Happy Birthday, Ginger Dee

Ginger slept in on her birthday morning, and finally woke up to find out that someone had secretly left flowers on the front porch early that morning.  There was a note that said...

 Happy 15th Birthday, Ginger.    Love,  ;)

What in the world?  It's already beginning?!  We soon realized that it was one of the young men that Don serves with at church and he was basically doing it to freak him out.  It was cute and Ginger was still flattered.  

She had a nice, relaxing day watching her siblings do their usual Saturday work knowing that she was off the hook for her birthday.  We had our usual family celebration.  

The kids showered her with cards and gifts.  

Mallory and Savannah, her two closest friends came over to celebrate and hang out before the Stake Dance that night.  

They brought her a Happy Birthday crown and insisted that she wear it to the dance that night so everyone would know it was her birthday. 

She had a lot of fun and felt very special.  She has really turned into an amazing young woman and it has been a joy to watch her grow up these past 15 years.  It is sad and scary to think that she only has a few more years before she is out on her own!  How do I make time slow down?!

Ethan's 'Harry Potter' Party

Ethan's birthday is December 18th, but how can I throw a party the week before Christmas??  I promised him that I would throw him one in January and I actually did!  He is quite the Harry Potter fan so he asked for a Harry Potter themed party.  

Thanks to Don, all I had to do was send out the invites, make cupcakes and put together goodie bags.  He is the Master kid party planner.   Once everyone got there, Don sat them down and explained that they had just arrived at...

They would be learning how to become a wizard!  It was apparent that a few of the kids had no idea who Harry Potter was.  Oops.  Guess we are bad parents.  

First, they would be sorted into 2 houses...Fosselbop and Wolfbanger...by the Sorting Hat!  Don rigged this old Russian hat of his to be the sorting hat.  He stashed a little jambox speaker inside of it.  He previously recorded his voice and Gillian controlled it with his iPhone.  So, a boy would come sit on the stool, have the Sorting Hat placed on his head, then listen as it spoke to him and declared which House he was placed in.  Of course, Don made it silly and the kids absolutely loved it!  It was a big hit.  

Next came Olivander's Wand shop.  Ginger was our special wand witch.  The boys each took turns coming up, choosing a wand and then finding out if the wand had "chosen them".  They would test it out on Ryan who would react to the spell correctly, or incorrectly.  If it was incorrect, they would choose a new wand until it was right.  The boys loved this, too.  

The wandmaker.  Ginger was a little excited to put together her costume.  

Then came wand practice and casting spells.  The boys really got into it. 

They used their wands to either help their teammates win, or disrupt their opponents game.  It was quite comical.  

The boys had to balance on the exercise ball as long as they could while the other boys were trying to help him stay on or knock him off...with their wands.  Disclaimer...at the end of the party Don was sure to explain that the wands don't really work and that it was all just made-up fun.  I think he may have devastated a few believers.  

No wands were needed to stuff their faces full of chocolate cupcakes.  They did that all on their own.  

Ethan has some great little buddies....from left....Jackson, Rigdon, Rex, Zachary, and Spencer.  

Hope you enjoyed your Harry Potter party, Ethan!!