Eight is great!

It was a big birthday for our Rusty boy.

He turned EIGHT.

Which means he got to be baptized.

I forgot all that goes into a baptism!

I assumed he could just wear Lanes old suit.

Stephanie was going to take his pictures on Sunday before dinner.

Luckily I had him try it on real quick Saturday night and he was swimming in it.

Ugh, there was no way he could wear it, he looked ridiculous.

Luckily Collin was nice enough to loan him his for the pictures.

It fit like a glove.

So I ordered the same style and size from Target right then and there!

Getting him to smile naturally was another task.

I felt like I was living the Friends episode where Monica and Chandler were

getting their engagement pictures. Every time the photographer said "cheese"

Chandler had the deer in the headlights, super strained smile.

I was crossing my fingers we would get at least 1 decent smile out of him.

Stephanie was great to help him relax.

I think they turned out wonderful!

He was starting to tense up a bit again.

 Stephanie made the other boys come over to get him to laugh.

A bunch of farting noises did the trick real quick!

However, Collin pointing the fake gun at his moms head was the winner!

His baptism was such a different experience than Lanes.

Not saying Lanes was bad, just WAY less chaotic. 

There was only one other boy getting baptized and it was short and sweet!

Shery Christensen, who is my friend, gave the talk because she is the primary president.

Rusty got to choose who gave the prayers.

He picked both aunt Stephanie's:)

All of the cousins sang the musical number.

I loved it all!

We had everyone over for lunch afterwards.

Pulled pork sandwiches, salads, chips and soda with cookies and caramel bars for dessert.

Grammy makes all of the grandkids a quilt when they get baptized.

He opened it up and instantly wrapped it around himself proclaiming that "Grammy is the best!"

 With his baptism being 2 days after Thanksgiving, then putting together the luncheon and teaching relief society the next day, I was quite grateful to have the week behind me!

 Now, back tracking to his actual birthday!

He had a spend the night at Dallin and Randons house.

Stephanie was so nice to pick up donuts to help him celebrate.

This is horrible, but I cannot remember for the life of me what we got him for his present!!

I know it wasn't a remote control helicopter.

He wanted one, but after Lane flew his into our swimming pool the day after he got it

we threw that idea out the window.

I want to say it was Legos?? 

He picked Cheesecake Factory for dinner.

Good choice, bud!

He has the nicest primary teacher, Sis Blau.

She decorated the front door and left a giant rice Krispy treat for him.

Totally made him feel so special.

And of course we can't forget about his birthday party the week before.

He was spoiled rotten this year.

Eight most definitely is GREAT!

Birthday Boys

I think I have said this before, but with 2 boys that have birthdays a week from each other,

you feel like they are twins!

It was an on year for birthday parties.

Since they basically have the same neighbor friends...which is A LOT,

I decided to do a joined party to make it easier.

Freestone rec center is where we had it.

It was a smoking deal and better than have 21 kids at our house.

Yep, you heard me right.

After cousins, school friends, and church friends it adds up!

It happened to be on Lanes birthday.

I was trying to avoid that so it didn't feel like just his party,

but it's the only day that seemed to work best.

So here he is with his birthday gifts.

A remote control helicopter.

11 years old, say what?!

We had a room reserved at the rec center.

Here they are, waiting for everyone to get there.

Jumping on anything in site... the window beams.

I don't know why kids are so bouncy!

We ate pizza first, so I didn't have to hear complaints of "I'm hungry".

After lining them up single file to get parent waivers turned in and wrist bands ( I felt like a teacher), they were free to play!

They had basketball, racquetball, volleyball, air hockey, foosball, pool, and a rock wall!

They were in pure heaven running around to their hearts content!

I guess the lady on the phone taking my cake order was confused.

What is it with boys and bunny ears?

On to presents.

Eek, I was embarrassed by how many they got.

WAY, way too many.

I was ready to scrap Christmas because there was not one thing left they needed or

deserved, to be honest!

In fact, they all wouldn't fit in our car so our friends helped drive them home:/

They were on cloud nine 

Even though our next door neighbors are older, they still play with them

like brothers and sisters.

I made them take over dodge ball.

It was LOUD!

I was out of there in a flash, lol!

A group shot.

We really lucked out in the friend department.

Each one of these kids are so sweet.

4 Lil Pumpkins

I feel like Halloween was a repeat of last year with one exception.

Our ward held their first trunk or treat!

It was a blast!

I loved seeing the creativity of how people decorated their cars. 

I should have taken a picture of each one!

Casey strung lights and a skeleton that shook and talked when you walk by.

We also bought a fog machine.

It turned out pretty good!

I spent WAY too much money on costumes last year.

So they got to wear the same ones again.

I'm crossing my fingers I can squeeze one more wear out of them!

Nobody is allowed to grow this year, lol!

Eat my heart out, Jane Fonda!

Lane knew I was out front waiting to take his picture, so he made a run for it.

He claimed I took his picture last year so why did I need to take more.

Little stinker.

Action shot it was!

The sweetest SWAT man I know:)

Pretty Princess 

I mightttt just get rid of this dress.

The glitter it barfs all over my house is enough to make it sparkle and shine all year long! 

Setting up for the hundreds of trick or treaters that hit our neighborhood.

This girl.. nothing seems to scare her!

I think we passed out 600 pieces of candy.

It's hard to see, but the crowds that come are unbelievable!

I love, love, love it!

ONE

Della girl had her very first birthday!

She seriously has my heart.

I wuv her like no tomorrow.

She really isn't talking a whole lot.

It's mainly mamma and has the cutest grunt as a way of communication.

"do you want a drink?" grunt.

"lets get your shoes on" grunt.

Maybe it's because she is still obsessed with her paci?

But she sure knows what she wants!

We ask if she is hungry (which is always!), then she walks herself to the high chair.

She picks up her dirty diaper after being changed and walks it to the back door where we 

throw it outside until we take it to the black garbage can.

She can sign more, thank you, all done, waves hi and bye and blows the sweetest kisses.

She LOVES being outside.

Church is a nightmare because she wants to walk up to the front where dad sits!

We walk in (sometimes late) and she squeals at the top of her lungs and points her finger at dad, or bounces up and down.

The second she gets out of my arms she makes a beeline for the pulpit!

Poor Rusty gets his workout running after her and hauling her back to me.

Thank goodness most of our congregation gets a kick out of it.

But it's exhausting!

I have tried sitting up close so she can see him better.

I have tried the very last row.

Nope. It doesn't matter. 

She finds a way to escape.

Her hair is so, so fine and thin.

And still has a big tint of strawberry blonde to it.

I can barely manage a teeny pony on the top. 

She loves nap time.

Will eat just about anything we give her.

Folds her arms for the prayer like a champ.

Can guzzle a sippy cup in 10 seconds flat.

Is much better about not fussing when it's time to get in her car seat, phew!

LOVES dogs and any animal.

She can be a bit dramatic if she or her feelings get hurt.

But luckily its short lived.

She is such a happy girl and gives the best kisses.

She basically is everybody's favorite.

I ordered a pink cake from the Sweet Tooth Fairy.

And found this cute outfit at TJMaxx the day before her birthday.

No big hoopla or party, that's what you get for being #4 in the family:/

Both of her grandparents happened to show up at the same time to give her a birthday squeeze.

So we decided it would be a good time to sing Happy Birthday and LET HER EAT CAKE!

It was a fun, simple day to celebrate this little sweetheart.