SURPRISE!!!!!!!!

Taylor's 30th birthday was last Thursday.

I decided long ago that I was going to throw him a surprise party. It took awhile to figure out just where we were going to fit 17 children and 18 Adults comfortably, what would be entertaining, and where we would be able to surprise him the most.

After pricing a few bowling Ally's, and other party places, Jungle jims came to mind. The kids would have a blast, and the adults would have a place to hang out I hoped it would be Perfect. Everyone but Taylor (and Megan) was in on the plan.
I can't believe it but we totally pulled it off, and he had no idea! Ali was even in on the secret for the past few weeks and didn't even slip once!

The plan went like this:

My sister Steph asked if she could take the girls for a few hours to have a little girls day out. When she picked them up, she mentioned that she wanted to go to her boyfriends house afterwards, and asked if we'd mind picking them up around 4.

She called a few minutes after they left to "let us know" that they were going to go to Jungle jims, and that we could just swing by and get the girls.

When he fell asleep on the couch I got nervous.

I hoped that he wouldn't suggest I go get them myself.

Thankfully Mattie woke up and I let him disturb Taylor's nap.

I was so antsy all the way to Jungle Jims, hoping that we wouldn't run into anyone in the parking lot, and hoping that I could casually convince him to come in and get them with me.

When we pulled up I turned off the car and asked innocently if he'd come with me, because "It was crowded and I didn't want to go alone". As we walked in, I prayed that he wouldn't notice all his siblings cars.. He said "hey isn't that your mom's car?", I shrugged and said," oh, she probably wanted to come watch the girls or something"

We walked in, and I made the mistake of walking over to the Birthday check in, I should have just walked him around it.. He was really confused when I answered "Taylor party" to the guy at the desk. Taylor wrinkled his nose and said "What? they aren't here for a party?" then he peered out through the crowd and noticed his sister Marcie standing up watching for him....

His face went bright red, and I walked him around the corner to where his Entire family (and a few of mine) were waiting there for him.

He said, "Honey!, what did you do!!!"

All the kids got passes to all the rides, pizza, soda, and tokens to play games with.

The Adults got to sit back and enjoy each others company

My Mom and Dad even played a few games! ( I thought they were entirely too cute not to take their picture. ) My Dad and Mattie played quite a few games together.. Mattie would hand him the ball to throw. So cute.

Stephanie was (as usual) my right hand gal... She bought the cake, ice cream, hats, and goods. She took the pictures of us coming in, and helped clean up, and made sure things were going smooth. (she's the best!)

our friend Keena and Chandler even came for the fun!

by the end, Meg was exhausted and coughing her lungs out. She passed out around 8 o'clock for the night.. She had so much fun.

Everyone had so much fun, and Taylor felt so good that his whole family came to surprise him.. It was so worth it.

Taylor said that he'd never had a surprise party in his whole life, and he was very surprised, and happy...
I thought it was hilarious when we all walked out to the parking lot and we had parked right next to his sister, and across from his parents very obvious jeep!