Day Nine: Our 9th day here, and Thatcher's 9th Birthday!

It seems like just yesterday I was baking a Wall-E cake for Thatcher's 4th birthday while we were in Kentucky for Todd's internship with Amazon.com. Now today I woke up and decorated our flat for Thatcher's 9th birthday. Ayyyyy! I am not kidding when I say I feel like I blinked and saw him grow before my eyes. Time is going by so fast, I try to remind myself as I get caught up in the day to day busy, that these boys are not going to be living in my home forever and I need to cherish each day with them. Even when they are driving me up the wall into crazytown with their whining and fighting.

Thatcher has grown into such a sweet young man, with a big tender heart and a real love for life. He is like our little sponge, soaking up all that he can from learning and life. He now talks to me and teaches me about things he has learned, especially anything to do with science. He has always been wise beyond his years, and he is also so thoughtful and caring. He wants to be good and do good and he is the perfect oldest child and big brother to Tagg and Tate. We couldn't love these handsome boy anymore. I don't know what I did right to be chosen to be his mom, but I am so grateful I am!

Here is the big birthday boy at church in his white shirt and tie, little missionary in the making. Do not even get me started on that. I've had him for 9 years, and get him for 9 years more, and then I send him off for the Lord to have him for 2 years of service. Ay. Cannot even think of it without tearing up.

We got to go to our new ward today, the Hyde Park 2nd Ward. We got a taxi to pick the 5 of us up because getting out the door on Sunday mornings is hard enough without having to worry about a 45 minute tube or bus ride. It was the greatest idea ever as we were at church in 15 minutes. Pretty sure that will be a weekly tradition.

The building is located on exhibition road, which is the road with all the museums on it in London.

It was so great to see this building in the midst of the city.

In the front part of the church is a visitors center they revamped for the Olympics. It is really nice with a big Christus and displays on church history in England.

I loved seeing the cute missionaries that staff it.

The boys by the Christus.

The ward was so great. We are so happy to be here and be apart of this ward. It is a great mix of nationalities, with a lot of Americans. There was such a special spirit there, and me loving church history I couldn't help but get a little choked up thinking about all the amazing people in the church who either served their missions here or came from here and impacted our history and lives so much.

We all felt instantly welcomed and the boys were happy to make some friends. The primary is considerably smaller here than our Frisco ward and Thatcher was very excited to be able to participate more. I think we will really enjoy our time here.

We took the tube home which was long and I don't know if we will do again, we just might taxi it up both ways from now on. By the time we got home and I started to make Thatcher's birthday dinner and cake, it was way past 3:00pm.

Here's the gang ready to eat for Thatcher's choice of dinner for his birthday...

He requested mexican food. Mexican food in London?! Ummm this isn't Texas anymore! He loves these creamy chicken taquitos from OBB. They are REALLY good, and I was eager to take on the challenge of finding the ingredients here. I will say it wasn't TOO hard, except this jar of salsa that you see below, I ordered online and thought it was a BIG jar. Nope. I paid about 7 bucks for this sucker.

The 9 year old of the house...

...and the baby, Tate's been charming everyone he meets.

The presents and a little peek of our flat. (More pics to come soon! Promise! Just finishing some stuff...) I put together this collage wall on Saturday.

Getting ready to open gifts...he's such a big kid! I know I keep saying it, but I can't handle how grown up he is getting!!

Thatcher trying to keep Tate from throwing the presents, because that is what he was trying to do.

Since the boys are so close in age, Tagg get's just as excited for Thatcher's gifts because he knows he'll be playing with them too...punk.

I love this shot. My three sons.

Thatcher is such a cute gift receiver. He acts so happy and thankful for each gift.

Thatcher requested red velvet cake. Red velvet cake and mexican food. Yeah I think you could say he's pretty much a true southern boy.

Okay before you knock this cake, because it looks awful, it's the best tasting thing in the world. Promise. Try it, you'll love it. The recipe is from Ree, she's the best. This icing didn't set up well because I'm here in London and things are a little different here. I need to tweak it a bit.

Red Velvet Cake with the best frosting EVER.

Classic blowing out the candles puffy cheek shot...

All in all it was a great Sunday and birthday for Thatcher. Tomorrow is a BIG day with Todd's first day on his new case and Thatcher's first day of school. He is excited and I am nervous for him. We will see how it goes!