It happened again.  Kids not listening to me and growing.  

_Fancy pics of just Miles are courtesy of the talented hrob photo_s

We did a lot of celebrating, as you only turn 8 once.  

Friend party at Coconut Cove.

it was birthday party perfection.

I pretty much nailed the requested Kirby cake. 



I didn’t get a lot of pictures of them in the play structure.  But, they had a blast and were not stop.  The highlight for me, was playing tag and hide and go seek with Miles and his friends.  Plus, the slide races.  Gotta love a good slide race.  

He really has some great friends. 
And he surprised me with what a gracious host he was.  Hugging and screaming about each new friend that arrived.  And sincerely telling them “thank you” for the present, even if I knew it was something he didn’t actually like.  It’s good for me to see that perhaps his social skills aren’t as lacking as I think they are. :)  

Birthday BYU game with Gavin

Family Presents


Birthday Dinner

He requested campbells Bean and Bacon soup.  Every once in awhile Miles does try to make my life easier.  My favorite birthday dinner yet. 

Homemade cake #2, I don’t think I have ever made 2 cakes for anyones birthday before.  Only for this kid.

Pie Face

And then there were the special target trips with Holly and L.E.  This is one well loved kid. 

 

The big celebration with turning 8 though, happened a few weeks later when he got baptized.  

There was lots of stress and preparation beforehand. 

Would he actually go in the water?  Would he let people put their hands on his head to confirm him? Would he be able to handle all the attention?  Would I be able to get his church clothes on him after?  Would he wear the weird feeling jumpsuit?

 Miles was very excited about getting baptized, so I had faith he would go through with it.  I just had to patiently push through the screaming and crying before hand.  

All the prep paid off though and the day was perfection (other than pictures, but there was no way I was pushing pictures with this kid).  

.  

He did not sit still and spent most of the time bouncing in his chair, under his chair or wandering around the room greeting people. Typical.   

It really was perfection and I know Heavenly Father was aware of Miles in this moment and his struggles and that the Holy Ghost was with him and comforting him.  


Best primary teachers in the ENTIRE world right here.  

Nothing has ever been easy with Miles and every single thing we do is a struggle.  It is these moments though that help me realize how far we have come and that the effort is well worth it.  

Some of my favorite things about Miles at 8:

How much he loves chapter books and wants so bad to read them.

That I am catching him more and more being kind and helpful to Crew.  I also love that they are bonding over video games and he will put down his remote and actually help Crew sometimes!  #miracle

We have a special kiss we do every night and he does not go to bed without doing it.  

Watching him play at recess with his friends while I wait to pick up Crew and getting to see that true, real smile. 

Love this boy.