Brigham's Monkey Birthday

Brig is Eight.  Eight is an older-kid age.  Eight is significant, meaningful, and important.

Eight is a milestone.

And Brigham is the last of my boys to turn eight.

Which means. . .

My boys are all growning up. . . (sigh)

Eight-year-old Brigham is determined, competitive, artistic, creative, energetic, happy, clever, and still just as focused and fast ever. The best way to get Brigham to do something is to tell him that he's not ready or not old enough. And no matter how difficult, he'll push himself to do it.  To learn it.  And to be the best at it.  Brigham is always on the move - from sun up to sun down.  It is not uncommon to find Brigham outside kicking soccer goals or practicing baseball before the rest of the household is even awake.  It is also not uncommon to be jolted awake by him hammering out piano drills after bedtime. But the thing I admire most about Brigham is his unrelenting happy attitude.  He likes to be the best, but when he's not (which, with two older brothers, happens a lot) he doesn't give up or get discouraged. He has an incredible positive outlook that goes beyond his years. Brigham is quite a remarkable person and I have learned so much from him.

His true love is still hedgehogs.  But he has lots of second-favorite animals.  This year (true to the animal lover that he is) Brigham requested a monkey-themed birthday.

As always, I surprised him at school with surprise-topped-frosted-brownie-bites for his whole class.  Last year they were topped with sea turtles, the year before that hedgehogs, the year before that Astro-boy, and before that? bugs. (did I mention I have an amazing memory?) This year the brownies were to decorated with monkeys.

Brigham loved them.

I was glad Brigham requested a monkey cake because I'd seen it done before on Our Best Bites and it looked easy enough.  It still took me two tries though since the first cake sunk in the middle.  But in the end, Brigham's milk-free banana monkey cake turned out just right and tasted even better.  Mmmmm. . .

Let the party begin!

A monkey card from Riggs.

Isaac gave Brigham the newest Origami Star Wars book and a few origami creations of his own.  

But the present he was most excited about was the one from grandma.  Three new stuffed monkeys for his animal collection.  Thanks grandma!

As tradition, we broke out the water-blasters to kick off the summer with our first big water fight.  The boys set up barracks with water-supply stations at various places in the backyard.  It looked like WWI. 

Lydia wasn't expecting to get so wet.  She decided after awhile that maybe water fights were not for her.

Ear shot.

Diana tipped this wagon up for the perfect firing spot.

Eventually other kids took over that post.

These three teamed up in the far corner behind the airplane.

While Eliza was off on an ambush mission, these two stepped into their bucket.

When our yard started turning to mud, we decided it was time to end.

Happy birthday to an amazing kid - the lucky one right in the middle, with two older brothers and two younger sisters.  We are so blessed to have this boy.  We love you, Brigham!

My favorite monkey.