Finny is THREE!

For some reason I have this need to decorate the boys door for when they wake up on their birthdays. Maybe it is what I would want? Maybe it stems from my college sorority days? Whatever it is, the boys LOVE it. But my creativity is pretty poor, and my good intentions typically turn into a rush to get stuff thrown up on the door once the boys finally fall asleep and before I crash and burn myself. It is a short window.

Once we heard the boys stirring, I sat outside their room, camera in-hand, and waited for Finn to come out. Oh and I did a little praying that it would be Finn that came out first, and not Keagan!! It was Finn and he was super pumped about his birthday streamers, or stripes as he called them. I love the faces of Finny.

On Keagan's 5th birthday I took him to lunch. He wasn't really sure where he wanted to go, but was happy to go to Sonic and get a "blue drink." I kind of expected the same thing from Finn. Wrong. Finley knew exactly where he wanted to go once he figured out I was taking him to lunch and letting him pick. He said he wanted Mexican restaurant. But not just any Mexican restaurant...the one that serves ranch-jalapeno dip. So to Habanero we went! (If you've ever been to a Chuy's, it is just like that) When we pulled into the parking lot he got so excited because I interpreted his lunch choice perfectly. He told everyone that he was now three, and today was his birthday, and was a total gem the entire lunch date. So much fun!

 
For his birthday dinner, Finn asked for pizza and watermelon. he cracks me up because he is incredibly decisive. A boy who knows exactly what he wants, and doesn't forget it either. 

(not to be outdone...and in case you forgot...Keagan is 5)

Present time!!!!! Oh heavens, this was frustrating. Finn wanted to open his own presents (of course!) but Keagan didn't think he could do it on his own. And you want to talk about a hoverer. Whew, keeping Keagan back for 2 seconds to give Finley some breathing room was an insane challenge.  Finley is a little different from Keagan in the present-opening scenario. Where Keagan wants to open and savor each gift, Finn wants to completely tear through the presents, hardly stopping to take a breath, and not really knowing what he gets until he has torn through the gifts. He is definitely not as sensitive and sweet about his present-opening as Keagan. But I am sure those who know Finny-Monster (yes, we have started calling him this), expect this from him.

I decided tho make Finn's birthday cake this year. Mainly because we were caked out...and we had lots of boxed mixes in the pantry...and, though Finn talks a big talk about wanting to eat cake, he really doesn't eat cake. But this was one of those boxed tie-dye cakes and I was pretty excited to try it out. It was super yummy, and turned out really pretty too!

 

 

 

My goodness these boys (all 3!!) are so cute!

Happiest of Birthdays dear Finley. You promised me that you'd stay my little baby...now I let you turn three but I am thinking that's enough growing up!!!! Please!?!???

Spring/Summer Camera Phone Mash-Up

The thing about camera phones: they are incredibly useful in capturing "the moment" when the big camera is out of reach or the moment calls for true spontaneity, but they tend to live on my phone in some sort of wild, random assortment without fitting nicely into a theme. And even when they do fit a theme ideal for a blog post, I forget about them. Or in the case of some of these pics, thought I already blogged them. (And maybe I did? I cannot find them if so...)

A while ago I did a 5K Color Run with Stacey and we did it with the kids. It was a blast, and while we brought strollers for the kiddos, they did a lot of their own running and really enjoyed all the color! Some of these pics are from my phone, some are from Stacey's Facebook page, and others are from Vue Magazine.

(look closely...Keagan is up ahead of us, in the background of the picture, running in the color!)

More "I don't remember when..." pictures, clearly before May because I hadn't cut my hair yet! We went with Stacey and Annie and supported Jarrett during his Alumni football game for Marshall County High School. It was a lot of fun, but unfortunately our spectating got cut short by serious thunderstorms. P.s. Jarrett got pretty banged up, but he enjoyed every second, AND Marshall County won!

 

 These kids...they are super hilarious. I have no words for these pics, but they make me happy.

 

Sweet buddies at Mike Miller park...

The boys got to sit in Josh's cousin Rick's airplane, this is the plane Josh is taking flying lessons in. The boys think their daddy is pretty cool and can fly us anywhere. Haha.

Keagan as Captain Hook for fairytale character day at the end of school in April.

Lunch on the back porch in early summer/late spring

Happy Mother's Day with my crazy boys at Cracker Barrel!

Gardening with  mommy in jammies.

Lego Night at the local library. This was a great and fun event!

A little note (with a HEART!) that he made for his (girl!) friend Maeci from school. He just loves Maeci. And he asked me to text Maeci's mommy this picture to show her. So I did! Lucky for Keagan I am friends with Maeci's mom. Keagan told me a bit ago that he was going to marry Maeci. I was a little hurt, I thought he was gonna marry me. ;) When I asked him why, he said because he loved her. I think this conversation took place around mine and Josh's anniversary, so "marriage" was the convo of the week. He actually hasn't said that again, so I am gonna assume that he is still betrothed to me. At least for a little longer...

Riding with my homies (read: sister and kids) in the back of Mom and Dad's truck.

Aunt Hannah took her turtles out of their aquarium so Keagan could get to know them. He LOVED them!

Keagan got his face painted at a friend's birthday party. He asked to be a snake!

So I went on a walk with a neighbor and this kitten followed us the entire way (3 miles!!!!). The boys were certain that we had just adopted this kitty. And to be perfectly honest, it was the sweetest cat ever and if it followed us all the way back home we may have made it family (Sorry Josh!). The boys LOVED playing with it.

I mean, who doesn't love cute little bums!!!???

There is this Tex-Mex restaurant in town (ever been to a Chuy's? Just.Like.That.) and it serves jalapeno ranch dip with their salsa and chips. Finn absolutely LOVES it. In fact, we have to keep him from drinking it, because he has and will.

Cute little boys coloring on the driveway.

Keagan really getting into the Pirate theme at a Peter-Pan birthday pool party!!