Listing busy

Okay, so after my last post I DID make a few great lists: what was happening each day, what needed to be done each day, etc.

A quick synopsis, plus a few pics:

Thurs 9pm: Bountiful Baskets conference call that ended up to be an hour.

Fri 6:30pm: ward potluck

Fri 6:30pm: Double Dream Hands flash mob practice in Renton

(yeah, I know. there was talk of the practice being cancelled, so we did the potluck.)

Sat 10am: niece's baptism 45min away

Sat 12pm: Abby & Alex's combined birthday party at the aquatic center

Sat 3pm: take Abby to a friend's party

Sat 5:30pm: DDH flash mob final practice here in town

Sat 6:30pm: DDH flash mob performance at mall

Sat 7:00pm: pick up Abby from party

But as I lay in bed at 7:30 that morning thinking of the schedule, I realized that driving 45 minutes north, staying for the baptism, then driving 45 minutes back would leave us ZERO time to change, cut watermelon, gather last-minute things and get to the pool EARLY. Crud. So I called my sister-in-law, who was very understanding. Poop. I still didn't want to miss it.

We were 15 minutes later for the party than I'd intended (not my fault--lateness around here is due to certain people underestimating how much time it REALLY takes to get kids ready, rounded up, loaded & buckled up), so of course, I was snappy & stressed. Not too bad, though.

The party:

Get there, check in, find out I can pay for the total # of attendees later in the day when everything is more settled *whew*, send Hubby & kids to the pool with the 3 guests who arrived before us. Set up party room (thanks again, Marie!):

(cupcake idea courtesy of Family Fun magazine--of course!)


After a bit of swimming, call the kids in for a super-rushed cake/presents episode. Ab & Alex didn't get to eat. They blew out their candles, then opened gifts. Poor kids. I only rented the room for an hour, so I had to get our stuff out of there. Send the kids back to the pool for the last hour.


For the record, the party room came with the wall decor. I'm not completely nuts.


6 10-year-olds



6 8-year-olds

I cleaned & moved stuff frantically, trying to keep Cora with me. She kept leaving because she wanted to "tim. Dad." Of course! She had a blast, and so did Lee.

The older girls all spent most of their time in the deep pool & the water slide (Dad wins a huge award for taking Ab to the pool 4 times the week prior so she could pass her swim test. Yay Dad!) The boys hung out in the 3'-4' area, and the younger 2 needed to be within arms' reach all the time. That was boring, but it worked out okay.

In all, it was a fun party.

We got everyone showered, dressed and placed with the right parent, then came home. We brought one of the girls Sheri, then her mom took Abby and her to the other party while we put together Alex's new WWE toys. *eye roll*

I don't have pics or a video of the birthday flash mob, so I think I'll hold off until I do. It's the lamest, most ridiculous dance, but it ended up to be fun--anything is with my Ladies!