Lauren’s Sweet 16 party

The pics are still on my camera, with Lauren, on their way back home from Phoenix.  So, I’ll post the details today and the pics tomorrow

The party was good.  Her cousin and her good friend both came.  That was it but it was really perfect for what we did.  Plus it allowed us to do more stuff. 

As you know I rented a suite at a local hotel.  It was quite nice except their was no window to the outdoors.  The window looked over the atrium.  It didn’t open.  I did my best to ignore it. 

All of the girls arrived by 5:00.  They decided to go swimming in the pool first.  There was another birthday party of about 15 5-year-old girls there as well.  It was so cute watching the little girls follow the teen girls around the pool area.  There was lots of giggling and squealing.  They hung out in the pool for about an hour or so before they got hungry.

So they went back up to the room and got all dolled up for dinner.  Lauren felt it was a good idea to wear her Sweet 16 tiara around town.  Silly girl.  We went to Lauren’s favorite Mexican restaurant.  We sat out back on the patio.  Luckily, it was a gorgeous evening for it.  They were able to be as loud and crazy as they wanted to be out there. 

After dinner we headed over to the mall.  We bought our tickets to go see Baby Mama.  We decided to go to the late showing.  So we had plenty of time hanging out at the mall.  The girls went shopping and bought some earrings and things.  They took pictures in the little booth.  I had to laugh.  The second picture down was of Lauren’s cousin pretending to lick her eye. 

At the last minute I asked Lauren if she was ready to get the second holes in her ears and her cartilage pierced.  My answer was in a little squealy dance she did in the middle of the mall.  Of course, everywhere we went either didn’t have anyone who could pierce, was closed or didn’t pierce 30 minutes before closing.  She was disappointed but we were able to blow some time before the movie began.

The movie was great.  We all had a really great time.  It was hilarious.  It was midnight when we left the theater.

After the movie we headed back to the hotel.  The girls made Cheesecake Cones.  I didn’t have one.  I was too tired to think about food.  But the girls LOVED them.  They all piled into the queen size pull out bed in the suite’s living room and pigged out.  It was sooo cute.  We had HBO on the tv so they watched a movie, jabbered about school and guys, and giggled until about 2 a.m.

As a mom I couldn’t go to sleep until the last girl crashed out so I was up until 2ish as well.  Surprisingly we were all up by 7 a.m.!!  We laid around for a good hour or so before we decided we were hungry.  We got dressed, packed up our stuff and headed out. 

We ate breakfast at IHOP.  I had to chuckle at the girls.  They all decided to get the exact same thing.  After we were done eating, Lauren asked if we could still pierce her ears.  So we headed back to the mall.  The store that could do them was closed.  We headed over to the shopping center near the mall but they didn’t have anyone that could pierce.  So we headed back to the mall and hung out for a bit. 

I was glad the girls were with me because they helped me pick out a bridal shower present for my future sister-in-law.  By the time we got the present and a card from the Hallmark store, the ear piercing place was open…and the lady inside could do it!! 

We decided that Lauren should pierce her cartilage in her ear first.  That would hurt the worst and she might as well get it over with.  Her friend held her hand while her cousin and I went around the corner and covered our ears.  We were shocked when she didn’t scream.  I was also quite proud of her.  She is usually a big baby. 

For her second holes in her ears, I decided to film it.  At the time, Lauren wasn’t too happy with me for filming her agony.  But she has watched the video a gazillion times.  Her piercings look really cute.  She got a faux diamond star in the cartilage on upper part of her left ear.  I think left.  Left and right are not my friends.  Then for her second holes she got little studs with her birthstone.  She is totally digging it.

After the piercing’s we left the mall.  I dropped Lauren and her cousin at their Grandma J’s and then took her other friend home.  Once I got home I crashed out.  Well, I tried to.  Between the phone and children I was in and out of sleep until about 8 the next morning.  It took me days to get over the exhaustion from that party.  I am not as young as I used to be!!  This party just proved it. 

So, I was able to stay in my budget.  I think it is something that Lauren will never forget.  And everyone had a really good time.  It was a total success.