Nine!

E's birthday celebrations seem to go on forever. His 5th birthday happened while D was out of town for two weeks and he had multiple celebrations of that one. The 9th goes down as another birthday that never ends..... or maybe as the birthday that started with a bang and ended with a whimper.

Last week E received an early gift of a real video game thing. Yes, I have welcomed the devil into my home and it has been battle over when he plays and how much since; hoping as the newness wears off he calms down about it. But he was SSSOOOOO EXCITED when he opened it. I have never seen his face so surprised!

Friday night E invited 3 third grade boys over for his first sleepover. WOW! Those boys are energetic! This is the first year I have not made a birthday cake for E's birthday. I made the cakes and the boys each got to decorate their own cake to look like a tank. They each got a setup of cake and frosting that looked like this along with candies to decorate the cake.

I expected that more candy would go into the boys than onto the cakes, but I was wrong. They seemed to really enjoy decorating their own cakes.

Little brothers also participated--- M was the only one at the table who filled himself with candy.

They gathered later to watch Star Wars. Stayed up till 10 then talked in the playroom with lights out until 12. At that point we put the hammer down and said go to sleep. They did at some time during the night.

Up at 6 for more Star Wars, light saber battles outside and the breakfast of champions: choco crunchies and Krispy Kreme donuts.

G had soccer Saturday morning and D said his game suffered greatly due to fatigue; the gators did win though. Errands got run slowly and we played around the house until it was time to go to a neighbor's for a cookout. Fun! but another late night.

Sunday D woke not feeling well and we were all still tired. We managed to get it together to get the kids to their last Sunday School class of the year (I got roped into teaching next year). I planted flowers while D power washed the winter's algae growth from the patio with a lot of help from E--- I think E may do the driveway by himself next weekend. We finished the weekend quietly with dinner and a movie at home. and E complaining of a sore throat.....

This morning E woke to a fever with the sore throat so no school and I am waiting for this to progress to see if it is strep, mono, or (with our lack of luck) some new dreadful disease. Happy Birthday to E!

One final pic of me with M. He was reading magazines with me on the patio on Saturday afternoon; credits to E for being our photographer-- he was just tickled he got to touch the camera.

love and hugs and Happy 9th Birthday to E! B