Poor Russ...

Poor Russ. Poor, poor pitiful Russ. He had to spend his birthday all alone!

Sad.

Yes, sad indeed.

(for those of you wondering why...he is commuting to Rexburg to finish his last semester there. So, he leaves for Rexburg Monday morning, and stays with his sister Gill in Idaho Falls until Friday, when he comes home for the weekend. Monday, May 10, Russ's 27th birthday, he was all alone because Gill was out of town for work.)

But, we all surprised him with a party when he got home the following Friday!
We decorated with streamers in the kitchen above the table, balloons, brownies, chocolate covered strawberries, and the hit of the night....homemade rootbeer floats....yes, made with homemade rootbeer! Yum!!! That night could very possibly be the reason why I have a gained a total of 11 lbs in four months! Though I do believe that Chelsea hit a grand total and winning number of....what....4 rootbeer floats that night?

They were delicious. Need I say more?

The birthday boy...and me...and half of Bubba's head.

And I am not sure what Russ is doing to my belly....

one can never be sure with him...

hmmm

put in speculation HERE.

goochee, goo-chee, Goo!

Chocolate hasn't been on my want or need list lately....

but combined with a strawberry...

oh yeah....splendidly delicious!

Aren't they cute?

The white chocolate was a beast to melt...

but I triumphed.

"Mom, MOM! Take a picture of me now!"

Never thought I would hear those words come out of this little mouth.

The peanut butter brownies Anna helped me make and decorate with candy hats...

the kids' favorite part of the whole party...

And we all know what Chelsea's favorite part was...

I think that maybe I could have mentioned the homemade floats at this very moment...

See the look of GLEE on her face?

Geoff and baby Abby....notice her cute little leg warmers!

Gotta get some of those....

Dang cute!

This one has got to be a favorite of mine from the night.

I noticed Anna and Emily just sitting there...

Bored...

and patiently waiting for the candles to be lit!

Carter did blow out the candles the first time and I had to re-light them!

And he kept asking me when it was his birffday.

Crying then followed my answer.

And more crying when he didn't get any presents...

"What? Who me?? Nooo....I didn't do anything....innocent!"

Carter is a little "angel". He wouldn't dare do things like:

dumping a bottle of sprite all over the kitchen floor

dumping pencil shavings all over the office desk and computer keyboard

throwing a digital camera at Anna's foot

getting into the chocolate chips and dumping them all over the table

throwing the couch cushion down the stairs

throwing his trains and train tracks

throwing his farm house...

Notice the obsession with dumping and throwing.

And if you have questions about the pink Dora shirt, well...

just let it satisfy you all to know that he seems to think that

his swimming suit must look like Anna's.

He's not really getting the whole shorts and bare chest thing.

Don't worry...

with all the teasing, dumping, throwing...

we don't have to worry about his masculinity...

and I am going to be buying him a swim shirt with something a little more...

manly on it....mostly for Russ's sense of security.

Little does he know that yesterday Carter wanted to put on a...

da...da...duuuunnn...

princess dress!!!

and he wanted some blush on his cheeks AFTER...

he had already painted his finger nails!

Just let me say....

he looks great with blue eye shadow....

really brings out his eyes!

Chou!