Combining Birthdays Combines the FUN, too!

                                                                                                        My two daughters were born almost two years apart, but exactly three weeks apart. So, as a single mother, I find it easier to get them to agree upon where they both wish to have the party. We live in a very rural area, so planning the party around Louisiana weather makes the INDOORS decision easy, but the actual location an issue! You can see by the photos who their 'BFFs' are, and ironically they're also sisters and the same ages! That makes things nice for their Mom, Tiffiny, and I!

Naturally, there were more girls than boys, and in this 'time of political correctness' (in a recession), it is required that every child in the class be invited, or no invitations can be passed out in class! With 20 children in each class, that was frightening to me @ $12 per child! I had hoped for maybe 10 or 12 to show, especially since another of Gabrielle's classmates was also having a party.
Well, the weather changed things drastically. The other classmate's Mom called me, sad for her son, who had planned an OUTDOOR party....so you know what that meant for us, since it rained! We ended up with 24 children (in addition to my own two); many of them calling to see if it was too late to come to our party!
Now, considering the fact that my 'Virgo' nature, has me there an hour EARLY, yet, the party ahead of us had arrived an hour LATE! I had called at 10:00 am, giving them PLENTY of time to prepare for the additional amount of children who would be joining our group. By nature, I am 1st: POLITE, 2nd: POLITELY RUDE, 3rd: RUDE, and yes, there is a 4th: UNPREDICTABLE, especially when it involves my children!

I wish I were extremely wealthy, for I would turn that Bowling Alley into a GOLD MINE! The manager stepped up, upon realizing the complacency of his employee at the counter. HE, of course, couldn't see anything but $$$$$$ (dollar signs), and began to bend over backwards to make us happy. Too many 'Southern Moms' coming up to that counter, who'd come early to help me (knowing that I am a single parent); and that's not what ANY man wants coming at him! LOL

I had reserved only two lanes, one for each daughter, but the manager made sure that we had three, and that every child there had their name on ONE of those lanes! It appeared that we simply took over the Bowling Alley (and in a way, we did). I was really proud that so many 'Dads' showed up with their children; and surprised that so many of these little country kids had never been bowling before! It was chaos, but I'd asked Pierson's Dad (Bob, whom I'd just met~for he is the father of Gabrielle's uh-hum, boyfriend) to take the video camera, so that I could take the still photos! He complied, and seemed to be grateful to be kept busy! He was able to capture everyone, for my head was spinning (and I was in pain and had no idea at that time, exactly WHY)!

We were given 2 hours for the party. The first hour was for the actual 'bowling', and the other hour was for hot dogs or pizza (we chose hot dogs~because I don't like eating cardboard with tomato sauce) and the cake, and gift opening. Of course, I wasn't surprised to find out (from the manager) that they didn't have enough hot dogs or buns, and he had to send someone to the store to get more! So we got extra hot dogs, as well!

THEN, it was time to sing "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and cut the cake. Unbeknownst to my children, Mommy had bought the 'trick' candles, which caused all of those little ones to go crazy! Bob discreetly told me NOT to eat any of the cake (for there were some wet sounding blows coming from some of the kids trying to help mine blow out the candles)! That was just too funny!

It was so refreshing to me to see my girls have so much fun, outside of school. Being not only a single parent, but an ONLY parent, makes it difficult to 'do' many things, due to my ultra busy schedule. It is a bit overwhelming, but they are my life! It was like Chrismas to my babies, and that didn't include the gifts they got from their friends! It was the sheer joy of having good clean FUN!

Let's ALL give THANKS for what we HAVE!

Now, when people think of Thanksgiving, it seems the TURKEY is the most important aspect. Well, this beautiful, healthy little girl, named LEAH JANE NAVE (my first Great Niece) was born just in time for all of us to be EXTRA thankful at this awesome time of year. She took her time, and the doctors finally induced her labor. My poor brother flies for Chevron, and was unable to be there (being late as she was), but how can you not look at such a beautiful little miracle like this and NOT SMILE???

Our immediate family is rather small (and slow moving on the making babies); so this little ANGEL is 'my' Grandmother's only Great Great Grandchild! My Grandmother is 93 years old, and thought she'd never see "ME" have children, much less the great grandchildren! Of course, we haven't been able to HOLD little Leah yet, but hoping that Christmas will be when that happens!

I'd printed a copy of a picture of Leah from my phone, and enlarged it for the "family circle of prayer" before we ate. Here in the south, we may not have other 'things' but we ALWAYS, and yes I mean ALWAYS have good food to eat, and plenty of it. My mother and I do all of the main dishes, and we make a 'list' of what we're making, so that cousins, my sister-in-law, and my Aunt, can decide what they'll bring.

I usually bake the turkey, but at 60c a lb, I bought a 22 pounder! And with the pains from the UTI, "I" couldn't lift it (the 4 times I would have needed); so I prepared it at my Mom's, and she baked it. We'd also ordered a 'Cajun Fried Turkey' (much smaller), and my Aunt baked a ham.  Add some veggie casseroles, my sweet potato casserole, baked macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes AND rice...it all comes down to YUM, but ends with TUMS!!

And of course Sandi had to make her Banana Split Brownie...not a calorie in it, UNTIL you try to eat the WHOLE thing! You bake the sheet brownie, spread Philadelphia cream cheese on top of that. Then add strawberries (sliced), bananas (sliced), pineapple chunks, and maraschino cherries. And if that doesn't sound good enough, add whipped cream on top of that, with cherries to decorate and add color, and OMG! I'm sighing just thinking about how miserably full I was but still hurried to get some before it disappeared!

I realize that the holidays can be a rather 'melancholy' time for many~especially those who have lost loved ones. There's an 'emptiness' in their eyes (and hearts); and we gather those relatives with us, to remind them that we love them, and we still have SO much to be truly thankful for! We still have each other!   =)