Birthday Boys

Yesterday was a fantastic birthday extravaganza for our two boys.

We started the day at Chuck E. Cheese's with Funny Guy and lots of his friends.  They ran around playing and hoarding tickets for almost an hour before the Rockstar Party started. 

Then Funny Guy got to jam with the Chuck E. Cheese band and meet Chuck E. Cheese himself.

There were pizza and drinks, balloons for everyone, and of course cake!  Funny Guy got a special Rockstar medallion and a chance at the coveted ticket blaster.

Everyone got lots of tickets and prizes and had a great time.  We didn't lose any kids either. :-)  One down, two to go . . . (In addition to our two birthday parties today, My Man had a work party to go to as well!)

The  boys talked us into letting them open presents early this year (usually we make them wait until their real birthdays, even if they have their parties early), and we were glad we did since they had so much fun with them.  They were super excited by all of it and were completely spoiled this year.

The day before, we got notice that Young Man's first spring soccer practice would be held Saturday from 3-4.  His birthday was scheduled from 4-6, so we shrugged our shoulders and said, "Why not?" and added one more thing to an already crazy day. :-) So My Man took Young Man to soccer practice, while I hurried to get the Thai peanut sauce ready for My Man's international potluck and then clean up.  It was definitely a nonstop kind of day!

The weather was absolutely perfect for Young Man's party.  Everything had mostly dried out from our big snow and rain storms earlier in the week and it was a balmy 68 degrees.  When Young Man got home from practice, his friends were already waiting for him (most had shown up 10 minutes early they were so excited). 

The plan was to walk down to a nearby football field so the boys could play two-hand touch football for a couple hours before coming back home for pizza, cake & ice cream, and presents.  As we were about to leave, however, one of Young Man's friends asked if he could open one present early since it would be "extremely advantageous during the party."  Young Man opened the gift to discover a nice set of football gloves.  Now I have to say, if you would have told me a year ago that Young Man would be happy to get football gloves as a birthday present, I would have scoffed and said, "You obviously don't know my son!"  But he was ecstatic and couldn't wait to try them out.

The party was amazing.  Beautiful weather.  The whole field to ourselves.  The boys laughing and playing hard and all such good kids.  As I stood watching from the sidelines, I couldn't help but pray with earnest gratitude for the incredible blessing it was to be there in that moment and for the joy it has been to be a mother.  Young Man had considered doing a laser tag party instead, but this was absolutely perfect. 

When the boys were completely exhausted, we took a few fun group pics then headed home.  Most of these boys move in June (moving all over the place, from India to France), so it was great to see them have such a great time together and get some fun pictures.

One boy had to leave early but didn't want to miss the cake, so we hurried to get candles lit and sing.  I realized that this is the tenth year that Young Man has had his traditional dirt cake (chocolate cake topped with chocolate pudding, oreo crumbs, and gummy worms).  It started one year with Grandma and Grandpa W, when they made one for his 3rd birthday, and he's wanted one ever since. 

There was a slight moment of panic when I realized I couldn't think of where any matches or a lighter was, but then inspiration struck:  the emergency 72-hour kit!  Yes.  Matches!  So we lit the candles, sang, and served cake and ice cream before the pizza even arrived.  Why not?  Thankfully birthdays only come once a year. :-)

A few interesting facts about Young Man:

Picture by oregoncoastphotography.com

Weight: 108 lbs.
Height: 61 inches
Favorite color: black
Favorite book you read last year: most of them, maybe the Eragon series (reread)
Favorite memory from last year: Myeongdong trip with Tim our last Saturday in Seoul
Favorite scripture story: the 2000 stripling warriors
Most memorable accomplishment last year: Arrow of Light and KORAM coach's player of the year award
Goal for this year: Grow three inches so I can ride my bike. :-)  I want to hone my photography skills and take more pictures.
What do you want to be when you grow up?  An environmental engineer
Favorite board game: Monopoly
Favorite game: Football, no, soccer
Best friends: Owen, Conor, Ravi, and MacKenzie
Favorite subject at school: Science or Social Studies
Favorite food: Stuffed crust pizza and dirt cake and root beer
Favorite song: Radioactive
Favorite scripture: 2 Nephi 9:28-29

A few interesting facts about Funny Guy:

Picture by oregoncoastphotography.com

Weight: 56 lbs.
Height: 47 inches
Favorite color: blue, red, orange, yellow (all of those)
Favorite book you read last year: Hank the Cowdog series
Favorite memory from last year: Going to Everland in South Korea--the whole thing!
Favorite scripture story: When the children of Israel made a golden ox out of their earrings and jewelry to worship because they didn't understand how to really worship God.
Most memorable accomplishment last year: Played soccer and my dad was my coach!
Goal for this year: Get to be a better reader, to read and write stuff like that longest word that my brother knows, the name for the lung disease caused by volcanic ash! (the word he's talking about is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis)
What do you want to be when you grow up?  an engineer, the kind that builds/designs stuff
Favorite board game: Labyrinth
Favorite game: Array, the new game I just got for my birthday
Best friends: Ayla, Collin & Jack, Jed, Nicky
Favorite subject at school: fitness
Favorite food: pizza
Favorite song: Country Road, by John Denver, especially when I sing it with my dad when he's playing the guitar
Favorite scripture: 2 Nephi 28:7-9

Happy birthday boys!  It is hard to believe that twelve years ago my journey as a mother began.  I was young and I've had to learn a lot of things along the way.  Thank you for being so patient and full of love.  I'm trying so hard to be the mother you need to help you become the amazing young men I know you can be.  You have so much potential.  You're up against such tough odds in this crazy world we live in, with this crazy lifestyle we are leading, but I know that you can be stronger than the odds you face and that you can be our greatest success story.  I love you.  ~Mom