Party Like An Eight Year Old

Friday night was the big night for Ryan. He and 14 of his friends swam the night away at the indoor River Plex pool at his birthday party. His birthday was Aug 19, but we've been so busy that we couldn't have his party until this weekend.

Ashley and her cousin Mitchell are always inseparable.

(Click on pictures to enlarge for a better view.)

The kids play in the zero depth area,

while the big kid waits for his friends to join him.

Lazy River

Ryan and his two best friends.

Bret's always up for a water slide.

The birthday boy gets dunked by his uncle.

Then the uncle gets attacked by the kids.

Batman cake for the bat boy.

Cheesing it up.

Sydnie, Ashley & Skyler.

Jackpot!

All hopped up on sugar and ready to go home!

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

She's Growing Up

Ashley's 12th Birthday is today and we had Bret's side of the family over for Pizza and Ice Cream Cake. She didn't know that we had a huge surprise in store for her.

She opened her presents, unsuspecting that her biggest wish was soon going to become true.

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She's been wanting a tote for school badly since her backpack broke. I found this really cute one at Aeropostale for my Grandma to give her.

Bret's parents bought her a much needed new bike. Her legs must be longer than mine already, because it was quite hilarious seeing me try to swing my leg over the seat.

Ryan got his traditional "Pity Gift". We were going to buy him this movie anyway since it got deleted off of the DVR. It's his all time favorite movie. Uncle Grant may have had a little too much cake.

Mitchell was quite the little helper opening up Ashley's gifts.

So now we come to the unsuspecting big moment. Ashley thought she was done opening her gifts and was cleaning up all of the wrapping paper when Bret told her to go look in the drawer in the front hallway. Inside the drawer was a note that told her to ask everyone to be quiet. As everyone quietly listened, the faint strains of Happy Birthday started to play from her new cell phone that was wrapped and hidden in the breakfront cabinet. (Tip: If you want to be able to hear the phone ringing, don't wrap it and hide it in a cabinet. It will confuse the heck out of the birthday girl.)

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She did find it - and I've never seen her look more excited before than at this moment...

Lucky for us, her best friend also has a Verizon cell phone, so they can talk for free until the battery goes dead on them.

One happy almost teenager.

We're pretty laid back here. Cake in the living room? Sure, why not.

She got all 12 on the first try.

Ok, we're not THAT relaxed around here. In the kitchen, messy ones.

Yes, you're all still pretty cute.

Happy Birthday, Ash!

(This weekend I'll be questioning my sanity when I have 8 girls overnight for Ashley's sleepover party with her friends.)

Event Of The Year

I must have lost my mind, or may have just chosen to forget how bad it was the last time we attempted this.

Ashley is having a Birthday Sleepover Party the last weekend of the month. We gave in and did this two years ago with 13 girls and were still feeling the pain and lack of sleep from it last year (hence no party last year) but are giving in and doing it this year. I put my foot down and said 4, maybe 5 girls total. We're now at 8. Bret and Ryan are going to be out staying with Bret's Grandma that night while his parents go out. That leaves me alone here with EIGHT 12 year old girls. What was I thinking?! Maybe I can con a friend or my mom into being here that night.

Last night, Ashley and her friend, Danielle were filling out the party invitations. When it came to the date, they wrote down Feb 29-30. On all of the invitations. That would be my straight A child there, too. Do you get it? If not, ask someone else, because I'm still too busy laughing about it.

Now I'll be planning a sleepover party on top of a school carnival. It's no wonder why I'm so sick this week. I haven't told Ashley this yet, but my goal is to decorate downstairs, where all of the girls will be, with blown up pictures of all of funny pictures of Ashley from birth to present. If they get to have all of the fun that night, I can at least have some fun planning it.

Maybe I'll get to her Birthday DVD slideshow this year.

Weekend Update

Was it just me or did this weekend seem to go by way too fast? Or maybe we were just really busy.

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Ryan had a cosmic bowling birthday party to go to on Saturday. He had a blast and did really well. (Thank you for bumpers!)

Immediately after the bowling party, we made our way through the quickly accumulating snow to our nephew, Mitchell's birthday party. Little Man is now 3 and we have started a whole new something with our present to him. He kept referring to the dinosaur we got him that it was his new pet dino. Pretty cute, isn't he?

At some point during the weekend, we found our way outside to play in the snow. The temperature here has dropped to the 20's and it's way too cold!

After proving to her that she could indeed clean her room just as well as I can, I ran out and found her a little Christmas tree for her room. She's been begging for one since Grandma told her she had some extra little ornaments that she could have. She was very proud and excited.

And today I am 13 days as a nonsmoker, but fighting a horrible cold that has now decided to settle into my chest. I should really go to the doctor, but who actually has time for that? I thought that when you quit smoking, you're suppose to be able to breathe easier and taste and smell things better. Apparently my body didn't get that memo, because it can't do any of those things right now.

No Match For Me

Definition: A cigarette is a euphemism for a cleverly crafted product that delivers just the right amount of nicotine to keep its user addicted for life before killing the person.'' World Health Organization director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland

11 days as a nonsmoker.

I did it! Bret & I went to Tom Cats last night with some friends for Teri's (older than crap - ha)birthday. I was there for 3 hours and never once had the urge to smoke. I felt like the biggest nonsmoking snob there, though. I walked in and was horrified at how thick and offensive the smoke in there was. It eventually got less noticeable, but everytime someone near our table would light up I could tell immediately. Have you ever stopped and looked around in a bar to notice how many people are smoking? I was shocked to find that it seemed like almost everyone was. I found myself feeling sorry for those people and even prouder of myself.

We've got birthday parties lined up back to back today, so hopefully I'll have some pictures to share later.

Do I Dare?

Last night was the big neighborhood girls night out Christmas Party and I'm proud to say that I had no desire to go outside and smoke at all. It have now been a nonsmoker for 10 full days!

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We gathered at Amy's house for food, drinks and our famous White Elephant Gift Exchange. What did I choose, you ask? You'll just have to keep reading.

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Us girls.

Amy, our friend and hostess.

This is where things took a little turn towards the insane. If you are shocked easily, you may want to look away now.

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Libby showing off her gift from Emily. Hippy Headband? Ponytail holder? Hmm. Too bad Gwen stole it when her turn came around.

Jennie was feeling pretty good.

Super Gwen! She's wearing the gift she opened last year.

Everyone got a huge kick out of my gift. I was going to be nice and give a cute Christmas decoration, but then I thought that if I did that than surely everyone would wonder what had happened to the real me. So I went for the laughs. I googled a phrase that would horrify my mother and mother-in-law, looking for a picture of pole dancers and photo shopped some of our faces into it. This is what I came up with. Not professional by any means, but I think that just makes it funnier. I then printed, framed it and wrapped it up. Emily was the lucky one to take it home, but she may not think it's so funny when she looks a bit closer at it and realizes I put her head on the pregnant body.

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May I present to you - The Timberbrook Drunko Pole Dancers!

I may have to make a few more of these for kicks and giggles. I wonder if I'll still have any friends left after I hit the post button.

White Elephant

Tonight is our annual girls night out where we do the whole White Elephant Gift thing. The first year we did it, we all bought cutesy gifts that everyone had fun stealing. Over the next couple of years, it evolved to coming up with something that could get the best laugh. Last year my gift was my old New Kids On The Block Christmas CD. (Did I just admit to owning that once upon a time ago?) This year I'm drawing a blank on ideas. I have one idea that might get a good laugh, and then another idea that everyone will fight over if all the other gifts are your typical horrendous gifts. I need some ideas, everyone! Anyone have any good ideas?

Happy Birthday Little Buddy!

Today was Ryan's much anticipated birthday party. We ended up with a total of 50 friends and family here at our house. The kids all had a great time and Ryan scored lots of cool toys! The rain did hold off until just about the time everyone was getting ready to leave and it's been storming ever since.

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One of Ryan's favorite gifts.

The cake turned out really cute and Ryan couldn't wait to blow out his candle.

A Wee Bit Stressed Out Right Now

What am I suppose to do with 24 kids and 33 adults if this rain really does head straight for Peoria like they're predicting tomorrow during Ryan's birthday party? Kids can still go outside and swim in the rain, right? That's 57 people in my house, folks!

Happy 1st Birthday Chloe!

Today is Chloe's very first birthday. Her Mom and Dad had all of their family and friends over to help celebrate. Chloe was as cute as ever.

The kids all had fun jumping from pool to pool. Can you believe how big Cecelia has gotten this summer?

Ryan had fun on the slip n slide...

...as did Cat and Kelly. Can't blame them though as it ended up being pretty hot out today.

Balloons Stayed On The Prairie

Well, our "balloon party" last night ended up being just a "hang out with the neighbors in the backyard and run around to the front of the house every now and then to look for the balloons" party. This weekend is Balloons on the Prarie, where hot air balloons are launched and rides can be purchased not far from our neighborhood.

For some reason, the balloons never left the field yesterday. What a bummer. You could see a couple of them from our front yard and we did get to see a pretty awesome fireworks show from our driveway, so that was something at least. The party was a lot of fun, nothing out of control, just a bunch of friends having some drinks and their kids all playing together.

Tonight, we've decided we're going to head out there in person so the kids can see it all up close. Maybe if the lines aren't too long, we'll go up for a ride and experience it for ourselves. That'll be when they actually leave the field, though - right when we pay for our car load to get in- LoL. Might as well stay there for the fireworks, too.

Note to self: DO NOT FORGET THE CAMERA!!!

What Have I Done?

Tonight, across from our neighborhood, Peoria's Balloons On The Prairie will be launching lots of hot air balloons with a fireworks display at dusk. It all started with inviting Teri and her family over to barbeque and watch the balloons fly over our neighborhood and maybe a good view of the fireworks. Suddenly, I'm cooking and baking away and many, many, many of the neighbors are on their way to join us. Should be a fun time, but man I hope we have enough food!

Party Of The Year

I think I had the most fun that I've ever had in my life last night. It helps when your with your best friends. It's moments like these that you'll always remember. I'm keeping it nice here, though. I'd like to keep those friends, so I'm only posting the nice ones here. Besides, I've already emailed all the other pictures proof to them anyway. Ha.

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Shawn, me and Emily.

"Pucker up!" (The stuff was called Pucker.)

Em, Shawn, Me, Rod and Jon.

The Bunco Girls. This is the group that gets together once a month for a girls night out. I don't think we've actually played in 2 years though.

I said I would be nice here, but you know I can't ignore it when Bret and Emily broke out the worm!

Great night. Great friends. I'm going to miss them so much!