Beau Charlie Grant is EIGHT YEARS OLD!

My big, beautiful, lovey little boy is eight years old.  Eight!!! And the biggest change for me here?  The booster seat is no more.  No more!  It's sad!  Yes, he gets to ride up front with me now. And yes, my backseat for the first time in three and a half years is a little more spacious now, but still.......he looks like a teenager sitting there next to me.  Where did all this time go?

In any event, I wanted him to have a special birthday weekend.  It's hard having summer birthday's, and all I wanted was for him to be happy and do what he wanted.

So.....Mama took off work on Friday so I could get ready. Typically I take off work so we can spend the day together, but it was his last "official" summer fun day at Northridge Academy, so I wanted him to enjoy it with his friends, and truth be told, that is what he wanted to do anyway.  I took pizza in for lunch for he and his classmates, and they had sugar cookies for afternoon snack - less I mention a trip to the movies that afternoon to see Zookeeper. Lucky boy. That's a fun afternoon!

Friday evening our neighbor and Beau's friend Trevor came over to spend the night. We gave him his "big" present about 10 minutes before Trevor came over. It provided the entertainment for the night....his own Wii!  He is so excited. And truthfully I am too because ever since I played Just Dance at my Mom's house months ago.....I've been wanting to play it again!  Maybe this Mama will have to buy herself a belated birthday present....hee hee.

He just found it!

Checking it out

So happy!!

Anyway, back to Beau.  He only wanted McDonalds for supper. So we did that. Had Root Beer floats for dessert and then they stayed up playing until a little after 11:00.  We got up early the next morning to send Trevor on his way to football practice, but not before we had a pancake breakfast all dolled up with whipped cream and candles!  It was a great way to kick off his official day.

Then he opened his presents and played with most of them all morning.  Lunch was at 5 Guys (his favorite). Movies at 12:40 - Cars2!  It was sis's first big girl movie!  She did so great - thanks to a big jug of popcorn and M&M's!

Then we came home to chill for a bit.  We finally got to the cake and candles part.  Sister was a BIG help not only in putting the candles in the cake, but helping him blow them out. She also helped him open a lot of presents. And he was so patient with her and so understanding. "Oh honey" he kept saying, "Wait a minute, and give your Beau Beau a chance to read the card."  Tell me he doesn't have a ton of love in his heart.....

 Then the boys headed out again to watch some of their favorite local teams playing in the NBC World Series.  Not sure who was happier.  Even Grandpa met them at the ballpark. And one of Beau's baseball teammates also came.  Great evening of baseball for the boy.

Sunday we were up at at 'em again.  Headed to McPherson to church and to celebrate Brian's parents 40th anniversary. It was an awesome get together. And it also allowed us to see family for Beau's birthday. So between the anniversary party and Beau's party the day before, we were on sugar overload.....but we powered through (of course!) and opened presents and celebrated with an ice cream sundae party before we headed home.

And then to top it all off....we had to get home in time for Beau and Dad to get to baseball practice this evening. Whew!  Now that is a weekend.

I keep asking him if he had a good birthday and he says that he did.  I sure hope so.  I just love this little man so much. Happy Birthday, Beau Charlie. I love you with all my heart.

P.S. We got to love on the twin boys too.  Why do I keep forgetting to snap pictures of them???  They are so stinkin' cute, I get caught up in staring at them or holding them. Ah well. Here is Brandon enjoying his party favors.

And here is an attempt to get the grandkids to all look at the camera at the same time. Comical. And sadly, this is the best one that our camera captured!  Hee hee

This one makes me laugh. Well, the birthday boy makes me laugh with this one...good times....

Brenley Videos

The video's really say it all.
Dancing, Booger Drills, and her famous saying of "WHAT?"

Enjoy!

Ryan and Family Swim

We got to meet baby Ryan today!  He is so soft and cute and smells, oh so good!  It was a special, albeit, quick day and we were glad we could make the trip to Stillwater to visit our family.  We always love to get together and it had been FOREVER since we had seen each other. All the kids had grown, gotten their summer tans, and LOVED getting to play together in Troy and Lori's pool.

My oldest niece Makayla and baby Ryan.  Awww.....snuggles.

Beau loved getting tossed like a wrestler by his uncles.  Bren loved being adored by her girl cousins and jumping on the trampoline.   It was a really fun afternoon!

Poor Uncle Tyler. He is going to be sore tomorrow! But not sure who had more fun!

Carter and his Daddy. That boy is soooo cute!

Blake and Bren breaking it down preschool style!

Twins Baptism - 7/10/2011

Today was a special day.  Brian and I, along with two other aunts and uncles, were chosen to be sponsors of our twin nephews, sons of Laurie and Seth. They were baptized today at Trinity Lutheran Church in McPherson. The boys were so good today. It was warm in the church and we got there early to do a rehearsal of the ceremony, but even after all of that, they were champs - and cute at that.

Then we went over to Laurie and Seth's for a nice lunch and celebration.

We are so honored to be a part of their God driven life.  Love you two sweet boys, Brandon Martin and Tyler Thomas!

And here are two video's that took place during the children's sermon.  Never mind the crying baby that you hear.....the faces are the best part anyway!

Beau lost another tooth......

On the top row.........but that's not the best part of the story.  The story really is in the note he wrote to the Tooth Fairy. Sweet, sweet boy.

100,000 miles - we made it!!

So the day came.  The day my loyal, trusted, dependable little car rolled over 100,000 miles.  I knew today would be the day so I had Brian snap this picture of me and my girl.

She rolled over the big mark at 13th and Ridge. I toasted her with my coffee, rubbed the dashboard, and thanked her for getting me through many rough spots, being so dependable, and for keeping me and my family safe. Tear.

I know, I know.....it's silly that I am so attached to  - of all things - a 7 year old car. But I can't help it.  She has been nothing but good to me.  So she got cleaned out this weekend by Brian and I'm hoping to get her in the shop tomorrow to just make sure she is good to go for the next 100,000 miles!

Thank you little black car for being so good to me!

Happy 4th!

No excitement here. Just a lazy day, enjoying the AC.  Although, the way our firecracker looked as she feel asleep watching TV, you would have thought we had a rip roar of a day!  No such luck - two kids that don't like loud noises.....so much for Brian re-living his "blow up" days, cause right now, Beau is just not interested.  Suppose that might change some day.....