Hank Turned 8!

Three months ago, my sweet Hankers turned eight.

According to him, it was the most exciting day of his life thus far.

He couldn't wait to:

Get Baptized

Is a perfect family photo possible? If perfect means hilarious, then, yes.

I knew it would be next to impossible to improve on the previous picture,

but we had to try just for the fun of it when we arrived home.

On the count of three, everyone smile and look straight at the camera.

Never mind.

I still can't decide which is better. Hey, in 20 years, these will be priceless.

Have a Pirate Pizza Party

I don't think Hank heard anyone sing "Happy Birthday". All he could focus on was making sure his candles did not "accidentally" get blown out during the song.

Receive a Pocket Knife for His Birthday

Dad is really the one who picked it out and purchased it, but he let me have the glory of gifting it to him. Technically, I was the one who had a hard time giving him permission to own a pocket knife at age 8. Do you see the joy on his face?

and last but not least,

Go To Cub Scouts

Henry's baptism day was special because Grandma C, Grandpa Jerry, Grandma B and Papa all got to be there. B and Papa drove home from their mission at the Nauvoo Temple for a weekend to be with us and Grandma C and Grandpa Jerry flew out from California for the week. I have never known a child who was more excited for their baptism than Hank was for his. Thankfully, William did not get called out for work everything went as planned. Hank did have Plan B just in case. He said if Dad couldn't be there, he would just have Papa baptize him. I love how easy-going he is. At times we think of it as lazy, but the positive side is he goes with the flow and tends to be laid back about most things. I believe it is a wonderful attribute to have.

The Pirate Pizza Party was a smashing hit! We dressed up like pirates, pinned the Parrot and the Eye Patch on the Pirate, went on a treasure hunt, opened presents, ate cake and had several sword fights.

The pocket knife has been lost and found many times since its arrival in Hank's life. Thankfully, he has taken seriously the rules about how to properly use a pocket knife and has only slightly cut himself. Ouch. He loves to whittle a stick or carry it in his pocket with the clip on the outside for a fashion statement. In Missouri, it is cool to wear a knife to church. Too bad his mom isn't that cool.

Cub Scouts has been all that Hank dreamed of and more. He earned his Bobcat before his first den meeting, loves everything about scouts and looks completely handsome in his uniform.

Happy Birthday Hank!

You are an amazing, sweet, caring, hilarious son.

We love you!

Happy Birthday Jane and Henry!

Had to go dumpster diving for the USB cable before I could upload the pictures this evening…..somebody….not going to spill the beans on who it was ….. accidentally threw it away. Oops! Thankfully, we rescued it before the trash truck hauled it off to never never land tomorrow morning.

August tends to busy a busy month for us. Wait, every month tends to….oh never-you-mind. With summer ending and schooling resuming we have the extra special pleasure of celebrating TWO birthdays in August. This means TWO exciting back-to-back days of birthday breakfasts, cake, candles, singing, special privileges, free chore passes, presents and partying!

Can you believe she is 9? Nine!!!

I don’t know, eight seemed so innocent and fresh and clean and little, but nine? Nine seems so grown up and independent and fun and big!!!! It’s still sinking in. How do they grow up so fast?And yes, I do still kind of want and wish for another little baby. I held one this evening and just melted. Oh, I just love them…and then they grow up and have their own ideas and personalities and do what they want instead of what I tell them to do and I still love them …. but why do I want more?

So Jane is officially nine. We started off the day with her requested breakfast of German Pancakes covered with powdered sugar and our special cinnamon and sugar apple topping.

Claire awoke at six in the morning Tuesday to decorate Jane’s bedroom and the dining room for her special day. I got up a tad later and helped with the curtains. She is such a wonderful sister to sacrifice her precious sleep for the birthday girl.

A little scripture study never hurt anyone on their birthday.

Presents were opened by Jane and enjoyed by all!

She never thought it possible, but it’s true, it really happened -Jane now owns not one, but TWO Webkinz!!!! May I present to you Starlight and Sophie.

In the afternoon we headed over to one of Springfield’s many pools to enjoy some diving, water-sliding, swimming and splashing. Walter is sporting his clean swim diaper after dirtying his first one…oh yuck.

After hours of swimming we were like a pack of wolves devouring the birthday cake and ice cream….before dinner! Hey, it was in the oven warming up and to be fair we really only ate one piece with a dab of ice cream just to settle the appetite a bit before we all died of starvation. Mmmmmmm…lemon cake with spit (trick candles are pretty difficult to blow out on the first try).

Happy Birthday Jane! You are growing up way too fast!!!

Wednesday felt a bit like Groundhog day, but with blue curtains instead of pink.

My little guy turned 6! What is going on here? Why is everyone growing up? Six is big! Six is school (don’t get excited…we’re still at home) and reading and real conversations and being hilarious and having some strong opinions…but still in a sweet way.

Birthday breakfast of choice for Henry was chocolate chip waffles and pancakes with grape juice. So delicious that we polished off all the pancakes with chocolate so the only leftovers are the plain ones.

A cowboy candle to start off the day right.

Oh, do you see the joy? Could it really be what he wished for????

YES!!!!

Everyone enjoyed the opening of gifts.

Thanks Grandma C for the karate shirt and yes, we found the pants too! HI-YAH!!!!

Count ‘em….there’s really six! Oh, and the boy is not getting jipped I promise. Yes that is his sister’s cake you see, but let me explain before you call the hotline for fairness among siblings. We have a policy in our house that if you don’t hang up your towel… no I’m kidding. We have a rule that you only get “friend birthday parties” on your even birthdays and you may invite as many guests as you are old. Jane’s celebration this year was strictly family except for the friends who showed up at the pool to swim with us. Hank is counting down the days until his “friend party” on Saturday with a Star Wars theme and six friends. I promise there will be a cake just for him…picked out by him even. Happy?

After cake and ice cream we headed over to the local Kids Science Museum for some kapla building

and Madagascar Hissing Cockroach holding

Wow, he looks evil!

and fun with the magic mirror. The best part is I can count all this fun as hours of school! Well, that’s not the best part, but it sure is a nice bonus.

Is she flying? Does Darth Vader have four hands? What is going on here????

There’s nothing like ending a birthday playing a little Lego Star Wars while dressed up as Darth Vader…oh to be six again.

Happy Birthday Henry! You are such a sweet and fun boy!