Birthday in Pictures

Friday morning found the boys up early (what's new?), but more unusually, their mother up early, too! Rosalynde made pancakes and I made strawberry sauce (from some frozen strawberries leftover from our strawberry-picking expedition some months back). We found an old but not-too-dessicated-mostly-gone container of cool whip in the back of the refrigerator (actually, Joseph remembered seeing it, you know, one of those important facts that gets stored in the back of a little boy's mind), so breakfast was complete!

Brigham holding up the timer showing the EXACT moment of his birth, seven years ago.



Joseph pretty much hates getting his picture taken, and had his hand up covering his face for most of the time I was trying to snap pictures, but I did manage to get this one of my cutie. See his teeth growing in?!

After breakfast, we headed out to the airport to pick up Naomi! The boys were very excited to see her, she has been the aunt they have seen the most since she comes to rescue me on a regular basis. She had been up since 1:00 in the morning traveling up to Baltimore, so when we got home, she headed upstairs for a nap and the boys and I decorated their cakes.

The boys were good all afternoon, allowing all three moms (or moms-to-be as the case may be) to take naps. Good boys!



After a day of playing, we met Ben at Texas Land and Cattle (local restaurant) for an early dinner. I got a few more pictures in front of the restaurant while waiting for Ben (he had to make one final Target run for presents). Joseph mostly cooperated, because I told him birthday pictures were REQUIRED, and he got to choose the time and location. Mosey wanted to get in at least one of the pictures (why do I have one son who hates pictures so much, and one who can't wait to be in any and all of them?).



I so wanted a shot of Joseph and Brigham hugging each other, but this was the best I got. Brigham has actually *almost* caught up with Joseph in height, they are only 1/4 inch apart, and 1/2 lb apart in weight. And hasn't Brigham's hair gotten light this summer?


In this shot, I really wanted their arms around each other's backs, but that was just not gonna happen. I still like it, though.

At the restaurant we feasted on all kinds of yummy Texan fare, plus the boys each got to pick a free dessert. And it wasn't one of the puny brownie-and-ice-cream free desserts, but one of their $6.95 desserts from the dessert menu! Joseph chose cheesecake with caramel sauce, and Brigham chose bread pudding with peaches and ice cream. And each boy just about finished the dessert, too, I was amazed.



After the restaurant, Ben took the boys to Blockbuster to choose some movies for the weekend, and then it was PRESENT TIME! Mosey had thought that one of the gift bags up on top of the shelves in my room was for him (and honestly, I thought it was for him, too), but it turned out to be a present for *my* birthday next week! So he was pretty disappointed. But Mosey is an enterprising little boy, and ran out to get his Blockbuster movie and asked me to wrap it up for him. He said, "I don't mind if I know what it is, Mom." So, there you see his Teletubbies movie wrapped up in leftover Christmas wrapping paper.



And after the big haul! They got:
Joseph: Shoes, shirt, shorts, and $10 from Grandma Jackee and Grandpa Kent; "Where the Sidewalk Ends" book and CD from mom; Legos airplane set from dad; Dominos set from Rosalynde.
Brigham: Shoes, shirt, shorts, and $10 from Grandma Jackee and Grandpa Kent; Science experiment book from mom; Legos airplane set from dad (different from Joseph's); Rubik's cube from Rosalynde.
Both: Paper airplane book from Grandma and Grandpa Frandsen; Jenga blocks from dad; Indiana Jones Mr. Potato Head from Logan (school friend)

So, yeah, maybe a little over-the-top, but hey, a boy only turns seven ONCE in his life! Mosey was so excited (despite not one of the presents being for him), that he exclaimed at the end of the evening, "This was better than CHRISTMAS!!" What a good sport he is! Either that or he has designs on some of his brothers' presents...

The boys immediately got out most of the toys and we had a giant play session for an hour or so before birthday cake time.



Joseph requested a UFO birthday cake this year, and even illustrated instructions for it's design. Rosalynde made the cakes and frosting, and the boys had fun watching and helping me decorate them. I am NOT any kind of a pastry chef (Christine, I know you are just cringing looking at these!), but it was fun anyway.


Another view where you get a better feel for the silver platter that was supposed to add to the UFO/flying saucer effect.



Brigham requested a Castle cake, and after consulting a few Google Images of castle cakes, we came up with this design. The m&m's stuck into the sides are supposed to be stained-glass windows, and the candles on top of the towers are supposed to be banners.


Another view of this, um, fantastic cake! (It really did taste fantastic, though).



Joseph and Brigham contemplating their cakes after dad lit the candles. They look pretty happy about them, huh? And that's what counts.



Blowing out the candles! Joseph's candles were all bunched up and he got his blown out in one breath; Brigham's were all spread out and it took him a few gusts. All the more birthday wishes for him!

And that was our day! The boys weren't too hungry for birthday cake after the dessert at the restaurant, but Brigham especially put in a very respectable effort. And now we'll have birthday cake for the next three months; if anyone wants to help us out with that, we'd be grateful!