Logan's Friend Party

Logan had a busy few weeks, turning 8. Celebrating with family - getting baptized - and having a party with his friends.

After going through many ideas, he decided on a swim party at the river.

So he wanted swimming cake. I found a cool idea and then found out it was an ice cream cake.

 

I made it look like the river with the sand bar and rock. Logan added "tubes" and lego people as the swimmers and even one fishing.

 Swimming and ice cream cake were perfect for a hot summer Saturday.

 They swam and went up and down the river with the tubes.

 The water was perfect.

They hardly wanted to leave, but ice cream cake was a good lure. 

I think I want to do an ice cream cake for every birthday now. 

There was just time for gifts before the guests started going home. 

Each of Logan's friends know him so well and he loved each gift he received. 

Logan's Baptism

Logan has been looking forward to turning 8, so he can get baptized!

He had me speak and the girls sing.

It's a big day when the youngest of the family finally gets baptized.

 We are all so excited for him and this decision he made. 

 And it was so great to have so many friends there to share in the day.

We love you Logan!

My Baby is 8!

Logan has been so looking forward to his birthday. If you happened to cross his path over the last couple of weeks, you would be sure to find out that he was going to be turning 8.

I've never seen a Christmas gift wish list as detailed as Logan's birthday gift wish list.

On thing he's been wanting, since he saw it, is this recycle bin mug. For someone who has hot chocolate almost every morning, you can never have to many mugs - for his mother, you can, so the recycle mug was a no.

He took that 'no' pretty well and asked for a recycle bin cake for his birthday, with stuff in it. I found a pretty simple way to make the cake and, with bits of fondant left over from Jacob's birthday cake, made some recyclables - it bothers me a bit that I didn't have enough leftover bits of fondant to make them to the same scale as the bin, but I'll leave that for next time.

Logan loved it!

 With activities going on on a Thursday evening we had an early dinner of Logan's Roadhouse copycat, with peanuts in their shells, hamburgers, fries, and rolls.

Then quick cake and presents before going in different directions for the evening.

Here Logan is drinking from the 2L "Sprite" before eating it.

 He had a fun day from bringing donuts into class to opening presents (he got a couple of things on his list and a couple he didn't expect).

It was fun seeing him so excited for his birthday. Now he gets to go to cub scouts, he'll be getting baptized on Saturday, and we'll need to plan his friend party for next week!

Happy Birthday, Logan!!

An Exciting Year to Come

Today we start our first full week of school. The first 3 days were enjoyed by all.

It's great starting out the year with everyone enjoying their classes and teachers and coming home saying they had an awesome day.

The boys are lone bus riders this year,

Logan is in 3rd grade. Here he is waiting for the bus on the first day of school with his supplies.

 Jake is a morning person and with the excitement of the day was up and ready and waited with Logan.

 I didn't get a picture of Jake leaving for his first day of middle school, but here he is coming off the bus in the afternoon. I have some time with just Logan after school, since the elementary school gets out an hour before the middle school and high school.

Here are the two high schoolers - senior and freshman!

Natalie is excited to not ride the bus anymore (although that means that Jake rides by himself).

The girls are in the same Jazz Choir class and are excited to be in the same school together. With each child three grades apart, they have to go through their middle school years without a sibling in the school. Even though you might not see them during the day, it's nice to know that you have family in the building. 

 It will be an exciting year with Jake and Natalie get use to new schools and Alyssa wrapig up her high school experience and getting ready for college.

Today the girls started early morning seminary (another adjustment for Natalie).

It will be fun watching each one grow into their own person and further develop their personalities and strengths. This will be a fun year!