Happy Tuesday Morning!!
It feels like Monday to me, J had yesterday off. It was great to be able to spend some family time together for three days...but WHY DOES IT GO SO FAST??
i tell you...when he's gone time crawls. but when he's home it flies. so unfair. :)
i thought i'd share some photos from sadie's birthday extravagaaaaaaaaaanza.
on her actual birthday she woke up in an AWESOME mood.
ummmm. yay?
happy birthday.
a special birthday breakfast perked her right up, though.
she picked her party "feme" or theme at the party store and wanted the backyardigans. :)
when j got off work we went out for "mexico" as sadie calls it, which means mexican food. our favorite.
once again, sadie was THRILLED to have happy birthday sung to her and she LOVED wearing the sombrero.
uhhhh
oh
my.
i was laughing so hard i was crying. tears streaming down my face.
i am laughing again looking at that photo. hahahahahhaha. oh gosh. she is NOT into attention. at all.
saturday was the day j told sadie we'd have our family "party party".
she woke up sooo excited, even more excited when she got to wear her precious custom amy tangerine tee.
how cute is that? oh it makes my heart hurt!
we let sadie choose where she wanted to go for her birthday. she chose chuck e cheese. shudder. now lots of you say "oh we never go there, it's just not an option!" and normally i would have said that. but you know what? she's a good good girl. doesn't ask for much. anything actually. and we hadn't been together as a family in a month. It was a great weekend.
So sweet! So glad she had a wonderful birthday!
And you're right, if she doesn't ask for much you want to do what you can for her. And I think there is something to be said for daddy's (especially military daddys) and a ginormous soft spot! My husband is like that too!
Posted by: Christa Paustenbaugh | 02/08/2011 at 05:27 AM
What a riot!! Sadie will always have a sweet memory because of your sacrifice, lol! God bless you today!
Posted by: Amy | 02/08/2011 at 05:45 AM
omg so funny! My kids LOVE chucke cheese's. I think I had an entire blogpost on it too, though not as funny. Here we get a few random arab kids following us around and lurking the entire time, but that's about it. I want to say "WHY are you staring at my kids?/what you lookin at? you need something?" A few days ago we went and Layla had a nosebleed right infront of skeeball. As I was wiping her up with pizza napkins the boys were trying to steal the tickets. So it's pretty tame here in comparison. Happy Birthday Sadie!
Posted by: kate | 02/08/2011 at 05:58 AM
oh my goodness! If looks could kill from the sombrero picture you would be a goner! :) Glad she had such a nice birthday, you're a great mom!
Posted by: kelly | 02/08/2011 at 06:14 AM
Kiddie Vegas, the place where dreams come true!!! We only EVER go there in the middle of the week, right when they open, DURING the school year. But we will NEVER go to the one here again! Love your tweets! So glad J was home for 3 WHOLE DAYS!!! If you didn't have so much fun, the days wouldn't go so fast! Happy B-day Sweet Sadie!
Posted by: Shara | 02/08/2011 at 06:18 AM
Literally laughing really, really, really hard through your whole post. Glad Sadie had a great birthday!
P.S. The sombrero pic is HILARIOUS!!
Posted by: Andrea DuBois | 02/08/2011 at 06:24 AM
Your tweets were hilarious! My friend often has her kids' b-days at CEC. It's definatley an experience.
When I say Happy, You Say Birthday!
Posted by: JenniferSanborn | 02/08/2011 at 06:44 AM
We just had my grandson's 4th birthday at Chuckie Cheese. I haven't been there since his daddy was little and now I know why. We experienced many of the same things. Will not be going back anytime soon. Unless one of the other grandboys asks. HeHe.......
Glad Sadie had a wonderful birthday.
Posted by: Karen | 02/08/2011 at 06:45 AM
OH MY GOOD LORD that way funny :) :) :) bless you for doing that for her :)
Posted by: katie squires | 02/08/2011 at 06:48 AM
OH my! Those pictures are priceless. What a character! CEC is like that here too. I thought it was only here! I remember going as a kid & loving every minute so I brought my daughter. We ended up driving 45 mins longer to go to one in a MUCH better area...didnt help one bit & we went during a weeknight! It was horrific!! But I guess kids don't care. Just stressful for us.
Posted by: Jessica R. | 02/08/2011 at 07:03 AM
Glad that Sadie had a great bday!! And I too shudder at Chuck E Cheese!! I will not take my kids there in the winter months for fear of getting sick! And with my 4 year old twins, they still lick everything!!! We would be doomed to say the least! LOL!!! Glad you made it through it though!!
Posted by: Kami | 02/08/2011 at 07:26 AM
Sadie is a riot!!!!! I love her bday pics- so funny. your tweets were cracking me up the other day. we RARELY go to ChuckEChz but when we do, Todd turns into a big kid and is off running with our kids and playing all the games (what in the world) and i am left guarding our possessions/food/tickets/everlovin' dignity from the trailer trash. for reals- what is it about that place????? glad she had a blast. the last two pics say it all :)
Posted by: Jenni Hufford | 02/08/2011 at 07:42 AM
So sweet! Love the T and the cake looks delicious! She made a great choice!
Posted by: lkylaurenkay | 02/08/2011 at 07:54 AM
I had the same exp. with my DH last year at my daughter's CC party too! My husband ran off to play games with the other dads and kids and I had to deal with the rest of the chaos!
Posted by: lkylaurenkay | 02/08/2011 at 07:56 AM
I love your series of tweets! Makes me want to get a Twitter account. I know what you mean about Chuck E. Cheese. I won't go there with the kids unless they're invited to a Bday party there.
Posted by: Melanie | 02/08/2011 at 08:00 AM
I hold my breath everytime I ask my boys what they want to do for their birthday parties. Only one time did we have to brave Chuck e Cheese, but we went on a Sunday morning right when it opened and left at lunch, when the people started coming. Perfect time (and by the way, this was in Savannah too)!! I love Sadie's expressions!
Posted by: Lisa | 02/08/2011 at 08:10 AM
I feel your pain about the 9th gate of hell known as Chuck E Cheese. I've vowed never to enter there on a weekend again. Under very special circumstances, I may go on a weekday, but it would have to be very special circumstances. You and J are great parents for sucking it up and letting Sadie have her birthday there. That is true love.
Posted by: Sarah K | 02/08/2011 at 08:20 AM
Glad that sweet baby girl had a fun day, but oh boy I have been there done that with CEC, we do NOT go there, ever, ever, ever! My child was knocked down and stepped on when we went there when he was around that age....lets just say I got acquainted with that child and his parent and they found it best to leave immediately....so, so, so very bad......
Posted by: AmyJ | 02/08/2011 at 08:38 AM
:D Happy Birthday Sadie! Glad she had a wonderful birthday! But I can't believe your tweets from that day! Makes me so mad that people don't watch what their kids are doing and how they're acting...why should they when they're being just as rude? Glad you made it through Chuck E Cheese!
Posted by: Raquel | 02/08/2011 at 08:38 AM
LMAO at the tweets. So funny.
Posted by: Meghann | 02/08/2011 at 08:41 AM
oh.my.gosh. I was laughing my butt off at your tweets!! hehe Been there, done that FOR SURE!! I can't remember the last time I've been in Chuck E. Cheese...and for good reason. hehe Ahhh, good times!!
Posted by: Michelle Whitlow | 02/08/2011 at 08:50 AM
Bwahahahaha!!! The SOMBRERO PICTURE!! As usual, your post made me laugh out loud! How's this for evil: when, at 17 years old, my son was being a total slacker at school, I MADE him get a job at CEC to teach him a lesson. At the time, he was the high school mascot so guess who he got to be on lots of his shifts at CEC? Why, Chuck himself, of course! It was delicious karma, at its best.
Posted by: MilliD | 02/08/2011 at 08:52 AM
Loved the post Stephanie! :) I can't believe Sadie is 3! I started reading your blog when you were pregnant with her.
Oh, and about Chuck E. Cheese's... I know exactly what you mean!! We were there about a year or so ago and I was stunned! It was dirty, the kids running around acted like wild heathens, half the games didn't work, the pizza tasted like poop! It was awful! The most shocking thing, tho, were the kids and their behavior. You know the skee ball game (I think that's what it's called)- kinda like bowling where you roll the balls down the lane and try to get them top pop up in the holes for points? Well, there was this kid who would grab the balls, walk up ON THE lane to where the holes are, and drop the balls directly in the holes for points and tickets! She was standing on the game and there wasn't a parent in sight! I saw several employees walk right by her and never say a word as if it was just typical behavior for their establishment! It was unbelievable! We will NEVER go back.
Posted by: stacy d | 02/08/2011 at 08:52 AM
too funny! I hope my child NEVER discovers the Cheese.
Posted by: bree | 02/08/2011 at 09:25 AM
OMG!! You are too funny!! Thanks for the laugh.
Happy Birthday Beautiful Sadie!!
Posted by: Natalie | 02/08/2011 at 09:54 AM
omg. your tweets are too funny and true. I feel the same way about that place. makes me feel guilty and selfish because my son knows exactly how i feel so he doesnt even ask, even though i know he desperately wants to go. Happy Birthday, sweet Sadie.
Posted by: Christy Marcelino | 02/08/2011 at 10:14 AM
Awww! The sacrifices we make as mommies! The photos are great. We are overseas right now so my girls are not aware of Chuck E. Cheese yet, thank goodness! My girls birthdays are coming up and I need to think of a plan since my husband will be gone for training on my oldest daughter's birthday (she will be 4). Even though my husband has been deployed twice in her short life he hasn't missed her birthday yet so I am a little bummed out about that. Especially since we have another deployment in the not so distance future.
Thanks for sharing your tweets! They had me in stitches!
Posted by: Shanon Gibson | 02/08/2011 at 11:16 AM
I saw your tweets and laughed out loud at the "Vegas" thoughts. I'm happy to say I'm past Chuckee times, but lookout for the tweens....they like their birthdays at the bowling alley, and you still get mullets....
Posted by: Kirsten J | 02/08/2011 at 11:21 AM
OMG - serioulsy, reading those tweets almost made me pee my pants. It was like reliving my last experience there! That was funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Dena | 02/08/2011 at 11:47 AM
Haha, you brave woman! That sounds horrendous. Glad Sadie had fun though! <3
Posted by: Sarah | 02/08/2011 at 11:59 AM
OMG hahaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i need to get twitter!
xo
Posted by: C. Rayevich | 02/08/2011 at 12:02 PM
Our CEC is fairly new and the kids who work there are very polite and helpful. I think the mgmt there must put a big emphasis on training and customer service. So sorry to hear about all these bad experiences. Make sure you contact a the store manager or email them at corporate. I know we filled out a survey card at my kid's last birthday party at CEC. Also, since I booked the party online, they sent me another survey via email. They won't ever get better if you don't let them know about the terrible service.
Posted by: Perfumista | 02/08/2011 at 12:16 PM
thank you! and it wasnt the service it was the customers. ;)
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 02/08/2011 at 12:19 PM
I was cringing and laughing at the same time during the tweets. You needed a body guard! Heavens! When Sadie is 15 and is mad at you, remind her of the sacrifice you made to take her to CEC for her 3rd bday. That should say it all. ;)
Posted by: Lora Oliver | 02/08/2011 at 12:25 PM
I know, Stephanie, that YOU didn't enjoy your visit to CEC, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for going because you just made me laugh out loud and I needed that today! Your tweets were AWESOME! So glad you pasted them all in one place!
Posted by: krys72599 | 02/08/2011 at 12:32 PM
First of all... that girl must keep you in stitches!!!
Second of all... i was following your tweets that night. Glad it wasn't me! I don't even know if we have Chuckie Cheese's in Canada?
Posted by: marcy | 02/08/2011 at 12:41 PM
Too funny Stephanie! My 4 year old's birthday isn't until September and he's already said he wants to go to Chuck E Cheese...I'm really hoping he changes his mind before that!
Posted by: Tina | 02/08/2011 at 12:42 PM
HAHAHAHA I am laughing so hard at your tweets. I have never been to a Chuck E. Cheese having grown up in the middle of nowhere Canada where there wasn't one. The city we live in now has one and I shudder to think that my son might ask to go there when he gets old enough. Might have to move back to middle of nowhere before then!
Posted by: April C | 02/08/2011 at 01:43 PM
Hi there,
Happy birthday for Sadie, she's something else and I think I have mentioned it before, she does remind me of my daughter, Siân, who's now 15. She still keeps me on my toes, but brings me lots of joy too!
I did enjoy your post, as usual, but I'm a bit lost about the Chuck Cheese thing. Is is a party place or a restaurant or both? Will definitely not go there on my next trip to the US, eh?
Take care and keep on doing a great job,
Love from Cyprus, in the Med, Mariana xx
Posted by: Mariana | 02/08/2011 at 02:03 PM
Haha, those tweets are just classic. I'm so calling my mom tonight to thank her for putting up with my bdays at Chuck E Cheese! Hahah! Man, the things you don't notice (or know about) when you're young.
Happy Birthday to Sadie and glad she had a good time!
Posted by: Belinda Chang Langner | 02/08/2011 at 03:20 PM
Wow!!! That whole experience sounded super scary. Chuck E. Cheese around here is nowhere near that bad....but then again, we haven't been in quite a few years now. I think our worst experience...and probably only one we ever had was once when I small girl...smaller than my daughter who was about 3 @ the time, scratched her across the face a couple of times for no good reason. My husband went NUTS and went and demanded that the child apologize to my daughter and that her parents keep a closer eye on her. Not how I would have handled it, but I was upset about the whole thing. Nothing upsets me more than parents who don't keep an eye on their kids. Too many parents assume that since they can "see" them, they just can just back and let them run wild:( Glad Sadie enjoyed herself tho:) Happy Birthday, Sadie:)
Posted by: Es | 02/08/2011 at 03:22 PM
omg!!! bless YOUR heart! it's known as SUCKieCheese in this out. hate that place. there is not enough hand sanitizer in the world. yuck.eeee! glad you survived and the fact that sadie was happy IS ALL that matters!
Posted by: susan d. | 02/08/2011 at 03:35 PM
I have not been to Chuck E Cheese since I was a little girl and I have yet to brave taking my kids there. Your tweets completely confirmed my worst fears about the place. Never will I go....unless *gulp* Madi or Sean pleads and pleads with me to go. Then I will take one for the team.
And maybe carry some wine just in case.
Posted by: Tiffany Harper | 02/08/2011 at 04:03 PM
Your tweets cracked me up! You are much stronger than I! I think I've taken my kids to chuck e. cheese 5 times total...and we went at 10:00 in the morning on a week day (BEST time to go). I NEVER had the strength/patience to have a party there! :)
Posted by: Lou Stiner | 02/08/2011 at 04:26 PM
Your Chuck E Cheese experience made me laugh sooo hard!!! Loved the part "pretend its Vegas, pretend its Vegas" haha!
Posted by: Lyndsay | 02/08/2011 at 04:32 PM
Thanks... next time you're going to post something like that, WARN US TO PUT DOWN THE BEVERAGES!! I snorted DIET COKE through my nose I was laughing so hard!!
LOVE the sombrero picture! CLASSIC!
Posted by: Carrielyn | 02/08/2011 at 05:17 PM
Amen sister. Chuck E. Cheese is the devil. Why are they ALWAYS like that?
Posted by: Katie Burnett | 02/08/2011 at 05:17 PM
I loved your tweets from the other night. They were just hilarious!
Posted by: nicole | 02/08/2011 at 05:18 PM
hahaha! oh man that post was hilarious! love the picture of sadie in the hat! I feel your pain on chuck e cheese!! its like a twilight zone in there!
Posted by: Kate | 02/08/2011 at 05:38 PM
Great Post!
Wow! My 3 year old has asked to go to CEC and I just change the subject about going there. The thought of going there with all the germs in that place just grosses me out!
Thanks for the post b/c now I will try to definitely steer clear of that place!
But good for you for doing what Sadie wanted!
Posted by: Amy P. | 02/08/2011 at 07:36 PM
Oh my goodness, that is SO funny! We had Joey's 8th bday party at CEC this year and had 22 kids show up! But we actually had a GREAT time because his party was at 10am on a Saturday, so we had the place to ourselves! I did, however, bring my own hand sanitizer and make all the kids use it before they could touch anything on the table!!! The nicest thing was that I didn't have to make anything OR clean up! Love your tweets!
Posted by: Sonya R | 02/08/2011 at 07:38 PM
ugh - chucky cheese :) what a nice mom!! We did it once and have never been back. Loved your tweets and glad cute sadie had a happy birthday! What frame app do you use on you iphone pics? Love them.
Posted by: Brenda H | 02/08/2011 at 08:07 PM
I lurk here a lot - I love your posts & your kids are way too cute! But today I have a question. Where did you get the T-shirt Sadie is wearing in the first pic? There used to be a place in Waco that made T-shirts that looked like that (bright colors, glitter & they were only like $5) and I haven't seen any in quite a while. Thank for keeping us all entertained!
Posted by: Machelle | 02/08/2011 at 08:43 PM
absolutely hilarious.
love!
Posted by: amy tangerine | 02/08/2011 at 10:38 PM
Ok, all I can say is CEC makes me want to get a tb test...just thinking of the place...
You are saints...that's all I can say...
Posted by: Kris | 02/08/2011 at 11:16 PM
Oh my goodness you guys are the best parents. CEC gives me the creeps big time. my kids always wants to go there & the last time we went was about 2 years ago & don't plan on going back...we all got sick after leaving that place. Glad Sadie had a blast on her birthday...loving the pic with her sombrero.
Posted by: Christina Ocampo | 02/08/2011 at 11:30 PM
One day you'll look back & laugh! At least Sadie enjoyed it :)
Posted by: Olivia | 02/09/2011 at 03:32 AM
Yep thats it! They are called Im yours!! Xoxo
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 02/09/2011 at 04:58 AM
You are the best MOM in the whole wide world! I am laughing my head off reading this post. I love you all!
Posted by: Claudia | 02/09/2011 at 05:25 AM
Chuck E Cheese sounds just like Walmart! Bad news! You should get a bumper sticker, "I survived a CEC birthday party!"
Posted by: Kathy Martin | 02/09/2011 at 06:45 AM
cracking up!! i hadn't read this until i saw todays post. i am sorry but it's hilarious. i went to a cec here in az and i literally saw a boy kick another kid down and step over him IN THE TODDLER AREA. he was like 6! OMG. where were the parents is all i was thinking. i was livid. ah well....i guess the people who are offended by this are the people who don't watch their kids! lol
Posted by: kristen welker cox | 02/09/2011 at 07:57 AM
I'm so glad Sadie enjoyed her big day!
Your tweets from Chuck E Cheese gave me a much-needed laugh this morning!
Thanks for always sharing your adventures.
Hope the twitching & shuddering stop soon. :)
Posted by: Amy K | 02/09/2011 at 09:07 AM
that is so awesome! bahahaha. i might join twitter just so i can follow your tweets. :) xoxo andie librandi...
Posted by: andie librandi... | 02/09/2011 at 09:18 AM
hahahaha
I love a good mullet, whenever we see one my husband or i take a picture of it...on the sly and send it to one another. makes my day.
Posted by: samantha | 02/09/2011 at 01:07 PM
oh my. what we do for our children. my in-laws suggest we all go to a similar type place over the holidays and let me just say that my feel stuck to the floor everywhere i went, the children were out of control, the food on the buffet was so nauseating just to LOOK AT that i literally did not eat a thing. and didn't want to give it to my kids. every game they touched made me shudder at the thought of "what kind of amazing disease will they get just from playing this??" and the level of noise and rudeness and EXPENSE for ... what?? ... was just stupefying. i vow to never return to one of those places. ever. so not worth the money and digestive health and mental health and overall health. even if my kids have fun. there's other fun to be had. kudos to you for making your little girl's day.
Posted by: micheleomega | 02/09/2011 at 04:09 PM
OMG Steph I was rolling on the floor!! Sadie reminds me of my little one, so dry and knows what she wants!!
My bro took us to Chuck E Cheese & needless to say it was an experience, so I found your blog post Hilarious!!! Have a great week. Mel xx
Posted by: melbrewin | 02/09/2011 at 08:05 PM
Steph, I have to tell you I have many a birthday cake photo of my Em with a big ole frown on her face. lol She never said she hated the whole birthday song scenario, but she never look like she enjoyed it either. It's better now that she's older. (Going to be 12 this weekend.)
And Chuck E Cheese ALWAYS grossed me out. :)
Posted by: Leslie | 02/09/2011 at 09:22 PM