Hunter's 11th Birthday

 Hunter is both easy and hard to birthday shop for.  He usually is happy with whatever we give him, but he doesn't give us very many ideas.  I decided that he would like a long board for his birthday this year and it was a total hit.  He loves it!  He usually likes stuff like that.

 We woke him up bright and early (extra early because we teach early morning seminary.  Poor kids that have to get up at 5:15 am on their birthdays!) with songs and balloons.

 See...total hit.

 The kids is obsessed with hot Cheetos right now.  I am positive his tongue will have scars from all of the hot stuff he keeps subjecting it to.  

 Palmer always gives birthday presents.  He gave Hunter this stuffed snake.  He worked very hard for the money for it last year, and the thought Hunter would like it so he gave it to him.  So nice.

 My favorite moments.

 Hunter always uses all of the A-1 because he likes to put it on EVERYTHING.  We decided to give him his own bottle.

 Birthday duffle bag from Grandma Ann.

 He and McKay both chose crepes for their breakfast (as did Mom a few weeks later).  Hunter also loves sausage, so that was for breakfast too.

 I brought Hunter Chick Fil A to school and got to eat with him.  It's fun to see him around his friends.

 Hunter chose steak for his dinner, for some reason I didn't get a picture.  For his cake I made him a Willy Wonka cake.  He is right in the middle of rehearsals right now for his school play and it is Willy Wonka Jr.  He loved it.

 We figure at 11, it is about time you can light your own candles.

It's so much fun to celebrate our little Hunter cakes.  He's such a wonderful boy.

McKay Turns 7!

 Thank goodness for our January birthdays.  Having three birthdays close together really makes January a fun month.  It was also extra fun that McKay's birthday got to be the first one in the new house!  

 Waking up the birthday boy!  We always fill their rooms with balloons and come in singing "Oh Somebody's Had a Birthday" which my family always sang when I grew up.

 I knew McKay would love this teepee!

 Palmer was so sweet to give McKay this cute little shark.  McKay is a huge stuffed animal fan.

 Good hugs.

 A few days before his birthday McKay told us that all he really wanted was a stuffed turtle.  This is the first time we had ever even heard of it.  Thank goodness for Amazon Prime!  I call him turtle in the morning because after we wake him up he always goes back under the covers and hides.  

 Grandma Ann gave him this super cool pretend diner set.  He's already served me some yummy vittles!

 McKay chose crepes for his breakfast.

 Three out of the four with their mouth's stuffed full of crepes.

I brought McKay McDonald's to the school for his birthday lunch, and we got to eat together. 

 Playing diner.

 McKay decided to have a turtle birthday cake.  I actually love making my kids cakes and figuring out how to do what they want.  It's always a challenge, but I love doing it.

 McKay loved it.  So did Trent the Turtle.

 He chose hamburgers for his special dinner.

 Oh he's just so cute! Love that little 7 year old!

They are good buddies sometimes :)

Consolidated Mine

 I've wanted to go mining for gold for a long time.  We headed to this mine with some friends on a day off from school.

 The tour of the mine was so neat! I'm sure the hard hats the kids had to wear were a highlight as well.

 Trying to pull out a stake.

 It really was such a cool experience!

 Getting instructions on how to pan for gold.

 Trying to get rich!

 Each of the kids got a couple of flakes.  

Showing their riches!