Here we are all watching her open her gifts
On Saturday, we had Jessica's boyfriend's family invite her to go to the Family Football Game at her school. Her boyfriend, Preston, is on the football team, so it all worked out perfectly as she would have wanted to go anyways. They also took her out to lunch afterwards to waste some time. While she was doing that, we were all scurrying around getting the house decorated, cakes picked up, and games all planned out. Kids started showing up at 1:30pm and we all waited out on the front porch for her to drive up. Preston was able to come separately as he told her he had to go to work after lunch, so he was there to see her surprised. She was super surprised when she got out of the car. She actually had no idea about the party at all. All of her friends had helped as they had told her they were busy that weekend and wouldn't be around to do anything. She was so elated and happy that we had made her big birthday pretty special. 
Here's the sign I made that was hung in front of the door
Everyone waiting on the front porch
Here she is- SUPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Still surprised
Parker loving it all
We started the party off by playing 5 games. The kids were divided into 2 teams, with 6 kids on each team. (I keep calling them "kids" when really they are all 15-20 years old). They competed as a team for the grand prize of a candy bar!!!
The first game was the Life-Saver game, which you hold a toothpick in your mouth and have to transfer a Life-Saver onto the next person's toothpick (which is in their mouth). It is quite funny to watch.
Jessica and Preston
The second game was the Golf Game. Each person got to hit 10 golf balls and try to land them in a targeted area. Each ring of the target was worth a different value; the middle, obviously, being the biggest value.
The third game was the Bike Relay. Each person had to put on swimming goggles, a snorkel, a beach towel, flippers, a life jacket, and a baseball cap and get on Halle's bike and ride around the circle in the driveway. It was hilarious!!!
Preston
The fourth game was Ladder Ball. Each person threw 3 balls to gain points for their team. We ended up playing 2 rounds because everyone loved it so much.
The fifth game was to make a video message for Jessica, wishing her a Happy Birthday. Both teams did a really cute job!! (Jessica went inside and couldn't know what we were doing)
After eating the big cookie cake (Jessica LOVES chocolate chip cookies) and snacks, everyone went out and played Volleyball. It was fun to watch.
I think everyone had a lot of fun and the party was a success. We tore everything down that evening and got started on making everything for Parker's 1st birthday which was the next day, Sunday. It was a very busy day, but a lot of fun. I know Jessica LOVED the party and was so happy. I guess that's all that matters.
This year has flown by so fast. Parker has grown lots, especially in height- he has always been in the 95% for height ever since he was born. He has lost his dark brown hair and now has a head full of bright blonde hair. His eyes turned from a dark gray to a beautiful brown. He hasn't ever been real chubby, but he does have a few small rolls on his legs and his cheeks (on his face) are chubby, which make for great kissing spots. 
Ok- I must admit that I am totally hooked to the Olympics this year -especially the swimming!!!I have always watched the Olympics when they come on every few years, but never as much as I have watched this year's events. I have always enjoyed the summer olympics, and the swimming events, especially anything to do with Michael Phelps, has me hooked. I think my all-time favorite moment in Olympic history happened last night when the USA men's relay 4*100 team took the gold over the French-(that's what you get for talking smack about us Americans). I was so nervous for the US, but the last 50 meters were SUPER exciting. I was actually sitting downstairs in the dark with Parker sleeping in his crib right behind me, but I couldn't help by scream when they won!! Thankfully, Parker didn't wake up!! I could hear my brother-in-law, Todd, who was upstairs, scream when they won too. I guess he woke up my mom-in-law because he was so loud. The entire time Brad kept saying that they weren't going to make it and that they were too far behind, but I kept on hoping that maybe the last guy, Lezak, would turn on the power and win, and he did!!! I was so happy for the team and for Michael Phelps, as he needed this in order to possibly get his 8 gold medals. 
For the last few months, he has been walking around furniture or walking while holding someone's hand, but would never venture out on his own. At the end of June (10.5 months old) he would take 5-8 steps from one person to another, but that was it. Since moving to MI, he really hasn't walked much on his own, not even taking a few steps here or there. We thought maybe it was because everything was so new to him, but last night we finally figured it all out. While we were at my parent's house, we were all sitting around eating our delicious banana splits (thanks Dad), and Parker just started walking from the couch out into the middle of the living room to where his toys were. I was so astonished!!! I got down on the floor and tried to have him walk from me to my dad, but instead Parker just took off walking all over the place, even in circles around me. He wasn't holding on to anything!!! BUT...as soon as he would get to where the carpet changed to tile, he would sit down. So, we figued out that the reason he hasn't been walking much is because we live in a house that has hardwood/tile floors throughout the entire first floor. We have carpet in the basement, but are hardly ever down there but to sleep. He is more comfortable walking on carpeted areas. I am guessing because it doesn't hurt as bad when he falls down. So, tonight, we had everyone come down to "our house" (i.e. the basement) and Parker walked all over for them to see. It was so cute and sweet! I could tell he was super excited to be able to do it. I can't believe my little guy is growing up on me. He is now walking, is waving and saying "ba-ba" (Bye bye), is counting to 3 (he doesn't actually say the numbers, but makes little sounds) and on the 3rd noise, he does something like kick his feet or laugh, so he knows what counting to 3 is. He is pointing and puts his index finger up to show that he is 1 years old!!!! He is SO smart!!!!
Autumn
Hot Showers
Cookie Dough
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This year, Aunt Mindy, grandma, and Brad's mom all went in together and had one. I threw in a few items I had, but I had gotten rid of a lot of stuff before we moved back to MI. We didn't put an advertisement in the paper or anything, but just stuck 2 signs out by the road around their house on Thursday morning around 9 am. Before Scott was back from pounding the 2 signs into the ground, 3 cars had already pulled in. There was a steady flow of cars/people all day long. Everyone sold a lot and made a lot of money- combined total of $650.00!!! The clothing and bedding went the fastest! 
We finally closed it down around 4:30-5ish. There really wasn't a whole lot of stuff left. We decided to have it again today, Friday. We put the signs out at around 9:30am, had a few people, and ended up closing it down for good at 12:00pm. There really wasn't anything good left because everything had been picked over the day before. I think $50 or so dollars worth of stuff sold in those couple hours, but most people weren't finding anything they wanted. We ended up having a family friend request that we bring all our "leftovers" to her house. She is having a big sale/donation party in a couple weeks to raise money for a group that helps girls struggling with anorexia. So, we bagged and boxed everything up and took it over to her house. It was a lot of fun to help out with the garage sale again this year. We have mentioned that we should start renting out my in-law's driveway for people to have their garage sales on. It is unbelievable the amount of traffic that comes back to check everything out.
3.Be willing to negotiate a little!
