Spencer's Birthday Party

Wow.  I haven't written about Spencer's party...and I think it is mostly due to the fact that I am just getting my energy back from it!  :)

Let me do a little background:  I had planned this party for months.  Really.  Not an every single day thing, but it was rolling around in my mind and I knew what I wanted and where I wanted to go with it. 

Well, the night before, Luke and I decided to go to a movie for my birthday.  We weren't out too late, but by the time we got home, I was only able to bake the cake and do a few random things to get everything in order and we did have a chance to set up the garage (we are STILL only able to park one car...).  Anyway, for those that know me...know that I am a night owl and wanted to stay up and finish everything...or at least try.  Luke convinced me otherwise and we headed for bed.

The next morning we had planned on waking up fairly early and getting things ready.  Well....the kids slept in, WE SLEPT in..and Luke wanted to mow the lawn.  WHAT?!?!  Mow the lawn?  Hello, I knew it was going to rain, that we were going to have a BBQ later with quite a few people (50) and he wanted it to look nice, but SERIOUSLY?!             I had a cake to finish, an ENTIRE house to clean, bake beans to make, kids to get ready, decorations to put up.  This is NOT an exaggeration.  I had all of these things and he wanted to mow the lawn.  Breathe.

He promised me it would take 1 hour to finish it.  Ok, 10 a.m., not too bad, the party starts at 11..and he can help me with the bathrooms.  He promised.  Well, 10:45 rolls around and he is still.not.done.   I start my freaking out, but don't say anything...and he comes racing it at 10:54 w/Spencer to take a shower.  A SHOWER?!  Seriously?  I know he is sweaty, but he is in charge of the registration desk...

the FIRST thing people see when they get  there.  He has to hand out their "racing licenses"! ( I was SUPER excited about these...they were so fun to make!  We then laminated them and bought lanyards to put them around their necks!)

Alright.  If you have gotten this far, then it is safe to say that we weren't exactly on the best terms.  We weren't angry with each other, but I was slightly bugged, especially since he STILL had to go and get ice and ice cream. 

Let's fast forward a bit.  We did registration.  We colored race cars.

Raced them down a ramp.   Raced cardboard box cars in the backyard,       made rice crispy cars, colored car pictures,

among other things. 

Whew.  We were exhausted...but what's that?  It is only 11:45?!  What are we supposed to do for another HOUR?  We sent them down to the basement (it was raining).  10 minutes. 

Turned on Cars movie..that lasted about 3 minutes.

   Then a sweet little girl turned to me and said, "Can we have cake?"  Uhhh...small dilemma since we didn't have ice cream yet and some of the kids couldn't have cake.  What is a mom to do?   I hemmed and hawed a few minutes and then said in typical mom style, "In a few minutes." 

I sent Luke to the store and that is when Spencer asked for the 245th time whether he could open presents or not. 

YES!!  Sounds good!  So back out to the garage we went...and we started opening presents.  This turned into a bit of a event!  The kids were passing presents to him as fast as they could, they were all running around  and I couldn't hear anything...until the garage door opened and in walks Luke.  He was a little upset.  Ok.  A lot upset.  I had opened presents WITHOUT him.  Uhhh...what is a wife to do?  I felt bad, of course, but at the same time, I had taken video of it...AND you spent 2 HOURS on the lawn.  Are we even?  I would say yes.  (He would still say no :)

After that, the sweet girl came up and asked again for cake..so since Luke WAS home, we sang and cut the cake.  It was pretty good.  Not so pretty, but yummy no less! 

Then the parents and siblings started showing up and all of my stress was gone.  Really.  It was replaced with pure calmness.  Like a light switch.  They were there for the BBQ and to take their kids back.  DON'T GET ME WRONG!  We all had a great time...but 2 hours is way. too. long. Especially for a 4-year old BOY  birthday party AND on a rainy, somewhat humid day.

All-in-all?  The food was fantastic and we had a blast with everyone there.  We will definitely be having several parties and BBQ's in the future....birthday parties?  Not so much!  ;)

        

P.S. Just for the record I do love all of the kids that came.  really.  They were all well behaved and good kids..  it was luke and I that were at fault...a movie?  the night before a party?  never again.  we should've done the party somewhere else like Livi's..no clean up and no fuss...next time. next time.  So..who's up for another BBQ? :)