Candy Land: The World of Sweets

We celebrated Jaelyn's birthday this weekend with a trip to Candy Land. She loves candy so it only seemed fit to involve lots and lots of candy! Here's a short recap for you through pictures:

The most important part: the candy table!

Jaelyn's cake. Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Topped with Kit-Kats and M&Ms.

I ordered these cute plates and napkins online and the coordinating fabric my grandma had passed down to me.

After giving them tons of candy, we gave them toothbrushes so that I would hopefully redeem myself with their parents after sending them home all sugared up! :)

Cake time! She was so excited! Birthdays keep getting more fun as she gets older.

Blowing out her candle! Here's to being a 5-year-old.

Presents!

Mark, Isaias, Finlee, Jaelyn, Zech

Jaelyn and her friends. She's grown up with most of these boys. And if you're wondering, Jaelyn really doesn't have any girl friends her age but its okay, she'll be tough and hopefully thankful for her little sister!

Happy Birthday, Jaelyn!

Summer-like Spring

Its Springtime here in Topeka even though it feels like Summer outside. Spring is my favorite season. I love the bright colors and the weather that brings with it but most of all, I love that we can get out of the house after (usually) a long Winter. The weather has been different this year. The days are usually either warm or rainy but the evenings have been gorgeous! We took advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend and decided to take pictures of all three of our kids together for the first time by the tulips in Gage Park.

Chaseton is a very loved baby and he handles it pretty well!

They are all growing so fast, too fast.

My three muskateers.

My beautiful princess is turning 5 this week. I still cannot believe it.

She's such a smart girl and my biggest helper.

Matt and I were talking tonight about how pretty she is and its true, the older she gets the prettier she becomes. She starts kindergarten in August and even though the days can be long, the years are so short and I'm not quite ready to let her go.

My Finlee-Grace. She is so onery.

But she is as sweet as can be!

We always joke that she is our "Sour Patch Kid"..she's sour, then she's sweet!

Chaseton is almost 9 months old and such a good baby!

He's easy going and puts up with just about anything!

I always say how fast my girls are growing but he seems to be growing so much faster.

I'm so thankful to be their mommy!

A Finnie Minnie Party

Finlee is in love with Minnie Mouse so it only seemed fit to throw her a Minnie Mouse themed birthday party! I handmade her invitations to look like the head of Minnie and added a touch of pink polka-dots and turquoise. We kept her party simple with a small celebration and a few of her closest friends!

Her cake and drink table. Finlee loves Oreos and Capri Suns!

Minnie Mouse cupcakes.

Finlee's Homemade Pinata. I found the tutorial here. Simple and cute!

The party table.

I made all of her friends Minnie/Mickey ears for Finlee's party favors.

Table Decorations.

The birthday girl. She had just woken up from her nap.

Jaelyn at the party.

Happy birthday to you.

Blowing out her candle.

Pinata time.

This girl loves Minnie. She really loves anything pink and girly!

Finlee had such a great birthday party. I love celebrating my girl. Her actual party was the day after her birthday. On her actual birthday we had pizza, cupcakes, and Sonic slushes, Finlee's favorite!

Happy birthday, Finlee Grace!!

Happy Birthday, Finlee Grace!

To my Gracie-girl.

How is it that you are already three-years-old? I can still remember the morning that we left Jaelyn with Grammy and headed off to the hospital so that we could bring you home just a few days later. When I think about it, the feelings of nervousness and anxiety and happiness are still so fresh in my mind. Life definitely changed the day we brought you home and I can honestly say, I don't really remember what life was even like before you. You bring a joy to our family that I couldn't explain even if I tried. You're our little Finner-bug, our ornery-but-oh-so-sweet Finlee Grace.
You resemble me so much that I often wonder and dream of what you'll be when you grow up. Will you be just like me? Will you love being a mommy just as much as I do? If how you play with your baby dolls is any indication of your future, then I know the answer is yes.

You love playing with your sister. I always hear you mimicking what she says. You always go with the flow and do just as she says but you definitely have a mind of your own too. You have learned so many new things in the past year. You talk a lot, in full sentences even. You are almost potty trained. You are getting to be so tall probably because you are such a good eater! You love Jaelyn and Chaseton (Sissy and Chasin). If they are hurt, you are the first to run to their rescue and if you've been mean, you are always the first to say you're sorry. You love giving hugs and telling jokes.

You have a personality that could make anyone feel loved. You are always easy-going, happy, funny, and loving. You are the most carefree of any one I know and you are so fearless. And you are sweet. Always sweet. I pray someday that you'll use your outgoing nature to bless others, to be an example of God's love.

Oh, Finlee-girl. I hope you know how much you are loved. How the past three years of life have been some of the best because you joined our family. We love you.

Happy birthday, baby girl.
Stay sweet always,

Love,
Mommy

Love

I'm working on a small new project for my house and I needed some black and white close-up pictures of my kids. I thought I would share the pictures I chose to use. Simple but sweet. Love my kids and how innocent they look in these pictures! :)