Sweet Sixteen

Our firstborn turned 16 this month, and we wanted to make it extra special.  

December parties are nerve-wracking to plan, as one always holds the possibility of nobody showing up as a real one--after all, this is a terrifically busy time of year.  We decided that planning a party with Moo's knowledge could lead to the disappointment of a scanty turn-out...and that would not do!  SO, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.  We would have a SURPRISE PARTY!  That way, I could plan and scheme and invite, and she wouldn't have a clue what was happening until that moment that we all yelled "Surprise!".  Whatever dear friends were able to make it would make her completely happy, and there would be no opportunity for even the slightest disappointment.  (I should make it clear that she is not one to ask or require a lot from the universe in order to be happy and content.  She has been surprised by super small birthday gatherings in the past, and was over-the-moon-and-back happy. This, I might also make clear, was a fact lost on me in the frenzied planning of The Perfect Sweet Sixteen Celebration.)

Anyway, I invited friends from tutorial.  I invited friends from choir.  I invited friends from church.  I invited friends from hither and yon.  I realized something in the process:  The Father has blessed us up one side and down the other with relationships here in Tennessee.  I mean, in a "beyond anything you can ask or imagine" kind of way.  Between thirty and forty people showed up to my sister's house to surprise sweet Moo on her sixteenth birthday.  She was surprised and so very touched at the outpouring of friendship and well-wishes on her birthday.  I think we will be smiling about it for some time to come.  

I served dinner, the kids played games, a sweet friend who couldn't make it sent a musical video greeting, and gifts were opened.  We even ended with a spontaneous magic show put on by one of the young guests.  What a fun an interesting group of young people.  Love them.  

And now, the pics:

Noah, Daylen, Joel, Sophie G., Caroline, Hannah, Emily, Sophie J., Shelby, Ally, Krissy, Marah, Faith, Kitty, Eve, Faithlynn, Sophia, Ellie, Lora, Sarah, Olivia, Ellie, Audrie, Lucy, Meghan

Daylen's card tricks, with my nephew as volunteer.

(Just Dance competition after all the young guests left)

And to top it all off, a sweet musical gift from a beloved new friend: