A Surprise Party? For Me?

I will start this post by saying that I have amazing family and friends. I have such a fantastic husband. Alex took it upon himself to plan a surprise party for my 31st birthday. I had spent the last 7 birthdays away from my family and he knows how hard that was on me. SO he started planning a surprise party for me a month before my birthday. 

I woke up at 6:45 am and had to go ahead and sleep in the bathroom for awhile. I felt awful. Just awful. At one point I do remember Alex telling me he was going to go get the kids from Mom and Dad's house and he wanted me to just sleep it all off. I felt so guilty. But I took him up on it. When I finally got out of bed for the day, I showered and made myself presentable. Alex came home....kid free. He ended up telling me that he had a surprise for me. I told him I needed grease. So we went to McDonald's for some cheeseburgers and Diet Coke. Alex blindfolded me while he was driving. I felt so sick. So sick. I am so thankful that I didn't throw up. Seriously. We finally made it to our destination. Alex took weird roads and didn't stop at stop signs so I wouldn't know that we were going to Mom and Dad's house.

When we got to Mom and Dad's, Alex led me into the kitchen blindfolded. I could hear my babies in the background. It was so awkward being blindfolded. I am sure I was so funny to watch bc I was a hot mess. When he took the blindfold off and everyone yelled "SURPRISE", I was shocked to see so many family members and so many friends. Family came from almost 2 hours away and friends came from up to 3 hours away.... just to help me celebrate my birthday for a few hours. I am so honored. I haven't felt this special since my wedding day :) THANK YOU

Lots of planning and decorating went on.

That's right, 31 is the new 25.

My amazing birthday cake. Made by my cousin Ryan at Caketastic LLC.

It was amazing. So delicious.

The backyard filled with amazing people.

It's a bit of a white trash bash. I LOVE IT.

Family frying stuff up!!

My family!! We were only miss Jeremy :( (Love you Jare!!)

This is my hot mess.

In her jammies.

With dirt on her face.

Sawyer and his Papa.

I LOVE THIS CAKE.

Tammy and Nicholas jumped in the freezing pool. Nicholas is a fabulous little maniac. He loved the pool...and Tam was super brave to get in.

It's swim time!!

Mitchell is a water baby!!!

Friends... well, more like cousins. They love each other.

Sweet little Jack.

It looks like a pool party!!!

She is like a fish in the pool. She loves her new little swimmy vest.

Friends for 13 years :) My sweet friend, B. Naturally she would never miss something like this.

Thanks, B and Schriner :) Love you guys.

They came an hour and a half for my special day.

Charlotte went off of the diving board for the first time...

....or was she pulled off???

Good job, Goose!!

My cousins started swarming the pool :)

Webers in the house.

I love this.

For whatever reason, I felt like some of my favorites like Grandpa Wayne and Max were hanging with us this day too.

Amazing pic.

A storm was rolling in so everyone made a mad dash to get their kids and stuff together and to head out and get on the road. Tammy, Nicholas, and Christopher came the furthest. They came from a Chicago suburb and it took them around 3 hours one way to get here. Six hours of driving in one day just for me. Thank you friends so much for to that. I was SHOCKED when I saw you. I needed this.

Mikey, Erica, Molly, and Jack came 2 hours. Again, I was SHOCKED to see them. These kids are growing up so fast and I just feel like I am missing it. It was so good to get to see them and hang with them for awhile. Thank you guys for giving up your Sunday to spend it in the car and with me. You are amazing.

The Robinsons drove 4 hours round trip for this birthday fun. These boys are changing every single day. It is crazy. (Mitchell opted out of the picture but I feel certain it does not reflect the way he feels about his Aunt Sarah.) I love them all so much and don't know what I would do without them. Charlotte loves Mitchell and Carter and her Aunt Tracey. Thank you, friends, for coming.

John had a bit of a nap. Everyone is hustling and bustling all around him and he just snored. So funny.

Aunt Didi's family made it up for the big party. Naturally Didi was a maniac in the kitchen and made sure everything was in order. We had to tear her away from the dishes :) I love them all. Note the naked baby in the picture. He wouldn't let me put him down. Uncle Grant was outside hanging out with Dad during this picture but he was representing too :)

Uncle Jim's whole family came too. Grandma rode with them. I am so thankful that Ryan made such an amazing cake and that it made it the 2 hours and 20 minutes from Carrollton. It was so good to see everyone and it made me feel so special. (And Uncle Jim is my Godfather so it was an added bonus.) And Grandma, you don't let distance keep you from coming. THANK YOU!

And Aunt Kathy (and Katie) stayed another night. Aunt Kathy stayed at Mom and Dad's house and hung out. 

Katie came home with Alex and I. Mary and Chad also came over. We ordered pizza and watch the Cardinals game. We had an amazing weekend (despite from 6 am to 2 pm). I felt so much better halfway through the party. Alex really surprised me. I love all of you that came to celebrate the weekend with me. Thank you so much :)

31 isn't so bad. I don't feel 31. I feel 25. That's all that matters.