A BIG month for Nick!

February was a big month for our Nick. First of all he turned 12!!! I cannot believe my baby is 12 years old! I cannot believe I am old enough to have a 12 year old! I was sneaky and after school the day before I left him to babysit the boys and I went and put up a couple signs in his locker. Nothing too embarrassing, just something to surprise him and make him feel special when he opened his locker on his birthday. He really liked it. Of course I used Garfield, what could be cooler than that?

He opened presents and cards from grandparents. The kids look forward to getting Great Grandma Zimbelman's homemade cards every birthday. She does elaborate cards. She enjoys doing them, she is good at doing them, and the kids love them. Here is Nick holding this year's card. She tries to do it around something they are currently into or like. This year is all Martial Arts for Nick's card.

Here is the inside. We love how she also always incorporates pictures of the kids into the cards.

On his birthday we had ice cream cupcakes from Cold Stone. He was anticipating another birthday cake when his grandparents came for the weekend and another one of auntie Angie's famous cake creations later in the month. So we went with the ice cream cupcakes so we didn't get caked-out.


The day after his birthday Nick had his first Boy Scout Court of Honor. He received several merit badges and his First Class Scout rank. We were very proud of him. It was a little weird for me because I was in Cub Scouts for all those years with him and now he is a big Boy Scout. My little man is growing up!



Nick got sick on the Friday of his birthday week. The poor guy had the stomach flu last year ON his birthday and this year again the day before we were to do all him birthday fun with the family. We were all hoping he would feel better by morning and that no one else would feel sick. Thank goodness everyone woke up well and we were able to continue on as planned!

Nick is growing up and maturing. He decided that instead of a "friend party" this year, he would rather spend the day in Portland with his family. So what did we do for Nick's special family day? Well, first we took our scientist to OMSI where his siblings and he could do all sorts of scientific and engineering cool things. And then we took our LEGO maniac to the LEGO store and let him pick out something (we gave him a spending limit of course.) He loved that!



On Sunday, the 13th, we had another little party for Nick. It was a VERY SPECIAL DAY! First of all, grandma and grandpa Tolman were here. But what made the day SO SPECIAL was Nick was ordained to the office of Deacon and received the Aaronic Priesthood! His dad performed the ordination and a few other worthy priesthood holders, including his grandpa Tolman, also stood in. I was overwhelmed with emotion, but held it together pretty good. Wow! Our son is 12 years old! Wow! Our son is worthy to hold the Aaronic priesthood! Wow! Our family now has two worthy priesthood holders in our home! Wow! What a glorious day!

Tatiana really wanted to make Nick's birthday cake all by herself. So she did! She even decorated it! I think she did a very good job!

She made it look like the LEGO sensai and it also tasted great too!


Nick with his proud Father and Grandfather.

The missionaries also came over for dinner and cake. They have been such a good influence in Nick's life. Really for all of our kids! We couldn't ask for better young men for our son to look up to.

Happy Birthday Nick! Happy 1st Class Scout Nick! Happy Aaronic Priesthood Ordination Nick!!!