This is for you Amy T

Well, this is for Amy T and anyone else who wants to read it. Last Saturday I got the opportunity to go to my home town of Dover, Delaware to go to a baby shower for my dear friend Lorili. She wasn't due until the end of February and the shower had been planned months ago, but little Dallin decided he wanted to come prior to the shower and arrived on the 18th of January. He was only five pounds 13 ounces so Lorili thought it was better to leave him at home. But this is Lorili "holding" her baby.

This was the biggest baby shower I have EVER been to. I thought I had walked into a wedding reception. It was held in a small gym with a stage at a local school. There were at least 9 round tables that held 8-9 people. Every table but one was full. Lorili's oldest sister had planned everything to a T. What's even more remarkable is that her sister planned this enormous party all the while grieving her husband who died the week before Christmas. She said having the shower to plan gave her something positive to focus on. The cake was amazing and the frosting was the best I had ever tasted ( I wanted to eat it by the spoonful). The tables were set with all kinds of favors and centerpieces. Her theme was monkeys and on the stage was a huge palm tree covered in lights with stuffed monkeys hanging from it. Each table had a "barrel of monkeys" in the center with monkeys sprinkled around. The food was great. She had people bring crockpots full of soup, plates with different types of sandwiches, and fruit with a chocolate fountain.

Ofcourse I was so busy enjoying the company and the food that I forgot to bring out my camera until after the cake was eaten and most of the people were gone. Infact I didn't bring out my camera until almost everything was cleaned up. Amy, your mother was so funny - first she decided that she was going to come sit with my mom and me because we were the only ones at our table, but then she decided she would stay her table until after she got her food because her table got to go 4 tables in front of mine. Then AFTER she got her food she sat with us! Too funny. Then she wanted to hold Piper and Reenie said that she would hold her until MJ finished eating. Your mom scarfed her sandwiches down so fast and asked for the baby. My mom said but you haven't finished your soup - MJ replied "Who cares". Reenie said "but your soup will get cold, do you want me to spoon feed you?" Thankfully MJ replied no - she didn't care about her soup when she could hold a baby. It was so cute and funny. I love our moms!

The best part of the day was seeing so many people from my childhood. Amy T - we missed you and oh how I wish you lived closer. Your mom and I talked about how we need to do some job searching and get you out here. I was going to ask Lorili if we were going to her house Sat night to spend the night since it WAS her birthday - it would have been like old times with Lorili, Angie, Natalie, Me etc... Also at the shower was Tammy, Amy Duran, Elizabeth Snyder and her sister Jenn, Sis. Hyde, Kroshus, Thwaites, VS, Temple, Kopp, Victory, Bothell, Evans, Sylvester, Stapleford, Trisha, Mariana. It was really like old times except for the slew of new people in Dover Ward that I didn't know and the fact that Tabitha Stapleford and Rachel Haxton are now 21 and not 4.

Natalie showed up at the very end with something very twinkly on her finger. Yep- she's engaged. I am really happy for her! She looked so good. She and Matt really remind me of their mom. I miss seeing Sis. Badell's smiling face when I go back! Natalie said she really missed you too.

It was a really fun day! I love childhood memories and seeing the people who helped me create them.

On a weird side note - Lorili was due Feb 24th and had her baby Jan 18th. My cousin Amanda was due to have her baby on Feb 18th and had it on Jan 24th. What's up with 24 and 18? Taffy and Boss - you are both due mid Feb will you be going way early too? I was wondering what was up with Feb babies coming so early!