Happy 9th Birthday, Ryan!

Yesterday we celebrated Ryan's 9th Birthday, which was his best birthday yet, according to him.  It was his holiday party at school and Grandpa and Grandma were able to come and volunteer.  After school, he had his party with his friends at our house, followed by volunteering at Feed My Starving Children afterwards.  It was such a fun day!!!!

Ryan was Student of the Week:

Grandma and Grandpa at Ryan's Holiday Party:

Ryan at the Photo Booth:

Ryan and I at the party:

Ryan's 3rd grade class:

Ryan with his birthday cake:

Skylanders cake:

Eating pizza with his friends:

Opening gifts:

Singing Happy Birthday:

Blowing out the candles:

Ryan and his buddies:

Crazy pic:

Ready to go into the food packing area at the warehouse:

Listening to instructions before packing food:

My packing team - Adam, Josh, Mom, and Landon (Ryan, Lukas, Jimmy, and Grandpa helped out in the back warehouse):

Adam:

Landon:

Josh:

Mom:

Proof that 9 year old boys can clean up:

Ryan and Addison celebrated their birthdays at FMSC:

Listening to the wrap up session - we packed 67 boxes of food, which will provide 14,472 meals for those in need:

Saying a blessing over the food we packed before it leaves the warehouse:

Holidazzle Parade and Santa Visit

We went to my office to have dinner and watch the Holidazzle Parade for the 12th year in a row (since I became a Target team member).  It is sadly, the last year for the Holidazzle Parade, which we love to watch.  After the parade, we went through the Macy's 8th floor holiday display and visited Santa.  It is an annual tradition we all look forward to - we'll have to start a new tradition next year.  :)

Inside Target Plaza:

Watching the parade:

Me and my boys:

Visiting Santa:

The official, overpriced, souvenir photo I feel pressured to buy every year: 

Jewelry

I am nearly finished with my jewelry gifts for Christmas.  It has been quite a project.  A typical necklace order uses one Dremel tool to complete.  These silverware necklaces take a jewelry saw, 2 Dremel tools, and a drill to make.  It has been quite the process, to say the least.  At this point, we need to replace a broken Dremel attachment as well as a broken drill bit to finish them.  I will be glad when they are 100% complete... 

UPDATE:  New photos attached at the bottom.  Jewelry is complete.  :)

Instagram

It's been a busy week at our house...time for another Instagram update:

Carter is Star of the Week in his classroom this week:

Evan and I had a date night last Saturday night:

We put the finishing touches on the garage and wrapped up a few house projects last week - painted the garage door darker, applied a vinyl sticker, and installed ALL new hardware throughout the entire house, replacing all of the brass.  What a difference it makes!

Charlie showed up on Monday with a new movie for the boys: 

Evan and I had another date night on Monday night.  We went to dinner and a Wild Game with friends:

Carter's self portrait outside his classroom:

Charlie is working on jewelry.  Instead of stamping his own name on a disc, I wish he would have worked on some of my jewelry orders.  :)

I spent time with my favorite Star of the Week in his classroom today (I volunteer in his class every Thursday morning).

Waterpark of America

I took the boys to Waterpark of America on Wednesday.  I didn't get many pictures because I was in the water with them most of the time.  Ryan did want me to get a few pictures of him in the surfing pool.  WOA is a very cool waterpark for the kids.  I wish we lived closer, I know that would be a favorite for the kids!

Jewelry

I worked on the silverware jewelry a little more last weekend.  It's definitely a work in progress.  After breaking 2 jewelry punches, we realized Evan would have to drill the holes with his cordless drill.  Sawing off the silverware is time consuming and a mess of dust.  I have a few more to complete for Christmas gifts. After that, I don't think I'll be too excited to tackle these pieces for a while!!

Holes drilled with large letters:

Hooks affixed on back of silverware with small letters: