The Boy Turns 8

 We have had a busy busy whirlwind week over here.  Jack turned 8.  That's a big deal birthday.  A Swiss Army Knife kind of birthday.  He woke up that morning with the balloons and banners and presents and he was thrilled. 

 Plus also, we all just have a major crush on this sweet little thing.

 His birthday also happened to be walk to school day so I ran with them.  It was such a party when we got there.  This guy was doing back flips off the benches and taking pictures with kids.  They were also handing out granola bars and other treats.  It was a perfect morning for Jack.

 We took cupcakes to Jacks class at 11 and since this is Charlie's identity all day all the time of course he helped deliver the cupcakes in full costume.  Jack's class exploded when Charlie walked in holding 2 boxes of cupcakes saying "you don't know the power of the dark side..."  Jack is already a cool kid but that raised his notoriety like 50 points at least.  

 I told Jack a couple weeks ago that this is a birthday party year so we can have a party and invite all his friends.  He shrugged his shoulders and told me that birthday parties are too loud and crazy.  He'd rather just go do something fun with his all time favorite friend/cousin Tate.  He was even generous enough to let Tate bring Brylee so Lottie could have her friend.  I was totally cool with that idea!

 Boondocks treated us right.  John and I left the little kids with my mom so we got to do EVERYTHING!  We played laser tag, all the arcade games, miniature golf, go karts. 

 We even sprung for a pizza.  It was such a fun day.

 Also, that day happened to be John and my 10th anniversary.  That's a post for another day though....

 Then that weekend Jack had another really really special day.  John and I have looked forward to this day for years and years.  We have tried to prepare Jack so that he could understand the significance of this day.  He is such a brilliant boy, I think he gets it.

 We had all our Wollenzien family there to support us.

 And, all our Knowlton family.

 Jack was the only boy in our ward getting baptized that day so it was all ours.  We had Andy play the piano and Bronte lead the music.  Grandma Donna gave a really great talk about baptism and then all the little kids gathered around the glass at the font to watch Jack.  He is the first kid on the Wollenzien side to be baptized so it was so neat to see all those little kids watching in quiet awe and reverence.  We're going to be having a lot more of these in the next few years.  After he and John changed their clothes we moved into the chapel and my mom and dad gave a really cool talk about the Holy Ghost.  One thing that she said that I really liked was that at that moment when Jack went into the water, all of Heaven took notice.  All his ancestors stopped and celebrated that moment with him.  That's a cool thought.  After that he was confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was such a special morning for a sensitive little guy.  My highest hope was that he would be touched by the spirit and recognize it.  When I asked him that night how he felt about the day he said, it felt warm...all day.  I think it worked..

 Afterward everyone came over for lunch.

 Jack requested chocolate fondue for dessert.

 That's what John and I had at our wedding 10 years ago, so that's cool. 

 I am so proud of my biggest boy.  He is turning into such a cool kid.  I can joke and riff with him and he has that same dry sense of humor as his dad so we can really enjoy each other.  He is an enormous help with the other kids and I rely on him daily.  John and I joke that he thinks of himself as the third member of our marriage.  That we together are raising these kids. That isn't really true but at the same time I don't know what I'd do without him.  Happy 8th Birthday Jack!!