Beth and Carissa’s Luau Birthday Party

  credits: Paradise by Flergs at scrapbookgraphics; font: Baby Boston

Technically Beth and Carissa haven’t had their 12th birthday yet, but we have had their party. I decided to just get it done before school starts next month so we weren’t trying to cram it in among all of the new things for the school year. It was a bit of a challenge trying to find friends’ phone numbers and/or addresses that we didn’t have, but I think we were able to invite all but one person that they wanted to. Considering that a lot of people are still trying to get vacations in before school we had a very good turnout at the party. We had 20 children running around in our yard at one point! All week the weather had been cool and rainy, often with hail too in the afternoons, but July 23rd turned out to be a beautiful day thankfully.

There was a little bit of drama before and during the party due to some unexpected guests- big, fat bumblebees. I was putting the torches up on the terraces and Carissa was sweeping the patio around the table. A bee came out of nowhere and stung her on the chin. After stinging her, the bee went after Beth who was working on something across the yard. We finally got inside the house, and when I went back out about 10 minutes later the bee was still flying around and started coming after me. Dang aggressive little thing! I was finally able to whack it with a broom. While the girls were opening gifts in the middle of the party the adults were seated at the table, and out of the blue another bee flies up, lands on Mark’s nose and stings him. While he was in the house getting meds to keep his nose from swelling I started having a look around and finally figured out that they were coming from a hole in the siding of our house near the patio edge. After the gifts were all opened we moved the party to the front yard for the remaining time. Thankfully only family members were stung and no one had a horrible reaction to them. Bee killer seems to have taken care of the nest, and now we just need to get the hole sealed up so no other unfriendly insects try to take up residence.

Despite the bees, the party was a success. Food was demolished, cake devoured, lots of fun games, dancing and laughing. Definitely a good time! Happy Birthday, girls!