COWABUNGA

We celebrated Madison's 11th birthday at Cowabunga Bay! Having a summer birthday, this was actually the first time we had ever done a water party. She was super excited to have her party there, and so was I. I usually put so much time and energy into the kids party, that this was a breeze not having to do anything. I took the day off from work and we played all day.

During the morning we had breakfast with Dan's family and then it was party time! The girls had pizza at the house and each of them were given a beach towel before we left for Cowabunga Bay. Madi and six of her friends had the time of there lives running around the park. We left Reagan with my sister Melissa (For which I am truly gratful) so we wouldn't have to chase her around the park. We rented a cabana and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon soaking in the sun.

We almost had to cancel the party because the day before Madi had a head injury at McKensie's house. The girls were making a fort in the basement and she jumped up and hit her head on the cabinet corner. She bled for at least 30 minutes, her swimsuit was covered in blood and we debated if she needed to get stitches (we probably should have, but after it stopped bleeding we figured she was OK) Looking back at the cut she definitely could of had a few. We worried that having water pour on her head would open the wound, so she had to be extra careful at the park.

Madi also had a stomach ache right before the party and she was on her bed sobbing minutes before the girls arrived. We offered a prayer that she would feel better and gave her some medicine and she was as good as new!

During the party we had cupcakes and ice cream sundaes. Madi received some darling gifts, including some jewelry, purses, watches and gift cards. The girls were darling and had so much fun. I think that was the easiest party I have ever done.

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY

Dan turned 39 this year! I thought in lieu of having an over the hill party next year, we would have a party to celebrate his last year of youth instead! I wanted it to be a surprise so I sent out evite invitations while Dan was traveling for work. I rented the Riverfront Park in South Jordan and the plan was to have a night of boyish fun and games, including ice cream cones.

Overall things went well, I didn't tell the kids because I know they would ruin the surprise. I ordered a massive amount of ice cream from Fendalls so we could celebrate with fantastic flavors of ice cream and pile up the ice cream cones. Only this actually turned out to be a bust. Fendalls told me they would have the ice cream packed in dry ice and that it would stay cold until 9:00 that night; however this isn't exactly what happened. Their ice cream machine broke down, so they had to deliver the ice cream and in the meantime forgot to pack it in dry ice. So when we served the ice cream cones, it was ice cream soup!

Dan and I were a little late getting to the party because when I got home, Dan was in the basement cleaning up a flood in my craft room for the second time this week. Jaxson (our dear Jaxson) left the hose on, pointed directly at the window well. Due to this unforeseen circumstance we were 30 minutes late to our dinner reservation at Market Street. After dinner we discussed going to a movie; however this was all a trick because I knew we would not be going to a movie. As we drove by the park, I had him turn into the park and then he knew. It was fun to see so many of our friends and family there.

I had a pinata for the guys and pinata for the kids. The guys pinata had an entire roll of duck tape on it. However the pinata was no match for Dan and Brad who eventually broke it off the rope. The kids had a fabulous time with their pinata as well.

It was a great evening spending time at the park, the weather was fantastic and the company was too.