Jared is 7!

Jared's cake was a little bit of an afterthought this year.  I've been busy shopping, with church things, and figuring things out for Christmas that I'd forgotten he requested a Mario cake.  So the day before Jared's birthday I browsed the internet in search of a Mario cake.  Jared told me I could buy one but that was only a last resort for me.  But online the only cakes I could find were fondant cakes:(.  I've never done fondant before and wasn't about to try. 

 

Chris started searching too and said I should try.  After a little research we found a fondant that was easy to make.  I have to say I was quite pleased with how easy it was to make the fondant, how easy it was to achieve the color I wanted (unlike frosting), and how easy it was to to roll out, cut and assemble the fondant.  My cake is far from perfect but I'm very satisfied with my first attempt and Jared said it's the best cake I've ever made, so worth my time.  And thanks to Chris for his help.  He made the bricks and assembled all the cutouts.  I would say it took us two hours working together.

  

 That morning he opened presents right away.  All the gifts were a hit: Zelda ds game, globe, legos game, Hugo, and over the door basketball hoop. 

 For breakfast he requested choclate chip pancakes.  This time I chopped up the choclate chips and put it in the batter.  I liked the results.  The choclate was better distributed and you got choclate in every bite!

 It was a really relaxed day.  We went to church, played on the playground afterwards (the weather has been incredible!), ate lasagna, cake and ice cream, and watched a Christmas show together.

 The above picture is blury so I had him do a repeat pretend shot but I didn't notice the boys had already taken out the candles, Ha!

 Things I want to remember about Jared:

• Starting to like girls, just a little.  When a friend asked for suggestions of cute girls in his class to help name their new baby Jared immediately said Lilah and then a few other names.  I didn't think much of it til last week I told him Lilah's mom was having her third girl, just like we have three boys.  That evening for family prayer he prayed for Lilah's mom and baby.  Then last Friday when I went to help in Jared's classroom, I was working with Lilah out in the hallway and Jared came up to her and said, "Hi Lilah.  How's your mom feeling?"  I was beaming and Lilah was confused.  But in my mind I was thinking, you keep that tactic up little guy and one day your going to win a girls heart with questions like that:).  So cute!
• Jared's doing really well at school.  He has fun with friends and is doing good scholastically.  His teacher enjoys him in class and says the biggest thing for him to work on is to remember to raise his hand (he likes to contribute and has lots to share:), and he needs to work on his penmanship.  I agree but honestly I'm grateful he even does his homework.
• Homework he hates but he does it.  Sometimes I have to give him a few reminders but he does it without me needing to be by his side.  When he's done I check it, tell him if he needs to fix anything, and he puts it away.
• Jared has started taking piano lessons.  He has to practice for ten minutes five days a week.  It takes some coaxing to get him to practice but he's doing really well!  He often gets bored of the songs he's been given for that week because he's mastered them.  But this week he had more challenging songs and he wasn't a fan at first but he's getting it.  He's only been taking for a month and I'm pleased with his progress.
• At school he has to read every day for 10-15 mins.  He jumps all over the board with what he reads.  Some of his current reads are Magic Tree House books and Harry Potter (we read together).  We've been able to steer him away from Goosebumps.   Last year that's all he wanted.
• Jared loves sports.  He did soccer this fall and loved it.  At school he enjoys playing soccer at recess and football.  When he plays football they often have him be QB. He's got a good little spiral throw. 
• Loves Pokemon.  I think I've seem him actually play two times.  He mainly looks at the cards with friends, trades them, and talks about their powers and damages. 
• This boys can move his body.  He's in an after school boys dance club and really enjoys it. 
• He hates going to bed!  He often comes out after his brothers have fallen asleep saying he's bored.  Most nights he stays up later and reads with us. 
• He enjoys listening to books on CD.  One of his favorites in the Secrets of Droon.  I try to remember to get a new one every time we go to the library.
• He hasn't lost any teeth yet.  He wants to.  He's had his top and bottom teeth slightly loose since the summer but has yet to loose them.  At his last dentist appointment his x-rays showed his front teeth coming in so it's a matter of time.  I can wait though.  I like his little boy look.

I love this little man. I don't know what I'd do without him.  I can't believe he'll be eight in one year.  I hope it doesn't fly by.  I love you Jared!