Happy Birthday Alexander!

Friday: if it could go wrong, then it did.

Friday was supposed to be the lazy day. I had spent a little time each day planning and buying supplies so that all that we had to do was pick Rebecca up from camp, pack up, and head out to the ranch for dinner with our family. I left our house at 3pm that afternoon to pick Rebecca up right at 4. Her camp is on Eagle Mtn. Lake, so the drive would be about 45 minutes. Unfortunately, I got caught in the aftermath of a really bad accident that happened on 820. Cement truck + 18 wheeler + mini van = fatalities and road closure. They shut down 1 mile of road, and I was trying to get around it for 2 hours and 45 minutes. I had to stop to call Ben and let him know that I wouldn't be back to the house and that he should get the kids and supplies packed up to meet me in Granbury. Once I got to Rebecca we headed out to the ranch. Everyone got there before I did. I was so bummed. I wanted to be there to welcome the family and show them around. Instead, they had gotten there, looked around, and patiently waited for me to arrive. We unpacked the car and the truck and started on our steak dinner. It was soooo good. Once we finished up it was agreed that we would go to sleep and get an early start in the morning. Some people wanted to fish and I had to start setting up for the party and we all wanted to get it done before the heat of the day.

Saturday: set up, swimming, PARTY

Ben woke up before anyone else and started making a big breakfast. We had coffee, milk, juice, pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It was so yummy and a wonderful way to start the day. Most of the family started arriving around noon to see the place and hang out. Ben took the girls our to swim in the pond before we started cooking for dinner. By the time the party started, we had 27 adults and 9 kiddos running around the grounds. Melibelle was on hand to take pictures so I wouldn't have to. The drinks were cold, the food was good, and everyone had something to do. I will post some pictures as soon as I get them from Melibelle. It was a great party, and we were all worn out by the end of the day.

Sunday: tear down, packing up, hugs and kisses

Loretta, my MIL, lives in Oklahoma. Every year she keeps the older kids for a week during the summer. She drove down to be at the party with us and then to take the two big girls back home with her until the end of the month. They were packed and ready to go by about 11am, and then one by one everyone else started to leave. It took all of by surprise, but it was a sad drove home. We were all together for two days just laughing with eachother, helping eachother, and just being a big family. Ben, Haley, Alexander, and I stayed until 3 that afternoon and then we headed home. It was a great weekend, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Happy birthday Alexander! I can hardly wait to see the kind of boy and man that you will be.