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.

Madison's Birthday Party

Madison basically wanted the exact same party she had last year this year.  Swimming, ocean cake, blue squeez-its, etc.  For a little variety she didn't want a beach on her cake this year - just blue ocean, fish, and a mermaid.

She put all the things on herself.

Madison is in a weird friend space in her life.  1 - there is only 1 other girl in our ward that is her same age and she goes to a different school.  2 - she went to preschool with Megan - so she thinks all those girls are her friends 3 - she thinks all of Megan's firends areher friends too.  4 - There are no girls on our street herexact age - but a TON just older and just younger.

She of coure wanted to invite all of her friends and perceived friends - BUT now that she is in Kindergarten I would love for her to make new friends that are her own age - so after struggling for a while about what to do for her party - i just decided to go all in and invite 35 girls (all church, neighborhood, preschool, and all girls in her kindergarten class)!  It was insane - about 24 showed up

I know I can't name them all, but I am going to try.

Lucia, Eden, Hailey, Madison, Kaylin (Madison's new best kindergarten friend)

Bree, Aspen, Afton, and Sarah

Zelda, ?, ?, Zoe, and Sophia

?, ?

Megan, Jackson (our only boy), Ivy, and ?

The worst part about having 24 girls - is 24 presents.  It was insane.  She was in heaven though.

Madison's Birthday

Madison turned 5 back in August.  Because of our crazy August we put her birthday party off a few weeks.  But on the day of her birthday we had a family party (just us 6).  I let her pick a dessert.  She wanted ice cream sundaes (vanilla AND chocolate ice cream, sprinkles, chocolate and caramel sauce, whipped cream, and cherries)

For her present she got a squishy caterpillar that she saw at Michaels craft store about 8 months ago and has reminded me everyday since that she wanted one for her birthday.  She LOVES squishy things.

And a scooter.

She would ride her scooter all day everyday if I could just sit out there and watch her.  She loves it and is getting really good at it.  Yesterday we went on a 4 mile bike ride and she scooted the whole way.

Back to School BBQ

They boys never ever cared about "school things" - fund raisers, activities, spirit week, etc.  Since they never really talked about that stuff or seemed to care we have never been that involved in our school.  But now that both the girls are at school they care a lot about all that stuff.  It makes life a little more complicated.  

So this fall we went to our fist school sponsored activity - just me and the girls.  We went to the back to school BBQ.  It was fun.  Too expensive for my liking - but most things are.  It was 50 cents at ticket and most things took 2 - 4 tickets to do.  They each got 5 tickets.  First they went to a bouncy house, then got their faces painted, then got cotton candy.  

First fake day of school

On the second day of school we took it seriously and pretended like it was the first day.  Good dinner, good night sleep, good breakfast, and pictures.

Brock - 4th grade.

Madiosn - Kindergarten AM

Megan - 1st grade.
She got this idea that she looks better with out her glasses.  I am glad that she is over that now.

I made her take one with her glasses - can't you tell I MADE her?

Noah - 4th grade

Our school has a 3/4 split class.  We decided to put Brock and Noah in it together.  So they are in the same class.  It felt inspired - and so far is going great.

This is my favorite view.  Not becasue they are leaving me (that is sad) - but becasue they love each other.  One of my goals as a parent was to make sure they loved each other and needed each other.  I think sibling relationships can help and sustain you even more than parent/child relationships.  I feel good about sending them into the world knowing they have each other.

I have to admit.  I didn't really cry.  My eyes welled up a little - but never really fell.  It was strange.  I had thought about this day for years.  Mostly because this month of August was probably the most crazy stressful month of my life (I will write more about why later) and I was just to busy to really soak up the reality of what was happening.  I had too much to do to really care.  But they are all doing great and thriving in school.  I am also thriving at home alone.