A Famiy Affair

It has taken me too long to post these pictures and I realize in looking them that we did not get a group shot (doh!) of everyone. Basically, about 30 different kinds of Craig's side of the family came over 4th of July weekend to meet the baby and party it up kielbasa-style. Matt, Annie and the kids were still here - Grandma Carol and Grandpa Arnie came all the way from California as well. It was a great day - people couldn't believe we were giving a party with a 7 week old baby.

Grandma Carol holding Finn, Matt and Silas, Craig
A blessing from Aunt Fran is a blessing indeed!!
This one's for you, Gracie!
Aunt Janet's AMAZING summer pie recipie (make it, now!)
A bit of the scene
Steve & Cousin Lisa - somebody has baby fever....
Everyone watched a slide show of family photos from 25 yrs or more ago - courtesy Uncle Billy.
Mac & Emmett made signs for the party
The "old school" cooler

Father/Daughter Boo Boos

Friday was a bit of a bummer with Finley getting her 2 month vaccinations - 3!!! shots and 1 oral plus some baby Tylenol. She basically slept for the next 24 hours and seems fine. Also, Craig was attacked by a flying rock that was kicked up by the lawn mower. It was actually a pretty deep and will probably leave a cool scar.

Hey, Who's that Baby?!

Finley sees herself in a mirror for the first time

Parental Observation # 245

So something interesting and deceptively subtle just happened. I was rocking the baby to sleep with a little Sam Cooke (the only cd that has been in the player the whole time since her birth:) - and I was doing the internal dialogue that I am sure everyone who has tried to put a kid down to sleep has had "Ok, there they go... eyes are closing - that's it, ok - no, wait..... there's a twitch and a flutter..... Oh, there we go - the big sigh, she's out... except she's not - one then two eyes OPEN! Arrgh! Frustrating. I usually really want her to go to sleep because I have something I need do like pee or eat or something else of a totally basic nature. But today, I didn't need to do anything - I just knew she was tired and was rocking her down when I caught myself - "that's the 4th song - she's usually out by now.... oh, there go her eyes - she's out" and this is where it got interesting because I realized I didn't care if she went out or not. Her eyes opened, she looked at me for a few long moments and I just looked back, not thinking, not wanting the moment to be any different that it was. It was beautiful and I would have missed it if I would have doing business as usual being stuck in my head.... I was still looking as the eyelids dropped and she was out:)

Cousins Finley and Silas dreaming together a few weeks ago

Ham - oops, I Mean HAND Sandwich, Anyone??

Naked Thursdays

8 week old baby Finley... The yummy chubbiness begins.

Welcome to the World Baptism

The idea was hatched back in November and so it came to pass that the babes, the cousins, were baptised in the creek in the back of our house....
Emmett: (while sprinkling water) "We baptise you, Silas Loyal Dreyer in the name of Love and Peace. We welcome you to our family."
Mac: "We baptise you, Finley Joyous Dreyer in the name of Love and Peace. We welcome you to our family."

Finley Speaks!

She had a lesson a couple weeks ago from her Uncle Matt and cousins Emmett and Mac.....


And now, for the first time complete "goooogeee" baby sentences!!!

Tim and Katy Mac Tie the Knot!

look at these cuties!we wish them much happiness and good fortune
Finley got some love from the Frabonis

Madison Square Garden Gig

I finally made it to the Garden!
I played the with a band called Dispatch. They did three sold out reunion gigs to benefit the people of Zimbabwe. Check out Dispatch Zimbabwe
here I am on the big monitor...
I wore my Pop's suit...
I picked up a groupie
all in all, a good time!

Naked Thursdays

My Aunt Anne had a great idea for weekly pictures. They will always be taken on Thursdays, always naked. This first shot was taken on Wednesday and she's not naked, but I have to throw in - gearing up to get naked.

Wilkenson Hollow Gang

Part 2 of the series. For the article and part one click here

They're Here!!

The moment we've all been waiting for - US with more kids and togetherness has finally arrived.
The first five minutes.
Fun under the pear tree.
Can you STAND it.... Mac singing to Finley.