More Milestones

J is 12.

I can't believe it.  Weird how time flies like that.  12 is kind of a big deal birthday around here, just like 8 is.  It's the birthday where you graduate from Primary at church and go on to Young Men's or Young Women's.  We decide to mark both 8th birthdays (when the kids get baptized) and 12th birthdays with parties where they can invite friends.  M decided to have a jewelry-making party when she turned 12.  It was J's turn this year, and he chose to go bowling.

He invited all the boys from his scout troop, and they seemed to have a really good time.  Two of the boys (Seth and Jacob) were the dedicated bowlers-- the others (including J) finished one game and then migrated to the arcade, where they spent an awful lot of quarters trying to win prizes from one of those impossible games.  (Maybe they learned something from it?)

For boys turning 12 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is the opportunity to  be ordained to the Aaronic priesthood and become a deacon.  J was ordained by his dad.  Grandpa helped him pick out a new suit for the occasion.

 It's going to be different for him-- he'll have some responsibilities to fulfill at church.  He is growing up!

It's been a busy, extended birthday month (seemed like the festivities kept going on and on) but we are into the summer birthday stretch now.  We're not done celebrating yet!

Crazy how fast kids grow.  I'm trying to focus on enjoying every second of it!