Chester's Big Week

Eight really is great!

On his birthday we headed to Curry N' Kabob for his favorite meal

At home ready to open presents!

We held a football themed birthday party for 12 boys.

It was as insane as it sounds.

After the party on Friday night we quieted down and I wrapped a ribbon around a set of scriptures inscribed with Chester's name for his baptism

pre-baptism hair cut with Dad

His baptism was a family affair with Henry and Audrey giving talks, Lucy sang a musical number, Grandma Collins played piano, Clay performed the baptism and confirmation and I guess I orchestrated it all :)

So proud of his tender slash tough heart

After church on Sunday we took Grandma up to the Peak to Peak highway and onto Brainard Lake....

my favorite spot here to get away to

the 2 "fall" ladies

Lucy told me this was her new favorite photo of me as I halfway take off my sunglasses, nice.

Chester was so worked up over this birthday. He spent lots of restless nights thinking about being baptized, having his buddies over for a football party and the eve of his birthday he was so worried kids would tell him his birthday was "cursed". I guess last year a couple of kids said his birthday was on a cursed day because it is September 11th. The build up for him to all of this was overwhelming but I think this is what gave him the most anxiety. I told him with his head in my hands that maybe Heavenly Father wanted him born on this day so he would remember to live up to being a patriot at heart, so he would remember to help others no matter what or where. That many heroic acts were done on his birthday, that miracles happened. 

Whatever I said worked, he went to bed and the week was just fine.

Next year it will be low key family and cake...phew!

And just a little more fall foliage from the mountains. Some of the aspens are this coppery red and hot red mix. 

Fall is my favorite....

except it only means winter is coming :(