A Suprise 80th Birthday

If you have ever had the privilege of being kissed by a shaving cream face, being served endless amounts of candy, sweets, and amazing root beer floats, wrestling or getting a piggy back ride, being taken on incredible vacations full of laughs and memories, being chased with dentures, hearing stories of a missing finger, or just sitting and enjoying a man full of love and life then you are as blessed as I am.

{most of those memories are only reserved for the elite group of grandchildren... and now great grandchildren}

This Saturday, after months of planning, cooking, decorting, and baking, over 70 people surprised an incredible man. Known as Papa to many, daddy to several and Fred Jr. to others, we all gathered to celebrate 80 years on this earth and in our hearts.

When my mom and my aunt Janna decided on throwing Papa a party, my nosey, party-planning self butted my way in on a few of the details I had found via Pinterest. Once we saw our main focus to the party, we/they hit the ground running. These two did such an incredible job on every single detail.

{I am so thankful I have inherited their attention to detail.}

inspiration and credit

Janna's baby, the incredible 80 made of many, many pictures!

inspiration and credit

We recieved well over 80 memories from family, friends, and old classmates.

Thank you all for taking the time to recognize this wonderful man.

Now, to my favorite part of party planning... the dessert table!

Jars displaying snowballs, peanut brittle, lemon drops, and white chocolate pretzels.

Devils food mini cupcakes.

White chocolate popcorn cups.

Cake.

Marshmallow pops, dipped in yellow tinted white chocolate.

And our fabulous mustache pops inspired from Papa's memorable mustache after returning from China.

(I was not alive to witness his mustache, though)

An awesome lunch was served consisting of brisket, pinto beans, potato salad, and rolls.

{Thank you Dodie, Belinda, and Billie for the beans}

The souvenirs for the guests were mini Lambrusco bottles.

Gray and yellow accents filled the gymnasium that Papa and many of the other classmates/guests had grown up in. Signature cups displaying Papa's initials and gray barber striped straws completed the look on the beverage table.

Each table was decorated with five different themes. Bowls filled with golf balls, tee's, domino's, cards, and corks with gray, yellow, and white balloons attached inside. Janna also made canvas photos to compliment each table with different images throughout Papa's life.

The moment he walked through the door and we all saw the tears falling from his eyes, we knew that this party was a complete success.

 A former classmate that hadn't seen each other in over 60 years.

 The two party planning daughters.

 Grandkids and great grandkids, minus one grandson and one great granddaughter.
(I have no words to exlpain why I look the way I do... I blame my kids.)

Siblings

Happy 80th birthday to the man we all love!

Happy 80th

Home

Oh, how I miss home.

But home is mostly a feeling for me.

Because when you're a military family, being ALL together feels like home.

My husband is my home.

He gives us shelter and loves us unconditionally.

When we're apart it's almost hard to breathe.

Our home signifies what we are doing as a family.

And it's where our babies feel most comfortable.

Home is where the thermostat reads an even number... No matter how hard I try to make it odd.

Our memories move from place to place, adding more but keeping the old.

My home is in my heart and in my husbands arms.

I wonder...

...If my husband is sleeping out in the rain tonight or in a humvee? (I hate days without talking to him)

...how much longer until my "normal" Riley returns to me with her constant smile?

...when I will ever get to hear my babies say "mommy, I love you"?

...if I will get anyone sneaking in to my bed tonight?

...what's really going on with Riley, medically?

...if I can actually stick to healthy eating instead of giving in out of pure exhaustion?

...where our kitty ran away to? {tear}

...when the absolute cuteness of seeing my little boy in big boy undies will fade? -never!!!

...if I can start planning H's 3rd birthday party now?

...what my girls are thinking... Especially when they stay up and play together at nap time?

...if I will ever get to see my husband on my birthday?

...when the "right" time is for getting a dog?

...too often.

...if I can ever get good enough at blogging to make it mean something to my readers?

...where these 27 bruises came from all over my body?

...if we can just fast forward from March to October so I don't have to say goodbye again?

...if I'm doing a good job as a mommy?

...how I can love my babies as much as I do, no matter the day we put each through?

...where I hid the golden double stuffed Oreos from myself today? {grin}

...if blood work will give us any answers with Riley?

...if H will conquer his diagnosis or how it will affect his life?

...if I should stay up and read or just prepare for an early morning now?

...when I'll hear from my hubby?

...how much longer until the laundry is done?

...why I thought this would be a good post? {sigh}

I wonder way too much, good night!

Never let them see you sweat.

Rarely do I need to just call something quits when it's just me and my 3 littles, but yesterday was my get over your self/reality check moment. But moments like that help me grow as a parent and grow as an individual especially when I am absolutely mortified by the actions of my littles(I know it is bound to get worse too).

After naps we headed to the monster, over crowded park by the ball fields in hopes to burn some energy on a rare 68 degree day in January. I was excited to see it wasn't too crowded but as soon we we ran into the playground area my mind almost exploded. Each kid took off in a different direction and with an 8 story jungle gym and swings and merry go round things flying everywhere I knew I was outnumbered. Thank goodness I ran into a Facebook acquaintance, now considered a dear friend and saint, who helped wrangle and protect my kids from the 20ft deadly drops and from getting lost. Michelle, I owe you big time! After about 12 panic attacks and a mild heart attack I decided I was greatly outnumbered and we had to leave! I hate defeat!

Since we were out I decided to go ahead an fill Riley's Zantac meds they have started her on for possible reflux but forgetting the new year had come, Walgreens could no longer help us, boo! Off to CVS we go where we HAVE to go inside to give them all of our info. The girls are loaded in the double stroller and I carry H in and as soon as we park by the pharmacy absolute chaos begins. In complete harmony all three begin to scream and cry and the girls are bucking like wild bulls from their stroller. H runs and grabs gummy bears and while I attempt to open them he decides HE needs to punish Riley for crying and smacks her right in the face. Hmmm where did this come from? For now I've got to hand out these gummies and restore calmness. I should have known that being out and about at this time wasn't a great idea, but some things need to get taken care of. And I know I have started a terrible habit by grabbing a treat or some sort distraction right when we get in a store to occupy by kids, but honestly I do not care. They will grow up and won't require treats to keep them happy and everthing will be fine.

My hopes in writing these little experiences, stories, adventures we have are to help or ease the minds of other mommies. And picking your battles when you're out and about is really a matter of life and full on freak outs. Within reason, just get through whatever you had planned and no matter what stay calm. Of everything I've learned in the past 2.5 years as being a mommy the most important thing is to stay calm. I will be at my breaking point, almost to tears or laying on the ground from pure exhaustion but always talking in a calm voice and faking a big smile will keep your babies calm and semi happy instead of being frustrated or upset with you.

A year to remember

The too tired, desperate for a blog post, lonely, hungry mommy edition.

Babies grew... And grew... And are now toddlers.
Jake had a surprise 2 month deployment.
Settled in Oklahoma during that time.
Little Gym enrollment for H.
The Holland wedding!
A super awesome Pirate party for my favorite 2 year old boy.
Colorado trip.
2 week hospitalization from Kawasaki's for H.
A preppy, pink crab 1st birthday party for our baby girls.
Lots of beach trips... That failed!
Kitty joins the family!
Cough::pinterest::cough
We survived our first hurricane, Irene.
Cheered on our Cowboys in an awesome football season.
And celebrated a WS championship for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Celebrated Halloween as Buzz Lightyear, a giraffe, and a teddy bear.
Enjoyed my first Marine Corps ball with one handsome man.
Went through 3 copies of Toy Story 1 & 2, and 2 of TS3.
Started speech therapy with H.
Drove 24 hours to Texas for Thanksgiving.
My baby girls switched to toddler beds.
Had the most unforgettable Christmas.

Pictures would only devour this post so we will just leave all the flashbacks off for now. With a New Year before us, and the inevitable deployment rapidly approaching, all I have to think about is how much more love, excitement, thankfulness, and memories we get to have in 2012. Our babies are now toddlers and we have 3 under 3, bringing only more adventure and fun to our household. 2012 will be a year mostly WITHOUT a husband and a daddy, but we will strive to make our days together the most enjoyable and memorable as possible.

Thank you to all of our family and friends that have loved my babies unconditionally, prayed for us, given us so much, and always let us know that you were there. Our hearts are full of joy and gratitude for each and every single one of you. God bless you and may this New Year be full of laughter, fun, and loving hearts.