Balloon Party ~ Doman Style......

My good friend Curt Doman was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. By the way....I HATE THAT DISEASE!!!!! I hate to see my friends sick! Peggy and Curt (and their family for that matter) have helped me out so much in my life. They have been there when I needed them the most. They are absolutely INCREDIBLE people! They always make me feel so welcome and a part of their family.

I was invited to come to one of their FAMOUS Doman parties. For all of you out there that have ever experienced one, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. They are by far the funnest parties and everyone always enjoys themselves so much. I have great memories of times spent at their home over the years.

Peggy has got to be one of the most talented people I know. No matter what she is doing she gives it 110%. Even if it is just a get-together with her own family~ they are in for a treat! She was amazing to watch as we worked together in the Primary years ago. She was hard to keep up with, that's for sure! She was probably the hardest working Primary President ever! What a talented woman. Can you tell that I love these people to PIECES? Yep....I do!

They had planned a "Balloon Party" for their family and when they saw me in the halls at church they invited Howie and me to join them. YEAH!!! I was pretty excited because I knew we were going to have soooo much FUN!

The morning of the party Peggy called and informed me that we were on the Red team and to wear something RED. I instantly thought "Yep she is at it again! She had out done herself. She had made up rosters for each team with cheerleaders assigned to each team as well. She planned an assortment of fun balloon games and relays and kept track of the winners. She was nice enough to let April and her family join us at the last moment and rearranged teams so that they would also feel comfortable.

When we arrived we found some of the kids already for battle! These are a few of my cute teammates. We are going to ROCK IT!!! Look out blue team....You're going DOWN!!!

Not so sure that he loved this war paint on him, but he looks cool!

Here are some of the blue team members....

Boo getting on her WAR PAINT!

Little hearts....how sweet!

Howie and I were on separate teams but I didn't mind AT ALL! Then I could tackle him during the games and comfort his spirits after he LOSES :) :) :)

Once Rulan arrived he went in to get ready. After a few minutes he bounded into the room and yelled.... "GO BLUUUUUUUE!" When I looked up I saw his cute war-paint! Blue little nipples! This guy really cracks me up. All of the Doman kids are NUTS! I mean that in a totally NICE way. They are all so funny and really know how to have a good time.

We thought..... He can't be the only one with NIPPLE POWER!

We got out the paper and markers and went to town.

NOW THE BATTLE IS ON! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Me and my Blue Man.....

Before we started playing the games we had a very yummy barbecue. I love summer barbecues. The food always tastes so delicious!

The blue team was anxious for the games to begin....

Peggy had games for all ages.

First the small kids would play and earn points for their team.

Here are some short videos of the kids having fun....

Karah was just observing the game and before she knew it her balloon was POPPPPED! I love how Cora just carried her balloon around in her hands. Good strategy!

Once she let it drop to the ground the

stinkin' balloon wouldn't pop!

Then it was the adults turn to play the same games.

It got pretty hairy at times. In this balloon game where you need to pop your opponents balloon I was basically tackled by TWO GROWN MEN and quickly taken out of the competition. I guess Shawn and Rulan thought this little ole granny (me) would be a threat! It did give me a chance to grab my camera and capture some of it. This game was so much fun! BUT I still have battle bruises! Hey Howie, Where were you to protect me??? Oh yeah.... You were on THAT team!

We played all sorts of relays....

This was fun. Especially when the wind did not cooperate and it sent April's balloon over into the bushes. You can barely see her off to the left trying to rescue her runaway balloon. That worked out well for the red team.

GO RED!!!!

The wind made all of the games a challenge

but it was more fun that way.

This game was pretty funny. We had to see how many balloons you could shove in one team members clothes in about 30 seconds. We had Becky STUFFED to the brim but as soon as the time ended the Blue team had some SERIOUS CHEATERS who came and stole some from her!
I think you can see that we caught one of them RED handed. Rulan (nipple power man) is a CHEATER! Morgan is trying to recover our STOLEN balloons.

Howie was the guinea pig for the blue team. They stuffed him so full that I think his poor shirt is forever stretched to the max. Looks like it is time for Howie to sign up for Nutri Systems...

See... There is ANOTHER blue member with our RED balloons. Rulan is in the background trying to smuggle out the evidence from the ambush on Beckie.

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater!

While the adults played the games I found Lyssi over playing on the swing set. This was a fun idea to set the swings next to the pool. The kids would get swinging really high and then jump into the pool. Looked like a lot of fun.

While everyone played Curt, Sherry and Peggy's mom sat in the shade to enjoy the day and watched us. Curt got really tired after about an hour and headed inside to go to sleep. It breaks my heart to see him so weak. He actually looks better in these pictures than he did a few weeks ago when he was taking Chemo treatments. That really hammered on him. They have decided to discontinue the Chemo because it was not working like they hoped and he was extremely sick with it. Oh.... just typing that just makes my heart hurt. Sad :(

I get so emotional every time I think of how truly sick he is. I love him so much!

Part of the blue team thought they would take a picture......

But I thought I would jump in so that there would be a picture of at least one member of the WINNING team. GO RED! Hey Shawn get that tongue in your mouth before you bite it off! RED ROCKS!!!

After the games we set up our water slide and the kids played on it for a while as well as swimming in the pool.

Morgan helping Henry.....

Burrr that water is COLD!

I think Rooster loved this the most.....

He'd even tackled his sister to try to make it to the top first.

Kitty is one tough chick! I love to catch fights on video :)

They weren't being mean....just very competitive. Wait a minute! Their dad is Rulan (nipple boy) That explains why they play so rough. (Remember my bruises he gave me ) Just kidding!

Shawn and April had another party to go to later that day so they did not want the girls to get wet. Lyssi would just stand off to the side and watch. Finally her mom let her and Boo get on their suits and join in on the fun.

Curt and Alisa have a fabulous pool.

It was very refreshing!

It felt so good to play in it after being so hot from the games.

We had fun watching Scott do some pretty impressive cannon balls, and Steve enjoyed a game of HORSE with Tyler in the pool as well. Kris Doman is a professional photographer and she took some fun underwater pictures of all of us. I need to see if we can get a copy of Howie and I underwater kissing :) :) :) She had to try several times to get it just right and I enjoyed every MINUTE of it. Anytime I can kiss my man....You won't hear me complaining!

We also enjoyed the hot tub. When I got in I didn't want to get out. It is funny how tired I get when I sit in a hot tub. I was ready to go home and take a MAJOR nap!

Once again the Domans treated us to a very enjoyable afternoon. It was nice to get together with the whole clan and get to know their kids again. They have all grown up so much since I saw them last. Thanks for making us feel so welcome. You are super friends and we love you all so much. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. You are the BEST!

Make a Wish Come True......

We were invited to come to a "Make a Wish" celebration for our friend's son. Trey is an adorable little guy who has struggled with a serious heart problem his entire life. He has hypo-plastic left heart syndrome. (I hope I got that right) This poor kid has been in and out of the hospital ever since he was born and has undergone many operations.

I snuck this picture from Robbie's blog :)

April and Robbie (Trey's mom) grew up together in our neighborhood and now they live in Idaho. We don't get to see much of them but I adore this little family. Trey's grandma just happens to be my best friend. Trey is Karah's "PRINCE"!

The girls helped me prepare some corn on the cob to take with us for the barbecue.

Such good helpers.....

April and Shawn let me tag along with them to the celebration because Howie was working and not able to come along.

They had a huge wind and rain storm right before we arrived but everything was cleaned up and ready for the BIG REVEAL by the time we drove up. We got there just in time.
Trey's WISH was for a secret hideout (I believe) and so someone made him this cool tree house with a slide for him. Trey stayed inside his house until it was all constructed. Finally it was time for him to check things out.

When Trey came out of the house I think he was a bit nervous or uncomfortable at first. Lots of people had gathered to share in his special day. This family is really loved!

His big brother Tyler and his dad escorted through the rows of cheering friends to his new tree house.

His mom ready to capture this special moment in her son's life.

By the way....She is an awesome mom.

Ben checking things out....High atop the tree house

There was a special lookout from the roof....

Once inside the tree house Trey did not want to come out. I think his mom finally went in and prompted him to come down the slide.

I loved watching these two brothers play together.

They have such a close friendsip.

There was a climbing wall on the side of the tree house.

Taking a closer look.....

Uncle Lance helping him up to the top....

All the kids had a great time just playing......

Lyssi and her silly face.......

Karah kind of stayed off to herself while the huge crowd of kids played in the tree house. She also just clung to my leg each time Trey came past her. She was acting so shy. I asked her if she wanted to go play with them and she said, "I just want to watch, Trey."

She finally came up to me to see if I would ask Trey if he would take her to "their own hideout with no other kids around." She acted like she was kind of jealous of all the other kids. She wanted him to herself!!!!

I told her that she would have to ask him herself and she looked terrified. I'm not sure what was going on in her mind but it was kind of funny to watch. She honestly acted like a school girl with a HUGE crush!!!!

Once she got Trey's attention and asked him to take her to "their" hideout he told her the sad news. He said that the chickens had all died. (the next door neighbor's dog got in) SAD!! I gathered from listening to the both of them, that the hideout Karah was referring to was the chicken coop. She had told me a few months ago that she found the boy she was going to marry. It was while she was visiting their farm and he took her to his secret hideout. She had told me that he was a PRINCE! I had to take a picture of Boo in the spot where she found her FIRST LOVE! Who would have thought you could find a man of your dreams in a chicken coop! Go figure!

We enjoyed some yummy food and some great company!

April, Robbie and Liz.....

Luke (Trey's little brother) takes after his grandma, Siri!

HE LOVES CHOCOLATE! Mmmmmmmm!

I have a picture of Luke exactly like this one taken a few months ago at Evan's funeral. He is standing there with a plate of chocolate cake with the same expression on his face....totally enjoying himself.

Luke had a great time playing in his truck and playing in the sandbox.

He is definitely ALL boy!

We found him trying to drive a REAL truck! YIKES!!!!

He is all smiles.....He looks like he is in heaven behind the wheel

April and Lolly (Trey's baby sister)

She was passed around from one person to another.....

She loves her Aunt Sarah....

Someone brought a cake for the barbeque.

It said "Wishes do come true"

It was a hit with the kids.

How many more pictures....Can we just eat it ALREADY!!!

After the kids ate cake they all went over to the trampoline to play. I was just watching and noticed that I could not see Karah and Lyss anywhere. They weren't with their parents and they weren't with the kids. I set out to find them. When I came around this big patch of long grass I heard some little whispers.

There was Boo and Lyss hiding......

They had picked these dried weeds and made a little hideout with them. Karah told me to speak really quietly so that "He" couldn't see her. When I asked who "He" was she said "I am watching my prince and I don't want anyone to see me." Trey was jumping on the tramp right next to this patch of grass and she was spying on him.

It cracked me up so much. I think we have a STALKER here!

I love how she was squinting her eyes the whole time. I think she thought that would make her more invisible or something. SOOOOO FUNNY!!! You can't tell in the picture but she had these dried weeds stuck in the ground all around her to camoflauge her from Trey.

What girls do when they are in LOVE!

Once Lance came out to play with the kids Karah decided to join in. She is kind of funny that way. She is extremely shy around kids she doesn't know, but when adult are around she feels more comfortable.

Lance played for at least an hour with all of the kids....

They loved it!

Betcha can't guess who Karah picked when it was her turn :)

They played almost till the sun went down. This is a cute video clip of Lance playing with the kids. They were all GIGGLES! He is a great guy! He had to have been exhausted.

Once the sun went down and most of the people had left to go home we spent a little bit of time visiting. Siri seemed like she was really enjoying her grandkids. She lives in Cedar City so a drive to Idaho is VERY long. I think it would be so hard to be that far away from MY little ones. I would NOT want to go home!!!

The kids had fun playing with the toys that Trey received from Make a Wish. They really got spoiled. It seemed like Christmas in September :)

Trey coloring with his "Grammy"

Boo watching Trey create his masterpiece.....

He let her add a little to his picture.....

It was such a nice visit. I am so happy that we were invited to share in Trey's special day.

Trey is quite the fighter. His illness has him in the hospital so much and they have had some extremely SCARY times. They have wonderful doctors that care for him. Trey is blessed with the most awesome parent around. They have so much faith in God and it never waivers. They have struggled with the death of a sweet baby girl and then deal with the ups and downs of Trey's health issues. That is a lot to deal with on a daily basis and they do it wonderfully. What a perfect example of trusting in the Lord in all things. Thanks Robbie and Ben for your beautiful example to us all. It was so nice to watch Trey today and see him running and jumping and playing along side his friends and his brother, Tyler. He is in our prayers for continued health and strength. I am so happy that his WISH CAME TRUE!

Karah is right.......He is a Prince!

And we LOVE him!