Grady's 8th Birthday Party - January 2012 (Part 2)

Yes, I can still hold him!  I almost died after I had put him down, about 2 seconds after this picture was taken just a few days ago.  Whew.  But, I can still hold him, dadgummit.  ;)

Grady is so easy as far as parties go.  He is all about simple...hates to make a big fuss or have a big fuss made over him.  Likes it small and intimate with only his close friends.  He started thinking about it weeks before...what he wanted to do.  HE planned it all out in detail...I didn't have to plan a thing, just help him carry out his plan.  Gosh, I welcomed that.  ;)  Loved it.  He finally settled on a Nerf party and a great party it was.  Our friends who were visiting even commented that it was the most laid-back kid's party they'd ever been to.  ;)  That's our boy. 

Grady requested a hot dog lunch to start out the festivities.

Friend Seth (his parents are missionaries with Asas too...they were visiting from Manaus, a base in the Amazon) and Cass.

Grady, Cullen, Luis Felipe, and Hadley.

Friends.

NERF!!  Fun fun times.

Time to open presents.

I love this one.  He and his friend, Nathan, had a blast while he was here.

Hadley's present for Grady...she made him a light saber.  ;)  So so sweet.

He liked it.  :)

I got video of this, but this is the only picture I got apparently.  They went out to the 'jungle' behind our house and had a Nerf battle with Joel as their guide...capture the flag type stuff.  They had lots of fun.

Best buds and neighbors.

After the Nerf battle, everyone watched some Star Wars:  The Clone Wars episodes per Grady's plan...his new favorite thing to watch.

And then it was cake time.

Praying for the birthday boy.

"Happy Birthday to You!"

He's a fun boy.  :)

Our brother/sister friends, Nate and Dani, were visiting from Alaska and Ohio.  And Carol, our babysitter, and her boyfriend (at the time...husband now) also came to celebrate Grady.

Love this guy!  Happy birthday, big boy.  So thankful we are blessed with you as our firstborn.