Sixteen. Candles.

Dan’s sixteenth birthday is this week, and we wanted to surprise him good.

It’s become kind of a tradition in our family.

{recall Rachel’s Sweet Sixteen?}

So my sis, my friend ,Shirley, and I put our heads together to get creative.

That plan involved a piggie hit ‘n run and a ride in the police car.

We scrapped it and opted to call in the big guns . . . the Baughers.

Kay and her man, Ted drove the Baugher tractor over the fields and picked up our posse at the front door.

We drove to the orchard where Dan works . . .banging pots and pans and calling him out!

For a bit, we thought he’d run out the back door, but realized he was just “clocking out.”

It’s all fun and games ’til someone gets a pot on the head.

It was a perfect night for a late summer backyard party.

My sis, Miss Queen of Fun, organized the ice breaker games.

{Her Young Life leadership skills were in full tilt}

Here’s her game board for ice breaker #1. You can steal it.

You should also steal her potato salad recipe because it KICKS.

My neice Katie {home from James Madison U!} lead this crazy game.

I don’t even know how to explain it, but it involved pirate-ish commands.

Still the same game.

Still.

Still.

And then Kaila led the dance party. Disco, that is.

And my Mom and Dad brought the cake. Check it out! The computer keyboard is made of gum and TicTacs!

The day was so much fun. We pulled the entire party together  in one afternoon.

Dropped Dan off at work after church and then went into high gear.

I loved watching our other kids so excited on Dan’s behalf, and we even had fun cleaning up late last night and reliving the events of the day.

I’m tired, but so happy. Dan has grown into such a great guy.

He’s funny. He’s smart.

And he sneaks into our bedroom after the house is quiet to chat or to watch episodes of The Office with me and Carl.

happy. life.