Homecoming Party

I had some time to think of and prepare a party for Dave. It was something I could look forward to and keep busy with during the last few months of waiting for Dave to be home. He was gone a year, so yeah, it was a big deal, to me anyways. We had the party a few days after he got home, and he made it back in time! I tried to plan it around a good time he would hopefully be back by. There was a chance Dave's arrival could change, and I didn't know for sure until the last minute when he was getting home. So it made planning and scheduling a little tricky, but risked it, and he made it in time to go to his party. =) I had mentioned having a party to Dave at one point while he was deployed. He is so good, he didn't want a party for any kind of spotlight or recognition, or as a hero's party. But, too bad, I was going to do a party for him anyways. =) So, not wanting to distract him with the details of it I kept it a secret until he was on his way home, which was so hard to do because I was really excited about it. I had some friends who I bounced ideas off of and helped me with it. I thought about doing it as a surprise, but decided to tell Dave when he was home and he was really glad I told him. He would have a lot to adjust to, so he appreciated the heads up. He was a good sport. ;)

I wanted to have a party to have our friends and family come and celebrate with us Dave's return home, to just party, and also as a "Thank You" party to so many who have been so wonderful while Dave has been gone. It was fun! Hopefully everyone else had fun too. I scheduled our church building and I tried to have foods that were some of Dave's favorites. Our friends even busted out their chocolate fountain! I got a hold of our building's projector and screen that played a slideshow of pictures from Dave from Afghanistan while music played on our laptop. (On computer speakers we borrowed, thank you!) I also booked a magician/balloon artist, and a face painter with a cotton candy machine. I had seen the magician at a few Deployed Family Dinners and he gave me his card, and recommended the face painter. Because this was a military homecoming they gave me half price! I was pretty excited, and thought it might be nice for the kids who were coming and as a special treat for Kayla. This was her party too. She has been a trooper!

I couldn't have pulled it off without help! Dave helped for his own party, thank you Dave, and we had friends and family who brought things, who helped decorate, set up, take down, cleaned up and manned the kitchen. When the party was starting I was still in the kitchen trying to bake lasagnas that were ice cold still in the middle (some times things just don't turn out exactly how you plan them in my head) and do other preparations, when I got kicked out of the kitchen, so I could enjoy the party. =) Thank you. =) Thank you again family and friends who were able to come!

It was a lot of fun!

A quick peek at our party.

This video is a highlight at the end of the 30 minute magic show. In the first show I saw, he had a chinchilla, so I was a little surprised by this trick! =) The artists were great. The kids LOVED it.