31 is the New 21

 It all started in mid-January when 'The Hubs' casually started talking about plans for his upcoming birthday.  He wanted to do something big because, and I quote, "you kind of screwed up my 30th birthday."  In all fairness, I was too pregnant and sick to throw a party or surprise him with a trip like he did for me.  All I could muster up was a small family party with a grocery store bought cake.

I think he was hinting at a mini vacation but, I took it as a dare.  I planned for two and a half months and ended up throwing him the greatest surprise party ever.  And, best of all, he had no idea!  I'm not gonna lie because I am horrible at it.  That is why this night will go down in history as the greatest thing that I have ever pulled off in my lifetime.  There were a couple of close calls but, I did it.  For the first time, I kept my big mouth shut.  I was never worried about anyone else giving up the jig.  Just me.  Mission: accomplished.

That Saturday morning, I got mildly upset and totally annoyed that he was going out for a 'guys day' with my step-dad and step-brother.  I was all, "you haven't been home all week but, sure, have a guys day...jerk."  I'd like to thank the academy and I'll pick up my award on the way out.  As soon as he left for a day at the driving range/sushi bar/movie theater, my sneaky mom and my step-brother's girlfriend (who were idling in the parking lot of the apartment complex down the street) pulled up with the goods and we went to work.

And work it was.  But my hard working man deserved it.  So, without further adieu...


...'The Hubs' Casino Night...

I had a little sweets table and decorated it with playing cards.  I made the table runners while he was on business in Hawaii.

Lucky fortune cookies.

The yummiest red velvet cake we have ever had.  It had chocolate chip cream cheese filling.

Chocolate covered marshmallow pops that were supposed to be standing up in a container.  That's a long story.

The booze table.

Cheers from a previously drunk Johnny...we saw him again at the end of the night.

We gave lottery tickets as party favors.  I am still waiting to hear if anyone won big.

A huge thanks to my hard workers, Mom and Lisa.  I could not have pulled this off without you two.

Prizes for the raffle at the end of the night.

Things got a little out of hand just before the surprise.  We were running a bit behind and had our guests helping out right up until the big moment.   Our neighbor, Tony...we may never see this side of him again.

'The Hubs' best friend, Ricky, who he hadn't seen in two years, just got stationed in San Diego and was able to make it.  He actually had come to San Diego from Guam a few weeks before but never called 'The Hubs' to let him know he was back in town.  Sneaky, sneaky.

Waiting for the birthday boy.

Where's Daddy?

Surprise!!!!!

'The Boy' was so excited for the party and practiced yelling "surprise" all day.

'The Hub's' chatting with his best friend from college, Tyler.  He hadn't seen him in ages.

Let the gaming begin!

Texas Hold 'Em

Blackjack

Roulette

 It was absolutely freezing that night.  And, of course, it had been hot as all heck the weekend before.  Figures.

Everyone got in on the jello shots.  It felt like college again.

'The Hubs' is still not a huge fan.

Winner, winner.  This is my stack that stayed on red for a half an hour while I went around being a good hostess.  My winning streak ended when Tyler dared to touch my chips.  Thanks a lot!

At the end of the night, everyone turned in their chips for tickets and we raffled off prizes.

This is where things got crazy.  I swear, they are on the phone with each other.

Then, 'The Hubs' and his brother, drunk of course, peed on my retaining wall.  I hosed it down first thing the next morning. 

I wish I had pictures of what happened next but, it just happened so fast.  On minute, 'The Hubs' was up and the next minute, he was going down.  Thanks to Steve for catching him as he passed out instead of letting him crack his head open on the tile.  What's a birthday party without passing out at the end of the night. 

Thanks, again, to everyone who came out and celebrated my hubby's birthday.  It was, by far, the best birthday party ever!

The next morning...

Hangovers are hard when you're a parent.

Happy Birthday, baby!  I love you so much and am so glad you had such a wonderful day.

Cousins

When I was little,  I so badly wanted a cousin.  I think it stems from, I so badly wanted a sister and when my parents brought home my brother, it turned from sister into cousin.  I can remember hearing stories from my friends about playing with their cousins.  I loved the idea of a big family and having other little people to play with at family events.  Instead, I was just tormented by my brothers all. the. time.

My cousins, Jake, Lexie, and Max, are 14, 13, and 12.  I had to wait a long time for them to come around but I love them dearly and adore that my kids (who have 10 first cousins from their father's side) love and look up to them.  All those first cousins aside, 'The Boy' calls my cousins his favorite.  Especially Lexie.  "Schnookumnut Cherryblossom" misses you, Lex.  (I may never understand that one.) 
Sadly, they live in another state so we don't get to see them very often.  Even more sad, almost two years had past since we had seen each other.  That won't be happening again.  Mark my words.  They came for the weekend (not long enough...boo-hoo) and we had a blast hanging out and catching up. 

We spent Saturday at my house, relaxing and playing with the little ones. 

Where the heck is Jake in these pictures?  Oh, that's right.  Having a marathon Wii session with Uncle Steve.  Teenagers.

The next day we were up bright and early for a day at Disneyland.  'The Hubs' couldn't join us.  He had to catch a flight to Hawaii for work.  Don't worry...he sent me a picture of the ocean view from his hotel balcony.  He was doing just fine. 

The older kids were so excited and so was 'The Boy' but 'Munchkin' was super sick and spiked a fever off and on all day.  Yup.  I'm that mom.  I felt so bad later that week because she was so miserable and ended up having a double ear infection.  She was such a trooper.

 Jake, Lexie, and Max...and Goofy.

 Puddin' and Pop.

 Look at her!  Her eyes have fever written all over them.

 This is the face you make when you go to Disneyland with 5 kids.  I'm, pretty sure I made this one all day.

'The Boy' was so pooped, this is how he fell asleep.  He stayed like that for over an hour.

 Poor sick girl.

 Gigi had to ride in a motorized wheelchair because she had just had surgery a few weeks before. 

 The best family picture we could get.

Uncle Mikey being a total goof.

We stayed at Disneyland for the whole day and we didn't get home until after midnight.  The big kids had such a blast and the little ones had fun, too.

The next day the kids came over for lunch before their dad picked them up.  As soon as the doorbell rang, 'The Boy' started crying and saying "I don't want my new cousins to go".  So sweet.  He has been talking about them ever since.  Looks like we'll have to make a trip out to visit them soon. 

February Love

February went by in a flash!  We continued to keep life simple.  Mainly because we were sick as all heck- one of us right after the other.  We still managed to celebrate life when we came up for air.  And don't even think for a minute we weren't celebrating it from our sick bed, too.  Just a less enthusiastic version, is all.

This month we...

...had a Superbowl party where pretty much nobody watched the game but chatted and ate instead...

(PW's Jalapeno poppers, by the way.)

...showed off our awesome parenting skills...I still stand by cold (and empty!) beer bottles as one of the best things for a teething baby to gnaw on...

...became the victim of a preschoolers imagination...her hair is covered in bubbles...'The Boy' was playing "haircut" with her...at least it wasn't with scissors...

...got artsy...his first drawing of a person "all by myselth"...

...fed sister "all by myselth"...

...made toast "all by myselth"...he's getting so big...

...made messes...

...and made new friends...I love packages on my doorstep but especially those from Pottery Barn!

February is never my favorite month (my Dad died on the 28th) but we managed to get through it, sick and all.  And we made a few good memories while we were at.  Looking forward to March.