Luke is NINE!! The friend party!

Luke woke up to a beautifully decorated house- courtesy of Kelly- she really saved the day- even using stickers because she couldn't find the tape.  These traditions are everything to some kids!  I had left to go get some cool whip for crepes that Lukey loves.  I like to do their favorite breakfast on their birthdays.

Then he opened a quick present before school.  

Last year, Nate and I checked Luke out and took him to lunch. Just something we decided to do with most (unfortunately we forgot a few) of the kids.  I think he thought this was a new tradition or something because he asked me if we could do it again this year.  I figured- why not!  So even though Nate was not off, Erika, Jack and I checked him out and took him to, his choice, Arby's :).  That turned out to be a really fun little time!  He and Erika were total buds the whole time (he didn't seem at all bummed that he wasn't the only one there), they were sweet and giggly.  Kinda reminded me how alike the two of them are.  Jack slept the whole lunch away, in my arms, which was not convenient, but it was better than him crying- he wasn't feeling real great.  So Luke, Erika and I talked and talked, it was so much fun.  I would love to do that everyday if I could :).

Once school was out, it was time for the big party!

Luke wanted to go to Boondock's arcade for his birthday party.  I tried really hard to interest him in something else there, but he was set on the arcade :).  It was so cute of him.  So Luke.  So that's what we did!  We drove him and his five little friends (he has a small circle of friends this year) to Boondock's, Nate spoiled them with LOTS of money to play with, thanks to the HUGE discounts.  Even with the discounts though, it hurt every time I saw them play a stupid money waster... you know- the ones that don't give out many tickets!  Jk.  Well.  Mostly.  It sure was fun to watch them all.  Their cute little faces just lit up when they'd get a big string of tickets.  That's just too fun.  When I was a kid, a lot of tickets was like 3 or 4, on the skeeball at Peter Piper Pizza... but this is just too cool when they get up in the hundreds!  Fun stuff.  They all seemed to have enough fun.  Well, minus Henry.  The poor kid wasted most of his money on the claw machine.  He only had like 80 tickets.  When compared with the 717 that Luke got (or any of the other kids for that matter), it was really sad.  Plus he was done WAY before everyone.  Just kind of wandered around watching everyone else play.  I guess he learned probably.  But anyway.  It was fun to see them all interact and play.

We came back with our dinky little prizes in tow, had some pizza,opened presents, and then ate ice cream cones.  

The candy cake was a big hit.  Luke had been wanting one of those since Bradley's party a couple years ago.  The boys were totally into it.  I only wish I didn't have to send them home with so much candy.  I know some parents just don't go for that.  Oh well.  If you don't want your kid to have candy, don't send them to my house.  We don't have it all the time, but for birthdays, it's a must. 

This is the big, bouncy baseball Luke got with his tickets.  I wish I'd gotten non phone pictures at Boondocks

Present time was a lot of fun for some reason.  We did the whole disguising your voice, guessing who it is thing like kids like now (move over heavy heavy hangover :) ), they all got into it :).  It took him a few tries to guess Austin.

I've been getting pictures of each of the guests with the birthday kid at their parties with the last few and I like it :).  Makes me happy to look back at them later... or it will anyway :).  Here he is with his second cousin, Henry Widdison.  They are funny friends.  Or should I say frenemies.  They are off and on so much it's amazing they happened to be on that day!

Trenton was hilarious that night.  He was so different than I've seen him before, it was totally cracking me up!  When he was doing the disguised voice thing, he got real close to Luke's ears then all of a sudden YELLED, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" in his ear, no disguise :).  I know I shouldn't laugh at my son's misfortune, but it was Hil.ar.i.ous!!!!!  I've never seen anyone do that.  Very creative ;).  We all laughed- even Luke- you can see Luke's a little surprised by his crazy behavior too :).  Makes me laugh just looking at this picture- he was like that most of the evneing.  Funny kid.

Here's the gift we gave him.  I was so happy to finally get out of him what he REALLY wanted (since he hadn't said ANYTHING yet and I had no clue- no thought going on in this brain right now), but then he added the "Jazz" part after I'd already bought the orange and white.  Rats.  Not that it really matters- he just wanted his own basketball and really he's not picky, just me being me of course.  I'm sure he loves it.

We were all so happy that Carter could come to the party!  We found out kind of later in the game, I wasn't sure if I should text his mom or what- since they're in Bountiful, I wasn't sure they would make the trek anyway though.  So we were pleasantly surprised.  Luke was relieved too :).  He just LOVES Carter.  I think he will always be his "best friend" even though they see each other like once a year now.  

Such kindred spirits though... how can ya blame him.

I always feel bad forcing the shy kids to be in pictures and stuff, but suck it up and say cheese!  This is one of Luke's very favorites too.  Not a surprise that he's shy :).

He really likes Austin lately too.  I'm glad he's choosing good friends- they all seemed like very nice, polite little boys.  Not near as much crudeness as I would expect from 8/9 year olds.  Very impressed, though not surprised.  Luke is picky :)

And of course we tore apart the "cake" before doing the candles... duh... so we put his nine candles in the bowl of blueberries I'd been pushing on the boys all night.  It worked.

I was so glad I was able to text Tara and find out if I'd put on the invite whether we were bringing the boys home or not.  My brain is completely dysfunctional now.  I seriously don't know what I'm going to do for the next seven months!  Or the rest of eternity for that matter.  I hope it gets a recharge or a new battery or something when I'm resurrected at least.  Assuming I make it that far.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUKE!!!

 I loved watching Luke.  He's a different kind of birthday kid.  Very humble.  He doesn't try too hard to please everyone and is okay with not having all of everyone's attention.  Makes sense why he only invited 5 friends.  They were pretty fun boys.  Noisy.  But fun.  I thought it was a great time.