Jacob's 30th Birthday - Surprise!

Jacob's actual birthday, he worked till 10:30pm - so not much happened. 

He got little gifts from us and a yummy breakfast and went to work.

 The boys and I spent the rest of the day making food and a cake for his surprise party -
that we hid in our neighbor's fridge!

The next day all "three" of my boys kept making messes around the house and even though I was trying to very nonchalantly follow behind them picking up / sweeping up / wiping up, etc, etc. the messes. I was freaking out inside because there was going to be a party at our place in a few hours and I couldn't communicate that to Jacob. Finally - when I was about to lose it - I said something like,
"Ya know, I am so so frustrated that this house is so messy right now! I really just need some time to myself to clean because it is making me grumpy living in it!"
Annoyed, but not clueless, Jake took the boys to the park to practice baseball before Luke's first T-Ball game. Whew! I was able to finish cleaning.
THEN - Luke had his first T-Ball game! Hooray! Can you see the excitement on his face?!?!

This sports maniac, self-proclaimed "All Star," born athlete was on his way to his FIRST organized Little League game. It was a big deal in this family!

Luke literally believes that the only way to TRULY play baseball is to slide in to home plate. EVERY time! Ha! Here he is doing it his second time of the game . . .  :)

Some friends from our ward live around the corner from us (and the baseball diamond) and they were sooo nice to come see Luke play ball. (They were nice - but it was more than that. It was the beginning of my plan to keep Jake out of the house so I could finish food and decorate!) 

Mike .  Simon .  Jenny . Ada

"Somehow" we all decided the dads should take the kids to the playground around the corner after the game, while I walked back to Jenny's house to "help her finish decorating her master bedroom." Right!

Jenny helped me get everything finished and a couple friends showed up a bit early and helped with the streamers. Mike was awesome and got Jacob home at the exact time we had hoped! Thanks, Kimballs!

Yummy food: Buffalo chicken dip, Ranch potato wedges, fruit and dip and more appetizers friends brought. 

I decided to have coloring tables set up on the deck for the kids. It ended up being a big hit - and kept tons of little ones out from under our feet. (Our place isn't really meant to hold 41 people at once!!!)

Yeah, we had 37 friends come to the party - including their kids. Pretty great turn out! :) 

Only it didn't work for the babies . . . :) 

We played a speed version of Family Feud - guys against girls - and it was hilarious! 

(No pictures of that since I was the "game show host!")

I don't even want to know how much junk food and soda my kids consumed during the 3 1/2 hours we had company. Friends were pouring them drinks and I found things like THIS going on . . . 

Swell.

Well, at least he was sharing!

I made this wreath 2 days before the party. I am in love with it!

It was so easy and super inexpensive.

Jacob's mom was so awesome and sent a pizza party to our door!  Thanks, Liz!

We decided to eat on the front porch and as our neighbors on BOTH sides came out - Jake invited them to join us. It was a fun little spontaneous bock party! :)

THEN - we got the kids bathed and in bed and my friend Bethany came over to stay with the kids while we went to see the local production of . . . 

Jacob insisted on using his birthday money to go see it.

Any of you who know our love story will understand why. 

Those of you who don't - here's the nutshell version:

I was starring in this show when we met and as he listened to "Emile" sing to me: 

"Once you have found her never let her go . . . " he thought to himself - "He's right! I cannot let this girl go!" He wrote the line of the song on a ripped piece of the program and kept it in his wallet. He pulled it out the night he proposed. I have that phrase engraved on the inside of his ring.

So, even though it was hard to watch someone else play the role - it was fantastic to rekindle our love story - with the story that started it all!

Happy Birthday, Lover!