Emily, Ansley, and Bailey's Birthday Party 2009

On the afternoon of December 5, 2009 we dressed the girls in their birthday outfits. Then John and Emily left to pick up the cakes and ice on the way to the party and the twins and I left to pick up the pizza.


When we arrived at Sports Club Kids we happen to run in to Leslie and Blake on the way in. We all checked in and the girls, Blake, and Leslie headed to one of the game rooms while John started unloading the car and I started setting up some of our stuff. While we were getting ready, one of the party coordinators helped the girls with putting their hand prints in paint on the "Wall of Fame".

Before we knew it guest started heading in and the kids had a great time playing in the various rooms. When it was time to start the activities the party coordinators started with the giant parachute. The kids had a great time running under it, bouncing stuff on it, and playing. One of the parachute games was to run under when your birthday month was called. They started with the birthday girls and then moved on by months. It was so cute that Bailey would run under every time. She liked to think it was always her birthday =)

After we were done with the parachute games, we divided up into two groups. John, Emily, and Ansley were in one group with lots of friends while Bailey and I were in another group. John's group stayed in the main room while Bailey's group and I headed into the art room. While we were in there the girls made princess crowns by coloring with markers, gluing beads, and gluing jewels on them and the boys made wooden cars.


Out in the main room the kids had a blast playing musical dress up, dancing, and other various games. Once the two groups were done with their activities, we rotated so that all the groups had time in the main room, the art room, and the gym where they went through the Dora the Explorer obstacle course. Once the activities finished up we all headed for the party room where the kids ate pizza, cheese balls, and juice boxes. Once the food was finished we took turns singing "Happy Birthday". This year we started with Bailey since the prior year we went in birth order.



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After cake, all the kids disbursed to play in the various rooms until the party was done. The kids were having such a blast it was hard to pull them away.

Once the car was loaded we headed to Simpsonville to meet up with John, Emily, and Walker at McDonald's for the wind down after party. The kids had fun running around and even having a second dinner.

After McDonald's we headed home where the kids started in on the massive pile of presents.

Emily, Ansley, and Bailey's Birthday Party at Pump it Up 12-13-08

For Emily's 5th birthday and Ansley and Bailey's 2nd birth day we went to Pump it Up for a big blow out. Due to lots of family that lives in Greenville, great friends, and school buddies, we had a record number of kids. They all had a great time jumping. Emily and Bailey were the crazy jumpers/sliding fools!!! Ansley for the most part took the more laid back approach and stayed with Grandmommy Dee some.

Once we were all done jumping we headed to the party room where we took turns singing happy birthday to each of the girls and enjoying pizza and the 60+ cupcakes that John and I decorated. After food, we took some time to let the girls open a few presents before packing it up.

Mom's 60th Birthday

On Tuesday August 5th, Mom turned 60. Since I was in the office, she came to meet me for lunch and then in the evening, her and Dave came over to our house for some cake. When they arrived everyone was excited to see them. We started by lighting the candles on the cake, singing Happy Birthday, and then everyone enjoyed ice cream cake. Except Emily who enjoyed just ice cream. Unlike normal times, Mom really dug in to the cake, with the help of Bailey. Afterwards we all visited.

Lilly and Sophia's Birthday Party

On Saturday Afternoon, Emily and I took a ride over to Marna's house for Lilly and Sophia's birthday party. When we arrived we were greeted by Lilly and given lays to wear, since it was a pool party. At first the kids played in the pool a little while and then took a break to eat and work on making mugs they could draw on. Afterwards it was back into the pool. The last time we had been over there, Emily kept saying she wanted to jump off the diving board, but was too scared to jump. However, she decided she was ready to take her first jump to Daddy who was in the deep end to catch her. After that, she was hooked. She jumped too many times to count to Daddy, me, and Mason. After a while it was time for cake and presents. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Around 7, we changed our clothing, and Emily, me, Daddy, Katrina, Megan, and Blake all headed to the mall to play. We stayed for a while to play and then headed home.

John's 34th Birthday

John turned the big 34 today =) Oh how the years fly by.

At lunch I met John up at Liquid Systems. For his birthday I had tried to get him a membership to the Greenville Gun Club, but it turned out I had to write a letter and get him on the waiting list. So as a consolation prize, I brought John a play gun that shot balls and a big cookie cake. He immediately got the gun out and started shooting every one at LSI. For lunch, he picked Flat Rock and we enjoyed a nice lunch.


That afternoon, the girls and I headed to the Jefferson's. We picked up pizzas and brought them with us for dinner. We all enjoyed dinner and then sang Happy Birthday to John and had cookie cake.

Helen's 1st Birthday Party at Heritage Park 4-26-08

It is so hard to believe, but our good friend Kim's daughter, Helen had her 1st birthday today. Time is really flying!!!

When we arrived at Heritage Park, we were one of the first ones, so the girls and I made our way over to the shelter where Allen was setting up for the party. I spread the blanket out and let the girls play while everyone arrived. Once the group was there, we all made our way over to the train. Ansley and Emily rode with Vallery and Melissa, while Addison (Melissa's daughter) and Bailey rode with me. We made several loops around the track and the girls were all very excited. After the train ride we all walked over to the play ground to let the kids play for a while. Ansley was happy to hang out with Heidi and Scott on the family swing, while Valley and Emily ran around some. Bailey also decided to check out the equipment some. Unfortunately for Ansley and Heidi, Ansley got sick on the swing (motion sickness) so Melissa attended to Bailey while I got Ansley fixed up.


Soon it was time for everyone to head back from the playground in order to eat. We all enjoyed hotdogs. Ansley, Bailey, and Hellen were very cute sitting at the little table eating their food =) Soon it was the big moment to sing Happy Birthday. Hellen defiantly followed in Ansley's footsteps by picking at her cake vs. diving in. However, once they handed her a cupcake she went all in. Since it was getting close to nap time, we said our goodbyes and headed home.

The Girls' Birthday Party at Jump Zone

On Saturday morning, December 8th, Emily, Ansley and Bailey had their birthday party with lots of family of friends at Jump Zone starting at 10:00 am. Our day started out as most Saturday's do with our early morning greeting from Emily. Since we wanted Ansley and Bailey to take their morning naps before the party we woke them up after Emily got up. We had a great breakfast, Emily's favorite, pancakes and then gave the little ones baths. After a little while we put them down for a nap and while John, Emily and I got showers and dressed for the party. Before we knew it, it was time to get the little ones ready for the party and we were off. John and Emily rode in his truck and the little ones and I rode in the van so that we would be able to divide up when the party was over if needed. When Ansley and Bailey arrived at Jump Zone, we got out of the car and we were soon greeted by Mom and Dave. We all went inside to check in. While we were doing that, John and Emily arrived. Emily was so excited to be there so she took off her shoes and was off to play. While Mom and John watched the little ones, I started unloading the car. On my last trip out, Kim, Alan, and Helen arrived. They helped me make the last trip in to the party room with the various party stuff and then we all went out to the arena. Helen seemed amazed to look at all the stuff. All of us talked and let the little ones play on the floor some. Before long, Justin, Emily's friend from school arrived. Emily came up and gave him a big hug and then they were off!! They were soon followed by a whole variety of people. The party attendants were as follows, Alan, Kim, and Helen Walker, Justin from Emily's class and his dad, Marna, Jim, Lilly, Sophia, Mason, and Sydney Marow, Joy and Carson Wright, Melissa, Dave, and Addison Cooper, Stef and Walker Jefferson, Valery, Scott, Brandon, and Heidi Phillips, Todd, Stacy, Tori, and Colin Goldsmith, Will and Mary Pate, Ian Bondurant, Grandmommy and Grandaddy Dyenson, Grandmommy and Grandaddy Sizemore, Granny and Jennifer Beaver, Kyle Marler and his dad (Emily's friend from school), Regan, Mandy, and Webber (Emily's best friend who has been in her class since she has been at Mauldin), Lauren and Susan Huber, Beth and Megan Jefferson, Alycia and Christian Nielson, and Blake and Leslie Barton. While we were in the party room, all the kids seemed to have a blast!!! John, I, and various people took turns holding the babies and playing with the kids. While in the party room, Bailey and I took a turn in one of the jump houses along with Colin. Ansley, John, Sydney, and I took Ansley in another jump house. And Emily and I went up the big pirate slide together and slid down. Around 11:15 it was time to head back in to the party room. Since Ansley and Bailey were also getting hungry, they enjoyed some Cheerios, cheeze-its, and chef-boy-r-d, while all the kids and some adults ate pizza. After pizza we sang happy birthday to all the girls and it was cake time. Each one had their own little cake that we let them have. Bailey though it was great and immediately started playing with it. She had the greatest time smearing it all over the high chair, her face, her hair, and even managed to eat some. Emily decided that even though she was 4 she would do pretty much the same as Bailey, minus the high chair =) Her favorite part of cake is the icing so she smeared it all over her face and licked it. Surprisingly, Ansley was very particular about the cake, only taking small, delicate pieces with her fingers. Needless to say after the party, her cake was the only one that looked barley touched vs. the other two that were destroyed. After covering herself in cake and icing, Bailey was ready to get out of her chair. Mom got her and took her to the bathroom to attempt getting some of the icing off. Since time was almost out, Emily sat in the big castle chair for a few minutes to open a couple of her gifts, while John passed out the party bags for the big kids and I passed out the ones for the little kids. It was then time to say goodbye to everyone and load up the car. Since I had to take care of some stuff, John headed home with Emily, and mom took Ansley to her house. After things were loaded, I payed, and we visited with the remaining few, Bailey and I headed home. When we arrived, Emily was down for her nap, but Bailey was wide open, so we let her open and play with a few of her new toys. After a while, she was tired and so she went down for a nap. After Emily's nap, she helped in opening/playing with the rest of the gifts.

Alli's 7th Birthday Party

Saturday, November 24th, Ansley, Bailey, Emily, and I all went to Alli's 7th birthday party. It was over at the house Gran and his parents are getting ready to move in to in Mauldin. When we arrived everyone was already there since we were running late due to naps. We came in through the entrance in the basement (that is where everything was set up for the party). It was a "Dance Party" with a Hanna Montana theme (that is Alli's current craze). We were just in time for the cake. After the cake was cut, the kids enjoyed hitting the pinyatta. After several attempts, it was not broken, so Kelli opened it up and the candy went flying. The kids hurried to get candy in their bags. After that, the kids just enjoyed playing for a while, until it was time to head home around 5:30.

Allan's 30th Birthday Party

Saturday evening at 7:00 pm Emily, Ansley, Bailey, and I drove over to Kim's house for Allan's 30th birthday party. When we arrived we were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Walker and Helen. They had stayed at Kim and Allan's while the group had gone bowling (The party started at 5:00 at the Golden Strip Bowling Lanes. We did not go since the babies were too young.). Soon after we arrived Kim arrived home with the pizza. After Kim came in, several people started arriving, including Heidi, Scott, Valery, and Brandon. The kids were excited to see one another and started playing. Ansley and Bailey really enjoyed playing with their friend Helen on the floor.
After playing a while, the kids were ready to eat some pizza and then it was time to sing happy birthday to Allen. It was quite the display with all 30 candle =) Once we sang happy birthday and Allen blew out the candles, it was time to cut the cake. Kim was having problems cutting the cake so Heidi and Scott took the babies and I cut the cake. Everyone ate cake and then we played a very fun game about who knew Allen the best. His parents won!! By that time it was time to head home with the kids so Kim and her niece Clooie helped us out to the car and we were off from home. It was a very fun night!!

Carson's Birthday Party

After spending a few days at Lake Keowee with Mom, Ansley Emily, and I drove back to Greenville Friday afternoon. Mom wanted to keep one of the girls, so Bailey stayed with her. The next morning we went to a birthday party for Carson Wright (Joy, my friend and co-worker's little boy) at The Jump Zone off Pelham Rd. While we were there all the kids had a great time!!! Ansley especially enjoyed playing with the beads on the wall and Emily wanted to dance and jump. After jumping was over we all had pizza and cake.

Walker's Birthday Party

On Saturday, September 22nd, John, Emily, Ansley, Bailey, and I attended Walker's birthday party. When we arrived we were the first guest so we visited with Stef and her mom for a little while. Walker and Emily started playing and having a great time!! At the party were a few friends of Walker's from church, Todd, Stacy, Tori, and Collin, Walker's aunt, Megan, and Beth. It was our first time going to Jump Zone. It was neat to be able to see it, since I had booked Emily, Ansley, and Bailey's party there prior to Jump Zone's grand opening for their birthdays in December. It was great to see Megan since it had been a little while. She really enjoyed to chance to hold Bailey. After playing for a while, the kids went to the party room for pizza and cake.