Surprise!

We had a nice weekend last weekend. Friday night we shopped. Saturday we got the tires in the Nissan aired up (our tire pressure light came on 4th of July weekend…and since the tires have Nitrogen in them…we have to take it to the dealership), I got my hair cut (three inches!!!), laundry done, and headed over to mom’s to visit with everyone (Becky and the girls were in town so we all met at mom’s for dinner). Sunday after church I came home and baked and baked and baked. A double batch of peanut butter cookies (1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1 tsp vanilla…bake at 350 until desired doneness) and a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. Which sounds somewhat easy, but when your oven is on the fritz, it can be challenging. We took party supplies and baked cookies to Trisha’s that afternoon then stopped by mom’s to visit with Becky and the girls before heading to the Ranger game. We had traded in several games earlier in the year and asked for the best seats we could get…we sat on the 2nd row in section 37. Not too shabby! Nice being so close to the field you really could see facial expressions the players made! Not to mention we got to see star minor league pitcher Neftali Feliz trot out of the dugout and head out to the bullpen wearing Derek Holland’s old pink princess backpack. Feliz is supposed to be the real deal. We even stuck around after the game and cheered for him as he walked past us…along with a good chunk of the fans. Anywho, it was a quick game by Scooter Feldman (the pitcher) and we were headed home by 9:30. We’ve recently started taking a different route home that shaves off a good twenty minutes. Take Legends up to the access road…take 30 to Beltline, then Beltline up to 183 and exit Story. Took us maybe fifteen minutes to get home. NICE! We might try the new 161 since it has opened one of these days, but I still have a feeling that we’ll like Beltline better.
Monday morning I woke up at 6 and was in the office by 7. I worked until 3 then headed for Irving. Stopped by the house and changed clothes, grabbed Ryan a change of clothes, our camera, and oh yeah, the car bill. No Snapfish albums yet. Drat. Becky would have to wait until next time to see the Hawaii pictures. I had ordered two dozen balloons from Party City so I laid down the seats in the Nissan and picked those up. Bright pink, purple, yellow and white. I was pleased. Then off to Olive Garden. Mom had placed the to go order and it was ready for me when I got there. Perfect! I loaded up the car and headed to Trisha’s. Mom didn’t expect anything when I walked in with a ton of balloons…after all…all seven of the kids love balloons! The kids were playing on the water slide in the backyard. Well, except little Quinton who was recovering from a little virus. He was inside napping. At 5:00 we went in and ate. Man, I could eat Olive Garden salad everyday and be a happy woman. So good! Maybe I just need to try to figure out their dressing recipe and start making it at home…hmm. We’ll see. After everyone ate mom and Becky opened their presents from the Otey’s and the Smith’s. That’s when my cousin Monica and her kids pulled up. Mom asked, did you know they were coming over? All of us just shook our heads and kept quiet. Monica and the kids came in and we all visited. I began tying balloon bunches all around the house. Trisha excused herself and began prepping the dining room. Becky kept mom distracted. Then Aunt Sheila, Uncle James and Granddad arrived…then Jill, Marshall, Sarah and Dylan…then Aunt Terri. Mom asked Becky and Jill. Are we having a party? It is only family right? Jill shook her head. About that time the doorbell rang. More and more people from school, lunch bunch, and just close friends started arriving. We had done it. Kept it a surprise. Even cooler, all the kids knew and not one of them said a word to her! In all reality, it was Harold’s idea after all. On his way home from my birthday he had asked Trisha why MeMaw never got a party on her birthday. What a thoughtful guy! Hanz had made cupcakes, cheesecakes from Sam’s, cookies, Rita’s cinnamon squares, Aunt Terri’s banana pudding, Uncle James’ pound cake, and Trisha made punch. It was a wonderful evening. Most of the kids played outside while adults chatted inside. Trisha made a scrapbook. She bought cards and had all the guests write their favorite memory or note about mom on them. Last night she pasted them all in her book along with the guest sign in, invitation, gift list, and eventually a snapfish picture album. After everyone had left, we all sat around and read the cards outloud. There were tears and laughter…especially at Marshall’s memory (ask me about it later). It was ten o’clock. Everyone was tired. But mom had told the kids they could do sand art (make necklaces and bracelets) earlier in the day. She made colored “sand” with ground up sidewalk chalk and salt. Sweet Lindsey just could not let it go. She had been asking Becky every fifteen minutes during the party when they were going to get to do the sand art. So at ten at night, we all sat around Trisha’s dining room table and made sand art necklaces. When we were finished, we loaded up Becky’s mini van with gifts, food, kids and balloons and waved goodbye. Ryan and I got home about 11:00 and I immediately got in the shower. I think my body was on autopilot because I barely remember climbing into bed. I remember Ryan giving me a few Neftali Feliz stats from his first major league outing then falling fast asleep.
Tuesday morning came fast. I woke up very pleased I had showered the night before, dressed and headed into the office. I felt as if I were drugged all day. Even contemplated going to nap in the Nissan…neigh, that might just make it worse. On the way home I stopped by Via Real for chips, salsa, queso and black bean soup. Got home, ate, turned on the water in the front, watered my plants in the back, then curled up on the loveseat. After Ryan got home and ate, we rented Revolutionary Road from our Fios thing. I really like Kate Winslet and we’d heard good things about the movie. But ya know, it really is a difficult movie to watch. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t seen it, but Ryan and I neither one liked the two main characters. We had no idea what the message was supposed to be either. Was it marriage is hard work? Or marriage can be messy? Or don’t let go of your dreams? Don’t forget who you are? Don’t have kids before you are ready? Anyways…definitely won’t be buying it, but might watch it again if TBS puts it on TV. We got into bed about 9:30 and turned on the Ranger game. Saw a few pitches from Derek Holland before I fell asleep.