Family » The Fintons

Don't let it go away

No Responses » Tagged with: Family, Love, Pictures

Jul 192010

My confession for the day is that, honestly, I’m exhausted. I’ve been up since 6 a.m. my dear friends, and this old gal doesn’t function as well on little sleep as I used to. Granted I regularly don’t get a whole lot of sleep, but this morning I was required to get up and actually do something. So alas, I am a tired girl.

I do have some more pictures to share, but I must point out that I have a very hard time editing pictures on Brandon’s iMac. I have been putting the pictures on here to give my MacBook’s harddrive a bit of a break (heck it’s about to break), but the screen on here is so different that I don’t really know if I’m editing right. I promise you, my screen looks 1000 times different than most everyone else’s. This Mac has the ability to make everything look…prettier (which is good for my crappy ego). So here is my apology to anyone whose picture may be up on here and the colors or off or whatnot. I try not to edit them too much – especially the pictures that are taken outside. I’m all about the natural light, the more the better, so those pictures usually don’t get touched much.

I have been giving my girl a break (my girl = my camera). I haven’t been taking pictures everyday like I was for awhile. Partly because as I pointed out in my last post, we are mad busy, and partly because as I pointed out in the previous paragraph, harddrives are getting full. I have been taking about 300 shots a month. Ouch. We all know I won’t give it up though.

Without further ado, here are some shots from Kristin and Dave’s wedding that was on Saturday.

This first set are pictures that Brandon and I took ourselves before the wedding. Hence why the hair still looks pristine (it succumbs to flatness in subsequent pictures).

I suppose I could have played with the colors and made some black and white, but sorry, our colors are too fab (thanks Adri) to do something like that. And we totally match.

Okay here are some from the actual wedding.

It was a beautiful wedding. Brandon definitely does have a beautiful family (my in-laws) as well, which helps.

And speaking of beautiful, my husband tops ‘em all.

Enjoy your Monday. I know I am.

I'm grateful

No Responses » Tagged with: Dogs, Family, Friends, Fun, Happy, Holidays, Summer

Jul 052010

I’ve never done a post like this before, but I figured it would be fun. And possibly interesting. And at least self-soul-searching. Well, kind of.

On the 4th of July, you are supposed to be grateful for being an American. Proud.

So here are some of the things I’m grateful for. And definitely proud of.

Organic Raspberry Lemonade on a warm summer day. I even love the little bit of pulp that is in it that gets stuck to the inside of the glass. Makes me feel like my grandmother just made some fresh squeezed lemonade. Even though my grandmother never made fresh squeezed lemonade, but if she did, it would definitely feel like this.

And of course beautiful bouquets of flowers. And it’s even better that these flowers grow around our house.

And for really crazy sun rays that make for cool pictures.

Oh, and our new glasses. Our new glasses are cool. Very retro.

I’m extremely grateful for boys who are so tired out from playing so hard they almost fall asleep while driving around their power wheels. There is nothing better than a beautiful summer day and skipping naps because well, Momma doesn’t want to have fun without her boy, either.

For our furry friend visitors that take great pictures, and are a lot of fun to have around.

For dead plants that I brought back to life. Since I have this ability to save dying plants, Brandon call me the plant whisperer. So I’m grateful for silly husband, too.

And for awesome yellow petunias that bask in the summer sun. That also create sun spots on my lens.

For Grandpa’s who are patient and kind. And aren’t afraid to be silly.

And for Grandpa’s silly friends.

I’m grateful to be able to watch my boy learn how to roast marshmallows over the fire.

And to see him so proud of his work. I am also quite grateful to eat the results.

I’m grateful for others who love my little so much that they greatly care about him, and they show it.

For awesome fireworks. I love the flashes and the bangs that you hear roll down the valley.

I’m extremely grateful for my wonderful husband who allows me to take his photo so often. Who also so kindly poses for undoubtably crazy photos with me.

I’m grateful for wonderful cousins….

…and for fun days at the lake with them.

I’m grateful for fun in-laws, and falling asleep while floating in the lake. Also grateful for my sister-in-laws ingenious idea of using an anchor to keep us in place. So, I’m grateful for laziness.

For Grandmother’s who aren’t afraid to have fun with Erik.

I’m grateful for the furry ones who sit and let me take my crazy silhouette pictures.

For our view of the beautiful lake that we can look at everyday.

And I…am especially grateful…

….for a flower that has the ability to stand alone, and still be breathtakingly beautiful. It’s a lesson that I need to learn.

Hope you all had a good 4th. I know we did.

Erik and his dad

No Responses » Tagged with: Family, Happy, Love

Jul 012010

When I was working I was pretty much heartbroken everyday. I would come home and Erik didn’t want me if he got hurt or upset. He only wanted his daddy. It was a lot of my motivation to stay home and go back to school. Now, it’s pretty much just Erik and me, everyday. Except for the fact now that we got blessed with Brandon’s job, and he gets to work from home two days a week. So after works days, like last Tuesday, this is what happens.

Now I know I’ve gone on about my two boys, but, their beauty is unsurpassable. You always hear that cheesy line that you never knew what love really meant – but it’s true. Whole heartedly and completely true. Our marriage isn’t always perfect, neither are our parenting styles, but we have all grown. As a family. And we find ourselves becoming happier and more comfortable in our lives everyday. And man, you can’t beat that.

Now Erik loves his baths. Like I’m going to stay in there for 3 hours and you’re still going to have to pull me out since I’ve asked for more hot water 30 times. Tonight, during his bath, he started yelling to Brandon that he wanted to get out of the tubby now. Brandon was diligently reading a history book for class (you know, that one I get a synopsis for every paragraph), so he got up after he finished reading his page. Apparently, that was too long for Erik.

Is he sleeping? I do not know.

We see flashes of him hurtling towards the floor after slipping when getting out of the bathtub, so we generally always make him wait until someone can get him out.

Then he runs around like a banshee, naked, but with a towel.

Erik very stealthy tricked Brandon into coloring with him tonight while he avoided bed time. A good 20 minutes after this I reminded Brandon that Erik might need to go to bed now.

Moms always ruin the fun.

I’m off to go live on the greener side of life. I like looking through my rose colored glasses every now and then. Because you know what? Happy is fun. Happy is life. And happy is a hell of a lot better than feeling bad for yourself when you are surrounded by this much love.

And times when Brandon and I share that glance, and wonder how we got to lucky to have such an amazing boy, I know my life is complete. I hope Erik grows up to love his own family the way our family loves each other. If that is true, baby I can promise you, he will never feel alone.

Last weekend

No Responses » Tagged with: Birthdays, Family, Fun, Summer

Jun 302010

I realized while almost falling asleep that lately the blog has become less witty and less well, angry. It has become more, happy -ish and picture-y. Random question – Does anyone else have epiphanies and clear minds when they’re on the brink of sleep? Anyway. Witty doesn’t always come naturally to me. Especially when I spend a lot of my time reading books I don’t find interesting. It fills my brain with uninteresting and dull things, and then I feel dull and uninteresting. My wittiness leaves me, so you get pictures instead.

I like the pictures better.

Last week was Ashley’s birthday, so we had a dinner for her on Sunday at the lake. Brandon’s mom made the highly desired ice cream cake. I think Ashley liked it. A lot.

Brandon finally decided to put up the tire swing (with no heckling from me, course). There was much fun to be had on the tire swing, and both Erik and Ashley got lots of enjoyment out of it.

I did manage to get some cute pictures of Erik and Ashley. Well, and Brandon did, too.

There’s nothing better than having dirty knees and enjoying summer to the fullest. It’s always better when you have family to spend it with, because it always ends in lots of laughs.

Speaking of laughs – Leroy got a little jealous when Ashley was up on the tire swing. Or he was being overprotective. Either way, he got a little frisky about her being up there. And there was lots of jumping. And giggling.

All pictures compliment of Brandon.

It has been quite cold for June in lovely CNY – in fact so cold I’m sitting in a sweatshirt, pants, and Brandon’s obnoxiously large hunting socks. So we haven’t been doing much of that loving summer thing. In fact, there has been much of the staying in the house and catching up on homework while we wait until it properly heats up thing. At least we had last weekend.

Even if there were a couple of minor falls.

I bid you all a fond farewell. I have a busy next few days, so if you don’t hear from me, best wishes, and here’s to hoping the sun is out there somewhere.

I'm going to break this up this time

No Responses » Tagged with: Boat, Family, Friends, Happy, Holidays, Lake, Summer

Jun 282010

Last Wednesday Erik and I went on a date. We’ve really never done it before, but we had a wonderful time. I’m sure Erik had such a wonderful time because he ended up with a rockin’ day, but I loved the day too. Erik is a movie connoisseur, so going to the movies for him is like it is for an adult. A serious affair that should be conducted with utter respect. He really is an angel whenever you take him to the movies, and it makes it that much more enjoyable for me. He was so excited for our date day that he was running around saying “can we leave now Mommy?”

We went and saw Toy Story 3, and I gotta tell you, it’s worth it. Go see it. Amazing movie. We of course had to bring Buzz along to watch it with us. He said he loved it, too.

When we were waiting for our movie to start, Erik and I decided to venture over to Build-a-bear. He had never gotten the opportunity to make one before. I let him pick out whichever animal he wanted, and he picked an adorable little puppy. When we went to have the nice associate stuff his bear for him, Erik thought she was pretty silly when she asked him to do crazy stuff. He still liked to put the heart in his puppy. Then we went and picked out a shirt, and good boy grabbed a Syracuse shirt. He always says he’s going to go to Syracuse when he gets older and play basketball. : ) I asked Erik what he wanted to name his puppy, and he said Drake. Him and I agreed that he would call him D.J. for Drake Junior.

Erik carried D.J. everywhere. On the way home he fell asleep, and D.J. was right there with him.

On to Friday – Erik and I went to yet another movie with a friend, and this one was Shrek. Erik got to play with his friend Lea, and I think he’s in love!

Later that evening, Erik and Aunt Ashley decided to play a new game of sumo wrestlers.

Also on Friday evening, Brandon finally got the boat running. It still needs some TLC, but at least it’s in the water. Brandon dad was up for a nice belated father’s day dinner, and the two of them took the boat out for a quick spin to see how it was running. Erik wasn’t invited, and he was really disappointed. So Aunt Ashley picked him up and let him watch to make him feel better.

Lee decided he wanted to watch, too.

We finally got to go on the long awaited and highly coveted cruise around the lake. Erik was finally happy. He is a water boy at heart, and I have a feeling will always be.

I, amazingly enough, have probably 50 more pictures to post from this weekend.

Maybe tomorrow.

Father's Day - finally

No Responses » Tagged with: Family, Holidays, Stress

Jun 242010

I haven’t been able to post, because A) taking care of Erik (including our date), and B) because my desk, looks like this:

i.e. I HAVE SO MUCH HOMEWORK!

Okay, yea, so maybe I can take 20 minutes to write a post. Maybe. I’m only doing it because I’m taking 2 minutes to eat. (I’m a poor liar – I’m coming back to this hours and hours later)

So yea, back to what I have been meaning to post about for forever (not sure if you noticed but this empty post has been up awhile – I’m trying to find a new way to photo blog). Father’s Day was obviously this Sunday. We had originally planned for a nice day of picnic-ing and boating. That, sadly did not happen. Patti didn’t realize she was going to have a rough day – but that’s what Patti had. Not completely my fault! The boat’s still not running, so it’s half the boats fault. Nahnahnah.

Anyway, I still mustered up enough strength to make a yummy dinner. And you thought that was going to be the strange end of the post, right? Well, it wasn’t, I just never finished. : )

So, anyway, back to Father’s Day (almost a week later…heh…I’m on time). We did have a wonderful dinner, and we gave Brandon the cards we had bought him.

Erik prefers to open everyone’s card for them. Even if he gave it to you.

So we ate our wonderful pasta dinner that Brandon had asked for. Life was good – and the day became less hard. I was happy to have spent it with such a wonderful husband anyway. Love, you are an amazing father, and Erik is lucky to have you. He knows it too. You can tell by the way he looks at you and calls your name in the middle of the night when he’s afraid. The love you two share makes me heart feel full when I watch you, and I wanted to thank you for that. Happy Father’s Day, my love.

Animals and Parties (i.e. really long post)

No Responses » Tagged with: Crazy, Dogs, Family, Fun, Happy, Summer

Jun 212010

Life has been uncharacteristically busy. Not that I’m complaining, but, I’m tired.

I remember when I was a kid, and I used to get sheets of stickers. I was always so excited, and I would carefully place them in my sticker book. I would very rarely let someone have one, or waste them by sticking them on your hand or something. Erik, on the other hand, likes to rip them up and stick them everywhere. Including the dog.

Kind of fitting, right?

Drake likes to lay like this to sleep at night. In fact, he barely moves. One would think he was dead.

He even lets me put George on him. Oh, Drake. You are too funny.

He also likes to roll in dead fish. Yes, dead fish. One of the most disgusting things ever, and I’m sure you can imagine the smell. So he gets washed, in the lake. So much easier than the bath tub, right? And my lovely, oh so smart Drake, will stick his head under water if you throw a rock. So, alas, really easy to wash him.

I also got to shoot some pictures of Brandon. He decided to be an ass at the end.

After Drake gets in the lake, and I’m sure it’s from putting his head underwater, he gets lots of water in his ears. He runs his head along the floor to get the water out. It’s totally spastic, but quite funny.

Last Friday was really a beautiful day out, so I ran around and took some pictures around the lake.

I think I’ve mentioned before that Logan sleeps with Erik at night. Apparently Erik’s bed has turned just as much into Logan’s bed.

Yes, I realize there are more pictures of the dogs than the kid this post. That’s okay. They’re cute too.

So Saturday was my cousin Suzie’s daughter’s birthday party. We ran around a lot, watched the kids play, socialized, and ate. Of course, we ate. Lots and lots of eating. Wonderful. : )

Here are a few shots from the party. I will not bore you with lots of captions, okay well not too much.

Yes, I was in a dress. I know, amazing. It was hot!

The kids were playing a game, and apparently the boys were too cool to jump.

They then had a lovely water balloon fight.

While the kids were watering each other, Erik and Brandon jumped onto the trampoline.

Then all the kids wentswimming, and after much persuasion Erik finally went in.

He was trying to make a running jump into the pool.

And when he got there, he stopped. Haha. Funny.

After much swimming, they finally decided to do the cake. And the amazing yummy cake was a homemade ice cream cake made by Suzie. Awesome job, dear.

We finished the whole cake. Seriously. It was that good.

Well that was pretty much it for the party. I will alas leave you with one of my favorite shots with the day as I normally do.

Oh Steve, you rule.

I have more pictures from Father’s Day. I will put them in the next post. Maybe it won’t be as long.

Nahnahnah

No Responses » Tagged with: Boat, Family, Life, Pictures, Sickly

Jun 162010

So I really haven’t taken any good pictures lately. Maybe I have lost my inspiration. Who knows, but honestly, they kind of suck. Oh well. Here goes, anyway.

So, the reason I haven’t posted in 100 years is mainly because I’ve been sick. Like I said, last Friday Erik and I went with my friend Jen to get her a new puppy. The weekend was good. We didn’t do anything too overly interesting. I had a bridal shower to go to on Saturday for Brandon’s cousin Kristin (who I’ve actually known since I was probably about 14-15). I managed to get a couple of shots, but like I said, my pictures suck right now.

Kristin is obviously the one in the coral-ish color. It was a nice shower, anyway. : )

Then Saturday night Erik spent the night at Brandon’s mother’s house. So, we ended up with an unexpected date night. No plans and an empty house meant that Brandon and I went and got some yummy wine and stuff for ice cream sundaes. And of course a couple of movies. Avatar, anyone? -oh and in case you were wondering, the wine was from Goose Watch and it was Rose of Isabella, totally yummy, we drank the whole bottle

Sunday we spent a quiet evening at home. I got sick Sunday night, very badly. My stomach was not doing well – I have a very sensitive stomach to say the least. After being up till around midnight getting sick I finally passed out. I did feel a little better Monday, but still ended up laying in bed most of the day. I wasn’t inspired to write anything that day, or take pictures. My apologies.

Yesterday though I did take a couple of shots. Brandon and I have commenced the work we promised we would do over the winter. As we don’t appear to be the best people at sticking to our words – especially when it involves actually spending money – we didn’t work on the boat at all so we are having to do it now. Unfortunately, it won’t start, so lots of work must be done. We haven’t spent any time on the lake this year so far, and it is honestly, just, sad.

Oh silly boat.

When Brandon and I were working on the boat last night, Erik decided he was going to walk Logan. Ha, I know, right? So, Logan walked Erik.

Don’t worry, he was fine, promise.

Well as today as been horribly rainy and unexciting, alas, no pictures again, today. I do however have a few more shots, but, no story to go with them, so just, enjoy. Even though, honestly, they’re bad. I’m just warning you now.

Oh – I do have a couple more pictures with a story. A few weeks ago Ashley asked Erik if he would like some of her pear. She of course thought he would since the kid likes fruit more than he does candy, or chocolate, or cake, or well, most everything. Anyway, he said no. He didn’t like pears. He of course has never had them. Typical kid. Well, when we are the store not that long ago, he decided he liked pears and wanted to buy some. Again, he had never tried them, but, whatever. So, he tried them, and guess what?! He likes them. Surprised? Yea, us either.

I had to take pictures for physical evidence, of course.

Alright, I have to go read my Bible. I finished reading the book I bought on my nook before vacation. It was called Pillars of the Earth. Very good. I highly recommend it.

Caitlyn

No Responses » Tagged with: Family, Pictures

Jun 062010

So I can be completely honest with all of you and I can tell you that I truly, and seriously, wanted a girl. As life so turns out, it doesn’t appear we will ever be having any more…girls, or boys.

So, I have borrowed my niece, Caitlyn. I adore her, and she is such a sweet little girl. And oh, is she beautiful.

I took these because my sister Chris didn’t have any recent shots of her. My mother was trying to do her picture wall and discovered she owned no pictures of Caitlyn to put up. So we dressed her up, did her hair, and took her took a park down the road from my mother’s house. And woohoo, I think we got some really good shots. It helps that she is so bloody gorgeous.

And here was the winner of them all. It now resides on my mother’s picture wall. : )

Better than going somewhere and having them off center and unexciting. And hey, they were free. Good thing I have a kick ass camera!

BBQ!

No Responses » Tagged with: Family, Friends, Travel

Jun 042010

Alright, I will get on with the posting thing. This, alas, won’t be all the pictures I have to post. I think wordpress my keel over and die if I try to keep posting soooo many pictures at once. We will do this slow. Like learning to ride a bike.

Well the rest of the BBQ was amazing – of course. I wonder why I keep saying that word, amazing. Hmm. The kids totally dug the slide, and the adults were instructed to keep off. Ha – I really wanted to get on, too. Maybe next time, when no one is around! : )

Okay Brandon took all of these. I can’t take credit. Good job, Babe.

My very oldest friend Lauren came to the BBQ with us. I love her. So does my family! We have been friends for….15 years? And close friends for all 15 years, which is rare with me.

She has a beautiful son named Aidan, that I may just borrow since we may not have any more children. And…she is pregnant again!! So I might as well just take Aidan since she’ll have another, right? ; )

The BBQ went off wonderfully. Everyone had an amazing (there’s that word again) time. Everyone stayed until we could barely keep our eyes open and we were sitting in chairs because moving was becoming an issue. We all ate too much, laughed too much, and loved life too much.

We brought down some spiedie marinade and it appeared that we were the heroes of the party. Everyone loved them. They were the first things gone. Oh Florida, you are missing some things. Not many, but some.

Well, we are home now. Life has returned to normal. Not that life isn’t normal in Florida – we spent a bit of time working on my mom’s house (not nearly as much as we wanted). Then we watched movies and laid around some. I did school work (hatehate). We really enjoyed doing, everything.

And we miss being there. Our hearts our sad. I miss my family. Oh so much. : (

Older Entries

Tag Cloud