Happy 6th Birthday Finn!!

With every celebrated birthday of each of my children I struggle that another year has passed. I am learning that this is a normal feeling, and I have heard that as your children get bigger the years go even faster. This makes me very sad. Maybe that is why we love to celebrate birthdays in our family. And as you have probably concluded, we tend to go overboard. While the parties this year weren't to my typical standards (a newborn throws a wrench in plans) I believe my kids still enjoyed themselves.

The last of my summer babies just celebrated his 6th birthday with a party at our local splash pad. Finley has been planning his party for quite sometime, but in true Finley fashion, he could not decide exactly what he wanted and, though we decided on and booked the splash pad months ago, he tried to change his mind at the last minute. Finn has a tendency to be a tad demanding (he has always been this way) and we "lovingly" tease him about his Negative Nancy/Debbie Downer/Sad Sack/Party Pooper ways. Josh and I were a bit anxious about the birthday party meeting Finley's expectations, and we really didn't want him to be his own party's pooper (because he can totally be that).

Luckily, Finn thoroughly enjoyed his party, his friends, his food, and his presents. The party went off without a hitch and it was an easy party to throw. He asked for a sports theme and so that's exactly what we did! And he asked for a cookie cake (done) and pizza (and done). The kids all had a very good time!

Finn and Korbin

So funny, but the boys and girls separated themselves at different tables!

Party Goers!!!  Fun bunch of kids!

Sweet Ivy was even a pretty good girl and let people love on her!!

Present time!! Finley was hilarious about his presents this year. When asked by family what he wanted for his birthday his list had specific items to be purchased by specific people. Pool ring from Gamma and Poppy. Emoji poop coffee cup from his brother. Electric toothbrush and "ball shooter" from Daddy. Craft stuff from Mommy. When I asked him what he wanted Grandma and Grandpa to get him he replied Pictionary and a metal detector. The kid knows what he wants. Always has. And guess what? He got all those random things. 

More water play before the party ended.

Jillian and Finley (this little girl is Finn's "girlfriend" ... but to be honest, I don't think she feels the same about him. haha!)

A walk down memory lane...birthday parties past!

And now I am crying. My second baby is no longer a baby. He is a big boy, and he wants to be a big boy. He used to say that he promised to stay my little boy, but here lately he wants to move to California. I'm praying we change that before he is old enough. (Uncle Wesley, if you are reading this, you are the reason he wants to move to California. And Disney Land. But he's never been there....)

Finn's actual birthday was the day after the party, I told him he couldn't say he was 6 until then. Haha! He took it seriously and I overheard him tell some of his friends at his party that he was still only 5. Ha! On his actual birthday we opened family presents and I let him pick what he wanted for supper. He chose chocolate chip pancakes and bacon. My kind of kid!

Trying to figure out what Grandma and Grandpa bought him. He wondered how they knew he asked for a metal detector from them because he didn't tell them, I guess he doesn't think I talk to my parents ever?!!

Happy 6th Birthday to my spunky and sweet Finley. You keep me on my toes, always have and probably always will. You can simultaneously make me angry and make me laugh. I love your passion, even if it gets overwhelming, and I know you will do big things with it. I thank God that he chose me to be your Mama. Now, if you could slow down your growing up I would be much happier, mmmkay?! 

Happy 2nd Birthday Maclyn!!

Maclyn celebrated her 2nd birthday last weekend. And she celebrated with a Peppa Pig Party! This little girl had so much fun and it was so fun celebrating her! I struggle with her being TWO. She is still a baby to me...and I hate how fast time is flying.

We decided to do Maclyn's 2nd Birthday Party in our church's activity building and we had the party guests bring ride on toys to give the little ones something age-appropriate to do. The big kids also enjoyed the ride-on toys... We served barbecue (or as Josh lovingly named it, Peppa-cue!) and cake and then did a Peppa Pig pinata! I didn't think about it, but as one friend jokingly (??) said, we were monsters for serving barbecue and then beating a Peppa replica! Pretty funny until it came time for the pinata and Maclyn became super upset. Funny, but not funny.

Life is Better in a Tutu!! (this is Maclyn's "CHEEEEEEEESE" face! Haha!)

Before we did presents, we got some pictures with Maclyn. She LOVES her daddy so much and it is evident in this series of pictures and they are so sweet!!

Bring in the rest of Team Owens!!!

Pinata Time!! So, listen. What kid doesn't love a pinata? I was super excited to find a Peppa pinata and never in my wildest dreams imagined it would break my Birthday Girl's heart. It seemed to start out fine, but then sheer terror came over Maclyn's face when she realized she was literally beating Peppa Pig. And it got worse with tears when Maclyn's friends then ENJOYED beating her. Josh had to walk Mac away from the scene. I laughed while it was going on, but it broke my heart that my baby was hurting. Poor kid!

I am loving these pinata pictures of Maclyn's friends! They thoroughly enjoyed it even if the Birthday Girl didn't.

The big kids were dying for their turns!

So my Maclyn is TWO. I really feel like the past two years flew by. Maclyn is a gem of a child. She is super sweet and loves to give kisses and has the sweetest smiles. She still has her "judgy" look, among many other fantastic expressions, but she is a very happy child. She is talking a lot and loves to tell you that her favorite color is PINK. In fact, everything in her world is PINK!!! Nothing like enjoying life in pink. Maclyn has great manners and says Please! and Thank you! and Bless You Mama/Bubba/Baby. She is smitten with her daddy (and calls him Daya) and begs her brothers to play with her ("bubba pway." while patting the ground next to her). Maclyn cannot get enough of her baby sister ("Bubay" or "Ivay") and purses her lips to kiss Ivy any chance she gets. 

Maclyn is weighing in at 27.6 lbs and is nearly 34 inches tall! She seems huge to me but that is likely because I now have a new tiny baby, but she isn't! She still has the most awesome spiral curls and I am obsessed with them. Her hair is actually long, down to the middle of her back when you stretch the curls out, and when it isn't pulled up in a bow it is CRAZY!!! Josh threatens to cut it quite often, but I know he loves it!  A week before her 2nd birthday, Maclyn gave her paci to her baby sister (put it in Ivy's bassinet) and never looked back. So the pacifier is GONE! Josh and I can't believe how easy it was for her to part with it. Now, bedtime and naptime have been a little more difficult and she doesn't go to sleep as easily. She continues to twirl her sweet curls to help herself fall asleep, but she is waking in the middle of the night and this is kind of frustrating. I won't lie, I know the paci would settle her and make her back to the awesome sleeper she was, but we can't go back. She's a big girl now! Potty training is next!!!

As sweet and adorable as Maclyn's personality is, she can be pretty spicy!! She does not like to not get her way and lets out an ear-piercing scream when she doesn't. She loves her brothers, but it must be on her terms. They get up in her face or in her toys, despite me telling them not to until I am blue in the face, and this results in a scream. Maclyn's newest phase, besides a scream, is to run away from us anytime we need to leave the house, change her diaper, get dressed, get up to the table to eat, etc..  She runs and hides as if I have all kinds of time in the world to hunt her down for whatever we need to do. It was funny at first, but it isn't anymore. And along with this phase, she is hitting. It typically happens when you chase her down and pick her up for whatever reason (for example, diaper change)...she starts to hit you, herself, or throw things off the changing table. Temper much?! 

Every bit of you, we will take it all, Baby Girl! You are a joy in our lives and we have enjoyed watching you grow! Happy 2nd Birthday Maclyn Alice!!