Seven!

Happy Birthday to our biggest buddy Austin!  Wow how can seven years come and go so quickly?  We are so proud of our big boy, who loves to learn, is so considerate of others, who always wants to do the right thing regardless of what others' think, who can memorize things in either language in no time, who still has an awesome belly laugh...we are so thankful for him.

I feel like we have entered another era of how to celebrate a birthday. He chose to do a party with a few friends at the science museum instead of a bigger party at home. Boy do I like this kind of party! It was right up his alley...we saw an IMAX film about space (at the largest IMAX theater in the world at that. WE happen to live in a city that likes to have a lot of the ______est in the world), saw a neat space exhibit and ended with lunch and cake at the Big Pizza in the museum basement. Very convenient and lots of fun. 

 So I tried fondant for the first time for the planets. Do not look closely!  They were not exactly a work of art and would not get smooth, but they got the job done. My most scientifically accurate cake I suppose- Austin drew what he wanted in it for me, including the asteroid belt and Jupiter's red spot.

 10, 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1...blast off! In a rocket with Bree.

 Inside a model of the International Space station (i think). This was his favorite part. It was pretty cool I thought.

 Austin's good buddy Ian- they do Chinese class and coop together (and a stowaway peeking behind them). This was in the space bathroom :)

 Austin and Clark on a moon rover.

 Astronaut Austin and his friends.

 This was perhaps the most impressive thing at the exhibit- the machine that makes you feel like you do in space with no gravity. Sadly, none of the kids were tall enough to do it so Chris volunteered to try. They all said they want to come back when they are 1.4 meters tall.

 Blowing out the candles.

 The big seven. Wow.

 The party was Tuesday morning (there was no Chinese school so it worked out well and the other homeschooling mommas were kind to flex). Thursday the 14th was the actual day and we had a nice family celebration, starting with his choice of breakfast (waffles, bacon and eggs).

He was so excited (and I was so excited to give it to him) to get a real telescope. And oddly enough we have actually had quite a few clear nights recently. A full moon is only days away so hoping he can get a good view soon. He also got a microscope (are you seeing this is my science kid?), a magic set, some great books and something else still on the way.  Happy Birthday Austin!