Abbey's Birthday Bash

Abbey Elisabeth Davis turned 11 on November 6th, but we didn't have her birthday party until this last Saturday. She had a Scavenger Hunt Birthday. Her friends arrived at 2pm -all equipped with their cell phones in hand. Once everyone arrived, the party was split into groups: Ted and Jacee, Sheila, and Joe and Angie (Abbey's father and his girlfriend). Each group had a list of items they needed to "scavenge" and return by 3:30pm with all or most of their items. The rules were simple: only 1 item per house, you could only go to each house once, and call the party house to check in when all items were collected.

Off the teams went to their assigned streets. Upon arrival, each team checked in with the party house before starting- which wasn't an issue since EVERYONE had a cell phone. (This was done so one team didn't have a time advantage over another). Once dispersed through the neighbohood, the game was on! With a three minute lead, Ted and Jacee's team won followed by Sheila's team. Joe and Angie's team came in last probably due to the fact that the girls were more interested in chatting and texting than getting their items! ~lol The winning team won a $5 gift card to Cold Stone. Sydney was thrilled since she was on the winning team.

After the hunt came singing happy birthday to Abbey and eating cake and ice-cream. Abbey decided she wanted a cookie cake this year and it turned out to be really yummy! Not that most children by the age of 11 haven't seen trick candles already, Abbey thought she would show her friends how they worked WHILE Joe was trying to light them! We got them all lit, and had fun watching her try to blow them out. After cake and ice cream came presents. Happy, happy, joy, joy! (It was chaos - imagine sitting in a room with twelve screaming ten and eleven year old GIRLS. Oh, man. Abbey got a lot of fun things, such as gift cards to Aeropastale, Target, and, of course, Tropical Smoothie! (She begs to go get a smoothie every day). She also got a game for her DS and a cute friendship jacket that zips in half. You and your friend can trade halfs- it's actually really cool. After presents were opened, we played a game. Underneath layers and layers of alternanting newspaper and painters tape was a can of silly string. The girls had to try to unwrap it while wearing men's leather gloves. A feat to be challenged with for certain, but to make it extra exciting, there was a hitch- you had limited time to rip through the layers. The guest sitting to the left was furiously trying to roll a 5 as quickly as possible. Once she did, she promptly stole the gloves, donned them, then furiously attempted to make a dent in the layers BEFORE the guest on her left rolled a 5. The dice and gloves made it around several times before the can was revealed. It was fun watching them do it!

With silly string in hand, they went outside to promptly drain the can. Shortly after, they started a game of street baseball while waiting for their parents to pick them up. It ended up being a really good party and everyone think really enjoyed themselves. But, there is a reason why birthdays only come ONCE a year! ~lol

Finally Finding Time to Share Our Love

It's been an amazing three and a half, almost four months! We have yet to choose our wedding album, but I am dying to share a few shots from our special day. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do! She~

Happy Birthday, Sheila!

41 years ago on November 8th, Sheila Marie Myers entered this world. She had such a fun birthday, despite the fact that Ted was in Afghanistan. But he still managed to make her birthday wonderful! He coordinated with Jacee, and when Sheila walked down the stairs this morning, this is what she saw:

Yes, Ted was not home for my birthday, but he and Jacee made certain it was a moment to remember. Half-way around the world he finagled probably the best birthday I have ever had! I was awaken to a knock on my bedroom door saying breakfast was ready. I rolled out of bed and wondered what Ted was doing at this particular moment. With his smile clouding my thoughts, I opened the bedroom door to find a red rose petals scattered about creating a path downstairs. As I descended, my vision was blurred by tears and my heart swelled as I heared Michael Buble's Everything playing. By time I reached the last landing, my crying was unstoppable- tears of happiness mixed with languish for Ted to be home. As I brought my eyes up, my heart stopped and for a moment I thought Theo found a way to surprise me (~I foiled his last attempt of an early-arrival surprise). Quickly came the donning that it was just an fantastic, cardboard, lifesize-Theo holding a rose standing before an amazing table sprinkled with rose petals, breakfast, and three dozen long-stemmed roses. Once I was able to compose myself, Jacee and I sat down to a wonderful breakfast. The rest of the day was spent with all three girls- Jac, Sydney, and Abbey. We ventured down to International Mall for a yummy late lunch at Bamboo Club. I had been craving deep-fried spinich for weeks now and it was fantastic. We shopped a little (~I hate shopping) then, in the early evening, went to see Madagascar. The only thing that would have made this day spectacular... Ted standing next to me. Though he was across the world, he still managed to make me feel special. But then, he always finds a way to make me feel special.