Harris's First Birthday

The title of this post is completely tongue-in-cheek because though April 14th really was Harris's first birthday, we really didn't celebrate it at all. In fact, we celebrated our other two children on Harris's first birthday. It was weird, and very third child-y, and I'm sure it will be the first chapter of his memoir Being Third: I Might as Well Have Been Raised by Wolves. It's a working title.

Dan celebrated by being out of town. He went to Vegas for a sales conference, and for those of you who have been playing along the whole time, you know it's his hometown. So he and his mom and two of his sisters went in on the secret together so that he could surprise his dad Friday night.

So he went hiking with his family.

And dressed up as a mobster for the Vegas-themed party at his sales conference.

Caption contest on the above photo! Mine is--"Nobody, and I mean nobody, messes with Big Mike."

And everyone in his office drove sand dune buggies, and Dan was the only one that crashed. But again, I think someone was just trying to take out Big Mike.

Happy Birthday, Harris!

Meanwhile, back at home, the Wilkes met up with us to see June's art work on display at the mall.

After which, we were just strolling around when we passed by the store where pre-preteen dreams come true--Icing.

I had decided that for Gwen's 4th birthday in July, we would get her ears pierced. But at that moment, surrounded by her favorite friends, the Wilkes, the moment just seemed right for it. I don't know why I thought that it would be a good time to fill out forms and wait in a store with teeny tiny aisles and wall-to-wall trinkets as we were herding 7 kids, ages 6 and under, but alas we did it.

Feeling a bit nervous before she got started.

The Wilkes entertained the rest of the crew as they waited. Couldn't have done it without them!

Drawing the dots.

Mission accomplished. She screamed quite a bit after the first ear was done, but then she rallied and we were able to do the second ear. Good thing we don't have three ears because I don't think she could have sat for another one.

So, just to recapitulate, Gwen got her ears pierced for Harris's birthday. Happy birthday, Harris!

Cute boys! Harris was happy to be along for the ride, and we will definitely have cake in his honor soon. And often.

The next day, June insisted on wearing the missionary tag her primary teacher had made her the week before. She loves talking about being a missionary and helping people.

Gwen gave her first primary talk and did a great job of talking about Joseph Smith's First Vision. I didn't know if it would work out because the night before, she informed she was NOT going to do it and especially not if I was the one helping her. But then she jumped up and did it. Yay!

And even though I've said it before and have been totally wrong, I do believe that Spring has officially sprung. Today, we went to the park and had a picnic lunch, and June has been asking me on repeat why we can't just build a house on the big hill at the park ever since we got home hours ago.

As we were running out the door to go to the park, I realized we needed a blanket. I grabbed a really huge beach towel instead and then realized once we go there that it always seemed huge for ONE person, not five. So we sat on this tiny little towel all together and it was really cozy and sweet (or uncomfortable and tight).

The End.