Arial’s Sweet 16

Well, really my Little Mermaid is only 15 and 9 months, but she is moving to Germany. So when your only little red head asks to have her Sweet 16 with her High School buddies, well. You do it. And I’m so glad I did. I was a little worried as I was finishing up AT today. But, the soldiers busted their butts with the weapons and we were able to get everyone home to their families… tomorrow IS Fathers Day.

For some reason her desire was to have a Little Mermaid Party (her last Little Mermaid she was 1). I spent after work yesterday driving to about three stores trying to find decorations with this cute little Arial character. Finally I was able to pull together plates and tablecloths. As it turned out, Kayla and her friends managed to find more decorations at the Party store, I should have just left her in charge of decorations! She even found a Piñata! Very cute.

So she had told her friends 2:30… the door started ringing at 2. In rolled a selection of her tough teen friends. All ready to spend an afternoon by the pool, it was really neat to have them all start coming in. You know ~ cautious at first. Sitting around and not swimming, until that one crazy person (Mar Mar) goes for the pool, or maybe it was Alex? I know the girls changing quickly into their suits to join and soon the splashing and screams amid the Punk music could be heard across the backyards of my parents’ neighbors. “MARCO!” “POLO!!!” Splashing and screams echoed. Michele, Lori, my Mom and I all sat in the kitchen with our cocktails smiling at the sounds of the tough kids having fun in the backyard. Lori and I could remember many times it was us, and our friends back there. I mean I have been in this house since the summer before my Freshman year. Kay has had every birthday here except her 4^th. This house has so many fun teen memories and to see the next generation of teens splashing and laughing? Its just for me? I just never felt that memory and “Rooted” appreciation for history with your home. Kayla does, this has been her home since I brought her here from Germany and she was 4 weeks old… but I wander on down the memory lane. Back to the present.

My Little Mermaid came in occasionally, need soda! Is there chips?! When are you going to start the BBQ? GRANDMA!! Lol. Lori and I rushed around putting the food out fighting the swarms of teens who took over the table and descended upon the hamburgers and hot dogs. They stuffed themselves on salad and chips and good old picnic food. Then slowly as we cleared the debris, we heard the laughter begin again. They had jumped into the spa and were winding up for another round of Marco Polo… some time passed and once again “Arial” poked her head into the door. Am I going to get Cake? She sweetly asked. Oh man did she get it. She got it all over her face! Oh they sang her “Happy Birthday”, we had a group shot photo where everyone sat by the spa and smiled nice for the camera. And then when Kay went back to slice the cake, Mar Mar attacked. SPLAT he smooshed her face into the cake! The food fight was on. Vanessa got a piece in her eye (your gonna shoot your eye out!) Mar Mar was smeared, the kids finally just said no need for plates, and Kayla proclaimed “LET THEM EAT CAKE!” (No not really, but it sounded good). So they started scooping up chunks of cake and eating.

After a rinse of the icing, and a swing at the Piñata, the party died down. It was time to head off to “West Side” for a summer party. Lori, Mom and I loaded up our cars with teens and drove in a mini “mom” caravan down I-5. The neighbors must have been terrified when we rolled up and 9 teenagers rolled out of our cars, spilling onto the sidewalks. Ah, the joys of being a teen… can’t say I ever want to go back. But it was a good day.