Charity's 16th Birthday!

CHARITY'S 16th BIRTHDAY!

It actually happened!  My baby girl turned 16!!  It's so weird when I think about it!  16 was like yesterday for me and I remember it so well- it's hard to believe she's already there.  It did make me smile a little when she chose funnel cakes for breakfast :).  She's still my little girl at heart :).  So thanks to Emily and her four eggs- we made funnel cakes for breakfast.  She woke up to her cool sign courtesty of Kelly and her ability to stay up late making amazing birthday signs.  Charity was up bright and early, read her scriptures, just really on top of the day :).  I wish I'd been so- I would have had gifts wrapped and let her open one before school :).  But she headed off.  Nate and I had big plans to clean the house while the kids were at school.  To get ready for the big surprise party.  We got so much cleaning and talking done.  It was nice.  We did some last minute shopping for the party, then took Charity out to lunch!  Panda Express- her choice- that was a lot of fun.  Who doesn't love spending a lunch with their birthday girl!  We dropped her off and then grabbed some flowers and a card to surprise her with at school- seemed like a fun idea :).  Then did some more last minute stuff for the party :).  This was a very exciting afternoon!!  We couldn't wait!  We got the elementary school kids, then the Jr. High-ers, then Charity... the afternoon was building up!  We had to tell a few kids here and there about the plans for the evening since they were all under the impression we were going to go to a Jazz game that night, but we really weren't, so I didn't want them missing out on things because of it.  Anyway- it was a crazy little lie, but Nate and Charity were finally off to "go to the Jazz game".  Somehow we sold the idea that I needed to bring everyone else separately.  Not sure why that didn't raise some red flags.  But While Nate and Charity were driving to Salt Lake, I was running around getting things all set up and ready to go.  I picked up Noah from his birthday party, got the balloons, got a call from Nate and Charity saying "it was actually an away game!"  Tried to play up the disappointment.  Then had Kelly finish the banner for me, got all the food out, welcomed the guests!  It was SO MUCH FUN!!  So busy.  So eventually we were ready for Charity to come home.  It was so much fun to see her sad little no-jazz-game-after-all face light up as each of her friends came out and said surprise!  She was so happy!!  I loved it!  I think that the fact that we will still be going to a game on Tuesday made this whole lie okay.  She seemed to be perfectly happy with the surprise party and having her friends over and everything- it was a lot of fun to do for her.  She had a about six friends, we had pizza and snacks, they played Curses and Say Anything.  They stayed pretty entertained all evening!  So much so that I forgot to get out the ice cream cake!!!!  I don't know how I forget these things.  Luckily there were still a few guests here at 11:00 when we finally remembered.  So embarrassing that we had a party without cake for most of the guests!  Weird.  Whatever.  I think Charity enjoyed her day.  I'm glad it wasn't completely stomped on.  3-9-18