...Took 1st Place

Cecilia's team took 1st Place in league play for Jefferson county this summer. They had an amazing season, going undefeated during their regular season, but unfortunately they choked during the tournament last weekend - losing two games in double elimination. I am pretty sure Wade and I were more heart broken than Ceci. She had a great time. Her favorite parts of the tournament were:

• eating multiple snow cones
• getting to play all four innings of BOTH games
• receiving her 1st Place League Play medal

...Longed to Be Outside

I picked up a roll of film over lunch today and could not wait to share these awesome pictures of Cecilia and Finnegan. Enjoy.

...Replaced the Flair

**UPDATE**
Sold the Flair on 8/29/08 for $75 bucks. Glad it is off of my front porch!

Is is tacky to try and sell something on your own blog? At this point, I care not. I just want this beast off of my porch. I have listed it on a million sites (craigslist, larryville.com, KansasCityStar.com and on this Google Group made up of Flair Fanatics), and I have only received one bite. Unfortunately for me [and for him] he lives in North Carolina.
The beast is a 1960-61 Frigidaire Flair Custom Imperial oven/range. Know anyone who wants one?...PLEASE pass on my info to them. The thing works perfectly, it just does not go with my remodeled kitchen. It is a steal at $100. Here are it's stats:

• 1960-61 Frigidaire Flair Custom Imperial - $100 (obo)
• Model Number RCIB645
• White/Stainless Steel
• Pullout Range
• Double Oven
• Good Condition (needs some TLC with a good cleaning!)
• Buyer Pick Up

Spread the word!

...Grew a Smile

Mr. Big went to his very first dentist appointment today. He was very excited to sit in their butterfly chair to have his picture taken, as was Cecilia the first time she went to see Dr. Kelli at Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. This place is amazing. There is this super cool water fountain right out front that looks like a big bowl of overflowing water. The waiting room is beautiful, with the coolest artwork all over the place, plus they have great kid toys and of course a fabulously huge flat panel TV on the wall. There is also some kind of video game unit that I am sure Mr. Big will adore some day, but for today he was happy to just sit on my lap and watch Sesame Street.

When Cecilia gets her teeth cleaned she gladly reclines in the chair, pops on some headphones and watches cartoons on the flat panel TV located on the ceiling directly above her chair. I. Am. Jealous. I spent quite a bit of time in the dentist/orthodontist chair in my day and never did I have such luxuries. They even have chocolate chip cookie dough flavored toothpaste at this dentist office. SO, not fair.

For Mr. Big's examination, Dr. Kelli and I sat facing each other with our knees touching. I held him, facing me and then laid his head back into her lap. He thought it was fun until she started feeling around in his mouth. I told him he was scaring the other little kids in the waiting room. The exam was short and sweet, so he did not suffer too badly. Dr. Kelli said all is well inside his little mouth and told me we should start brushing Mr. Big's toophers. Even gave us one of those cool finger brushes to use. I am volunteering Wade for that job.

I know what you are thinking, "Uh, he is only one. Why are you taking him to the dentist already? I didn't take my kids that early." I will give you three reasons why:
1) According to Dr. Kelli and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child should see a dentist by age one or when the first tooth appears. Finn is a year old and has three teeth.
2) Wade has amazing dental insurance that covers two exams a year and we do not have to pay a dime. Why not take full advantage of it, right?
3) Mr. Big will learn from an early age that going to the dentist is cool, plus I get to leave work and take him!

...Played with Worms

While Sister Bear fished, I played with these squishy things. Mommy and Kristan would not let me eat them though. What's up with that?

...Caught 20 Fish

We went fishing today at Papa James' pond. Daddy says I am an excellent fisherman. My mommy says it's in my blood. I am not sure about fish being in my blood, but I really did catch 20 fish today. Papa James says they are called Bluegill, but I didn't see any blue on them, or IN them for that matter. I watched as Kristan cut them all up. Everyone kept saying "clean the fish." It was disgusting and I didn't see anything "clean" about it. After she cut them up, Kristan fried them and we ate them. Bluegill are yummy.

...Celebrated a Wonderful Father

How very blessed Cecilia, Finnegan and I are to have Wade in our lives. I am sure we do not express this to him enough so we put together a Top 10 Reasons Why We Love Daddy:

10 He is a Grill Master - whipping up yummy marinades on the spot
9 He always has time to share a Popsicle with Cecilia.
8 He tears up while watching Sleepless in Seattle.
7 He renovated our kitchen mostly by himself [in 3 months].
6 He has been to every one of Cecilia's ball games.
5 He did not leave my side during either of our children's births.
4 He loves his family and calls his Grandma all the time just to talk.
3 He supported my choice to breastfeed 100%.
2 He would give up going fishing to spend time with us.
1 He is the most unselfish man we know.

Enjoy our tribute to one heck of a Daddy - Mr. Wade Franklin Cottrell.

...Devoured a Breakfast Cupcake

Finnegan is 1. Crazy, right?! We had a mini celebration during breakfast yesterday morning. I HAD to be the first one to give him cake on his birthday! As you can see, the "Birthday Fairy" visited our house in the middle of the night and decorated Finnie's chair. This Fairy has decorated our house for birthdays ever since Ceci's first one... but Cecilia thinks that Fairies should not decorate for boy birthdays. In fact, she is pretty sure it would be okay if Finnegan did not have a birthday at all. She had some issues with the attention he received yesterday. Wonder how she will fair at the Birthday BBQ Blowout scheduled for Saturday [please no rain, please no rain, please no rain...]

...Turned One Year Old

...Lost Some Hair & Got A New View

Last Wednesday Finnegan got his very first haircut from our "family stylist" Jessica Hammes. She has cut our hair for several years and was the first to cut Cecilia's hair as well. She has become a close friend and just bought her first home right across the street from us! How cool, right? Finally I know someone in this town [who is not related to me].
Finnegan did so good sitting still. I am pretty sure that was the first and last time that will happen. The look on his face is priceless...



Another first for Finnie last week was a new view in the car. On June 1 we turned his car seat around, 9 days ahead of schedule. His poor little legs where all smooshed, so I waited until his birth month instead of his birthday. He was so excited to see the cartoon on the TV. As you will see from the video, he is pretty amazed and keeps pointing at it in disbelief.

...Uploaded, Uploaded and Uploaded

While the kiddos napped this afternoon I have been uploading a TON of photos! Check out our albums online. I plan to upload to our new Google Picasa Web Albums from here on out! You have enjoyed our videos, now enjoy the photos.

...Chomped Chips & Rode Behind a Deer

You didn't think Ceci was having ALL the summer fun did you? Check me out in this video montage my Mommy put together...
[Warning to the Nanas - brace yourself.]

...Ran the Bases and Filled Up the Tank

Cecilia's team won 15-10 Wednesday night against Effingham [wherever that is], making their record 2-0. They totally dominated both sides of the game, winning by run spread in the third inning. I have had several requests for footage of this event. I finally had a second to edit and upload the videos this morning.
This is Ceci's first at bat that night. She hits a beautiful line drive down the third baseline and gets batted in, scoring a run for her team. Wade and Finn are shown cheering her on. Enjoy!

She has a game tonight in Royal Valley. As you can see from the linked Google Map, this town is about 35 miles NE of Perry. At first I was like, "Holy crap! Why are we driving so far for a 4 year old's Coach Pitch league game?!" But after driving a similar distance to Easton a couple of weeks ago, I now look forward to these mini road trips to rural small towns. I enjoy driving on roads I have never been on before. Being a schduled oriented, routine lovin' person, it is relaxing to ride in the passenger seat and not know what is coming next - as long as I do not look at how much gas we used to get there and back.