Jack ‘n Tracie

Two days of fun actually.

On the 17th we went to see Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Which is arguably the best movie ever made. We left with our jaws on the ground.) That was the treat we did on Kevin’s Birthday.

Last night we had a scheduled birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheeses for Melissa, Kevin, and one friend each. (Jordan and Mackenzie, their neighbor friends.)

Ralph, Denise, Grandma Carolyn and Papa Bob showed up as well to join in the celebration.

We had the kids sit at the table while we brought in the presents and worked out the details of the party with our host. I glanced over and took mental inventory of the kids present:

Kevin (Check), Melissa (Check), Cody (Check), Jordan (Check), Mackenzie (Check), Some random little girl (Check), Grandma (Check), Grandpa (Check), Ralph (Check), Denise (Check)…. blink blink… hmmm… something wasn’t right here… So I glance over at the random little girl and I say “What’s your name?” Melissa says “This is my friend Echo”

I glance around to look for Echo’s parents, perhaps they are at another birthday party at another table, there were about 5 other parties going on at the same time. Nope.. no parents to be found anywhere, and she was here as Melissa’s guest. How nice! The only odd thing about this was that we had told Melissa she couldn’t invite more than one friend, and Echo’s parents dropped her off there without even MEETING us or verifying that we were there. I was shocked that Melissa even knew what time and place to tell Echo to get dropped off!

Tracie and I marvelled at this for a second, then went about ordering an extra setting and gift bag to make sure Echo was covered in the festivities.

The kids each got a cup full of tokens to play games and go on rides and we finished getting the food ordered and the table prepared.

Our two youngest came down with colds during the past few weeks, but managed to have some fun regardless. Casey was running at about 80% of his normal cheer and energy as he was just getting over his cold, and Cody was running at about 40% of his and wound up glued to me for most of the night. Little sickies are such snuggle bugs. /sniff

Even though Cody was sick, he was a force to be reckoned with at the Whack-A-Mole game, and I’m certain he would have annhilated those little critters with his hammer if he’d been feeling a little better!

After we finished eating our dinner we got to play some more while they cleaned up. Then we were called back to the table for cake and presents. The big mouse Chuck-E came over and they did a huge singing and dancing presentation for Kevin and Melissa! (Both of whom were too bashful to get up and dance with him even though we kept begging them to get up!)

This was the year of the motherload for Kevin and Melissa.

Kevin scored a new portable stereo, a CD, some clothes and various toys (Including a cool air powered glider from Ralph and Denise thanks guys!), and a Game Boy Advance game (Star Wars even!)

The funny thing about Melissa is that she’s always been pretty reserved about showing emotions when in a crowd. When she opened her first barbie toy she smiled a polite “Thank you” smile. She smiled a similar version of that when she opened some beautiful clothes, and an even bigger smile when she opened another gorgeous barbie set. She smiled an awe stricken smile when she opened a MASSIVE art kit that Grandma had been working on all year. It was this huge Rubbermaid tub filled to the brim with papers. scissors, pens, pencils, paints, origami kits, ribbon.. everything a young artist could ever ask for!

Then she opened her last present… a new Bicycle. She hopped up and down screaming and you could see every tooth in her head through the grin she was wearing.

It took 8 years, but we broke through her shell and made her display absurd amounts of glee.. IN PUBLIC! In front of PEOPLE!!!

Thanks to all that contributed to Kevin and Melissa’s greatest Birthday party ever.

Love,
Jack and Tracie