SuRpRiSeS are NICE

It's an impromptu SuRpRiSe Party!!!

Madison is turning 12 and it's a party year for her (every other year we have a party). She actually didn't really want a party (too much drama) and was planning on just going to Knott's Berry Farm with a few friends. Enter another dilemma: which friends to invite without any getting feelings hurt? Plus, when to go . . . Saturdays are totally booked up and so are Friday nights. Dilemma Dilemma!

We decided pretty much at the last minute (OK a week ago) to throw her a surprise party. She would love it, she's turning 12 - it's a big deal.

I just called the moms of her good friends and they were all totally on board. Many of the girls didn't even know about it until that day. Our own kids didn't even know until a couple of hours before. We weren't chancing the surprise getting blown.

Enter grandma and grandpa . . . my parents usually take the birthday kid out to dinner near the actual birthday. Last year my mom took Madison shopping so she could pick out her own gift and they could have some QT together. Luckily it worked out that my parents were free and could plan the annual event without seeming suspicious.

The only caveat: they had to have her out of the house until 7:00 p.m. The guests were arriving at 6:45.

My mom called at 6:30. They ate, they shopped, they walked the mall, they had ice cream, they walked the mall some more . . . they were done! I told her they had to hold out a few more minutes. Poor Madison was getting bored and probably wondering why grandma wanted her to explain how "Build a Bear" works.

Here are the guests waiting for Maddy - they were all enthralled with a 650+ photo slide show I had going on the TV. (Thanks to AppleTv it was easy peasy).

That was seriously so entertaining!!

Surprise!!!!! She had NO idea! Her expression was priceless and she even teared up with the excitement.

Food, food, and more food. But it was all EASY!

Girls were congregating everywhere. I'm so glad that the day was warm (finally!) so not only can the swampy backyard dry out, but they can enjoy being outside.

We set up a strobe light in the backyard with music blasting - they jumped in the dark with the lights flashing which made it super fun for them.

Lemon Lusciousness.

Hurry and blow out the candles before the letters all melt away.

Another congregation spot and non-stop giggles. Some girls, including Ashlyn, got attacks of the giggles and couldn't stop.

Present time! She got so many nice gifts - her friends all know her well. Books, books, and more books, cute clothes, awesome art supplies (acrylic paints, sketch book, etc.) and this hilarious card we all got a kick out of - the cat starts out totally normal then grows and grows and grows until it fills up the entire card with the funny cartoon face.

We deem this party a huge success. Impromptu is the way to go. There were nearly 30 people there. Only one friend couldn't attend but that's because she had a weekend soccer tournament far away and wouldn't have been able to if we gave a month's notice. Practically zero stress and I made a basket of cool nail polishes and headbands of which they were able to choose on their way out the door . . . easy peasy party, yet with all the feeling of specialness included!

My favorite quote from one of the mothers when I asked if her daughter would be available for the party: "Even it Fatima had other plans, we would change it because we wouldn't miss her best friend's party." So very thoughtful. Then when they picked her up at the end, the dad (who owns our favorite Middle Eastern restaurant Ali Baba) brought us a large box of Arabic sweets called tarboosh. So nice!

!!! CrAzY HaIr DaY !!!!

Today was Maple's CrAzY HaIr day at school in which Christian and Brooke participated. It was way fun planning the 'do and getting ready in the morning.

Christian's mohawk and Brooke's skyscraper - not sure what to call it. It looks a bit Dr. Seussish to me.

She had curls, crimps, braids, and straight and they both had red sprayed on the tips.

It's a rainy day so hopefully it will last!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I think we should petition to have 3-day weekends every week! I love having that extra time, especially since we don't really have Sunday to get things done.

This weekend was especially nice because today, Monday, Presidents' Day, is probably the first real day off John has had in a couple of years. We planned to take the kids to the snow today and John was with us the whole time without working. I'm sure he checked email a few times, but from waking up in the morning until we got home from track practice at night, we had him the whole day! (OK, confession, during track from 4:30-6:00 he was "President" but still Ashlyn was with him 'helping' so it's OK). This is seriously a first. Brooke commented that he even worked when we were at Knott's - taking phone calls, having to pause to send out ever-so-important emails, etc. -- and that was even New Year's Eve!!

It was a beautiful day and we were so glad to be able to spend it together as a family having fun frolicking in the snow.

It's crazy that we drive 1 1/2 hours to "see snow" when most of the country can't escape it. But it's sure a novelty here and there was plenty of it in the Frazier Park area. It was fluffy, clean, sparkly and deep and the day was crystal clear with a beautiful bright sun.

Sledding fun! Those little disks get some serious speed!

The trees were so packed with snow and it kept randomly falling. It was beautiful.

Snow angels!

Fun building a snowman

And walking along the snow only to discover that it's actually deeper than you thought

A winter wonderland forest

Enjoying the magic of snow

This is Ashlyn saying: "I'm freezing! My chin is freezing and my feet are stinging they are so wet and cold!"

Her turtleneck was packed with snow and so were her boots. No wonder!

Making yet another snowman

and trampling said snowman for dog pile in the snow

Home in time to build a mini snowman out front.

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman

And now he's melted, melted, melted

small, small, small.

We stopped at In-N-Out in Valencia for lunch on the way home, then after building the pathetic little guy above, we quickly got Christian to his baseball practice and the girls to track practice.

Then home for dinner (thank you Crock Pot!), showers, family night and bed!

They all fell asleep quickly as they were completely worn out. I'm sure waking up at 6:00 because they were so excited about their snow day contributed to their fatigue.

I consider the day a success, especially since they've all asked more than once when they can they go back to the snow.

Sunday Snapshots

A beautiful Sunday afternoon warranted a nice family stroll with the dog.

The grass was green, the air was crisply cool following a big rainstorm, and the mountains were snow-capped.

Then home to make dinner preparations . . .

Corn Chowder,

and trying on the snow gear in preparation for going to said snow-capped mountains in the morning.

and enjoying fresh warm cornbread, hearty corn chowder, and In-N-Out table settings.

The whole family had to wear the hats during dinner. It was the rule mandated by the children.

Happy Sabbath y'all. We're grateful for a looong weekend and wish we had them every weekend.

Let's Go to the Hop

Tonight was a tri-ward Sock Hop and we got into it by sporting a Letterman's jacket, cardigan, and hair in a pony tail. Yeah, that's how we roll.

We totally cut the rug though let me tell you. It was probably the first ward activity where people actually stayed (and danced) until 10:00pm. The band actually ran out of numbers in their repertoire which was pretty funny.

We got our groove on and have very sore feet to prove it.

Good times!

Happy Heart Day!

It's fun having a little princess in the house who still gets excited over dressing up, frills, bows, and being cute. I'm taking full advantage while I can, because I know she will all-too soon outgrow this super cute phase.

A Surprise, a 40th, and a Get-a-Way

My bff since birth turned forty, and what better way to say happy birthday than to surprise her in person!?? Janae was hosting her annual "sistas weekend" where her six sisters and her mom come to her home in Arizona for some fun in the sun and awesome girl time. It also happened to be her birthday weekend so her sistas contacted me weeks ago and we planned this little reunion unbeknownst to her.

The plan was to go to a movie on Friday afternoon, then to a 'theme' restaurant where you're supposed to wear only black and white (while the house is being set up for the party). I flew in on Friday and was picked up at the airport by Kim and we headed straight for the theater. We figured we'd see the movie then surprise Janae on the way out of the theater. Well, the movie time got botched so with some quick texting back and forth with the sistas, Kim and I headed over to Borders where the group was hanging out trying to figure out the next step.

I casually walked amongst the aisles of books and when she came near I asked out loud about a particular book (Pioneer Woman - the one I mailed to Janae for her bday). Of course the title got her attention and the double-take-pause-step-back-stunned expression was priceless! I think patrons of the normally quiet store were getting annoyed with all the cackling laughing and talking of 9 women!

Instead of going to a 'themed restaurant', we blindfolded her and we went back to her house where her family and friends were waiting for the big surprise.

I don't know what was more surprising to her then - that she actually had a surprise party, or that it was in her own backyard!

They set up a white tent, had delish catered food, a fun DJ, games and prizes. It was a lot of fun!

On Saturday we lounged by the pool all day and relaxed, talked, caught up on life, then went out to dinner and a comedy club called JesterZ.

Rachelle, Janae, me, Laura, Anna (in back: Adrianne and Lisa. Sharon and Terri are walking in the door).

What a super fun getaway! Thanks to John for taking the kids for the weekend the sistas for a fab time!

I can't wait to get better pictures and the video that Adrianne is making!