Part 2 of Finn's Birthday

So here is a picture of our monkey with his shirt I made him, isn't he cute :)

Here he is with our other monkey...

Cake time. I remember Selah had to be prompted as to where her cake was, you know where you place their hand into the cake so they get the idea. Yeah, Finn didn't need any help. He just dug right in. He was trying to do it face first and if the plate hadn't been so wide he would have stuck his whole head in it I think! Selah of course had been telling us the whole week that she was going to get to "help" Finn blow out his candle.

Enjoying every minute of his party!

Getting him to hold still to snap a picture was quite the challenge. Gifts followed suit. I think we lost him three separate times while opening gifts and would stop and say, "where did Finn go?" Yep, he couldn't stay in one place long enough to open presents, but Selah didn't mind :) She stepped in to help him out.

Happy Birthday Finn! We love you so much. Your energy and spunk for life, your laughter, and your love towards your sis. You are already a little man - a toddler! We pray that God will continue to bless you as you grow up into the man He wants you to be.

The day has come, Finn is one!

Now my husband would say this birthday was over the top. I would say, it was just right for my little man! Just keep in mind, I LOVE the decorating and little details planning part of the party scene. I may seem stressed the week of getting it to all come together, so thanks to Tadd for helping me, but I did truly enjoy his party to the fullest!

We had a meal beforehand with family and friends.

The little goody bags for the kids.


His monkey cake we went bananas over :)

And the dessert table



His monkey smash cake

And all of our guests - thanks for coming everyone, for sharing in our day and for the gifts! We love you all! And we missed you Dad G!

One for the memory books...

My aunt and uncle flew in from California this week which means lots of family time. We got together pretty much for three straight nights with all my cousins, lots of chaos but great times and memories with cousins. Friday night we were at my parents for Easter with my dad's side of the family. And Finn had his first Easter egg hunt, a little late but they loved it all the same. Here they are preparing for the great hunt - yes, our family is a little goofy (or for sure Trent that is!) J/K

Since we wanted to keep Finn's birthday all about him on Saturday, we decided to celebrate/remember Laynie's birthday on Friday night. It is hard to believe that she would have been 4 already this year! Her and Finn's birthdays are only two days apart - hers April 30th and his May 2. I made the annual ladybug cupcakes and each of the kiddos got to blow out candles for Laynie.



Then I had "high hopes" (no pun intended) for the sky lanterns I had bought online. I imagined this solemn moment as the lantern floats effortlessly into the air, soaring higher and higher until we couldn't see them anymore. Didn't quite happen like that. First off, I should have read that winds cannot be above 5 mph...slight difference than the gusts we had that night :) My family were great sports though and after a few minor adjustments we even got one to sail off.


and it was beautiful!

so beautiful we decided we must try again, with two at the same time. It went great until...

one of them headed straight for the telephone pole and there it stayed.

After the drama subsided and the fire was put out from the lantern we still had to time to reflect on our first baby girl. We love you Laynie and so do your sister and brother!

Sunday we got to visit Laynie's grave. Selah had picked out a flower at the store to give to her so we went to put that out. She hasn't got the concept yet I don't think that Laynie was actually here, but if you ask her she will tell you for sure. She loves Laynie, she is her sister, and she lives in heaven with Jesus. She always gives Laynie's pictures kisses around the house. During the lantern flying she started crying. She wanted to be in heaven with Laynie and was upset she couldn't go up there too. Each moment like that melts my heart, the innocence of children and to know that someday she WILL get to meet her sister who spent such a short time on this earth, but filled our hearts with such love!