Double Digits!

 Erik is now 10! I'm not sure what I feel about that, everything has gone by so fast! It seems like not long ago I just arrived home from the hospital with him on Thanksgiving. Things have changed so much since then!

We celebrated with his friends about 10 days ago. We weren't really sure what we were going to do for his party, but suddenly I decided we should have a Harry Potter-themed party, mostly because my friend has an awesome quidditch set that she had used at a school function, but also because Erik does like Harry Potter and he likes to watch movies. He was even Harry Potter for Halloween! 

He's not much into crafts, so we played quidditch in the backyard and then a round of muggle soccer, just because most of the boys are soccer players and the weather was actually good enough to be outside longer. You never know with the weather around here during this time of year when party planning. I led them on a Harry Potter scavenger hunt afterward, then they ate snacks, he opened presents, and we sang Happy Birthday so we could eat cake. 

The foam noodles were the broomsticks, though a couple of boys used broomsticks. 

It was hard, but they loved it!

Soccer!

I had planned the party from 1-5, in between mealtimes, since Erik doesn't eat typical meals. That way I could get away with serving cheese, various forms of pretzels, chips, grapes, carrots, and butterbeer, without feeling like I should have served a meal. Even still, I felt like these 10-year-old boys may have wanted more of a meal. They did enjoy the snacks and were so gracious and polite. For the scavenger hunt prizes, they got chocolate frogs, "every flavor beans", and gummy slugs in bags. They ate those with popcorn while they watched the first Harry Potter movie. They took a few trampoline breaks during the movie, and I told the parents that they could pick up during the movie if they wanted since it was long. A few came earlier to pick up, but most of the boys stayed to watch till the party ended, but we didn't get to finish watching it because of all the breaks we took and the amount of time we played outside beforehand, for which I'm perfectly fine with!

Long, thick pretzel sticks and waffle pretzels were hits wrapped in the cheese.

Our friend Kennedy has a cake business and she made the cake. She's 13. Her mom is the one who we borrowed the quidditch game and decorations from. 

The crew!

For planning it last minute, it went very well!

On Erik's birthday, he woke up to The Beatles playing Birthday, with Jason and I and Gramms and Abuelo ready to greet him downstairs! Everyone else had already gone to school. He got lemonade in the special birthday cup and some cinnamon sugar donuts, shaped like a 10. When he arrived home, it was straight to open presents and sing Happy Birthday before Austin had to go to his piano lesson, followed by Victoria leaving for dance for many hours. Austin was back before long, but Kai and I went to her marching band/ color guard banquet, while Jason and his parents took the boys for dinner at McDonald's, per Erik's request. He got to watch a movie afterward since there's no school the day before Thanksgiving!

At Miller, they have these Be Kind shirts that they sold this year. Every once in a while they all wear them to school. Erik's birthday was one of those days.

Super cute shirts!

Lucky boy has Gramms and Abuelo visiting!

Bill Nye book!

He had to change places to open all his presents!

Because of Victoria's prank on Erik recently, feeding him a pickle when he thought it was a jolly rancher, my mom had us put jolly ranchers in a pickle jar with her card. He has a very convincingly sad face here.

Jolly rancher side!

He loves games!

And books!

It was so fun celebrating my youngest! 

He's such a responsible child. Always leaves on time for school on his bike, without being told, gets ready for church and soccer, without much reminding of what to do, completes whatever small amount of homework he has without reminding, is a curious student, and a very kind friend. He has compassion for others and gives excellent hugs to Mom and Dad before he leaves for school. He's come a long way in terms of singing at church- going from not wanting anything to do with it, to participating in the Primary program and even singing the hymns in sacrament meeting! He loves soccer (and is a reliable defender), geology, geography, reading informational books and graphic novels, and math. 

We love this guy!