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Another Big Bite

Another Big Bite

Tag Archives: finn

Captain’s Log, Stardate 04-05-14: Report from Planet Lego…

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by anotherbigbite in I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo', Nerd Alert, Party Hearty, The "Joy" of Parenting

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

birthday party, finn, lego man cake, lego man goody bags, lego party, little boy birthday party

Another Big Bite - Finn

Saturday was a big day for us.  Finn’s birthday party started at two, which meant we started our day at six…  Cleaning, prepping, decorating…  And that was the easy part.  Once the house was packed with four- and five-year olds, the cake really hit the fan.

Originally, Finn wanted to have a “Lego Superhero Party,” but I made the executive decision to edit if down to one much simpler theme; LEGO.  Although I’ve been known to blow lots of cash on seemingly useless things in the past, I was determined this was not going to be one of them.  If that meant that everything was going to be cut out of construction paper, I was fine with it.  We had one activity that broke the bank, but more on that later…

Another Big Bite - Lego Party

One of my biggest conundrums was figuring out where to seat a whole bunch of kids; I don’t have an army of folding chairs.  After going over the math on how much it was going to cost to buy enough cheapie end tables at Ikea to have everyone seated on the floor, I had a moment of clarity…  I made Nae take the legs off the dining room table and cut short ones out of scrap wood.  Then we sat everyone on the floor.  We covered the cushions from the House with Wheels (our camper) for seating.  It worked like a charm!

Another Big Bite - Lego Man Cake

The cake turned out pretty good; though I skipped using fondant in favor of taste over beauty.  It was far from my best work, but little kids aren’t what you call sticklers for perfection.  We had Finn blow out the candles on the big Lego Man head cake, but then gave all the kids cupcakes.  No forks, no cutting, and only one kid even mentioned that he wanted some of the big cake.  Major crisis averted.

Another Big Bite - Lego Cupcakes

The cupcakes didn’t exactly turn out how I wanted them to.  I envisioned red cupcake papers, blue cake, white frosting and a yellow candy Lego Man on top.  Meh.  At least they tasted yummy.

We had a bean bag toss and did “Pin the Face on the Lego Man…”

Another Big Bite - Lego Party 2

Only Alice & Finn's faces are still up there, though...

Only Alice & Finn’s faces are still up there, though…

Another Big Bite - Lego Car

Alice, Nathan and Finn's cars.  Ten bucks if you can tell which one is the little lady's.

Alice, Nathan and Finn’s cars. Ten bucks if you can tell which one is the little lady’s.

But the big event of the day was the Lego Derby.  We ordered the parts to make a Lego car base (the plate, wheels and tires) from three separate sellers over on Bricklink and then ordered a giant box of regular Legos from Amazon.  At the very last-minute (the night before), we made the trek out to Denver’s Lego Store to pick up steering wheels, headlights, fins, propellers, shifters, control panels and other random parts from the Pick-A-Brick wall.  In the end, we dropped about sixty dollars on all the makings of fifteen Lego racers, but it was money well spent.  It was our biggest expense by leaps and bounds, but when the kids lost their minds when I said they were for them to take home, it was worth it.

Another Big Bite - Lego Party 4

Since only about half the kids showed up (do not even get me started on how bummed I was that only three of the parents from Finn’s class RSVP’d), we had parts for extra Lego cars.  I asked if the dads each wanted to make one.  One of the dads promptly declared to his son, “Sorry buddy.  You are on your own; I’ve got my own to build.”  And he was equally excited when I told him to take both his and his son’s cars home with them.  It was awesome.

And so we had a “Dad Division” to the race.  The pull of playing with Legos follows us into adulthood, I suppose.

Another Big Bite - Lego Party 3

Nathan built a racetrack out of scrap wood we had leftover from Finn’s bedroom and the kids had a good time shoving the little cars to victory.  Finn cheated (and was subsequently disqualified), Nathan came in DEAD LAST in the Battle of the Dads, but little Alice pulled a third place victory out of nowhere.  In the end, all three winners were girls, and I had to fight the urge to bust out a 1998-Spice-Girls-ish “GIRL POWER!!” Though I totally said it in my head.  With a mental fist-pump.

Another Big Bite - Lego Trophies

Another Big Bite - Eating

We had cake and made our own ice cream sundaes before the presents were opened.  Finny always blossoms in front of an audience, I tell you.

Another Big Bite - Lego Party Bags

Everyone got a goody bag on their way out, though it wasn’t epic by any means.  Fruit snacks, a lollypop, a bouncy ball and some stickers never looked so good.

Both Nathan and I were exhausted at the end of the party; I have no idea how teachers do it for an entire day with three times as many kids…  We ordered pizza for dinner and everyone crawled into bed in a Lego haze.

Another Big Bite - Lego Cake2

Another Big Bite - Finn 3

Another Big Bite - Finn 4

It wasn’t quite over, though.  Finn’s actual birthday was Sunday.  Nathan had a full day of work, so we woke the kids up at six to sing Happy Birthday, open presents and have cake.  Since Alice’s birthday in December, I think we have a new tradition on our hands…  Birthday cake for breakfast is the bomb-diggity, and they kids get all day to play with their new toys.  In Finn’s case, twelve Lego sets to be exact.

Another Big Bite - Finn 6

Over the course of 24 hours, he put every single set together.  I was on hand to affix decals and find little missing pieces that jumped and hid (or were pilfered by Alice), but by four in the afternoon on Sunday, he had everything done.  He was still in his pajamas, but I figured if there was any day where he was allowed to forget the rest of the world, it was his birthday.

We took him to It’z (a bigger version of Chuck E. Cheese) for dinner, and when we got home, there was one last package to open from Uncle Mike and Aunt Tamara…  A robot fish.  Which made him squeal with delight.  And made me breathe a sigh of relief since it was the only toy he had gotten that needed batteries.  Robot fish for the win!

Lordy, I’m exhausted just reliving the whole weekend.  But to see this look on Finny’s face;

Another Big Bite - Finn 5

… I’d do it all over again.

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Progress in Finn’s Room

09 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in Fixing Up the House

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Tags

boys room, decorating, diy, finn, home, house, kids room

As normal folks are mowing their lawns, doing laundry, fixing dinner or bathing, Nathan and I have been working on Finn’s room every chance we get.  Every time we start one of these projects, I am reminded how overly optimistic the two of us are.

Three days?  Muwah, ha, ha, ha!  We’re clocking in at a week now, and the bed isn’t quite finished yet.

1finnsroom2

It is about 90% functional at this point, though.  The bed is up, it is stable and safe, but we have lots of trim work to do.  We have to paint the railing and permanently install the climbing rope “safety net.”  And we are anxiously patiently awaiting the arrival of the rock holds we ordered online…  For now, Finn is climbing up a makeshift ramp until they are installed.

He’s only wiped out once.  Huzzah.

The good news is that his duvet cover is done.  The Lego Man pictures are up (which are just prints of our Lego family from last month).  While Nathan is at work (and he has been working A LOT), I am going to town getting all the little things together.  The kids and I have made two trips to Ikea to gather supplies; hooks and tables and little lamps…

Hooks…

1finnsroom4

And tables…

1finnsroom3

And lamps…

1finnsroom

Oh my.

Another jam-packed week makes it apparent it will not be finished by Friday, but it won’t stop me from trying to pull it all together.  In vain.

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Labor Day, Indeed.

03 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in Fixing Up the House

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bunk bed, diy, finn, home, house, kids room, loft bed

I had grand plans for this weekend, but the constant threat of rain rendered painting the garage door a fruitless endeavor.  

Must…. Wait… For… Another… Three… Day… Weekend…  (The perfect excuse to procrastinate, even if it isn’t a valid one.)

I already have the shutters and front door done, but the garage door is giving me the old stink-eye.  I am afraid to tackle it, mostly because we are going from the same light gray that the house is to almost black…  It is either going to look awesome, or totally shitty.  And there is no going back once it is done – I’ll never be able to match the paint color that the house is now.

photo 1 (1)

The real star of the show is Finn’s bedroom.  On Sunday night, Finn sprinted into our room in the middle of the night, terrified from the nightmare he had just woken up from.  I’m not going to say that I intentionally took advantage of the situation, but let us agree that I did not let a good opportunity pass me by.  Watch and learn…

“Finn, why are you so scared?”

“I had a bad dream.  I’m afraid to be in my bed, please, oh please, let me stay here in your bed, not in my bed.  There are monsters under my bed.”

“What would make your room not scary?”  I am so glad Nathan was awake for this part.  “What if monsters couldn’t hide under there anymore?”

He tells me he wouldn’t be scared.  I don’t know if this is actually the case, but I. Don’t. Care.  As soon as we shuttle him back to bed, Nathan is staring at the ceiling, plotting Finny’s new loft.

Mission Accomplished.  I’m working on hashing out the photo op with George W. Bush at the moment.  Please stand by.

This will have to do for now.  via

Instead of painting garage doors, Monday morning was filled with tape measures and pencil sketches and trips to Home Depot.  After an unfortunate setback with the table saw melting its on/off switch (and subsequent visits to Radio Shack and Lowes to find a replacement), we didn’t get far enough to paint last night, but the details have been hashed out, his existing bed has been dismantled for parts, rock climbing holds have been ordered and there is an enormous structure taking shape in Finn’s bedroom.

photo 3

So photo-realistic it’s SCARY.

photo 2 (1)Finn's Big Boy Room

The Big Boy Room is officially underway!  I can’t wait!

With any luck, our retired climbing rope will get a bath this morning, we will get our final Home Depot run in this evening, and I will be relocating a sleeping pre-schooler while I paint in the middle of the night.

I’m gonna say it again – I CAN’T WAIT!!

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First Day of School! First Day of School!

30 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in The "Joy" of Parenting

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Tags

finn, first day of school, parenting, preschool

Finn’s first day of school; four-year-old preschool, was last Tuesday.  I am still flooded with all the emotions that I have not felt in over a decade.

New markers!

New clothes!

Oh, shit.  I e’ffing hate school; why can’t it be summer forever?

All that, and the anxiety over the uncertainty of the next nine months…  Who would be in my classes?  Would I like my teachers?  Would I fit in?  Would I be forced to be lab partners with that girl that I cannot stand?  Or maybe Tony?  That cute sophomore?  That would be acceptable.

And what was my locker combination again?

photo 2 Finn has a ways to go before he has to worry about all those problems (which now seem so ridiculously trivial but were major points of contention for a sixteen-year-old girl).  He felt the pressure all the same – back to school takes its toll on even the littlest scholar.

For example, his teacher informed me that he was spitting on another kid.

SPITTING?  I mean, the kid can totally be an a-hole when he wants to be, but I’ve never seen him SPIT on another person before.

“Finn?!?  You spit on another kid??”

“Actually, it was two kids.”  He sighs and wrinkles his nose.  His shoulders slump but he holds my eyes as if to say; Those kids were douchebags, Mom, and I totally had to assert my dominance.  Bow to The Finny.

I come to find out he was blowing raspberries at two of the other boys – which, I know my “Overprotective-My-Kid-Can-Do-No-Wrong” is showing, but that is NOT spitting.  Not that I told him that, though.  Nathan and I gave him a stern talking to and he promised not to do it again.

Upon dropping him off on the second day of class, I start to notice a pattern.  All the other parents are noticing how smart he is…  I know, he’s my kid, but everyone is asking me if he is three.  Part of being a parent is being able to judge the age of every child within a year of your own, and how they measure up to your kiddo.  When you ask a fellow parent how old their kid is, what you really mean is: I’m pretty sure my kid is smarter than yours, but allow me to double-check.

Turns out, he is in the wrong class.  No wonder why everyone thinks he a genius – he is a year older than everyone else.  And I was told he was “spitting/raspberry-ing” again, and wasn’t listening to the teacher.

photo 1We moved him into the right class, and so far, we have had nothing but good news.  And praise for how SMART he is.  Even for a four-year-old.

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“This is not reality. This is Colorado Springs.”

09 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in The "Joy" of Parenting, TMI

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

family, finn, funny kids, kids, kids say the darndest things, little kids, out of the mouths of babes, parenting

When Finn was about Alice’s age, I would agonize over his speech; or lack thereof.  Everything was babbling and ooodling, and before I could process it, he was schooling me on the proper usage of the word “obligated.”

1finn2

One of the perks of parenthood is being around a moment when your kids make a hysterical miscalculation about the English language.  Or they say something so terribly inappropriate that you have no choice but to laugh.  Like yesterday, when Finn exclaimed in the restroom at Walmart, “OH, MOM!  I peed in my eye!”

If you are trying to wrap your brain around the mechanics of such an event, allow me to enlighten you…  If you have boy parts, do not try to watch yourself poop.  Weenies have a mind of their own.   Too much information?  Well, it is Friday, after all.  Lighten up.

One of my favorite Finnish phrases is the title of this post.  I couldn’t tell you the context (I’ve since forgotten), but it speaks the truth.  This really isn’t reality here in Colorado – it is way too much good coupled with way too much stress.  (A perfect equilibrium, I ‘spose.)  Ah.  Out of the mouths of babes.

Here are a few of Finny’s finest that I have been cataloguing in the notepad on my phone.  I realize that NO ONE thinks this shit is as funny as Nathan and I find it.  If this kind of stuff bores you; I’ll see ya again on Monday.  Don’t let the back button hit you in the ass on the way out.

1finn1

On Wookies

“Look!  It’s One Baca!”

“What are you talking about, Finny?  That is CHEWBACCA.”

“Yes!  Two Baca!”

Eloquent Observations on the Female Anatomy

“That is just Mom using her Monster Hole.”  (As I am holding my wallet between my thighs while trying to sign a credit card slip.)

“Alice came out of your stripe.  I did, too.”  (While yanking down my sweats to point to my C-section scar.)

“This is the big boob [pats one of my boobs] and this is the little boob [pats the other].  You better go pop [pump] that ninny, Mom.  It is going to blow up.”  (During my days nursing Alice.)

“Mom just has a butt to pee out of.” (While pointing out my lack of penis.)

Concerning Popular Music of Yesteryear

“You own a band, a band, you own it!” (Michael Jackson’s “Bad”)

“American Iguana, I’m a beeeeee!”  (The Guess Who’s “American Woman”)

“Hedgehogging ghosts come out to socialize.”  (Albeit not popular in any circle besides my own, “The Hitchhiking Ghosts” song from The Haunted Mansion)

Oooh, I See What You Mean…

“All those cars have testicles, Dad.”  (ICEicles)

“I love Cinderella cheese, Grandma.  Mom puts it on pizza at home.”  (MOZZarella cheese)

“He is surrounded by horse fields.” (FORCE fields)

Everything You Wanted to Know About an Erect Penis

“My penis feels like venchables…”  (Vegetables?  Maybe a carrot?  I dunno.)

“Oooh.  My weenis is like a screwdriver!!”  (God help me.)

“Look, Alice!  A REALLY BIG WIENER!!  AHHH HAA!”  (As he tries to poke her in the arm with it.  Sweet lord; help Alice, too.)

And with that, I think we can all agree I’ve shared enough Finnisims for one day.  Or a year.  Since Alice is just a year-and-a-half, I have yet to experience our fine semantics through her eyes.  And part of me laments the fact that Finn is getting older and gaining a finer grasp on his vocabulary.  Even though all of it is a bit embarrassing when it slips out at, say, the mall during a haircut, I pine for the next line of comedy gold since they are so few and far between these days.

This perk of parenting is also a curse; because this, too, shall pass.

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