Finn's Blessing

We blessed Finn in church on November 2nd. Although the weather was cold and gloomy, the day could not have been brighter. We felt so grateful to be surrounded by our dearest friends and family.

And if you know me, you know I can't pass up an opportunity for a big production with lots of little details.

Finn fell asleep shortly before our guests started arriving for the celebration. 

He seemed like he was in a pretty deep sleep, so I transferred him into a bucket for fun. Who doesn't love a sleeping baby in a bucket?

I had no idea he would like it so much. He slept in that bucket for hours with all of the commotion swirling around him.

He didn't seem to be stirring one bit, so I moved him next to his party display.

Not even his mauling brothers could wake him up.

The best part about hosting parties when we have family in town is my dad takes over the meal. I make the Costco trip and bring him enough food to feed an army, and he happily assumes the cooking responsibilities. That allows me to focus on my favorite part; the desserts and table display. We make a good party hosting team.

It was so much fun to have our home bursting with guests. It seemed like we just had Crew's blessing celebration and there we were all over again.

Yep, Finn stayed asleep in his bucket in the corner while conversation swirled around him. He missed his whole party.

Eventually I couldn't take being separated anymore so I scooped him up.

And reluctantly shared him.

We attempted to grab a few photos before Troy headed off to his pre-church meetings. We knew that after church the boys would peel off their Sunday attire and Crew would be napping. Still, this was about the best we could get with all of us.

We braved the cold weather to snap a few more after church.

Finn sure is loved.

Blessed

Troy blessed our littlest mister at church on Sunday, July 7th. It was the perfect ending to my favorite week of the year (more here, here, and here).

Afterwards, we hosted a luncheon at our house. I threw together a dessert and drinks table at the last minute because I couldn't resist an opportunity to pull out party supplies. I have a serious weakness for anything nautical, and since it was still the week of the Fourth and Crew's name just sounds nautical, the party naturally fell into that theme.

We've been so busy this summer that I didn't even start thinking about the celebration until the day before, so I had to wing it with what I had on hand.

It became the lasting joke as we were preparing the day before that we might not have enough food. Every time we thought we were set, we realized more people were coming and we were worried we might run out. We made several trips back to the store for more rolls, more bottled water, more desserts, more plates, and on and on.

We ended up with enough pulled pork and cheesy potatoes to feed an army.

We crammed tables and chairs into every nook and cranny.

The boys formed a boys' club once again.

The star of the party missed the whole thing.

He woke up in time to supervise clean up and be entertained by uncles and aunts and cousins galore.

More nautical touches.

Crew falling back asleep on me after the party was the icing on the cake at the end of such a beautiful day, surrounded by friends and family from afar. He sure is loved.