Birthday Party and a Surprise Visitor!

For the past month Danika has been bringing up "Grandfriends Day" that their school puts on every year. She was pretty upset because "everyone else will have their grand parents there!" So I mentioned it to mom and she booked herself a flight out to surprise the girls! It was also conveniently our birthday weekend, so it was a perfect time to fly out. 

The morning I picked up mom, I didn't tell the girls what we were doing, other then that we had to go to Costco. On our way we took a pit stop to "watch the planes land" and Adessa didn't question. When grandma walked by, Adessa was staring at her and my mom kept walking. Until I said who is that?! Adessa looks at grandma and says, "Where were you going?" it was pretty hilarious! 

After school that day grandma hid in the backyard and shocked Danika! It was so cute! 

 The girls were happy to have grandma with them for grand friends day and mom went to the school to be showed around and for a BBQ lunch. Apparently though the girls were more interested in their own friends and Ms. Adessa didn't want to be touched by grandma... which happens with Steve and I and Adessa in public too... the girl is already embarrassed! 

Took Grandma on a few walks/hikes. One morning while the two older girls were in school I took her for the three hour hike to Mt. Tzhouhalem. It was a gorgeous morning and I loved having my mom with me. Amara hiked majority of the way and kept us entertained. 

Grandma came loaded with birthday gifts and Danika got some beautiful clothes and soccer nets for the backyard, which we have been having lots of fun with! She always spoils us rotten!

Friday after school Danika's birthday party started! 10 little girls in the house... thankful my mom was here to help! She is the party girl! 

The fun pre-dinner snack... the girls loved it! Fruit kabobs stuck into a watermelon. 

Dakota... our extra guest for the next 6 weeks. He was flown out while Leah and Zach went to Europe. He is such a good dog! Meeko loves having a buddy!

Mom and I planned a really fun scavenger hunt for the girls all over the yard- front and back. And their final clue was to dig up their box of treasure, which contained matching shirts, candy and glow sticks! 

The matching girls! 

Dinner was nachos out on the patio... gorgeous weather! 

Adessa's little buddies who left right before the sleepover. 

My beautiful 9 year old! 

 The little kid table

Opening presents

 So many good friends and fun presents!

This girl loves attention... and was the center of attention for much of the party! She is very loved!

No cake for this birthday girl... she just wanted ice cream, so we made a delicious Sundae bar! 

Happy Birthday Danika!!! 

These 2 kept sneaking back for more candy and whipped cream! 

Once again being a little goof... sticking her cone to her nose!

After a soccer game, bouncing on the trampoline and a giant dance party/ game of musical chairs it was time for a campfire! (I love my backyard!)

Missed taking a picture of the giant sleepover party, but after a little bit of a movie I put these tired out girls to bed. In the morning there was pancakes, whipped cream and fruit! Not easy feeding this crew of girls with gluten free and lactose free allergies!
And that could have been the end of the party... it was fun enough, but then I decided to be crazy and we took them to Open house at Camp Qwanoes! Hence the matching shirts... so I could see them all! 

There was so many fun things for the kids to do! Amara loved the bouncy castle slide and was a pro climbing it!

After our free lunch we walked down to the aqua park where the girls played for quite a while... they loved it!

Grandma and I stayed on the beach with the little ones

Highlights of the party!

Saturday night after the craziness died down and Steve returned from his fishing trip (he got "off the hook" for helping with the party... lucky boy!) mom and I went out for my birthday dinner. She took me out to our friends pub on the ocean and we had a nice evening together... except for the part owner sitting and visiting with us for the majority of the time! 

In the morning my girls had the table beautifully set and had beautiful cards made for me. We got ready for church and dropped my mom off at the airport before we said our goodbyes!