he's eight

Okay, here we go... Pictures of my little baby... uh, I mean eight year old, Reid. Sheesh, when did that happen. I guess that makes me old or something now. I suppose I need to be saying things like, "oh, it just seems like yesterday he was brand spankin' new, and I was hugging on to him at the hospital", or "ahh... how the years have just flown by in the blink of an eye." Well, sorry... I'm not that sentimental, and I don't really think the years have gone flying by... but they have been good years, and I remember them all as best as my aging brain will allow. I love my biggest kid to bits, and it was a very momentous birthday for him this year, because he was baptized. He was so so SO excited, and it was a really great day. So, enough of the babbling, and on with the show...

Reid and his ancient father... so, so serious and ready for the main event.


Reid, sticking with the serious face, and squeezing the life out of his new scriptures. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Coates... he especially loves the fact that he now has the "cheat" tabs along the side of his scriptures. Now he just has to figure out what all those abbreviations mean.


The eight year old, the new suit, and the brick wall. What a gorgeous combination.

Time to break out the birthday presents. He's starting to look pretty thrilled...

Here is one who is not so thrilled. Not so thrilled with his MOTHER, because she would not let him open his brother's presents. He may have cried a little. Okay, a lot.

Once the presents were stripped of their bothersome paper, Reid was successfully the owner of some new posters, a telescope, and a lava lamp (yes, he wanted a lava lamp... he was apparently a hippie or something in a past life).

Must blow out last candle... must not have one left burning... must not have a girlfriend... must avoid teasing at all costs... phew!

Pfftt! Who cares about chocolate cake when there are candles around to lick???

Uhhh... either he's hittin' puberty WAY to early... or he needs to work on his chocolate cake eating skills.

Ahhh... good times, good times. Remember back when we were babies? So long ago... just look at us now.

What do you mean I can't have any chocolate CAKE?????? Being a baby sucks!!!!!

Oh, how sweet. She doesn't get cake, but she does get a good ol' game of pat a cake with daddy. I wonder if that will still appease her when she's a teenager.