Fishing

Monday was labor day.  Jason's parents left early that morning - but my family was staying until the afternoon.  The kids really wanted to go fishing with grandpa - so we all (not Ashley - she stayed at the hotel) took a morning trip to Chatfield Lake to try and catch a fish.

Sadly, nothing even bit.

At the end we thought we would walk along the beach for a minute - it wasn't hot so I didn't bring swim suits or anything - but it didn't take long for the kids to not care about their clothes and jump right in.  The waves were big and the LOVED jumping in them.  They played in the waves for a good hour.

Megan just wanted to play in the sand.

The girls were wearing dresses - but we just tucked them into their shorts - it worked quite well.

River Walk

After the baptism we didn't do an open house or anything becasue we wanted to spend the whole day with family.  We tried to go to this really cool garden place - but it was closed for a beer festival.  So we went on a quick walk along the South Platte river.  It was beautiful.

There is nothing better than kids in rivers

Noah's Baptism

Noah always has a cool claim to fame with his baptism: technically he was 7 when he was baptized.  His birthday was his baptism day - he was baptized at 10:30 am but he didn't really turn 8 until 4:01 pm, but  according to church policy that is fine.  He also got to get baptized with one of his good friends Dayton Ahlstrom.

Madison and Noah have always had a special relationship.  I think part of it is because Noah loves babies and is really good with them and he remembers her as a baby - he has loved her since she came home from the hospital.

Pictures with all of his guests:

Grandma and Grandpa Hanna

Aunt Ashley

Uncle Daniel, Aunt Angie, and Mya

Grandma and Grandpa Herbert

Ha - If you know me your like, "wow, Jamie - you made a cute display table?!"  Nope!  Lucky for me (and Noah), Dayton's mom is really cutsie and put this little table together. 

Noah's baptism was so wonderful.  Noah is a very thoughtful, deep thinking boy with a lot of questions and a lot of ideas.  He has been looking forward to being baptized for a long time and is going to be a great member of the church and disciple for Jesus Christ. 

Noah's Birthday parties

Turning 8 is pretty awesome.  What is even  more awesome is when you get baptized on your birthday - you seem to get a lot more parties and a lot more attention.

Since Noah's baptism day was his actual birthday he had a lot of family in town to celebrate it with.  His birthday started out with a panikaker breakfast made by his grandma Hanna.  He was so excited.  His smile just kills me - it has been just full of joy since the day he was born.

Then he got to open presents.  He got scriptures and a scripture case from us.  He loved them.

And then his wonderful great grandmother gave him the most thoughtful present.  Whenever we go to her house he has been mesmerized by this glowing prism of Jesus she has - ever since he was a little kid he has loved it.  She often has always had to tell him to be careful or not to play with it.  So for his 8th birthday she got him one.  Isn't that precious?!  He LOVES it.  It spins on this glass platform and changes colors.  I love that this will always remind him of his great grandmother and how she knows him personally.

Then that night (after the baptism) we went out for pizza and they gave him a cookie ice cream sandwich and sang to him.  He felt pretty special.

Then the next day we had a dessert open house for all of his/our ward friends for his baptism (we didn't do anything right after the baptism - we moved it to the next day)

Then the NEXT day (after all the family left) he had his birthday party.  I took him and 4 friends bowling (well 3 - becasue he chose Brock as one of his friends).

We got some loaded nachos.

He even won!  Isn't that a great birthday bonus?!

Noah, Brock, David, Riley, and Finn

We had cupcakes in the parking lot - because I am classy like that!  This is my first ever store bought birthday cake/cupcakes.  Between the baptism and family coming into town I did not have the emotional stamina to make a birthday cake.