Cade's Birthday and Party

I know this is out of order but that is because things have been so crazy here the last month.  As everyone knows, this is a busy season at our house.  While birthday season officially started a month ago with Foster, we are lucky that he is too young to understand and we were able to get away with a cake at home that night.  My older boys however, expect way more on their birthdays and so when October rolls around, the craziness begins.  Cade turned 11 on October 19th.  I thought 10 was hard!  He not only is in his last year of elementary school, he is now a Boy Scout (not a Cub Scout) and is that much closer to being a teenager.  Cade woke up to his breakfast in bed which is the boys favorite part of their celebration.  Jeremy and I met him at school to have lunch with him and embarrass him!  That evening Nana stopped by.  I think she is having just as hard of a time as I am realizing this boys is growing up!  Since his actually birthday fell on a school night, we had his favorite dinner and a cheesecake (his party was two days away). 

Happy Birthday Cade!!  10/19/2011

Cade and Nana

Cade asked for  this hat when he was turning four.  He (and everyone else in our family) has not missed a birthday picture without wearing it since!  I am surprised that the hat has held up so well.

Every year Cade's present from us is that Jeremy takes Cade to Six Flags for Raytheon Employee Day and they spend the entire together and ride crazy rides.  They leave early in the morning and get home after dinner.  Cade loves it and looks forward to it.  Cade also got a very fun party this year but I think he was most excited about this book that his brothers got him.  it was the sequel to the Origami Yoda.  It is called,"  Darth Paper- Strikes Back!"  He opened it and immediately ran upstairs to read it.  We did not see him until the next day.  I love that he gets so excited about books and things like this.  That is one of the many reasons I love him.

This year Cade had a Rock N Roll Murder Mystery Party.  This was his cake.  Jeremy always does an incredible job making the boys cakes each year to go along with their theme.   

 Cade's character was JT Laketimber.  He chose that character because he wanted to wear a hat!

 Cade on the Red Carpet 

The Paparazzi were everywhere!  The boys loved walking into the house on a red carpet and having to go through a red rope to get into the VIP Party.  We had to move our furniture out of the Living Room and since Davis was having the same party two weeks later, we left the room empty.  (In between the parties we had company come in town or Easton's baptism, which actually worked out nice having all four couches in the Family Room. The timing could not have been better!)

You can always count on Grant for a great costume.  He came with fake nose rings, earrings, and tats!

We were all excited that Michael was able to make it to Cade's party.  Michael is one of Cade's best friends who was diagnosed with Leukemia at the beginning of summer.  Cade also was not too cool to walk the red carpet with his mom which I appreciate.  I am sure I have a limited number of years left on that kind of stuff! 

  It was fun to watch the boys mingle and try to solve the murder.  They all had so much fun and really enjoyed dressing up.  We had a mixture of Rappers and Rockers.  It was a great night.  Foster loved walking around and looking at all the costumes.  Foster had no problem mingling with a room full of 18 boys.  He thought they all came to see him and tried to put on a show for them.

 

 Our group of Punk Rockers

Easton was our Cop that night and he could not wait to find out who the murderer was.  He was prepared with a gun and handcuffs and he was going to make an arrest. 

 Foster loves the hats!! 

 Cade blowing out his candles.  Still can't believe he is 11!!

Evan was a good sport about being our victim.  For the first two rounds, most people were thinking he was the culprit.  They were shocked when he came walking out as a ghost!

 Cade reading his final round.  He was so relieved he was not the murderer!

Stefan was the bad guy!  He loved it.  He told his mom his favorite part was being arrested.  Easton did a great job and didn't let him get away!

Most of these boys have been at all of Cade's parties since kindergarten.  I am so grateful that he has such a close group of good friends.  I am also grateful for the new friends he has made this year.  I think moest year all these boys will have so much fun in Junior High.  I don't know how I will survive, but I am sure they will!

Second Murder at the Holdstock House



Mom and Davis before the guest arrive. 



Another great cake!  We are so grateful for Jeremy's artistic talents!

Davis rocking the red carpet as "Dontry"



We call him "Mr. Papa Ratzi"



This is what happens when you tell Foster to pose for you on the red carpet. 

Foster really loves hats.

Jeffrey made the perfect "Gene Simon!"  He really played his part well.

Cade Clark and Kyle had fun getting into character as well.  Cade even made a DJ turntable out of a box of diapers and paper plates. 

It was fun to watch the boys personalities come out through the game.

We had rappers, hard rockers, and punk rockers

 I told you, Foster loves the hats almost as much as he loves the party!  He was running around all night dancing and trying to be involved as much as possible.  He thought all these kids came to see him and he was going to put on a show for them!

  Boys can eat and eat and eat!

 While the big boys ate, Foster checked out the guitars! 

 By round two, most had come out of their shells and really got into the act!

 Most people thought they knew who the murderer was by now.  They were wrong!

No one had a correct guess so they kept investigating

Eli was our victim and the kids loved when he came out with his face all painted! 

Davis did not even know he was the murderer until he read his card.  I am not sure if he was laughing because even he guessed wrong or if realized Easton was about to arrest him!  Davis did try to make a run for it, but with the help of the other guests, Easton got the bad guy.

The Music VIPs from November 5, 2011.   Easton dressed up in his police costume and if you look real close, you can see our Cade poking his face through at the bottom right corner just behind Davis' legs!

Easton's Big Day

Easton woke up to our traditional breakfast in bed.  The boys love this and even if they wake up early they will wait for their breakfast!  Easton was greeted by all of us plus Granny, Bud, Grandma Janet, and Grandpa Tim.  He usually does not like a lot of attention, but this morning he was loving it!

On to opening his presents.  He was so excited o see what his brothers got him.  He had been wanting a military action set for months and was pleased to see his brothers (or mom) was listening.  He even got a camouflage scripture case.  We figure this will entice him to always remember to bring his scriptures to Church!

Easton preparing to get baptized.  It is hard to believe that this little boy is eight!  he is growing up so fast.  He couldn't stop smiling the entire day. 

 Easton had the most beautiful baptism.  Davis gave a talk on Baptism and Papa gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  Easton invited his friends from school and was surrounded by people who love him.  Both sets of grandparents made the trip to be a part of his special day.  The proudest moment for me was when Easton was being welcomed to the Primary by Sister McFadden, she called up Davis and Cade as well.  She made all three boys stand there as she told everyone how much she admired these boys for the reverence they bring each week to Primary.  She said she could tell by the way they behaved that they understood the Gospel and had a testimony of the Savior.  As a mother, what more can you ask for?  This summer I thought I understood why we were suppose to stay in Texas (you all remember our crazy move story!) but at the baptism, I realized there was another reason.  This is where my boys are to grow into strong missionaries and develop into the young men the Lord needs them to be!  They sure are doing a great job and we are so blessed to have them in our lives.  Thanks to all who participated in this special day and traveled here to be with us.  It means so much to have such great friends and family.

 Easton and Jeremy

Easton and Rebecca

  Easton with Nana and Papa.  Easton was named after them (Thomas) 

Easton's camouflage cake.  It is all about army with this kid!