8 Servants For Christ: February 16, 17, 18, AND 19

Just like the 12 years past, Gabe's birthday lasted quite a few days, and was filled with adventure. Very much like Gabe himself! We were reminded yet again today about the huge blessing he is to our family! We are all so proud of our baby brother who is very quickly growing into a fabulous young man!

So we asked Gabe what he wanted to do, Bowling like last year was on the top of the list until Zach found a trampoline house in Bend. Needless to say, the entertainment agenda changed completely. We had a couple of appointments for the 17th, so very early on that morning we headed off in the mini bus to go to Bend. Nearly at the top of one of the passes the bus just died suddenly. The alternator belt broke. We moved the bus off the road and a wonderful couple headed to Bend took dad to the nearest part store. We were still quite a ways out of town so that meant a good long wait.

It actually ended up be a fun experience! It's amazing how you can occupy the time between 8am to 2pm when there are 7 people who are bored.

Gabe and Zach went out for a hike for a bit, I got these pictures when they were coming back. They slid down this hill several times.

On a couple of the tablets we had the same game, so we organized a double elimination tournament.

We might be losing our mind by now

Zach sure loves his little brother!

Dad, with the wonderful couple who took time out of their day to bring dad back, arrived back only to find that it was a deeper problem with the bus and it would need to be towed in. They were willing to take dad to the tow truck place, and off they went again.

Tow truck arrived and we were finally on our way again.

We had missed every appointment, but the most important one. And that was well worth the wait! Dad, Mom, and Janessa went shopping, while the boys and I bounced for an hour and a half! Can I possibly describe how hard it is to take pictures of 4 active boys in a trampoline filled room?!

Shea coming out of a front flip

In the middle of a huge tag game, these two are the best of rivals!

Dodge ball games were going on, again Zach and Shea were constant rivals.

After we were exhausted...and hungry we had dinner at one of Gabe's favorite restaurants, Sherries.

We skipped the 18th day to give him his presents as we (as in us four older kids) had a birthday morning surprise planned for him. While we were in town we bought nearly 300 balloons, and the night of the 18th (and the morning of the 19th) Zach, Shea, and I stayed up and blew them all up. We listened to Hank the Cowdog, in hopes that laughing would keep us awake...it did.

Before moving all these balloons 2 doors down into Gabe's room Zach had to bury himself in them. If you have never been buried in balloon you ought to try it, it is really neat!

Now the most tense part of the plan went into action. Filling Gabe's room with balloons without waking him up. This was done 4-7 balloons at a time with me in the room stopping traffic when ever he stirred. And when a the most dreaded actually happened, a balloon popped, I nearly had a heart attack. Thank goodness he was tired!

All full!

Two very tired accomplices, we are ready for bed, but excited that we actually pulled it off!

Garrett gave his present after church the morning of the 19th, that is when we finally pulled Gabe out of his new room decor (which by the way lasted until the end of March)