Today he is SEVEN!!!

Seven years ago today, our little Anthony Jack was born. We got to the hospital at 7 pm and he was here before 10 pm! He's been keeping us on our toes ever since.....

Gramma Sally and Papa Jack brought the kids home to NE from a week in MN Sunday. I had a cake all baked and ready for Gramma to work her magic. (note for the eagle eyes: the can frosting was just for the filling. I made the rest from SCRATCH!) If you remember from a previous post, we had a "Go Green" party for our little naturalist. Tony stood by to make sure Gramma got all 7 continents in the right place on his cake.

7 years old, 7 continents and 7 friends for his party...what a fun party it will be!

Here's Tony working on decorations made out of newspaper. We worked really hard to keep with our theme. We even rode our bikes to deliver the invitations!

A great group of kids donned green, brought recycled gifts, rode their bikes, scooters and walked to celebrate with Tony.

We hid recylables all over the yard and timed the kids as they found and sorted them into correct bings. Each guest was asked to bring a plasic bottle and we made bird feeders out of the bottles and wooden spoons.

What an AWESOME cake...Tony was thrilled with the final results. I sure am glad Gramma, Papa, Olivia and Chris were home to help me today. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

We served cake and ice cream with plates and spoons made from 100% recycled plastic and glass bottles of rootbeer. (notice no plastic tableclothes, balloons or streamers!...the wasteful, consumer party will be next week for Olivia!)

Papa Jocko, Liv and Nelson enjoy a cold drink in the shade. One of our party guests declared that he was the "laziest Grandpa he'd ever seen!" Funny. However, we must give a shout out to Papa Jocko for mowing the lawn this morning. Chris worked til 3 am, so Jocko stepped up and took care of it while Chris slept. Thanks a ton Dad...the lawn looks great!

Chris set up an awesome obstacle course for the kids using stuff found in our garage/basement. After all the planned activities were over, the kids started playing in a rubbermaid tub full of water from the obstacle course...things went from calm to chaotic quickly and we ended the party with a full blown water fight. No thanks to Chris getting out the garden hose! All that planning I did and they had the most fun with a giant bucket of water...go figure.

In 7 years Tony has brought us nothing but joy. His beautiful smile and natural curiosity about the world are amazing. We call him our "walking encyclopedia", "Jocko Jr.", "Tony Baloney" just to name a few...but Chris and I are proudest to call him our son.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONY!!!!!!!