Jacob the Great Eight Year Old

Holidays usually have a way of sneaking up on me. I know they're there, pending, imminent, and I think I'm prepared, and then suddenly it's the day of and I'm out of butter, or something equally disastrous.

Birthdays, on the other hand, "sneak" as well as a toddler carrying marbles. My children plan out their special day for months. Breakfast: German pancakes. Lunch: Class party that day. Dinner: Homemade pizza. Presents: Transformers. No, transformers are dumb. Art desk. Desk is too big for my room. Art kit with easel. Too expensive? Knife, a real gun, new clothes...

Activities: NO HOMEWORK!

The night before his birthday, Jacob said, "So you'll get up at four or five, right? To make sure my breakfast is ready when I wake up?"
I laughed, a little, and then assured him that it would be ready pretty soon after he woke up, but I wouldn't have to get up at 4am to make that happen.
His birthday fell on the last day of school this year, which was really nice because all the activities that day were really fun and he didn't have to be tormented by too much actual work.
Jacob opted out of birthday cake that night in favor of mini cheesecakes.

He blew out the candles, devoured the cheesecake, and then immediately turned his attention to his present: An art kit in a nice wooden case with an easel. He was delighted and treated it like it was gold the rest of the night. We had a fun surprise drop in from cousins, so Rachel and Wesley are in this picture.

The next day we held the much-anticipated Fossil Dig Birthday party. Only slightly marred by an unexpected midnight snowfall, the boys had a great time cracking open rocks to find plastic dinosaurs, searching for fossils in the snow (Jacob and I could work at a museum making replicas. We are that good), and eating dino-themed food. 

Did you know that blowing bubbles into jello makes it sound like it's farting? Neither did I.

And of course no birthday party with six boys involved would be complete without a nerf gun fight.

Three weeks later on January 4th, Jacob was baptized by his dad. This was not something he was super excited about doing at the start. He didn't want everyone watching him - he really, really does not like a lot of attention. But after many conversations and a little time, he became super excited about his big day and eagerly took a dip in the font.

I was so glad my mom was able to stick around for the baptism. I think Jacob was excited too...

Of course we had to document our little family on this occasion. They are growing up too fast!

I am so grateful for Jacob. He is my sweet, tender-hearted boy; the first to comfort me if I am having a hard day, and so eager to please. He is a blessing in my life!

It cracked me up that Beau and his cousins were so enthralled with these lace up cards that Marianne got for Christmas. They were seriously occupied the entire time.

And on the other side of the room sat these lovely girls. So cute.

Since Jacob has outgrown or out-worn every piece of Sunday clothing he owned, we had to go find him some new rags. He insisted on buying a full suit. Such a classy, handsome kid, huh! He is holding his scriptures that Nana and Grandpa bought him. Nana wasn't able to come up because she had strep, but Grandpa was there to represent.

Jacob, I love you and I'm so proud of you and your good choices!