4th of July Birthday!

Porter is 8! His birthday was on Friday, but I think the whole weekend was one big party for him. Friday afternoon after swim lessons, Will and Christy (Andersen's brother) and their two girls came to celebrate the 4th of July weekend with us. After Friday Night Pizza, it was PARTY TIME!
Porter was pretty specific on how he wanted his cake to look this year. He even drew me this diagram of what the cake should look like.

He seemed pretty satisfied with how it turned out, so I guess I came close enough :0) It is supposed to be a scene of the Goo Lagoon from the cartoon Spongebob Squarepants, in case you were wondering.

Porter took a few weeks to compile this huge list of possible presents and it was up to Andersen and I to narrow it down. We finally decided on a Pirate Lego set. Porter loves Legos and put the whole thing together himself.

Porter got some paints and "project" supplies along with some books from Nana and Papa Grigg.

Here is Will trying to hold back the masses who thought they needed to "help" Porter open his presents.

Explosives! Will and Christy, you know the way to an 8-year-old's heart.

Grandpa and Grandma Adams sent these cool hover cars that got ALL the boys excited.

The paints were a huge hit with everyone. We have quite a family of artists.

On the 4th we had invited a bunch of friends from our ward over for desert and fireworks, but were a little nervous when it ended up raining most the afternoon. Luckily the rain broke long enough to break open a pinata and shoot off some fireworks. I loved this cake that Nancy brought. It doesn't get more patriotic than that!

Here is Coolidge taking the first swing at the pinata. We decided youngest to oldest would be the most fair.

Christy and Cambri trying to take a whack at the swinging pinata.

It was a lot more hilarious once we started blind folding the kids.

Unfortunately, there were a few who just couldn't keep out of the way of the swinging bat.

Mason learned this lesson the hard way. I can't believe I actually got this picture of Kaylee connecting with Mason's head instead of the pinata. Honestly, she didn't even see him there. Mason had gone in to grab a piece of the pinata that Kaylee had just knocked off and, wham! Home run! I love Christy's reaction the best in the background.

Don't worry, Mason is fine and the bump is almost gone already, although at the time it was pretty impressive.

Here's Porter trying to get his hits in. Too bad the pinata was nowhere close.

The pinata put up a good fight...

But in the end, the kids won. Here's the race for the candy. Sweet success!

It turned out to be a great 4th inspite of the rain. Thanks to all who were able to make it and celebrate with us!