Kade's 17th Birthday

 Kade's 17th birthday was yesterday, a day full of celebrations. Kade's friend CJ, who lives an hour away, came over Friday night to sleep over and start the day off with celebrations. We got Einstein Brother's Bagels for breakfast on Saturday, per Kade's request. Since everyone slept in, they had time to eat their bagels, watch Kade open up his first and main gift, and then get ready to attend the Stake Youth Activity at the church from 11-1. 

Kade's bass arrived while he was picking up CJ, but we didn't have enough time to wrap it as elaborately as we wanted to. Austin suggested we just make it look big and obnoxious in the corner. 

Kade wasn't surprised, though. 

But still super happy to see it!

Kade stayed home with CJ and had fun here, but Victoria went with Austin and Erik so she could see some of her old Stake friends. She had a babysitting job right afterward, so I picked up the boys so she could go straight there. At the church, I saw two of Kade's good friends from a different ward and they asked about him, so I told them to stop by, which they did! When I arrived home, a few minutes after them, the mom was in our driveway. We chatted a bit and she told me she'd just wait in the driveway for 20 minutes while they visited, since her younger child didn't want to get out. It was so nice of her to sit and wait while some good friends could catch up. They live about 30 minutes south of us. Then as they were leaving, a friend of Kade's from a different stake whom he met at FSY last summer, who lives about 30 minutes north of us, stopped by to give Kade his gifts. He was going to come to the birthday party that evening, but had a change of plans and his mom drove him all the way to our house to deliver the gift. It was so nice!! Kade has the best friends!

Mario Cart!

Surprise visit from friends!

They did their party things on their own while Jason and I made another Puerto Rican dinner, per Kade's request as well. One friend just kept eating cupcakes, so I told her she could have plain noodles with Erik and she seemed super happy about that! The rest seemed to enjoy the Puerto Rican food. We made the rice and gandules vegetarian so that friends could enjoy who weren't going to eat the pork. They played games, talked, jumped on the trampoline, and walked to the park. Kade had told them not to bring gifts, so some didn't bring any. I didn't take my usual gift-giver pics so that those who didn't bring any wouldn't feel bad. Kade also didn't want a big fanfare of singing Happy Birthday with all the candles. I did get one candle for a cupcake and he did let us sing to him, per my request. 

Be Real!

Before CJ left.

From what I observed, everyone had a great time, especially Kade. Happy Birthday, Kade!

TV Girl posters from Erik and a fidget pen from Austin.

Some cool T-shirts from Victoria. 

Since I'm writing this on New Year's Eve, I'll just wish everyone a Happy 2024! We don't have much going on tonight. We were supposed to go to Susie's family's cabin to play in the snow today and tomorrow, but since there is no snow and Jason's a little under the weather, we decided not to go. He's been wearing a mask and avoiding the friends mostly. I've been trying to disinfect everything around so no one catches it. Just games, snacks, and movies tonight. Actually, Jason and I are going to bed soon. Until next year!