Finn

Finn’s class learned about El Dia de los Muertos this year. The class made a traditional altar …

… and the kids brought in pictures and information about a special ancestor. Finn wanted to do someone on my side of the family, so we did Mema. I used one of my favorite pictures of her — on my roller skates, probably at my birthday or Christmas when I first got them.

As we prepare for Christmas (I’m woefully behind on my blogging), I miss her even more. I remember going to her house to polish her silver before the holidays. It was a tedious task I never wanted to do at home. But I didn’t mind cleaning Mema’s silver as it meant I got to hang out with her for long stretches of time. What a wonderful grandma she was.

I was on campus on September 23rd to take some pictures of the first and second grade STEM challenge and got some shots of Finn’s class before the challenge started. The morning started with a group discussion of weekend activities.

Each student has the chance to talk when they are holding the green ball.

I’ve seen this a couple of times. Finn is very eager to have the ball, but then he just says, “I pass” and rolls the ball to someone else.

After circle time they had a “brain break” and walked around like Frankenstein for a while.

And then they started their engineering challenge. This week it was the Noodle Tower — build the highest tower possible using plastic cups, paper strips and cut up pool noodles.

I had to leave Finn’s classroom to visit and document another class so I don’t know how high they actually got their towers. But I do know that Finn loves these bi-weekly challenges!

Finn started his soccer season on September 7th with opening ceremonies at the Rose Bowl and a game in La Canada. Here are a few photos of that first game with his new team, The Minions.

On July 26th Finn lost his third tooth.

As usual, he wrote a quick note to the Tooth Fairy.

And she wrote back.

The boys thoroughly enjoyed Mootho’s attempt at making Finn a cookie.

Here are some behind the scenes shots of the magic.

Potato stamp footprints.

I can’t really believe I consented to this.

On July 3rd, just as the boys were preparing for their camping trip to Pinnacles National Park the next day, Finn lost another tooth. This time, in the bath tub. Here’s his letter to the Toothfairy.

Of course, the Toothfairy wrote back, and trusty assistants Mootho and Tootho made another appearance.

Here’s Mootho and Tootho’s idea of helping to put up the tent.

In the morning, Finn surveyed the damage.

And eventually I got a shot of his newly toothless grin.

And this shot, which I just think is sweet.

The same afternoon as June Jubilee, Finn had his second recorder recital. So, after snow cones, bounce houses and tie-dying, we switched gears and he and Bruce rushed home to change Finn into his nice clothes. I stayed with Ezra for an extra half-hour and then we met at the church that was home to the recital. Finn, apparently, had refused to have his top button done or his tie tightened all the way. He looked a tad disheveled but cute as we waited for his turn to go on.

Note the orange fingers left over from the tie-dye booth.

Finally, it was his turn.

I don’t have video from his solo (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) but I do have video of his duet with his lesson partner, Sami.

When they were done, Finn took a bow. Sami did not.

While we waited through the rest of the performers, Finn was mostly interested in Ezra’s treasures from June Jubilee.

And he had a hard time staying awake.

I just love this picture of Finn. I snapped it just after he got out of the bath one evening.

I’ve been at school a lot lately with various activities I’m covering for the Aveson website and the stuff going on with my own boys. One day when I was coming to chaperone Ezra’s field trip, I happened upon the Kindergarten PE class. They are super cute and seemed to be having a good time so I snapped a few photos.

A few days earlier, I was covering Peace Day and found Finn’s class up on the blacktop for snack recess. Here’s his gang. Left to right: Charlie, Finn, Luca, Henry, Finley and Jade.

Later I caught them playing kick ball.

Finn’s base running may need work — he ran right over to me.

After months of wiggling, Finn’s first tooth finally fell out. Quite literally, actually — he woke us up about 3:00 a.m. on May 23rd to tell us that his tooth was out. Apparently, he’d woken up when he realized that something was in his mouth. Good thing he didn’t swallow it!

Anyway, here are before and after pics.

The Tooth Fairy didn’t come that night — we assumed a 3:00 a.m. call isn’t enough notice — but she came the next night. Finn wrote her this letter.

Of course, she wrote him back.

Mootho, the new assistant in Tootho’s stead, left a pile of coins for Finn. Finn thought this was hysterical.

Bruce and I had a fun time eavesdropping on the boys that morning as Ezra read the Tooth Fairy’s letter to Finn and they discovered the coins. When Finn came in, the first thing he said was, “The Tooth Fairy came. I have some bad news. Tootho broke his leg.” My sweet, empathetic boy.

Finn tried his hand at busking a few weeks ago after seeing a musician on the street in Old Town. He got out one of Bruce’s hats and sat on our front steps with his recorder.

When I came back from my walk that day, I saw this girl out walking her dog who had stopped to listen to him play.

When he was done she fished some coins out of her pocket and put them in the hat. Finn was thrilled! Up to that point, the only money he’d earned had come from Bruce, Ezra and me.

A little later I found out that Bruce, who had been in the backyard working on the clubhouse, had seen the girl walking her dog, called her over, explained about Finn playing his recorder, and given her some change to give Finn. I’m pretty sure she thought he was crazy at first, but when she saw Finn she was very sweet.

Here’s Finn’s haul … all of it from our change jar.

Finn’s birthday celebration lasted three days this year due to our mini-celebration at woodworking class, then Saturday where he and Ezra got to build the Lego he’d received, and finally Sunday with his official party. Before I get to the party, I want to share a couple of photos from the morning of his birthday. He’d been dying to open the present from the Becks that had arrived a few days earlier and finally it was time!

He needed a little help to get it open.

Before they even took a look inside the box, both boys were completely entertained by the musical card.

This is what we heard over and over again for the next few days.

At school he got a “birthday shower” and notes from his friends about what they wish for him. It’s a really cute tradition and Finn couldn’t wait. After school was woodworking (see previous post) and then on to the weekend. On Saturday, he got the chance to open the presents from us and then the boys spent loads of time building the Legos Finn had received.

Sunday was the big party day, so Bruce spent his time organizing supplies for lava lamp and CHI orb making …

… and I did another round of cupcake baking. I decided to get a little fancy with the frosting this time.

The party activities were a hit. Everyone made a CHI orb necklace.

And many, many lava lamps.

And they ran around like crazy people, battling.

When it was cupcake time, they assembled on the patio pretty quickly.

Then they gobbled up the cupcakes before heading out to play again.

They got a little nutty in the back experimenting with the leftover Alka-Seltzer, making things explode. No big surprise who was at the center of it all. [Ezra.]

Finally the party wound down and the house was quiet again. There may have been a few more cupcakes consumed that afternoon.

Happy 6th Birthday, Finn!

(Of course, I took more pictures. The rest are here.)

Finn is starting to write a little more lately and the other day he wrote a couple of sentences. Here’s the first.

It’s a little hard to read with the eraser marks, but it says, “I am Finn.”

He also wrote this one:

This one is even harder to read because, well, spacing is not all that important to a Kindergartener learning to write. It says, “Mi last nam is Mosn.” Spelling is not important either. I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s writing and sounding out words!

Finn started recorder lessons at the beginning of January and Sunday afternoon he had his first recital. I nearly died from the cuteness of him getting all dressed up. We had searched for shoes the day before and he was very patient in finding the ones that were just right. Then we picked out a new shirt with a tie. He got some help getting dressed from Bruce.

Here he is just before we headed out.

After about a half-hour of waiting patiently, it was his turn. He went on with his teacher, Melissa, and Sami, the other boy who takes lessons with him.

The program said Finn was going second, so I wasn’t quite ready to start rolling when he actually went first. His solo is Hot Cross Buns.

Next he did a duet of Merrily with Sami.

After the show, Finn and Sami hung out for a few minutes and we took some pictures.

And then we went across the street to El Patron for a celebratory dinner. With Legos.

Congratulations, Finn, on your first recital. We are so proud of you!