Harry Potter…errr, I mean….Channing’s 8th Birthday!!!

For Channing’s 8th birthday we turned our house into Hogwarts! It was great fun watching the kids get sorted into houses and then going to Gringotts Bank to get coins to buy their school supplies. They then visited Flourish and Blotts to buy a cauldron, feather pen, paper, a Harry Potter bookmark and a pet (remember those 80s slap bracelets we used to have…. they're back! With little stuffed animals attached)! After getting their school supplies, they visited Ollivander’s to get their wand (glowstick). During dinner each kid worked on Transfiguration class by putting little capsules into water and seeing what they would transform into. :) For dinner Channing chose to have pesto with penne pasta, garlic bread and salad (yay – easy for me). I made fresh pesto with basil from the garden and we served a vege platter for Herbology class. Potions class consisted of 4 different kinds of kool-aid that the kids could mix together and then top off with pop rocks. It was a big hit and I think Cason only drank for dinner. I don’t think he ate any food! My kids have never had kool-aid before.

After dinner we had a treasure hunt for the kids. We turned off all the lights and they had to find their way with their glow stick wands and a small flashlight. I had made up several maps leading all over the house. They had to follow the footprints drawn on each Marauder's map to the next map. Their treasure consisted of ring pops and lots of coins that they got to use at Honeyduke Sweet’s shop where they could buy all sorts of creepy candy.

We had friends and family here to celebrate. Nate was in town for a conference, so he got to come. J’Nett came with Jacob and Ari (Chris later joined us). Our friends Seth, Arya and Lila came with their mother Maria and Suzie came with Austin, Colton and Gavin. It was an all inclusive age party! Suzie made the huge castle cake that took 5 cake mixes! It was awesome! No party would be complete without an awesome cake!

After the treasure hunt we ate cake and ice cream and then Channing opened his presents. He got a few Harry Potter books, some karate gear, money, clothes and a remote controlled airplane. He loved everything! Channing is so excited to be 8 and he is excited to be baptized at the end of November! He’s a really good kid and we love him to pieces! Happy Birthday Channing!