The Top Eleven Ways to have a Surprise Party.....

You can read all about my love of surprise parties here. We are going to a surprise party tonight, but right now it's raining so hard we can hardly hear each other talk:

Yikes, Missouri!

This past summer's theme seemed to be "Surprise! It's Your Birthday Party!".  Since I went to quite a few of these parties, I'm kind of an expert- you'd really do well to listen to me. So without further ado, here are my Top Eleven ways to have a kick-ass birthday party: 

1. Make sure there is actually someone that wants to throw a surprise birthday party.

In Michele's case, it was her good looking kids that pulled everything together.

2. Beautiful birthday signs are always a hit, and the birthday girl (or boy) can take it home as a memento! Hannah and I made this sign for her mom, Joni. 

3. Don't forget the cake!

 4. Adult refreshments should be abundant:

The birthday hat is optional, but my father-in-law wanted to celebrate 50 in style.

5. It's always fun to tell stories to the birthday honoree. I'm actually telling the story here, not listening, despite my shocked face. It was about Hannah, which is why she's covering her face with horror, and her mom is trying desperately not to laugh at her.

"....and then I said: Hannah! What the hell are you doing?!"

6. Family members should definitely be involved: 

Can you tell they are sisters?

7. Don't forget the cake!!!

8. You should always sing happy birthday: 

9. A happy host or hostess, is the best kind of host:

Hi Carrie! You sure are a great hostess, and your house should be in a magazine!

10. A table full of delicious food makes the mood perfect for good conversations:  

Does this remind anyone else of Da Vinci's "The Last Supper"?

11. And finally, whatever else you do, just DO NOT forget the cake:

Ok. Ok. Ok.  You're right. I know, it's NOT always about the cake, I mean.....

....sometimes it's cupcakes!

9 Ways you know you are married to a baseball coach

9 Ways you know you are married to 

a baseball coach:

1. The bed in your spare bedroom turns into make-shift closet with uniforms, sweatshirts, pants, hats,etc.

Honestly, I did not stage or adjust the stuff on the bed in ANY way...I can't even be mad at him, I'm actually kind of impressed at his "organized chaos." Does anyone want to come spend the night at our house?


2. There are boxes and boxes of baseball related paraphernalia lying around your house....
 

 

See what I mean? 

3. You know the exact order he gets dressed in because of his superstitions....

....so does your boxer, Layla

3. You get to listen and learn about bunt defenses:

"OK! So normally the guy on first is standing like this"

"Hey! Are you taking my picture?"

"fine, whatever. So anyways, the guy on first is responsible for........"

4. This view is permanently in your brain from March until June...

5. When he takes off his shoes after windy thus dusty practice, he looks like he is wearing a pair of hairy leggings:

6. You think you have the team signs figured out, only to realize they are way more complex than you realized. Then you sadly realize you'll never learn them in a million years no matter how many times he's explained them to you:

Bunt! No...hit and run!! ummm....nevermind

7. You have more baseball related t-shirts than you know what to do with... 

8. You look at this picture & know this bat is actually called a 'fungo'; and you know exactly which part of the pre-game warm up the team is in: 

9. You look at a picture like this, sit back and think.....

Man! He really needs a haircut!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!