James's 8th Birthday and his Baptism

James turned 8!!! I still can't believe it!! I couldn't resist this huge 8 balloon from dollar general. It was so fun!

In the morning before school, I let him open up his present from Rett. It was full of Rett's favorite things, but James was happy with it anyway!

In the afternoon I took chocolate chip cookies in to James's classroom and got to be there for his birthday trips around the sun. His teacher has a tradition in her classroom that when it is someone's birthday, they walk around a candle (representing the sun) with months of the years laid out as rays on the floor. As they walk around for each year, they show a picture on the board of a milestone from that year. I sent her the pictures before hand so she could show them. Then I told a little bit about James for each year. It was so special! (It also happened to be the 100th day of school, so everyone was dressed up like old men and women)

Holding the earth and getting ready to walk around the sun:

Another year:

And another one:

And another!

Even older now:

Almost!

Last trip!

After eating their treat it was time for recess, so we went outside to play. Their school is doing construction so they don't have a playground right now. Instead they play on the field with all kinds of fun lawn toys. The huge bowling set is a crowd favorite!

After recess they had a few science experiments to do. James got to do one on paper airplanes and testing out different shapes and designs. He didn't want to stop to go home!

We let James choose what he wanted for dinner, he requested ribs and pork chops!! So we had a meat filled, yummy dinner!

The only thing James asked for for his birthday was this cart that goes with his hoverboard to turn it into a go-cart. He loves it!

I finally got to give him this camera drone I bought on clearance over a year ago. He was so excited about it but once we opened it up and tried to use it we realized it was broken. Dang it!

Ribs from the grill!

The day after his birthday it was time for James's baptism! We were so excited and I spent the entire week wondering how in the world he could be old enough to be baptized! These were the invitations we gave out to friends and posted on our ward's Facebook page.

Anthony and James dressed and ready for the baptism to start:

During the actual baptism, James had to go under the water three times because his foot kept coming up and pushing his toes out of the water! I was starting to get worried because we had prepared him for going under the water one time (he hates putting his face in water) but he took it like a champ. He even had people tell him afterwards that he is lucky, most people only get baptized once but he got to do it three times!

It was a wonderful program, both grandmothers gave the talks, I led the music and friends from the ward who have watched James grow up and taught him in primary were there. Anthony performed his confirmation and gave him such a beautiful blessing. I wrote down everything I could remember in his baptism memory book. Such a special day!

Funny picture!

Later that night my mom wanted to take everyone out to dinner, so we went to our favorite Mexican place. We could live off the chips and salsa they bring to your table before your dinner!

The birthday boy in his birthday sombrero!