Happy Birthday Boys!!

December 4th was Joshua's 18th Birthday. I picked him up from school early and took him to lunch. Nicholas luckily had fallen asleep so I left him home with dad who was also sleeping. So it was just me and josh out to lunch. We NEVER get time with just the 2 of us so this was actually REALLY NICE!! Took him to one of his favorite restaurants, Rumbi Hawaiian Grill. Gave him his gift as we sat there waiting for our food. it was a small gift bag and when he reached in he pulled out a set of headphones. he looked at me like.."Uh, what am I suppose to do with these??" Told him I thought there was something else in there. he dug around some more and pulled out an MP3 player and said "NO WAY!!" He had one a couple of years ago and lost it. We said we wouldn't replace it since he didn't take care of it. Well, Grandma made this one possible!
Grandma worked in the office of an elementary school. A kid found it and turned it in to her. No one claimed it and it sat in her desk for a year. When she retired, she packed it with her stuff and asked if I wanted it. i told her it would be the PERFECT gift for Josh!
He was so excited, especially when I told him that music had already been programmed on it. Put on some of his favorites, some popular songs, Church, Christmas and some fun songs. I even put on the Thanksgiving song by Adam Sandler and found out he had NEVER heard it before. Then I showed him a surprise file. It was a comedy file. He LOVES Bill Cosby so I put some of his clips on there. Like Chocolate Cake, Noah and Puberty. He listens to Bill Cosby and just sits and laughs and laughs. It's kind of funny!!
He also got a new set of scriptures, a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle and a new set of bed sheets that we will use as inspiration to paint his room next spring. I think the biggest shock for his Birthday was finding out that he is AUTOMATICALLY registered with the Selective Service System. He's praying we don't have a draft anytime soon!!

On Dec. 10th, Colton turned 7. MY BABY IS GETTING SO BIG SO FAST!! I always thought other mothers were ridiculous when they would whine that their child was getting older or how fast time had gone by. Now I know what they meant! He had his traditional family birthday breakfast; french toast with ice cream; then it was off to school. Grandma & Grandpa Parker stopped by after school on their way to Salt Lake airport. We went to dinner at Colton's FAVORITE place.....The Chinese Buffet. That kid can really pack it there! He received a CD from Grandma Champlin, a gift card from Grandma and Grandpa Parker and a guitar from Grandma & Grandpa Caulford. Mom & Dad gave him a Nerf Tag game. He loved it! We got back from the restaurant only to find that Josh had not locked the back door, so the dogs came in and made themselves at home. Kobe, the larger one of the dogs; helped himself to the cupcakes that were sitting on the stove. They WERE for Colton's Birthday Party the next day. So, I stayed up late making MORE cupcakes. (Stupid dog!!!!)
He had 4 friends show up and he had a blast. Small parties are better than large ones with kids and noise everywhere I've decided!