As promised.

Here are a few photos from the weekend's big party. There are many more on Facebook... and even more than that on my laptop. Just ask, and I can show you a slideshow complete with music from the HSM soundtrack. (Have I mentioned that I love my Mac? That's another post for another time.)

When Lauren and Ryan came in with this cardboard cutout of Gabriella, I almost lost it. She made her way around the house all evening, but my favorite was when she was here, on top of the entertainment center. All night the joke was, "why is Gabby just standing there?" I will continue to wait for Jordan to bring her to church... because she needs Jesus, too.

Our cake rocked. Sure, Costco couldn't make an "official" HSM cake, so we worked with it. We got the basketball, and had them put "Happy Birthday! Bet on it!" on the cake. Then we found a fun HSM candle at Party Tree.

The pinata was one of the highlights of the evening. Sure, we could've done a little more planning as far as its placement goes, but the two ladders and the broom were a great improvisation. And we hit it with my Swiffer handle. Good thing I live on a street with no traffic!

A shout out to my friend and closet blog reader Mark. Thanks for sweeping the street!

I'm guessing all the local Hallmarks are now sold out of this card. It's the one that plays music. I got three of them, and Jordan got one of these, and one other HSM musical one. And, I got two of that other card as well. Out of all the cards there are... I guess great minds think alike. :)

I think it might have been my most fun birthday party yet!

Editor's Note: Just as I was finishing that, the power went out. We've had some pretty crazy storms here lately! An hour and one horror movie-ish scene with the roomie later, and way past my bedtime, it's back on. Let's hear it for IPL. And the electrician who accidentally left his really awesome flashlight here a few months ago. (I tried to give it back, but he never came to pick it up.)

Preparing for the Party (How Old Are We?)

Yeah, I'm turning 28 on Thursday. And yeah, I'm having a High School Musical Birthday Party tomorrow - a joint party with Jordan, who turned 27 a couple weeks ago. (Twenty-eight means I am officially in my "late twenties." Twenty-seven can go either way, but 28 is definitely the late twenties.)

Anyhow, Liz and I had a field day at Claire's yesterday when we found a whole HSM section, complete with three-foot wall decals of Troy and Gabriella.

(Let's hope these will actually come OFF my wall when the time comes...) Not only did they have tons of fun HSM stuff, but most of it was 50% off! A sign that HSM is going out of style? I'm not sure... but it was definitely lucky for us!

Jordan is dressing up like Troy, so I am working on a few Gabriella-ish things, like the "T" necklace... Photos to come next week! Bet on it!

Still Hangin' Tough

I will definitely be digging this giant New Kids on the Block button out of mom and dad's basement... I am going to see NKOTB this fall! Woo hoo!

Let just hope Donnie doesn't set fire to his hotel room this time...

Stuff Christians Like

I was reading Janie's blog a little while ago, and she posted a link to Stuff Christians Like. I just spent a good hour reading...

I especially enjoyed-

#262. Hoping TBS edits the Sex in the City Movie too.

#258. Taking a Date to Church. (6 Fun Tips.)

#256. Mission trip fundraising letters (And why I should write your next one)

#245. The casserole of hope

... and I still have 200+ more to read!

Expensive Batteries (The Dangers of Target)

Tonight, after a yummy dinner with MegDub, I went to Target to pick up some batteries so my thermostat could once again function.

I went to pick up some batteries. Just batteries. Then Target cast a spell on me, as it so often does.

I came out with:

• 2 pairs of shorts
• a shirt
• a purse
• Enchanted on DVD
• Starbucks Mocha Truffles
• ... and batteries.

And just one more note about Target: if I (still) worked there, I would let you take seven items into the dressing room, even though the limit is six. I am not THAT much of a rules follower.

Best Friends, Worst Friends, and Average Friends

This conversation has come up twice this week, so I thought maybe it was blog-worthy. 

I do not like "best friends." The idea of taking one of your friends and bestowing upon them the title of "best" friend is just weird to me. If you are going to name your "best" friend, are you also going to have someone who is your "worst" friend? Or your "average" friend?

Like everyone else, I have some friends who are closer than others. I may call some people my "good friends" but I don't go so far as to name one of them the "best." (I am overusing quotes. Sorry about that.) I'm not in the business of ranking my friends one through however-many-friends-I-have.

What if someone is my best friend, but I am not their best friend? Or vice versa? That creates all kinds of awkward situations. 

As we were discussing this at small group tonight, I gave my Sunday School answer. "Jesus is my best friend." We decided that He would wear the "best" part of the necklace, and I would get the "friend" half.

Evolution

I was cleaning the study the other day... I am not sure why I still have all of these. This goes back to about 2001, I think. I wonder what the next seven years will bring...