Maui with the McDonalds - The Vision

 Bill and Diane talked on the trip about how good things don't just happen - it takes deliberate planning and a purpose.  I imagined them having a vision for this trip since before they had children and have worked very hard and sacrificed for a lot of their lives to make it happen.

They had a scripture for the trip they encouraged us all to memorize: 

Moses 7:18 "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and of one mind, and dwelt in righteousness and there were no poor among them."

Even the little ones were encouraged to memorize it and rewarded with $2 if they were able to tell Nona and Papa the scripture.  I remember Uncle Billy asking at the end of each day "Were we of one heart?  Were we of one mind?  Did we dwell in righteousness?"  I love that that's what life is about, and that is truly what becoming Zion is about.

 They assigned nightly devotional topics - including becoming one in marriage, in your home, financial oneness, etc.  The girls were in charge of the first FHE and the boys were in charge of the second FHE.  This picture is Uncle Billy leading us in the business of the following day.

Many hours of the day were spent like this - with little ones gathered around Nona, while she read, played with or fed little mouths.

 Evening meals were also assigned based on Costco food items - of which there are endless options, let me tell you!  Bill and Diane did a number of Costco runs to feed the whole crew.  And the food was gourmet!  This was Christmas Eve dinner - Diane and Bill were in charge and did French Dip sandwiches on the Ciabatta rolls.  Oh my!

This was the daddies & uncles doing the activity for their FHE. Horsey races!  I love Kali's face riding Steve - they were out to win!  I love how Mugs had two riders :).

 And when Nona and Papa weren't organizing some logistical miracle this is how you found them.  With a little one in their arms or by their side.  Their love for children is amazing.  The amazing thing is children feel it and respond.  My kids are never better behaved than when they are around Nona and Papa.  I feel this is because they are loved, nurtured, taught, and respected at every step of the way.  There was never a voice raised the entire vacation, never a child disciplined harshly.  And the kids respond to that - they are given an environment where they can thrive.

This picture is so symbolic to me.  We had buried Aunt Diane as a mermaid, and her little granddaughters quickly followed suite, wanting to be just like their Nona.  I love how she is looking over at them with a big smile on her face. I imagine them smiling after a lifetime of diligent hard work, watching their posterity make good choices to grow up to be just like them!

Maui with the McDonalds - Travel

 How do you blog about a two week dream vacation in Maui with the McDonalds?  As I was going through my pictures I noticed some themes in the pictures, so instead of a timeline of events, I am going to blog by theme.  But before we get to that, some background. 

Bill & Diane are Steve's Aunt & Uncle who we adore and admire who truly treat us like their children.  We've spent about every third Christmas with them and this year was their year.  We got a phone call last January from Uncle Bill asking if we were planning on spending Christmas in seattle that year.  We replied, yes, we were and he said, "Great!  Would you like to join us in Maui for Christmas?"  What?!?!  I was in the middle of a debilitating pregnancy, the middle of a dark, cold Jan, and the thought of Christmas with such wonderful cousins in a tropical place just breathed life into our souls!  For the entire year.  They are the kind of people who envisioned their family doing things like this the first year they were married, then worked like mad to make it happen.  Words can't express how blessed we were to join their family for the trip (right now, I would be getting in trouble by Uncle Bill saying - "Stop saying that.  You are our family!").

So a years worth of preparation went into this trip for all involved.  We planned my maternity leave around Maui.  I was scheduled to work Christmas Eve, which would have presented a little dilemma.  I felt strongly one day to take a 6 month personal leave of absence for many reasons, but the trip certainly worked into this nicely.  The only issue was I literally had to work until my due date (July 1st) to be able to come back to work after the maximum leave time (Jan 1st).  The tickets were scheduled to land us in Denver December 30th.  Luckily, little Cameron held on until I was induced on my due date.  I was scheduled to work on July 1st, so technically that was my first day of leave.  When people gawked that I was working 12 hour shifts on my feet during my 40th week of pregnancy, I simply knew I had a reason to hang in there!  Yes, I couldn't breathe, walk, eat, sleep or anything else normally, but I was determined to make it.  And make it we did!

As before any trip at Christmas time, the weeks leading up were INSANE.  Neighbor gifts, ward & class parties, friend gatherings, present buying/giving, caroling and all the wonderful Christmas celebrations still needed to happen - with 4 kids under 8 and one of those an infant!?  Santa was notified only stockings in Hawaii, please leave the big gifts at home.   Bill & Diane were wonderful to let Anna come along, so she drove us to the airport to embark on our adventure on December 18th, before taking off on her flight the next day.  Yes, she missed the San Diego to Maui adventure :).

The travel for 31 people to make it from all over the country to the same flight from San Diego to Hawaii was an incredible undertaking and deserves it's very own blog.  The McDonalds have their own style of travel that rocks and has most other people watching in awe :).  Diane calls it "traveling McDonald style."  This means they travel with as little as possible, spending as little as possible & sleeping as little as possible while having as much fun and sharing as much love as possible.  I will explain...

Bill & Diane made it very obvious that we should at all costs avoid the $25 per leg (4 legs totaling $100 per bag) baggage fee and carry on as many bags as possible.  Diane sent  a detailed list about what we were to bring and what we would buy over there (diapers, sunscreen, etc).  So we did very careful packing and between 32 people we only checked 2 bags!  We took full advantage of the free diaper bags and strollers as we had 5 babies under 9 months, and carefully packed carry-ons for each of the kids. We flew from Denver to Seattle and began to gather as a family.  I tell you what, it was delightful meeting up with each family who was just as excited and had done as much preparation for this adventure.  The Mellings were the first ones we saw and oh, what a sweet reunion.  Mugs and Mars had made the most awesome shirts that said "On Nona and Papa's Dime and Havin' a Great Time."  The word on the street was this trip would delay their retirement at least a year.

As the folks already in Seattle rounded the corner at the airport, the reunion got sweeter and sweeter.  It was so delightful to see everyone!!!  We flew down to San Diego where Bill and Diane and reserved a motel room per family for all of us.  Diane said they got the cheapest rooms that had a shuttle to the airport.  Getting all of our car seats, strollers, suitcases and most importantly all 16 kids under 8!! on the shuttle was no small feat.  Holy cow.  This is a shot of one crew taking a load down the elevator.

 This is the first shuttle going with most of the mommies and children and some of the bags, while the daddies and most of the luggage came on the second shuttle.

I tell you what, for each family to have their own room felt like a luxury.  Diane's sweet sister Linda and her family brought a delicious meal of BBQ chicken sandwiches & coleslaw for all of us to partake of that night.  Bill and Diane went to the grocery store to stock up on food for the next day.

We did not eat out once.  Not once.

After a short sleep, we caught the 5 am shuttle with all bags, gear and children to the airport to catch the 7:15 am flight to MAUI!!  We met up with Brett and Sommer who had to leave their house spotless to show during the time they were gone, adding a whole different level of stress.  In the airport bagels and fruit was passed out as we waited to check on.

Well, our poor fellow passengers who watched all of our 16 children under 8 board that plane for the 6 hour flight.  But the passengers faces were nothing compared to the flight attendant's faces.  We threw them for a loop.  We had one dear flight attendant who could handle it like a pro, but the rest were frazzled beyond belief.  We were introduced to a wonderful new rule that there could only be one infant in an entire row (all 6 seats across).  This made for a dilemma to say the least, as no two mommies could be in the same row and if they were someone else had to be holding the baby.  This rule alone had the flight attendants flipping out, but then add shuffling of cousins during the flight, distributing our homemade ham and cheese sandwiches and fruit to all 30 of us, restroom trips and passing babies over the seats, I thought they might explode right in front of me.  They made an announcement (one amongst many directed at our family) that "Although you may think there are sandwiches for sale, THERE ARE NOT!"  Hee-hee.  Yes, you can bring grocery sacks of food onto the plane.

This was our one great flight attendant!

The only ones not too stressed out were us!  And truly while some kiddos had their moments, overall they did GREAT on the flight over.  They had so much fun with their cousins coloring, watching movies, molding play-doh, napping; it really made for a great flight.

This is Blake and Don snuggled up & passed out :).

Kali and Keani loved the orchids the flight attendant gave them.

The true heros of that flight were Bill and Diane.  Anytime one of the kiddos started having a hard time Nona and Papa scooped them up and entertained then until things were well again.  Then they went onto the next struggling child.  Not a break for a minute and they wouldn't have had it any other way.  I am pretty sure Uncle Bill never used the restroom the entire flight.

 After we landed Uncle Bill worked fast and furious to get rental cars and start shuttling people back to the condos and house.  They started with 3 rental cars, but determined after a few days logistically it would be necessary to get 5 rental cars.  Oh man, $$$.  The 7 of us Allens filled up one whole car, and every time we got in our van I just felt gratitude.

When we all went places this was the scene x 5 other minivans.

The overall miracle about all of this travel was how PATIENT and COOPERATIVE everyone was.  There were so many logistics to be worked out constantly and under Bill & Diane's experienced leadership and everyone's cooperation & communication it went off without a hitch.

A couple notes about coming home.  Our flights were divided, so on the way back we only had 8 kiddos on the flight.  Words can't even express how simple and easy that flight felt compared to going over.  I think our "travel strength and tolerance" increased ten-fold on that flight from San Diego to HI.  Everything else pales in comparison.  Our flight landed around 10 in San Diego and was taking off at 6 the next morning.  I told Diane we should just sleep in the airport, but they wouldn't hear of it.  I was VERY grateful that night to have a hot shower and safely tuck my kids comfortably in a bed even just for a few hours.  She was right.  We ordered pizza with the Mellings and Jones and reminisced about the trip after tucking our little ones into bed.  Kissing those little ones goodbye as they slept was so sad right then.  It had truly been paradise...

But I get ahead of myself....I have a whole trip to record :).

My Little Helpers

Kali is my little nurturer, little mother, little lover of all things baby.  She has been incredible with Cameron since the day we brought him home from the hospital.  She can soothe him, make him laugh, recognize his needs and always know just what it's going to take to stop his crying.  Trenton is often heard saying, "Kali, what does he need?" or "Kali, could you take him?"

In return I often hear her saying, "Come on Trenton you don't hold him like that to calm him down, just try like this," and then she takes him, bounces him like a pro and makes him one happy baby.

As a 5 year old she flings that little guy over her shoulder with ease and bounces him as if he is her third child.  She is known to make people gasp when she begins caring for him, watching such a little girl haul around, bounce, burp and carry a 15-20 lb baby.  But after about 5 minutes of watching they usually say, "Wow, she is amazing with him."  The other day after Cameron burped, she smiled and said "Oh don't worry Mom, that's not a spit up burp.  I'll tell you when he's going to have one of those."

 She has a special connection with him.  When he was about 5 weeks old she said, "Mom, I can't really explain why I feel this way, but it feels like I've known Cameron for a long, long time."

 She has no problem changing his diapers, feeding him and getting him dressed.

Trenton is also a master helper - not as much in the nurturing department but in the PROTECTING department.  Protecting him from his exuberant, energetic brother who still after almost 7 months has stopped bending the poor baby completely in half, but still thinks it's a great idea to run and throw himself flat on top of Cameron during tummy time, lifting all 4 limbs off the ground, leaving little Cameron making small grunting noises under Blake's weight.  Sigh. Thank goodness for T!

I just had to include this shot of the boys, though.  One day Trenton asked to hold Cameron, and after a bit I looked at the rocking chair from behind to see two baby legs hanging down between Trenton's.  I walked around to the front, and this is the position he had let his 5 week old brother slide to:

I said, "Trenton!" 

In complete oblivion he casually looked over at me and said, "Oh, sorry mom.  Was he sliding down?"

Blake is the kiddo who can make Cameron laugh harder than any of the rest of us.  Cameron is starting to expect it too.  He sees Blake and his face just lights up in anticipation of the fun that will begin.  He smiles from ear to ear and I am amazed that he doesn't even remember almost losing his life at Blake's hands a few minutes prior.  He ADORES his brother Blake. 

It is interesting to note that I have watched Blake climb into the crib with Cameron when he doesn't know I am watching.  He talks to him, sings songs, rubs his face gently and plays little games with him.  He is so good with him only when he thinks I'm not looking :).  If he knows I am watching it is near death experiences for this baby.  It's all about attention.

I love my Little Helpers!

Poison (aka Milk Protien)

 Ahhh, nursing.  I love it, I hate it.  It takes so much work to get started, but so easy once it is established.  I know it's infinitely best for our babies and best for our pocketbooks, so I've nursed all our babies for a year.  It has gotten easier with each one as I realize what a brief amount of time in the big scheme of things I will have this special time with my baby and give them one of the best gifts I can as a mother.  But with precious little Cameron it has meant much more.

I pride myself in saying I never bought an ounce of formula for Kali and Blake because we got so many samples from the doctor's offices.  I definitely used formula once or twice a week for temple nights, work, date nights, etc. It was important to me not to be the only source of my kids nutrition - I mentally needed options other than me.

I planned on doing the same thing with Cameron.

Formula #1: Steve offered to take this little angel through the night since the first week he was born, but it is next to impossible (and dangerous for my milk supply) for me to go 8 hours without nursing for the first 6-8 weeks.  So I'm it for a couple months.  Well, the day finally came that Steve was going to take little Cameron.  I was sooo excited to get more than a 3-4 hour stretch of sleep a night.  Cameron is a great sleeper, but what mom goes to sleep right when the baby goes down?  None that I know.  So by the time homework was done, dishes were done, laundry was done, time was spent with my sweetheart, Cameron would have about 3-4 hours of sleep left in him.  I was tired.   So the night came and Cameron was about 8 weeks. We decided it would be easiest for Steve to fill a bottle with warm tap water upstairs in the sink and quickly mix formula than to heat my milk in hot water.  It was the first time in his life he'd had formula. The next morning I walked down to the room they had slept in and Steve looked like a train wreck.  "That was the worst night ever!!" he said,  "He threw up all night long!"

I smiled and thought, welcome to my world.  He probably spit up a couple times, and when you're delirious during the night everything seems worse.  Maybe a bad batch of formula - I made a mental note to maybe try a different kind next time.

Formula #2:  It was a couple weeks later and I decided to try formula again.  He didn't take the bottle so well, but he probably had 3 oz of formula.  He immediately threw up like I'd never seen.  And then threw up again.  And then was pale, sweaty, lethargic.  And limp.  Kali looked at me and said, "Mom, he is so sick."   I held him close and tried to nurse him; which he immediately threw up and continued to do so for the next 6 hours.  Stomach issues had been going around so I felt like I had a few options of what it could have been: a stomach bug, bad brand of formula, expired formula - I had no idea, but I was very hesitant to try it again.

Formula #3: I didn't touch formula for 2 months.  The next time I tried it my journal reads "He acts like it's poison.  He gets even a drop on his lips and he freaks out - arches back, shudders, spits it out.  What is going on?!"  I was scared to be the only source of nutrition, and if something happened to me what would Steve do?  I wanted to avoid not having a single other choice.  Finally one day when he was almost 5 months I waited until he was very hungry, warmed it just right and he guzzled the whole bottle.  I had succeeded!  He played happily in his swing for an hour and I laid him down for his nap.  He slept unusually well and it was about 1 1/2 hours until I checked on him.  I went to check on him only to find his little head encircled with a 3 foot radius of dried throw up.  I almost started crying.  I scooped him up and he was pale, lethargic, sweaty and limp, not really responding.  I immediately nursed him and he threw it all up, still limp.  6 hours later he was back to his normal self. I finally knew it was the formula - any kind of formula!!  No stomach bug, no bad batch.  I called the doctor's office and a nurse recommended trying one ounce of soy with 3 oz of my milk, but there was NO way I was putting any of that in my baby's mouth.  I would not give him any formula until I talked to a doctor in person.  I called my friend, Becky Knudsen, who had a baby the same time I had, and asked her if she wanted some formula. I wanted to get this poison out of my house immediately.  I drove it over that night & she said "I feel like I just won the lottery!"

So I said goodbye to this awesome stock pile I had built up.  I collected it every time I had an OB visit or a pediatrician visit - all given to new moms "in support of breastfeeding."  Right.  I did like thinking about how much money I was saving with my little stockpile, but I wasn't a bit sad to see it go.  OK, maybe a little sad, but it really was poison to my baby!

 At his next well child visit I told the Nurse Practitioner the whole story.  She seemed stumped at the "lethargic" part.  "What do you mean, lethargic?" she asked.   I mean lethargic - pale, limp, grey, sweaty.  Not good!  She kept hmmm-ing and told me she'd give us another kind of formula to try - Nutramigen - but I still didn't feel satisfied with that answer.  She called back at 5:00 that night and said that as she was talking it over with the Doctor they realized they should call the allergist.  Enter Dr. Stewart - she told them he was dropping his blood pressure and going into shock because of a severe allergic reaction, and I was not try formula again under any circumstances unless I was in their office so they could resuscitate him!  Well, I was a bit shaken up.  I called Steve, crying.  I felt guilty I didn't recognize shock in my baby.  If that had happened to one of my adult patients I would have called a STAT Team (meaning they were almost dying - I need docs, lab, help in here quick!).  I felt so guilty I didn't know shock was a type of allergic reaction in babies.  I felt guilty I tried formula twice (the first time Steve tried it and I should have been a better listener, but I didn't see it firsthand so I don't let that time add to my mom guilt.  Just wife guilt).  The only thing that made me feel better was that the NP was stumped too.  The allergist said I should feel no guilt, I was being scientific. 

We have not a SINGLE allergy in our family so that was the last thing on my mind.  

At any rate, 2 weeks later we met with the allergist, Dr. Stewart,  and she did some allergy testing - no needles, just a toothpick rubbed across his back with histamines on it.  She acted like it was no big deal, she sees it every day, but my baby almost died!!!!  At least that's how I felt. 

They tested him for milk, egg, almond, peanut, rice and a couple other things - I forget.  And the results...

He tested negative for everything, including milk.  This means he has a:

Cow's Milk Protein Allergy - he will outgrow this in 12-18 months.  A true milk allergy would last until he was 5 or 6.  So in the meantime there is an elemental formula called Neocate we received samples of - it smells bad going in and coming out.  And costs $30 a can!  But we have a plan B, which has relieved my fears.  Cameron doesn't like taste of the Plan B, and we don't like the smell of it, but at least we have one.  Dr. Stewart said 30-40% of these babies are also allergic to soy so she recommends steering away from that for now.  After a year she said we could trial it in her office.

This means:

*No milk, cheese, yogurt, Gerber Yogurt Melts, ice cream, mashed potatoes that have milk, etc for about another year.  We can start with Almond Milk when I am done nursing, maybe soy and then back to milk at the latest at 18 months.

*Because he tested negative to all of the above, we can introduce any of those at any time.

*I usually wean when my babies are 12 months, but we may nurse a little longer.  It's hard on me to have all those hormones circulating to make nursing happen- not going to sugar coat it.  It takes energy, sleep, appetite, etc to make it happen and I feel so good when I'm done nursing and my hormones get back to normal.  But I love that my babies nurse and wouldn't change it for a thing.  Love/hate like I said.

The doctor made me feel like a million bucks when she said, "I rarely have moms in here who nurse for 6 months, let alone a year.  I'm not going to ask you to do more than that - there are other options."  But I might do a bit more, we'll see how things are going at that point.

*None of the milk protein passes through my milk, so I can still eat dairy.

*$$$ - I added up the money we are saving by nursing, since he would have to have Neocate and I think we can afford to take a family trip to Disneyland this fall because I am nursing!!! ;)

From the time he was in the womb I told Steve & my mom he was a "sensitive baby."  He felt calm, jumped to loud noises from about 24 weeks, didn't turn breech at the end, etc.  But I didn't realize his sensitivity would extend to an allergy :).  Grateful for answers from modern medicine and grateful nursing is going so well!

Grandma Poljanec

Grandma Mildred Poljanec passed away on October 6th, 2011 after a brief, but painful battle with throat cancer.  The day after Trenton's baptism airline tickets were rescheduled, bags were packed and the family headed out to Pinedale, WY.  It seems losing a mother, no matter what the circumstances, is a profound experience and a time to reflect for every child.  They are your link to this earthly experience and a source of unconditional love despite any difficulties they may have had.  Deb, Mom and Sandy were able to be together during this time and relied heavily on one another.

The service was simple and beautiful.  We only had a graveside service for her with beautiful Pinedale, WY in the fall as the backdrop. Mom spoke and sang "Mother, I Love You." All her grandchildren and great-grandchildren sang "I am A Child of God."  The service was opened up for anyone to speak and the resounding theme was of how much Grandma loved her children and grandchildren and how well she had done on this earth life with the trials she was given.  I imagine her finally at peace from all of her pains and struggles here on earth.  I spoke of the responsibility I feel to make her proud as her posterity and teach her great-grandchildren well.  I know she'll be watching! :)

 Love you, Grandma!!!

Trenton's Baptism

 Trenton was baptized on October 8th, 2011 by his father.  It was such a special day we had been preparing for all year.  Trenton has been a sincere student of the scriptures.  We do not have to remind him to read.  We often find him falling asleep at night with the scriptures on his chest.  We have had many Family Home Evening lessons on baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost.  And the covenants and blessings that come with it.  I will say of this special day - he was READY.

I can't overemphasize how blessed we feel to have Trenton as our oldest child.  He has such a strong testimony and a natural desire for obedience.  He is a good leader & example to his brothers and sister.

 We had many family members who were able to come, including his Great Grandma Alley.  That was such a special treat.  The week leading up to the baptism was a difficult week.  My Grandma Poljanec (my Mom's mom) developed a lump in her throat, had it operated on and eventually diagnosed with advanced throat cancer the Monday prior to the baptism.  She was given 1-6 weeks left to live and passed away Thursday before the baptism.  I can't count how many times plans were changed for who was coming and not coming (as Emily said, it was about every 15 minutes at one point) and my head was spinning with logistics of hosting or not, baptism or not, traveling to a funeral or not all within the span of 4 days.  I talked to a dear, wise friend as I was in tears the morning Grandma passed away and she gave me such sound advice.  She told me to "Keep your own House in Order.  Take off your daughter hat and your grandaughter hat right now and put on your wife and mother hat.  That is where you will have the most influence this weekend.  Make your house a sanctuary for all who come there.  You can do it."  And that's exactly what we did.  My mom helped get affairs in order for Grandma, then drove from Pinedale, WY to Parker to attend the baptism.  It was a pretty amazing accomplishment.  We celebrated the living and cherished Grandma and her legacy.

We were blessed to have Emily and Johnny come for a few days prior to the baptism and I couldn't help but cry when sweet Mary surprised me by walking through the door with Luke.  I don't know what I would have done without her.  She was such an immense help in every way that weekend.

 The morning of the baptism we awoke to two surprises: Steve had pinched a nerve early that morning and was in so much pain he couldn't move.  After a hot shower, Ibuprofen, a muscle relaxant, and a lot of prayers he was able to function well enough to perform the sacred ordinances. We also awoke to 4 inches of snow.  Trenton came in our room and said, "You have got to see this."  He whipped open our blinds and said, "Look at this, Heavenly Father made the earth white for my special day." 

The baptism was absolutely beautiful and we felt very supported and loved by our dear family.  Some things I never want to forget about it include Emily's fabulous idea of writing down testimonies while Trenton and Steve got dressed, Mom pulling off a musical number after losing her mom only two days prior, Anna's talk that spoke so well to Trenton, Brittany & JD Gardiner helping cover strawberries in chocolate that morning, and our cousin Allison Anderton coming with her 4 little ones including her 5 week old all by herself to support us.

Other highlights of the week included...

 Special cousin time - they "bathed Cameron" for over an hour together.  Darn cute.

 The night before the baptism, we had a delicious dinner and really fun evening at White Fence Farm.  Oh my it was a blast and SOOOO delicious!  We went there as children growing up and it was neat to introduce it to our in-laws and children.

 We had a little birthday celebration for Johnny a week or so early.  I am finding I love being an Aunt and spoiling, teaching & loving my nephews as much as possible.  The kids really looked forward to celebrating this little man's 3rd birthday - OK, so did Steve and I.

It was a beautiful, bittersweet weekend, made all the more special having so much family love!!!

Trenton's 8th Brithday

My sweet Trenton boy turned 8 years old on September 26th this year.  I can't believe I have an 8 year old.  And how blessed I feel to have this one!  The day started with his favorite tradition - a big old breakfast in bed.

 Sandy and Art invited us over the Sunday before for a birthday dinner for this special boy.  They also saved the day of the birthday party by taking the kids for a few hours while I put the finishing touches on the party.

 Trenton chose a theme for his birthday months ago - EGYPT!  I was slightly intimidated by the choice, but with some help from friends and an awesome Aunt Anna it came together beautifully.  His request for a pyramid cake went something like this "Ya, it shouldn't be hard, Mom.  It's just layers and layers and then you just cut it."  Mmm-hmm.  It was certainly an experience making the cake (the shot above was at one in the morning :) ), but I did learn some things.  I thought it turned out great!

 Our good friend Riley let us borrow her Egypt Play Mobil pieces which put the finishing touches on the cake.  It was awesome.

 Anna dressed up as Cleopatra and led a treasure hunt, which included petting the live snake you see in her left hand.  Steve caught the snake for the kids a week prior on a hike.  We managed to keep Sara the snake alive and contained for a week prior to the party, despite multiple escape attempts at the hands of Blake!

 Anna also braided Kali's hair to turn her into Cleopatra.

Steve did some awesome hieroglyphics on the wall for decoration.

 We let him invite a few more friends than normal, so while it was a busy party, it was a great one.  He got to see some friends from our old ward he hasn't seen in a while, a lot of friends from school and friends from this ward.  It was a great celebration.