weekend recap...Jaden's 9th birthday edition...

1st, thx 2 every1 4 ur thoughts & prayers! i definitely know my Gma is in a better place...she was ready - she always made sure we knew that! but the passing of a loved 1 is always hardest on the family...especially my Gpa - he & Gma were married for 42 years & were each other's worlds! 2 see him say goodbye 2 her broke my heart - i can't even imagine what he's going thru!

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up until we got that call Sunday nite, our weekend had gone great! Jaden had been counting down the days 2 his party - reminding everyone "my birthday's not over yet! u can come 2 my island party on Saturday & bring me a cool present" ~lol~

Friday evening was the closing nite of VBS - the kiddos performed 4 us, then we had a picnic! they did great & had an awesome time!

during the opening, they sang the theme song 4 the week - check out Jaden getting down...
(Gabby is beside me & Corinn is seated on the other side of the sanctuary)



here's 2 songs that Corinn & the other preschoolers sang...
(she's on the top row - kind of hidden in the middle)





Gabby & Jaden performed 2gether - here r 2 songs that they did...
(u can certainly see Jaden - but Gabby is all the way on the left side - kind of hidden, against the window)





eating hot dogs at the picnic...


i ended up staying up all nite on Friday - working on Jaden's cake & another order i had (i'll post about it soon)...there was rain in the forecast 4 Saturday, but Jaden woke up praying that it wouldn't come...at the party, my sister overheard him praying again when it started getting cloudy...she said 2 him "u know Jaden, some people pray 4 the rain 2 come & help their gardens & fields grow"...he replied, "but don't u know that some people want 2 go 2 swimming?" ~lol~

b4 guests started arriving, Jaden helped me decorate & he got all dressed up in his hula gear



i'll tell u more about his cake in my next post...a detailed description of what it is & how it came 2 life ;0)

daddy grilled burgers & dogs, while the kiddos played...

i also had a picture frame craft 4 them 2 make...

then we could finally eat...

Jaden rushed us all tho - he wanted 2 get 2 the presents! ;0)

his reaction 2 his present from us was priceless! i knew he'd flip when he saw it!

& they immediately became friends ;0)

u can't hear all the dragon's grumblings that Jaden makes - he does more of that than talking...but watch Jaden's mouth, u'll see it moving when he makes those deep (& eerily realistic) growls

then, the rain came...a big storm actually! we heard the thunder rumbling as it headed our way - mom & Katie decided 2 head home (Curtis had already gone in2 work)...mom wasn't planning on joining us at the pool anyway & Matthew needed a nap...but Kelly & i decided 2 wait it out there with the kiddos...we were hoping it would quickly roll over & then we could possibly still make it 2 the pool

so we blew bubbles...

& limbo'd! ;0)

& sure enuff, the clouds opened up 4 a while, passed over, & the sun was back out again! the pool that we originally had planned on going 2 wasn't opening back up, but another local pool did...there was still some overcast, but that didn't stop the kiddos - they had a blast anyway!

Jaden even got 2 show me his new trick ;0)


because we had done sooo much on Saturday, Sunday was definitely a day of rest...& i have zero pics 2 prove it! ;0)

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& it's been a crazy week since...& i'm hoping 2 see the light at the end of the tunnel soon!

on top of everything with my Grandma's passing, Corinn has also come down with a random sickness! she started voimiting & running a fever yesterday morning & is still at home resting with daddy 2day

AND...we're supposed 2 head 4 the beach on Saturday! 1 little problem with that tho - we still haven't gotten a confirmation on the resort!!! ahhhhh!

it always comes in pretty close 2 the date, but this year i'm not even sure we'll get something! Curt's stupid HR lady lost our paperwork not once, but TWICE!!! & it wasn't until we inquired about it a month ago that she even realized it hadn't been submitted yet! so we filed it for the 3rd time & prayed we'd get our #1 pick...at this point, we're only days away - & i'm prepared 2 take almost anything! grrrr, it's so frustrating! guess that's what we have 2 deal with 2 get such a fabulous deal!

our other option is 2 stay up where Curtis works....it's only an hour from home, but it's different scenery & a resort, none the less...then we'd drive 2 VA beach or Ocean City 4 day trips...i'm not really excited about that idea - driving every day is so not my idea of a vacation...but we'll see...we could also push it back & try 2 wait it out 4 something 2 come open - but then that causes all kinds of confusion & aggravation 4 mine & Curt's work schedules

i'm praying something comes thru last minute...& that we're able 2 pack up & b ready 2 go regardless of when we get the news...with work, my Gma's viewing Thursday eve & the funeral on Friday, i'm already limited with time 4 packing...remember - treatment ate up all my personal/vacay time at work, so i'm not able 2 take off 4 bereavement - i was out yesterday so i could b there, & i'll take off 4 the funeral, but i have 2 make up that time...i see some more late nights in my future ;0)

please pray that i make it thru this week & that we're able 2 relax on the beach next...i sooooo need it!!!