Turning 50! What a party surprise!

First off...I realized as I was uploading the pictures of my surprise birthday weekend that my family threw for me that their was not 1 picture of me "the birthday girl"...
Now for the story... I was quietly sitting at my computer Thursday evening distracted by facebook even though I should have been in bed. Earlier that evening Jessica, Larry, April, Jovie and I had gone to the 2nd movie of The Night at the Museum. Jessica wasn't talking that much so I figured she was excited about and thinking of her trip to see her other grandparent's that she was leaving for the next day. After the movie April told me that she had been invited to Joshua and Shannon's house so Jovie and Jessica could spend some time together before Jess left. I got to their house to drop them off and Jess gets out of her car and runs up to her door and says bye. That was it. I thought odd... I told her I should go in and say hi to her mom and dad plus help April take her stuff into their house. I had not wondered really why her bag was bigger and she was taking toys for Jovie to play with there. I figured that's nice they want to spend time together. I went in and was visiting for a few minutes and left for home. Now jump forward to me sitting at the computer... I hear a few quiet knocks on the door at 10:30pm. I was not going to answer the door but Ruby started barking and so I thought I'd better peak out the curtain to see who it was. I peak and man their were a lot of people outside my door in all sizes so I did a double take. Wait that looks like Gabe and Misty's other kids. I open the door and they all yell Surprise! Happy Birthday! Misty's, Rachel's, Joshua's, April's families and Larry were all here. I was surprised that's for sure:)I found out that is why Jessicea wasn't talking to me very much earlier is because she was afraid if she talked to me she would accidently give away the secret. LOL.
They came to celebrate my 50th birthday and spend 4th of July here. We had a packed fun filled weekend. The only thing that would have made it perfect is if I turned 50 when Michael was home from his mission:) He was missed.
Friday morning we went out to the garden and orchard to show the kids and let them pick fresh strawberries and cherries so they could eat them. They enjoyed doing that. Gabe said we grew the best. I couldn't put all the pictures in here but I have a few pictures of each activity we did.
Mae and Clara enjoying the cherries and strawberries.

Aria, Rachel, Sean and Nathan enjoying reading outside on our hammock.

Larry sharing his love of golf and holding a golf clinic with Nathan, Aria and Gabe.

Swim time!

I love Gabe's face in this picture.

Our three little girls with their mommies. These pictures tell a funny story I think.

Aria wanting in the picture.

Gabe wanting in the picture.

Chaos abounds literally 2 seconds later.

The girls and Larry threw a BBQ for my birthday dinner. It was delicious! Nope no pictures of that.
I thought I was in the clear this year. Michael was gone, no kids at home no fireworks. Truth be known I hate personal fireworks. I hate buying them and I hate lighting them off. Mostly the reason I hate them is that they are a potential fire hazzard. Lucky for me Rachel and Misty buys fireworks to let off later that night. I give them credit though they tell the salesman they can only get fireworks that are safe for their mom who hates fireworks. As one of the final cones was shooting off I hear Gabe say something like "now that's a birthday surprise one". So Gabe you softened my heart that night on the fireworks:). Plus I enjoyed watching everyone enjoy them.
Enjoying the show Rachel and Joshua are putting on for us.

Joshua getting into the sparklers. I actually like sparklers.

Gabe loved them. He was all boy when it came to these.

Mae testing out the sparkler with Rachel looking on. Don't you love seeing things through the eyes of your children?

Matt and Jovie. Jovie wasn't sure of what to make of this firework stuff.

Jovie, Matt and April.

Awwww Mae loves it! Sean, Rachel and April loving it too.

Nathan loving it!

What's a family gathering without playing scrabble? Not much:) The game is including the younger generation also. Scrabble and golf will be taught to the grand kids eh?

Rachel, Clara and Aria making my birthday breakfast with Misty looking on. Crepes! Yummy!!!

Future Chef? Clara is loving it.

Misty's birthday is 2 days before mine and since she was here I decided to give her her gift and I wanted to sing Happy Birthday to her so I put candles on her crepe.

Happy Birthday Misty!

4th of July at the Park. HOT!

Papa J is a softie. Mae wanted a balloon so Mae gets a balloon. Look how Happy she is:) We're here to please!

Clara loving on her Papa. Cute!

We decided to stay in town so we could watch the fireworks the city puts on so we hang out and Joshua and Shannon's until it's time to go. We ate leftovers from the day before, played bocci ballcroquet and badmitten. Some got in naps too. Here we are watching the fireworks. The kids LOVED them young and old alike.

Maybe I'll turn 50 every year... Thanks family!