Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

After weeks of keeping this secret, it was a relief to FINALLY get this surprise out in the open. We've been conspiring with our sister-in-law (Debbie) and Kevin's Aunt Linda, to arrange a surprise visit for Jackie's birthday. It helped that Amanda went to Girls' Camp for the last three days of this waiting-period, or I'm sure she'd have figured out what was up. Since she can't keep news like this to herself, her being away at camp was a blessing.

Amanda came home from camp and had just enough time to get cleaned up and unpacked when the doorbell rang...



We had the girls answer the door and lo-and-behold...it was Kevin's Aunt Linda and Uncle Mick!!! Jackie and Mandy were thrilled to see them.

We had time for a tour of the house, some refreshments, and a little visiting when the doorbell rang again...



SURPRISE!!!!! This time it was Grandma, Uncle Steve, and Auntie-Deb!!! There were long-long hugs and tears of joy when the girls opened the door again. What a happy birthday present! It was even better when the girls found out that they were staying for the whole weekend, and that we got to keep Grandma for a week-long visit!

Jackie's birthday was complete when we gave her one last surprise... Jackie LOVES to draw but hasn't had a desk in her room where she can keep her drawing supplies or sit and draw. A desk of her own was at the top of her birthday wish-list. We found a really sturdy one at Deseret Industries and brought it home for her.

Amanda led her(blindfolded)into the living room where we had it hidden, and this was her reaction...



From blowing out the candles on her birthday pie (banana cream, YUM!!!)...



...to opening presents like these "Harry Potter checkers"...



...and setting up her new desk in her room...



...Jackie's 11th Birthday goes on the books as a roaring success...

The best part was the gift of time with the family we left in Prescott Valley, whom we miss so much. We're SO thrilled they spent this time with us and that Grandma gets to stay an extra week!!!



It's this love we share as families that makes every Birthday and life-experience sweeter...