Great to Be Eight!

Eight years ago today Benjamin came into our lives and changed them forever!  I had no idea what I was doing back then, and I still feel that way fairly regularly even now, but he has always been sweet, kind, and forgiving as he has taught us how to be parents.  I couldn't ask for a better kid-- especially for a first one.  We love our Benjamin!

With his birthday falling on Sunday this year, Benjamin has really had an entire birthday weekend.  On Friday he took donuts to his class to celebrate.  On Saturday we started out with a family trip to IHOP for breakfast, and then we had a Dastrup family birthday party.  Benjamin made BYU shirts with his cousins, played an intense family football game, opened presents, watched the first BYU football game of the season (on our old TV thanks to Ty breaking Brigham's new 60 inch plasma with a projectile sippy cup -- watch out Jake Heaps, he's got his eye on your position!), and then did cake.  After our guests left, Benjamin and his dad stayed up late watching football and sports highlights.  It was a great day for a sports-loving lad like Benjamin.

Benjamin is growing up-- he chose a chocolate eclair cake over a themed birthday cake for the first time!  I did not protest!

 Today is Benjamin's actual birthday, and the Gronemans came over to celebrate with us.  We had the dinner of his choice (chicken pasta salad with Tuscan bread), and he spent time with Gramps putting together the Legos that he got from his cousins the day before.  He opened presents yet again and was very excited to get a real camera from Gramps and Grandma.  It was another good day.

After three days of party, you may think it's over, but oh no!  The party will continue in just 3 weeks when Benjamin gets baptized!  He is very excited about it.  (People who have children who are baptized are old.  That's been a standing rule that I may need to reconsider now.)

How fun to have so much family around to party with!