Birthday Parties and Surprises

Happy birthday to Tyson.  It was finally his birthday party.  He was allowed to invite 5 friends to a bowling party.  I couldn't get them all in the picture, so that is why there are two pictures.

The boys got to bowl for 3 hours.  They were in heaven.  I had the workers put up the bumpers so that they could bowl without gutter balls.  Two of the boys had never bowled.  So we showed them and they loved it.  Above is Tyson willing the ball to make a strike.

Brody had an arm on him and was in front of the pack most of the way.  

Noah had never bowled, but loved it once he learned to throw the ball.

Micah was another who had never bowled. He did awesome!

James was a pro.  He had the most fun, making tons of spares.

Xander had a dance at the end of his turn to celebrate his good throw.

That is my boy with the good form.  He loved the party.

We got a lane for Tritt and Taryn and they had fun rolling the ball down the lane.

The boys being silly.

More fun.

Taryn got a glow necklace and headband.  They turned off the lights and had black lights and strobe lights with music while the kids bowled.  They thought it was awesome!

Pizza, pop and bowling with cupcakes.  What more could you ask for?

Gifts...

Gifts...

Gifts...

And more gifts.  Our friends are the best.  Tyson gots lots of fun things.  Thanks everyone.

The "Boys of Bowling".  They all had a blast and at the end of the party the bowling alley gave Tyson a bowling pin and let everyone sign it.  What a fun keepsake for him.  I was so glad he enjoyed his party.  

Mom had one more surprise for him.

Tyson's Uncle Brett flew in to surprise him for his baptism.  Tyson was in shock and then so happy.  I have been keeping this a secret for many weeks.  It was the best surprise ever!

Grandma and Papa Jackson's hotel had this awesome water park inside the place, so after lunch we all headed over to play.

Tritt had a ball.  He ran all over and made his momma crazy.

Tyson loved the slides and the raining water from atop the water park.

Check this out. I want to rent a room one night just to go there and play.  The bucket at the top fills with water and then dumps it all down the slides.  The kids were in heaven!

There was a pool and a nice big hot tub there as well.  What a fun place to stay.  We all enjoyed it.  Then it was home for pizza, fun and bed.  The baptism is tomorrow.  The big day has finally arrived!!

Family Week

It is the week for family.  Since Tyson's baptism is this Sunday, all our family is coming into town.  We couldn't be happier.  Grandma and Papa Jackson came into town Monday night.  We had tons going on Tuesday and Wednesday so on Thursday, I checked Tyson out of school a bit early and we took the grandparents to the Oak Ridge Beach.

Taryn found her special rock, as she does, right at the beginning and so therefore she was happy.  Whatever makes her happy.  Love her!

Papa was trying to teach the kids how to catch the minnos in the water, but my kids couldn't hold still and they never made a catch.

We kept seeing these long tracks in the sand by the shore and found shells at the end of each track.  They were snails.  The kids were so interested that they made it into a game to hunt for the shells.  Taryn found a bunch.  She wanted to take them home, but mom has a rule; animals need to stay in their natural habitat.

A second attempt to catch the little minnos.  

Now everyone was in on the fish catching.  We came up short on the fish, but had a blast at the beach.  I was glad we could go there.

On Friday morning, my mom, sister and my nephew Tritt came into town.  My sister and nephew have never been to Tennessee.  I love the fact that they were in my home.

Taryn loved having Tritt to follow around and play with.  He had so much energy.

We had him dancing to Taryn's music and cracking us up.

We went outside to play with the milk cartons and bean bags, but Tritt wanted to wear it on his head instead of playing the game.  Silly kid!

Tyson was entertaining Tritt.

Cute cousins.  

I love this kid.  It breaks my heart that I am not closer to be with him more.  I can't wait till I have the means to go home more and spend time with him.  

We played, ate and laughed till the late hours, then it was a little bit of sleep and up for Tyson's birthday party.

Tyson's 8th Birthday

8 years ago today, at 1:47 pm, I was blessed with this handsome little boy who has forever changed my life.  Today is his eighth birthday, marking a new point in his life where he will be baptized a member of the LDS church next Sunday.  I cannot believe that my son is that old.  Wow!  Where did the time go?

It was church today, and Vaughn had to work, so Tyson had to wait to open his presents.  He was pretty good about being patient.  Here he is with his sweet sister.

After church it was a quick trip home and change of clothes, and it was on to the opening of the presents.  Tyson got money, a new bed spread, 3DS game, clothes, scripture bag and more.  The kid was elated!

Look at his loot!

He was all smiles today.  He loves the fact that he is eight, and is older than seven.  Ha ha ha

The birthday cake.  

We sang to him and he blew out the candles.  Then we went to the Boomsday firework show and watched them light up the sky.  Tyson thought it was cool they had fireworks on his birthday. 

About the cake....

This is how the cake started out.  Just a green slab, and then I tried to image on the bronco head.  That didn't work out so well because my frosting wasn't set up enough.  So I had to free hand it.  Now take into account that I don't draw, at all, so I felt half way decient about this.

Then I had to fill in the bronco image, which was no easy task.

Finally, I took 45 minutes, using the grass Wilton tip to make the grass on the football stadium.  (The things we do for our kids). Then it was numbers, hash marks and the writing.  All finished!  I thought it turned out about as good as one of my mom's cakes.  She is the artist in the family.  It was the best day and Tyson loved every minute of it.  Dollywood tomorrow and family comes in for a week and then a baptism.  We will be busy but loving every minute of it.