The BIG EIGHT!

This handsome son of a gun turned EIGHT on the 9th!  I am not sure I'm ready for all this growing up business, but he sure is!  He is so excited to be a Scout!  He was thrilled to get baptized!  He had the birthday of all birthday's.  We won't even try to top this one!

 He requested opening gifts first.  So, before breakfast he received his scout uniform, a pocket knife and scriptures from us.

 We made him a delish breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and oj, per birthday boy request.  Then, Zach took Ben and his best buddy Henry to Fat Cats for a couple hours.  Here he is admiring his score.

 This is the front of his baptism program.

 These pics, were on display at the baptism with the programs.  Below is the inside of the program.

 Ben and Henry at Fat Cats bowling and air hockey.  These boys had a hoot.

 Below is the cake our neighbor made for Ben's birthday.  He loved it and it was also super, super yummy!  Ben is obsessed with basketball these days.  I can hardly believe the passion from this kid in this area.  It blows me away!

 I was so overwhelmed with feeding everyone and getting everything just perfect that this is the only picture we have from the baptism.  The primary president did take one of Zach and Ben before, to my relief!

This was a wonderful day!  We were so grateful for all the help and support from family and friends.  Ben was so happy to be baptized and we were so proud of him!  I sat diagonal from Ben, so I watched his face during the talks and songs and stuff.  He knew he was following Jesus and he was confident that it was his own choice and he was happy to do it.  After he was baptized Zach said Ben said, "I am so happy, I could just cry.  I feel so clean and so happy!  All my sins and bad things are washed away.  I know we are never going to lose another game of basketball again!"
We were surprised with a visit from Zach's parents who are on a mission in Tennessee.  This was so fun and Ben felt so special they came just for him.
It was a wonderful day!  For a wonderful boy!  Happy 8th Birthday Ben!