My oldest baby, Josiah turned 7 this past week. It’s almost midnight and he’s asleep amongst Pokemon figure and the same green blanket he has slept with since he was more downstair in he and Autumn’s room and I am sitting up here in tears, not knowing how 7 years has gone by so fast. Of course some of that time went slow, and some though I try I can’t even remember. My little baby is now a big brother to a sister and a brother, he is starting second grade on Tuesday, and he is brilliant and gentle and rational and so much more. I love this kid and he challenges me as a person more than I could have ever imagined. Here is a timeline of his growing so far and pictures from his Pokemon party. He is totally into Pokemon right now-an obsession fed by his dad and his little sister. The three of them talk, play and watch Pokemon..alot. And while I wish I could relate more, I am happy to see them all enjoying a common thing.
Autumn also wants a Pokemon party for her (6th) birth in October so I went a little overboard on the Pintrest party stuff, and have already packed all the crafts and things away from October when I will get to use it all again! barely any of this was my idea, and most of the ideas came from this awesome blog post, including instructions for the piñata I made and the printable face. I learned many things planning this party, here are a few of them:
- There are 719 known Pokemon
- Pokemon is a video game, TV show, a trading card game and it has made movies
- Pokemon is published by Nintendo
- Pokemon are divided into generations, such as Ruby & Sapphire, X & Y, Black & White, and Diamond & Pearl (Diamond and Pearl is Josiah’s favorite, thus the costume I made him is the outfit, the main character, Ash Ketchum, wears in the Pokemon Diamon & Pearl series.
- And that’s about it. Enjoy! 🙂
Josiah at 1 week old, 1 year, 2 years. 3 years, 4 years, 5 years & 6 years
Josiah at age 7, as Ash Ketchum from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
The Pokemon party spread
Candles lit and sillies singing :)Â 
My first homemade birthday cake for Josiah (and second total; Silas’ from the week before with the first)Â ..I know, I know, but in my defense, my mother in law is a freaking amazing cake artist who usually makes their cakes, but we don’t live close enough to make that a reality anymore. :*(
Pokeball favor bags, personalized Pokecards for each guest with this photo and Ash hats from varies regions for each guest (they got to pick their favorite).
I tried to make all the food fit the theme….
“Create Your Own Pokeball” station. I bought brown cardboard ornament balls at a craft store and spray painted them all white and the kids decorated their own. 
And then proceeded to command Silas back into their Pokeballs. :)Â 
My homemade Meowth pull string piñata filled with Pokemon cards and candy. 
Cake and snack eating out on the deck
Personalized Pokemon cards for all
Pokeballs made from posterboard and a print we made of this artist’s poster of hand drawings of all the Pokemon-ever. He was so awesome to share a digital file for us to print his work with! We used it to play a search and find game to win gym badges and toy Pokemon.
Candy dipped Oreos with sixlet candies in the middle
Trampoline bouncing in the backyard-to shake up all that cake…
Search and find game in progress
A few weeks ago Brian and I score this binder full of Pokemon cards at a thrift store that sells stuff by weight…so we bought this for like $2. Yes it was amazing!
And then the night before his birthday, Brian score a new Pokemon DS came at a pawn shop for near nothing. Thrifting for the win! As you can tell Josiah is pretty excited.
Brian in his Pokemon shirt…he was so glad to have me tell him to go buy one for the party. 
