Finn Turned 5 and started Kindergarten!

Finn has grown up so much this past year, reaching the epic age of 5 and starting kindergarten.  This was the first 'friend' party I have done for him, and it was a success!  Here are some moments from the party:


The awesome invite, courtesy of Megan who did this theme for Milo's last birthday party.  She realized after the fact that we shouldn't really encourage kids to defeat enemies of evil...but I think they got the general idea ;)

Since I am not crafty AT ALL, I was pretty proud of this sign I made.  We moved it to the inside after all the kids got there, but it was originally on the outside of the door with some balloons.  When they came inside, I gave them a name tag with their ninja name (using a key I got from Megan...Finn's name was Lukitoto) and a headband.

This picture of Kate is just hilarious in it's own right, but you can also see the treat boxes that they took home behind her -- Chinese take-out boxes from PF Changs (which they gave me for free)with a Ninjago picture on the front and a few yummy snacks within.

Took this picture of the birthday crew after they all completed their ninja training (sword fighting on the wii, 'don't touch the ground' with balloons and chopsticks, poison ball on the tramp and an obstacle course in the backyard)...can you guess whose nap time it is? :)

What Ninjago party would be complete without Ninjago lego? Thanks Valentine cousins!

 And just a few days later he started kindergarten!  He has adjusted to school really well and loves it.

Look how big that backpack is on his little body, I love it.



Here's a conversation we had just last night:

Me: Finn, I think you're super cute.  And not in a baby way, in a 'girls are gonna have crushes on you cuz you're so handsome and kind' kind of way.
Finn: yeah, I knew what you meant...and I already know a girl at school that does think that actually.
Me: Really, who?
Finn: Heidi (accompanied with a classic Finn shrug/eye-roll combo)
Me: How do you know? Does she giggle a lot and try to chase you on the playground?
Finn: No, she just likes to be around me.

Look at this little guy, turning into such a little man.  We just love him.

July Highlites

#1: 4th of July
We usually spend the 4th of July with my side of the family, but this year since Matt's family was in town, we switched it up and went to Grammy's. Here are a few gems from the evening, courtesy of a friend with a much better camera than me:

#2: Uncle Ben left on his mission to Mississippi!  He was NINE when I met him for the first time. CA-RAZY!

#3: Mud Run with Megan, Dustin and Aaron.  So much fun!  Well, except for the part where Megan pushed me into a muddy pond and I gashed my leg (check out the streak of blood on my right shin). But that didn't stop me from finishing!  I have a battle scar from it now.  I'm extreme.  I would never do this particular race again because it was so poorly organized (started late, not all the obstacles were assembled, after first lap the mud turned to rocky scraped-knee hell) but I'd do another mud run for sure -- we had a great time! (The first pic is pre-race. Pre-race.  Meg dressed like a hick and wanted Aaron to too, but much to her chagrin and not really to his, the overalls she got him were too small to race in.)
                               

 #4: Finn played T-Ball!  He is the little guy in the middle with the tan hat.

Here is a video of him in action at practice.  Watching him do those 'jumping jacks' just warms my heart:

#5: Finn got a ride on Cool Uncle Tom's motorcycle.  This little man is usually VERY cautious but he loved it!

Kate is 3

Well...now she's more like 3 1/2...but anyway...

Kate turned 3 on June 25, just after we returned from Ohio. Both she and Finn were so excited as they helped me make preparations for her party. 

This was the last day she wore this shirt because it kept rolling up and showing her belly. She is just growing up too fast!

Around lunch time, we were invited on a hike with cousins so we called it her "birthday hike" and she loved it!  It was actually a perfect hike for kids, only about 20 minutes long, ending at a tiny waterfall perfect for wading. I can't believe we live minutes away from this stuff, I don't take advantage of it enough.

 McCoy in front, Finn behind pointing in his silly way to the waterfall.  Kate squatting by Gemma and Taj in the background.

There were several log bridges which were not too hard to manage...but when I wasn't looking Kate tried to run across one and she fell right off the side into the creek!  Luckily, the water was not deep at all, just deep enough to get her nice and wet and a little scared.  But in true Kate fashion she took a few deep breaths and quickly got over it.  (Being carried the rest of the way by Aunt Andrea may have helped.)

In the evening we had family over for a low-maintenence party in the backyard.  Cake and ice cream were devoured.  Presents were opened.  Sunshine was enjoyed.


Pre-cake

...And Post. She loved the dollar bill and flowers that Aunt Lesli gave her. This pic cracks me up.

Rex was a wonderfully happy party guest. Try to look at the cute Grammy-grandchild moment and not all the dead grass in our backyard!

McCoy makin' himself at home in a dessert carriage built for one

No, this is not a glamor shot of Brody's abs, it's of the dress that Kate got from Grammy, Kimmy and Jenn.  Whenever she wore it to church after that, people would always compliment her on it and she would say. "Thanks!  Yeah!  I YUV it!  My Grammy gave it to me for my bird-day!"

I guess you can't have a birthday post without one of these:


And just for fun we'll end this post with a couple kate-isms. Here is an exchange between her and Aaron last night at dinner:

Kate: (setting her stuffed dog beside her at the table) Vio-wet is gonna watch me eat
Aaron: Wow, lucky Violet
Kate: (scoffs) She's not real dad!

And this morning while her and Finn were playing:

Finn: (fighting sounds) We killed Loki!  Let's tell Thor he's dead!
Kate: Yeah! Now we can dwink his blood!  That will make Heavenly Father sooo happy because he tells us that it's good to dwink blood! (Mistaken and grossly misdirected reference to the sacrament.)  Guess I need to talk to her more about symbolism. ;)


This little 3-year-old brings so much personality to our home.  We just love her.