Happy 10th Birthday Austin!

Austin turned 10 last week!

At 10 years old, Austin:

- was 78 pounds (70th percentile), 56 inches (70th percentile), BMI 17.49 (65th percentile) at his checkup the day after his birthday.

- is doing great in 4th grade!  He is getting great grades, but is working on being more organized and turning work in on time and with his name on it!

- LOVES sports!  He is on the traveling soccer team and made the jump from the U9 to the U11 team this year.  He had a fun fall season and is now doing winter training and futsal before the main season this spring/summer.  He just started his basketball season and in his first 2 games, he was on fire!  He was all over the court, stealing the ball, getting rebounds, and making great shots!  He had such a great first game that the head of the basketball association (who was at the game) sent him a letter in the mail congratulating him on the great game!  He is also an enthusiast of Notre Dame Football and has been cheering on the Irish despite the tough season. 

- was praised at conferences with his teacher for being a bright, sweet, helpful kid with a great attitude.

- is a great reader and is plowing through all the Harry Potter books. He read the first book in 1 night (started it before bed, finished it in the morning before school)!  For his birthday party, he chose a Harry Potter theme.

We made some fun Harry Potter themed treats!

Chocolate (Ferrero Rocher) Snitches!

Chocolate covered pretzel magic wands

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Broomsticks

We got Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans at Minnesota's Largest Candy Store

(these jelly beans include flavors like dirt, earthworm, ear wax, vomit, grass, soap, etc.)

Sarah was excited about the treats!

We also made Butterbeer!

The kids helping me make the topping...or just licking the beater!

Enjoying the butterbeer!

 And the foam mustaches!

We had some fun activities too!

Themed coloring pages.

The origami Sorting Hat was quite popular!

Austin enjoyed some great gifts from family!

Nanny made him an adorable Harry Potter card.

We got him a personalized Shakopee Soccer Association warm up jacket.

And Harry Potter Clue Game (which the kids have been playing in every spare moment since then). 

This is the face we got when the whoopie cushion (from Aunt Jeannie) made its appearance.

Then the silly string...

The Chesters were able to join us as well.

Cake time!

We made a Harry Potter themed cake with each layer bearing the seal and colors of one of the houses of Hogwarts School - Gryffindor on the bottom, then Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.  On top, there is the Hogwarts seal with the banner replaced with "Happy Birthday Austin!" in Harry Potter font.  Then on top there are a wand and a snitch.  The snitch is made out of a gold wrapped chocolate truffle with vellum wings attached (Nanny made these).  The wand is a bendy straw with a sparkler candle inside, then covered with almond bark chocolate.  We lit the candle sticking out of the wand to have a "spell" coming out of the wand when we presented it.

I think he liked it!

 Sarah was pretty impressed too!

Happy Birthday to our big kid, Austin!