Jared's "silent surprise 40th bday party"!

I have felt like I have been living event to event for this past year. Not a great way to live but it worked for me this last year. Once we got home from Disneyland, my next event to prepare for was Jared's 40th bday. It has been a difficult year, work-wise, which of course affects the finances. So I knew I needed to be creative without a lot of cost. I had thought about a surprise party but many people I would invite, live far away. That is when I got this great idea!

I contacted many friends and family members to write down wishes, memories, anything to Jared. Then late the night before his birthday, after he went to bed. I covered our dining room area with all the thoughts everyone sent. I then wrote him a letter and posted it on our bathroom mirror. At the end it said there are more than 40 reasons why you are loved! (I had close to 70 responses)

Unfortunately for me, he woke up early!!! He said he couldn't sleep. It was about 6am! What this breaks our family tradition, for those of you that know, of cake in bed!

I knew I needed to get up with him. I had him go back into the bathroom and read my note. Then I walked downstairs with him. He was shocked, utterly speechless. He finally whispered "it's like a silent surprise party!" He then read every single note.

This is him after, goofing around of course. He was very touched. Some funny memories, some touching tributes, some fun notes from nieces and nephews.

We did make him go back to bed. The kids gathered his gifts and Rachel carried the birthday homemade peppermint cheesecake with a candle into him in bed!

Then of course, it was playday outside with the kids!

Rachel's Disney Date with Date

Rachel also won 2 tickets to Disneyland (Prize from winning State Pageant). We decided to send her and Jared on a Daddy Daughter Date. Looks like they had a great time!

Blast at Disneyland - Nov 2011

We were so lucky to be joined for our first few days at Disneyland by Lana (Nana), Doug, Brooke and Addy. This was especially fun because this was the first time get got to meet in person Brooke and Addy. The kids took to their new cousins with ease and love.

Because of the timing of the pageant, we were at Disneyland the week of Thanksgiving. All of the schools were out of school for that week and I think every single annual pass owner decided to come to Disneyland. We spent much of our time, and average of 45 minutes, waiting for rides.

We think Addy got used to the cousins pretty quickly. It was fun to watch time all together.

Let us outta here!

Of course we couldn't be this close to a lego store without going inside. Can you see the grin from ear to ear?

Luckily, for Rachel and us, the first few days of the Nationals competition and reserved days for Disneyland. She also won 2 tickets for Hollywood tours. However since we saw Hollywood last year with Maike, we decided to spend another family day at Disneyland.

Luke was disappointed not to see more Disney characters. We lucked out for this shot but Brady won't go near him. He has his comfort zone of people and he was just fine watching him from afar.

These pictures crack me up. Jared had taken Ethan and Rachel to go ride the bigger rides and I got to have fun with these two silly boys in Bugs Life land.

We loved going to California Adventure and even did a cartoon drawing class together.

Here we are at night on the California Adventure ferris wheel.

Look closely and they have "ears".

NAM Nationals with Rachel

2010-11 National American Miss Lexi Collins, Rachel, and 2010-2011All-American Miss Michealah Wheat 

Well, we definitely aren't in Kansas anymore!!! Nationals level is totally different than the State level, thats for sure. Rachel, even though she is in the 10-12 age group, she is still on the younger end. Most of the girls competing were now 13, even though they were 12 as of Jan 1st. She looked tiny, only 3 other girls were her size.

Our viewpoint of this whole experience was just that...an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. We encouraged Rachel to go and enjoy, learn, meet new friends, have fun and be herself.

To get a more indepth view of Rachel's week, check out her blog at bellarachel.com.

We did get to see Miss Arizona, Raina Donati, again. She actually crowned Rachel at the Utah pageant this summer. She introduced Rachel to Miss Northern California, Jada. Jada definitely was a very outgoing, friendly person. We were not surprised when her name was called as winning "Miss Congeniality"!

This isn't all of the queens that participated with Rachel, only a few before the big "Pre Teen" photoshoot in front of the Disney castle.  All in all, there were 36 State Queens competing with Rachel for "National American Miss Pre Teen". There were also over 100 other girls competing in the Pre Teen Optionals catagories and for the "All-American Miss Pre Teen" catagory.

Here is the proud pappa! You can't tell but this was at 8 am in the morning!!!! Way to early for a formal wear competition for us...it was also Thanksgiving Day Morning. The great part is that NAM is a natural pageant that strictly observes the rule "NO MAKE UP for girls 12 and under". Not even lipgloss is okay.

THey had rehearsals almost everyday to prepare for their group numbers at the final pageant. Each rehearsal had a them.

This picture was taken after several of the girls had just finished their personal interviews. Yep, you can see the variety of maturity within the same age group. You really have no idea what the judges are looking for. Are they looking for an "older" preteen or a spunky young preteen, or what? That even changes for the judges day by day.

Lana joined us for the Personal Introduction Competition and the Final Pageant to help cheer on our girl. Of course, all our other family members were cheering across several states. We are so proud of her. The brothers enjoyed this family vacation, complements of their sister and joined us at each of the competitions. Sometimes, they had just jumped out of the pool, just in time to watch her, but they were supportive. Some of the sweetest brotherly love was at the final pageant. I watched these protective brothers actually get mad when their sister didn't make the top 10. Luke just about lost it. Ethan tried to give comforting and encouraging words, mainly that the judges didn't know anything. Brady just that there with an angry face, arms crossed!

Honestly, she was let down at first. The tears flowed and disappointment was apparent. Jared and I knew that it would take time. Time to process, Time to see the big picture, Time to see that who knows what the judges were looking for on that particular day, Time to realize that she is amazing still, before and after the pageant.

After we had been on the road for a couple of hours back to home, she had her time. We talked about so many of the girls competing had gone through a lot to get there, several pageants competed in, coaches, help, etc. She had won her very first pageant. She needed this to help her learn it takes work and preparation. By the time we reached Las Vegas, she told Grandma that she was going to compete again.

We know that she will always look back on this experience as just that - "a great experience"!