Ammon...and the missing link

Ammon's birthday was yesterday. I hope he had a great day. I sure did. Ammon got to have a friend birthday party. He planned a theme and games to go with his theme. While I prefer this kind of party, I am always afraid my kids will be embarrassed. Their friends get huge parties with lots of friends and entertainment like skating rinks, swimming pools, or bouncy houses. Those are all fun parties and the kids love them. But it's not really me. And so, we go a different route. Ammon knows this and planned a party that cost me nothing. His theme was Star Wars and these were some of his games: Guess Who? (A Star Wars character taped on each back, yes/no questions, etc.); Pin the Light Saber on the Jedi (Ammon did the art work); Pod Racing (making and racing paper airplanes); Asteroid Toss (tossing bouncy balls into a moving target--that Chris was moving as he sang Star Wars themes); etc. We served a Darth Vader cake and Darth Malts. Ammon is a delightful, happy, creative child. He impresses me with his ability to be content with whatever happens and also with his self-discipline. What a kid!

Ammon's birth day--2000

Ammon was a strikingly beautiful baby. Seriously. Strangers would stop me and say, "That is a strikingly beautiful baby." Then they would sometimes ask if he was adopted.

1st birthday--no frosting. I didn't want to contaminate my pure little boy. We had family in town from California and Hawai'i. Because Ammon's birthday is right after Christmas, we have often been with out-of-town family for his special day.

2nd Birthday. Awww.. the boy looks good in navy blue.

3rd birthday. We spent it in California with family. Those are some crazy-looking ocean creatures on his cake.

4th Birthday. Bug-theme. My favorite.

5th birthday--a friend party? Too young. And a snow-theme. Ammon loves snow. This was a year when there was no snow for Ammon's birthday. We had to play snow-related games instead of go sledding. It's okay. Ammon's creative. We played Pin-the-Carrot-Nose on the Snowman and stuff like that.

6th Birthday. Ammon's favorite animal is still a penguin. We had family in town from Hawai'i. Usually when the ones from Hawai'i are here, a few from California show up, too.

7th Birthday. No photo. I have spent hours during the last two days looking for photos from his 7th birthday. I am very upset about it. After giving it some thought, I finally remember that we were in California for his birthday. I remember making and decorating a cake at my sister-in-law, Michelle's apartment. I put a Sneetch on it. (You know, a Dr. Seuss character who has a star on his belly...or maybe he doesn't.) Why don't I have any photos of his birthday? Why don't I have any photos of the trip to California? Why?! WHY?!!!! (This is why I titled the blentry "The Missing Link.")

8th birthday. Yes, this is the best I can do. I have lots of photos from his baptism a couple days later, but I couldn't find any--not one--from his birthday. I found this photo in my parents' stuff. In one of their photos of the day, I am in the background with my camera taking a picture. But where is that picture? Where is it?! Anyway, I remember that we had family in town from California.

Ammon's 9th birthday. He was totally digging Garfield that year. (I had to identify what that was on the cake, because you can't tell by looking at it.)

My 10-year-old. Have I mentioned that I love Ammon? Because I do.