FIVE.

 wow. 

five.

five years.

time. it's interesting. i can hardly remember moments without bowen.

yet, it's hard to think that he is already five years old.

man, i love this kid. 

he makes me laugh and smile all day long. 

he had a pretty sweet birthday! 

got exactly what he asked for: a blue bike with a kickstand 

(you would think that would be much easier to find that it actually was)

he went to lunch with his grandpa and grandma saunders,

had a blast being the "line leader" at school,

and enjoyed a night on the town with our little family! 

he picked the resturant for dinner too...Costa Vida! not a bad pick, kid.

then, we had a party!! 

a MUD PARTY! 

just decided... heck, let's take advantage of having boys! 

so we planned the party for boys. no fancy matching decorations, no over-the-top cakes, no balloon arch of their favorite colors....just simply ALL BOY!!

(sorry pinterest lovers...you wont be getting ideas here) 

pizza: the food of choice. 

activities: well, playing in the mud of course! 

 bowen and friends with their pizza!

"let the Mud Run begin!!"

  army crawl through the MUD!

....traveling through the "spiderwebs"

 .....through the cave of wonders

(aka card board box)

....into the mud pools! 

and a dig through the muddy kiddy pool for the souvenir snake!! 

ironically, it was the girls that embraced this the most :) 

...and Kaden, of course! 

plenty of fun in the tree house! 

in fact, it was hard to get these boys out of there. 

and a muddy, worm cake! 

...which emmett thoroughly enjoyed!

Happy Birthday Bowen,

my bud!

love, mom.