Colin turned 12! (Um, kind of a while ago. Oops.)

Turning 12 is a big deal when you're LDS.  It means finally leaving Primary (the "little kids"), getting the priesthood, and getting to be in the young men (the "big kids").  Colin's birthday (at the end of August) was actually spread out over a couple of weeks, because his party (an overnight stay with a couple of friends at a water park) needed to be before school started, and his dad was gone to Utah on his actual birthday, so he had several little celebrations!

I'm a mean mom.  I told Colin he had to learn to tie a tie before he got any birthday presents.  That was some major motivation!  He practiced every day until he had it down. 

The tie is cutting off circulation to the brain!  Oh no!

 

 

Colin's friends gathered before leaving for the water park in Tyler to enjoy some cake and ice cream.  

Awesome Pokemon cupcakes provided by Shannon.  Aren't they amazing? 

It was still a couple of weeks before Colin's birthday, but since we were having cake and all, we thought we'd give him a present for the road.  Adventure Time!

Both Karl and Robbie, his friends, gave him cards (Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon).  Do they know him, or what?

 

 Here's a photo from the water park.  I'm impressed they stood still long enough to have a picture taken!

Since Greg was going to be out of town on Colin's actual birthday, we went out to eat earlier in the week at a Chinese buffet:

And gave him most of his birthday presents while Greg was there to watch, over the course of a couple of days. 

Headphones - so we don't have to listen to his DS!

DSi.  Surprisingly, even more than the games, Colin has loved creating animations on it!

Colin's birthday was slightly more difficult this year - he wanted WEAPONS more than anything.  He actually added throwing knives to his Amazon wish list.  Hmm, throwing knives and a 12-year-old . . . sounds like a great idea to me!  (;  But luckily for him, his dad is a little nicer about these manly urges to be armed than I am.  He got two pellet guns, a cane sword (!), and a survival knife.  He also got a water backpack, a folding utensil set that *looks* like a knife, and the DSi pictured above (along with case, games, etc.).  I don't know how we're going to top that next year.  Maybe hand grenades? 

 

Don't mess with this guy! 

Demonstrating the "sword" part of the cane sword.

Spencer's expression just makes me giggle.

Colin opening Jaden's present, the folding utensil set

 On Colin's actual birthday, he finally got to open . . . THE SUITCASE.  It had been sitting in the living room for almost a week, just torturing him (okay, I was the one torturing him - with hints!).  What could be inside?

Hundreds of Yu-Gi-Oh cards!  Oh boy!

 I made monkey bread for Colin's birthday breakfast.  He let Jaden sit on his lap and blow out the candle.  What a sweet big brother!

 Colin all dressed up for church on his first day as a Deacon.

 Colin and Greg on their way to Colin's first priesthood meeting. 

 I'm so proud of my not-so-little guy.  It's fun to watch him grow up and reach new milestones.  He brings laughter every day to our home!  We love you, Colin!