Weekend of Surprises!!!!

The weekend started around 30degrees and ended at a perfect 60 degrees:)
I flew back for my Dads 50th Birthday Surprise Party. Only the party didn't end up being a surprise but I was. My dad had no idea that I was flying in. With a few flight delays I flew in even later than we originally had planned. Thankfully Mom was still able to pick me up at the airport but Im sure dad had to think something was up with her going out so late!!!
I left one of his Bday presents on the kitchen counter with a sticky note on it, just so I didn't scare him to death when he thought he was home alone!
You could tell it really meant a lot to him. I enjoyed being able to see his reaction as he read thru the scrapbook I put together for him. I really had some help from some great people! Thank you Mom and Grandma Pat for such AWESOME pictures! Grandma I seriously don't know how you did it, man Dad was a big baby! Almost 13 pounds! Thank you Kenny and Scott for some fun River pictures. Greg and Ryan helped come up with some pretty "creative" theme pages. I have to say everyone loved your "Thoms Stach" page Greg:)I had so many pictures it was hard to choose which ones to use but I think it all came together.
It just so happened that my friend Lynnelle was getting ready to celebrate her big 30th bday. I had mentioned I would be in town and would like to meet up with her but she had no idea that I would be at her surprise bday party. Her mom called and invited friends to surprise her at the Casey's in Evansdale. She put together this nice slide show of pictures from Lynnelle's childhood. Lynnelle was the coolest in the 80's for sure! I had a blast with her and friends as you will see in the pictures. We find ways to entertain ourselves. I have to say the caseys in Evansdale is pretty nice! Very spacious, they did a great job updating the place!
We got things in order for Dads party. Mom found the perfect picture of dad to put on his Bday cake. Its actually the picture from his Bday last year at Margaritaville. Since hes into little creepy crawlers and his bday is in October mom made a special spice cake for dad. We had a great turn out and more than enough food!!! Mom you did a fantastic job decorating and planning! You were a wonderful host! Everyone had a great time and it looks like almost everyone signed the guest book (inside joke):)Ryan since your in Israel I signed your name, even though technically you WERE at the party. Man I love Skype!
It was a little chilly in the evening but we started a fire and just moved the party outdoors. That's why we invented beer cozies to keep your fingers warm right Lisa:) There was a HUGE show going on outside when the fire first started. All I could hear was Eric's dramatic laugh and everyone had their faces pressed against the bay window. I finally was able to look out and saw that "the guys" had taken the for sale sign my parents had out front and threw all the fliers my dad had just put out there in to the pit for kindling. They were thinking of just throwing the for sale sign in there too:) HA! The pictures say a lot but man if you could hear some of the conversations you would be laughing so hard you were crying I know I was!!!! Thanks for the story Al!!
Yes I colored my hair and no it was not intended to be this dark. I did acquire a nickname this last trip, Elvira. Apparently there is even an Elvira song that everyone kept serenading me with. I had never heard it before. I may just go as Elvira for Halloween, it would help explain the hair:)
Mom and I were able to spend some time together and took a day hike up at Hartman Reserve. We checked out the little creepy Crawler center (mainly little garter snakes and salamanders). The leaves were changing colors and we set the timer and used the nifty gorilla tripod to capture some fun moments.
We ran into the same scenario as we did when trying to capture ourselves jumping into the pool. Our timing is just totally off So we only got a few pictures of us throwing up leaves. Next time I will just record it and then take a still picture. I'm sure everyone thought we were crazy as we were posing and staring off into the woods since they didn't always know that their was a camera wrapped around a tree taking our picture:)
The pictures turned out beautiful, I think between the two of us we had at least 100 pictures. The colors were breath taking and we couldn't have asked for nicer weather, it was 60!!!
Of course we had to stop and get lunch at Jimmy Johns before hand YUMMY!
We headed home, ordered Chinese and carved a cute pumpkin. Mom did the hard part of cutting the top out, I cleaned it and free handed it. It was fun and turned out cool.
I really don't know how I packed so much fun into the shortest trip ever. I wont lie I am totally exhausted but it was just a great time. I saw so many family members and friends and I'm really thankful for that.