It's Great Being 8!

 

 

Pre Baptism photo shoot baby!

The day before his baptism & birthday celebration we had Hyrum's first ever scouting activity-duh duh duh the Pinewood derby race.  I have to be honest I really just don't get it.  BUT that being said we embraced it & Hyrum came prepared to race his car.  He didn't win any of the races but he was a great sport & had a good time.  We were lucky to have both sets of grandparents with us!

 

 

 

Present opening after a banana pancake breakfast.  We got him an extremely intense Lego set that has taken over a week to complete & his own set of scriptures with a case & crayons for marking.  He's started on his second round of reading the Book of Mormon by himself & told me the other day he wants to read the Bible next.  I think we'll have him start with the New Testament :)  Nana & Poppie gave him some awesome Transformers & a baptism book.  Darlin & Pa gave him socks of course, a book of stories to build faith & a book that's all about the Harry Potter movies.  He has been poring over it ever since.  Hava made him a Gryffindor blanket that she designed & made herself.  He loves it to say the least & curls up in it while reading or sleeping.  Thanks everyone!

 

This was the best picture we could get of the family all together

So grateful these four could drive & fly to be here on his special day.

I feel bad we didn't get a picture of Brigg & Hava & boys with Hyrum but we're so grateful they could all come too.  Brigg was scheduled to work & at the last minute didn't have to go in after all.  Hyrum really wanted him to come so it was a little miracle to us.

Here is Hyrum's program that we typed up.  We let Hyrum pick who was going to do what & all the grown ups from our families had a special job to do.  I have been to lots & lots of baptisms in my life but there was something extra special & a bit surreal to see my husband baptizing our oldest child.  I am truly proud of the boy he is & I can see the kind of man he can become & I am so grateful I get to be his Mom.  I went through all of his pictures & made a photo montage set to Primary songs that showed him from baby to today.  I'm glad I watched it beforehand a couple times so I didn't cry there.  We felt a lot of support from our ward family here too - lots of people came to be there for Hyrum.

Love that Pa

After the baptism, eating lunch & chatting with friends at the church we went home for naps for the youngest two kids.  I had another request for mousse cake & was happy to oblige.  It was hard to pry the birthday boy away from his Lego set but all that chocolate was just enough to convince him to take a break.

We sang to Luke too - he turned 3 earlier in the week

We let Hyrum pick the activities for the rest of the day.  It took him a while to decide between swimming or bowling & I must say I'm sooooo glad he chose the latter.

Dallen didn't actually bowl but he did wear those shoes with style

Nana time

Hunter's friend Vincent-look at those cheeks!  It's those cheeks that get me thinking we should have another baby....and then I come to my senses of course =)

And here are the world famous bowlers in no particular order...

Hava

Poppie

Luke

Me

Uncle Lu

Daddy

Birthday boy

Pa

Emma Lou

Justy

Darlin'

Hunterbug

Justin & Hyrum both scored over 100 & beat their old Momma.  My goal remains to break 100 myself.  It's got to happen sometime right??  I scored a 98 the other day-so close!  We took up 3 lanes & it still took about an hour & a half for us to bowl one game.  It was awesome.  Then we finished the celebration off with dinner at Himani Indian Cuisine.  Yum.

And here is a picture of the final Lego product.  Way cool.

We're so proud of Hyrum for being such a great example to his siblings & to us.  He continues to be our avid reader devouring books as he goes along each day.  A couple of months ago he told me "I wish I had two lives. One for just reading & another one for all the other stuff."  I was basically speechless for like two full minutes.  It was like he verbalized perfectly & concisely how I feel about life too.  I just loved it.  This kid is amazingly creative with words & jokes & drawings & building things etc.  I love to see him use that side.  He started taking piano lessons a month ago & has really taken to it & enjoys it so far.  Hope it lasts!  He is doing well in school & loves to learn especially about animals & the world & maybe less in math :)  He is really improving with his swimming too.  He's inquisitive, perfectionistic, thougtful, detailed & mischievous all in one.  We love you Bud!!

January & February photo shoot

We did do a few things besides celebrate birthdays in the last month.  I was bewildered (in a nice way) to see what great weather we had in January!  We got lots of play time in outside.

And picnics too

These two love to color

When Hunter colors & paints he purses his lips in concentration-it's so funny to watch him do it.  I love it & finally remembered to get a picture of it.

The chances are good at least one of our kids will need glasses - I think Dallen would look cute

Look at my big muscles Emma

One afternoon I noticed four of my five kids were walking around the house with my shoes on.  It was kind of weird.

While Nana stayed a week with us we went with our preschool friends to the Seaside Aquarium for a buck a person.  It was fun complete with an octopus & seals that needed to be fed but it really is super super tiny & small.  We only lasted 30 minutes though so it was just the right size for us that day.

While Nana was here it also snowed a bunch!  Everyone told us it would never snow here & this is the second time this winter.  I loved it!  It makes everything beautiful & we can stay home from school & relax.  Ahhhh....it is so funny to see the sand covered with snow.  Jeremy & I went to the movies the night it snowed a bunch & barely made it up our driveway.  We were 2 of a grand total of 4 people that were in the entire movie theater that evening.  I thought it would be packed!  

We went sledding at a friend's house one morning.  It took approximately 100 minutes to pack up all the kids & their "gear" & drive slowly to their house & put all the "gear" on & we probably lasted about 20 minutes out there.  Sigh...maybe I'll break down & buy everyone good boots & gloves & we may last longer next year??

These have really been one of the funnest presents we've ever gotten.  The kids have logged hours & hours playing with their wands.

Who can guess who Hunter pretends to be while he unloads the dishwasher??

Snuggle time!