Nicholas is Baptized

Nicholas was very very ready to be baptized.  He had been preparing and planning for an entire year.  He was so happy when the day finally came.  Jackson baptized and confirmed him.  Nicholas and Jackson played a cello duet of "When I am Baptized" during the program.  It was beautiful.  Nicholas is full of faith in our Savior Jesus Christ.  When we learn gospel principles at home, they just seem to make sense to him.  It is like he is remembering them, not learning them for the first time.  He is a good and kind friend to the people around him.  I am so lucky to have him as my son.  I love you, Nicholas!

His siblings were all so excited for him that they all wanted to be touching and hugging him.

Alexander only had one shoe on.  I grabbed his shoes on the way out the door and threw them in the van.  Once we arrived at the church, I sat him on the edge of the van floor and started putting on his shoes.  He refused to let me put a shoe on one foot because his toe hurt.  I decided it wasn't worth worrying about and just carried him in with one shoe on.

I regret that I didn't get any pictures with he and Jackson or he and I.  We were there...I promise :)

Alexander Turns 3

Alexander had a hard time waiting for his birthday.  He was with me while I did a lot of the birthday shopping, so he got excited really early.  It was hard for him to wait through Eleanor's birthday and Nicholas's birthday until it was his birthday.  When the long awaited day finally arrived, he was so, so excited!  I made him his favorite foods, pancakes for breakfast, grilled cheese for lunch, and pizza for dinner.  Happy Birthday my Zando-man!

Big Boys Birthday Party

Thomas and Nicholas both really wanted a birthday party with their friends.  We looked at the calendar and the only weekend that worked well was a weekend that Jackson was gone.  I hesitated, but eventually decided to go for it and throw a joint party for them in our yard.  It was fun, and crazy, and fun, and wild, and fun.  I think there was more fun than anything else, so I consider it a success.  We played minute-to-win-it games, had a fun game of water balloon volleyball, played water gun tag with squirt bottles, and ate yummy treats.  I was slightly busy (there were close to 20 boys there) and only broke out the camera for one of the more calm games.  In this game they had to try to move a cracker from their forehead to their mouth using only their facial muscles.  It was so funny to watch!

I wish I would have taken a picture with everyone in it.  Several boys had already left by the time I rounded everyone up.  Happy Birthday my dear big boys!

Nicholas's 8th Birthday

I let the kids choose the meals on their birthdays.  Nicholas chose Captain Crunch for breakfast (I made everyone also have some oatmeal), Mac & Cheese for lunch (I had everyone eat a 1/2 sandwich and some fruit first), and spaghetti with my homemade sauce for dinner.  I had a bunch of peaches, so I asked him if I could make a peach cobbler instead of a cake for dessert.  He was happy about that, and I was glad because it was 500x better than cake!  

We gave him goggles, roller blades, a rock kit, and a watch as gifts.  He was such a grateful and excited birthday boy.  It was fun to spoil him.  That afternoon Grandma Chelle took him out on a birthday shopping trip.  She has created a tradition of taking each child out for their birthdays and buying them clothes.  They come home with such nice things.  I love that they get to spend time one on one with her.  They will remember it forever.

Happy Birthday Nic-o!