley in a neighbour's yard (very exciting for this little boy)... He talks about it all morning :)

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Wise Man Built his House.... out of Cardboard?

GRASS!

ROCKS

We drove out to the Meewasin Interpretive Centre to try to find access to a "wild" piece of river bank, but the place was under construction. We went in anyway and played outside at the playground instead.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Finn-Pan

A favorite past-time; although this is the first time he crawled in the drawer:




... and also the first time he loaded the drawer again!


Thursday, March 26, 2009

Shwashy? Sweshy?

Magnets often get "lost" under the fridge, so Finn was duplicating the action he had seen me do:

But what is that word!?

Out of Order

I uploaded these ones from (and after) our trip back from Lethbridge last weekend and forgot to post them until now (they're in order, and so are hidden below):
1. Monkeys and Lions Loop the Loop
2. From "Gamma" to Buckles to Playdough

Come Home?

Whenever we take the camera out now to take a video, Finn says, "Gamma"?

Stunt-ManDiva



Juiceee

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

From "Gamma" to Buckles to Playdough

He just asked out of the blue for "Gamma" - missed that...

And for the record, he can say "Buckle"

Travel Peekaboo

Finn spontaneously started playing peek-aboo whilst travelling "home" from Medicine Hat (back to Saskatoon) this weekend!


Monkeys and Lions Loop the Loop


Ahem. Stephanie probably sensed a "disturbance in the force" when Finn started stuffing his animals under his car seat belts - rest assured, I have since figured out, once and for all, how to tighten things precisely...

Monday, March 23, 2009

Climb

Bag Head

Finn's done this for a while - voluntarily puts something over his head and walks around/plays peek-a-boo!

Friday, March 20, 2009

We don't routinely feed Finn cookies; but when we do - we usually get some great behavior - hence all the cookie action on video:




Sunday, March 8, 2009

Saturday, March 7, 2009

A Two-Person Job

How do little boys instinctively seem to know what screw-drivers are for? One day (a while back), Finn reached for Dan's multi-tool and started playing with it and the metal fasteners on his wooden high chair... What gives? :)

Here he's helping papa change the belt on our vacuum cleaner.

Pet Store Whirlwind



Friday, March 6, 2009

And Counting:

Both Daniel and I agree that Finn has digressed a wee bit (Jill can vouch for that), but here's an attempt at catching him counting:

He seems to get lost around 4, 5, 6,& 7, but when he started (surprising us with what he knew!), it included all even numbers after 1...

Tall!

C&J, you saw a better version of this live through Skype, but this is what we had tried to capture for you a couple days before:



What we were trying to capture was Finn standing on one of Grandma B's chairs (is that ok Grandma???) yelling "TALL!" over and over and over... Where was the camera when we needed it!

Third (and last) of the "missed" videos:

Bath Boy

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Camera Arrives!

Looks like it came through Swift Current - Hooray! There were a few videos (precious few) that were waiting to be downloaded from it - I'll post reminders as they'll be in consecutive order by date (so below these posts)... Finally! Back on track.

After waiting since before Christmas,

and both apron-clad, Mama and Finn finally make sour cream cookies! (Thanks for the camera, Terepockis!)





Revenge!?


After Daniel and I exchanged blank stares as to the sound a hippo makes, we finally succumbed and took Finn to youtube to sleuth out the truth - and see for yourself if Finn is right... (might as well search for giraffe sounds, too - surprising!)

Today...

...we borrowed Mrs. Cathy's camera.

Finn's been sick with a cold he caught from a friend who goes to daycare (that cesspool of disease and sickness! ;) -hence his lethargy... Dear punkin....

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

If the camera had arrived,

you would see footage of a young Finn atop one of Grandma B's slipper chairs yelling "TALL!"

Camera Update...

A parcel arrived by Canada Post this morning and was hastily unpacked; only to find that the camera was not among the other items mom shipped that we had forgotten in Medicine Hat... A quick phone call revealed that it is indeed still there (whoooooops); and will be on the bus tomorrow morning? Please accept apologies from the MH Kowalskies! Sigh...

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

If we had a camera...

... you would have seen video footage of Finn:

- voluntarily placing one of his small cardboard toy boxes over his head and stumbling through the house!

- leaving excited fingerprints on the computer monitor and exclaiming repeatedly "cair! Cair! CAIR!" (for "car") as we googled images of vehicles

Friday, February 20, 2009

Whoops

We just returned to Saskatoon and unpacked the car - but not the camera - it's still in the Hat...

:(

The Greyhound shall deliver us shortly?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Bath Boy

Has a new bath "toy"!


These "reverse" bubbles (aka slurps) have since turned into bubbles. Way to go Finn!

Would you like your nuts granulated?


(Hooray for a surprise play-date with Hazel (during the day!) while her mom hangs out upstairs and sews. Fun.)

Old MacDonald...

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Homework Company

Ah ha! We found a video previously downloaded to our computer that we could post! Hopefully the camera will be en route tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Post-Bath "Naked" Run

Finn enjoys tearing around the house "diaper free" after his evening bath - tonight's apparel permitted a web-safe video of the show (he is diaper-free under his unsnapped romper):


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Laundry Helper

Finn loves going downstairs (that's where his girlfriends (and their toys) are (when they're home)) to help with laundry. He's good at putting the detergent in and relishes watching the water swish around with the wash. Here he's helping with dryer contents (and usually gets in, but not this morning).






Saturday, January 31, 2009

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Horsie Ridin'!

The horse riding videos always seem to be so dark... :|


But so cute!

Trick Rider!

Baby's First Ski!

First, some pictures:






















































































And then the wee video:

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Thrilling.

I'm really very excited. Really.



Especially that part at the end when we were sliding down the driveway; wow! I just couldn't hold it in!

And it got better. The only thing more exciting than sledding is sledding into traffic. Almost.



(It doesn't look it, but the berm before the road is actually a mini-hill all its own; there was no concern of actually getting up the opposite side onto the road :) )

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Let's Have Lettuce

Although Finn still has trouble eating it; it's sure fun to help mom prepare it!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Two-Spoon-Finn

I stood up on the chair...

... and reached up to the high shelf in the bookshelf to retrieve my book of choice (The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally-Lloyd Jones; one of our absolute favorites!) and then sat down square in this chair and started reading it to myself.

I think my mama thinks I'm adorable.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Papa's Shoes (Boots) aren't That Hard to Fill (says Papa)


(Mama says they're pretty big to fill; but Papa will help Finn to do it :)

Change Table Giggles

Breakfast


I'm afraid Finn hasn't been eating much on his own because it's so efficient and tidy for us to feed him! Well, we're deciding that times are a-changin' and we need to let our "Baby Finn" grow into the big boy toddler that he already is :)

Wednesday, January 7, 2009