Happy Birthday!

Although this photo was taken almost a year ago, it pretty much sums things up - we love Grandpa Garner!

We love him so much, in fact, that we all decided to surprise him for his 50th birthday. Yep, my dad turned 50 last week and he's lookin' good! 

Shelby and I flew in to Salt Lake that evening and met up with my sister Andrea and her daughter Haylie. We planned our flights at the same time so our brother Taylor could pick us up. Unfortunately our hubbies had to skip out on this trip. We missed you guys!

We all drove straight to my parents' house, where my dad awoke from a nap to find a house full of family. Surprise! We're so happy to have pulled it off and to have been there for his milestone birthday.

My mom had balloons, presents, dinner, and cake all ready. My dad always has German Chocolate Cake, and my mom's from-scratch version is to die for. It had been way too long since I'd had a piece...or two...  

We got him a tie. Cliche, maybe, but I love to dress my daddy!

We spent the evening catching up and watching the adorable babies. That alone provides hours of entertainment!   

 

It's so funny to watch Shelby and Haylie interact. They're still figuring out how to be friends.

It's so funny to watch Shelby and Haylie interact. They're still figuring out how to be friends.

The next day, I snuck away with Taylor while Shelby napped. He and I have always talked about going golfing together and we finally made it happen. I didn't golf - that would have been scary - but I got to play caddy and drive the golf cart. It was a blast! Taylor is an incredibly talented golfer and watching him made my jaw drop. He also taught me how to drive, chip, and putt, and I wasn't too terrible. I had so much fun and I'm glad we got some brother - sister time.

Haylie had an identity crisis for a moment. 

She thinks Shelby is the coolest, so of course she'd want to use Shelby's cup and hang with Shelby's favorite friend Patch!

Shelby loves to read, and Haylie loves to do whatever Shelby is doing!

Little twinners! They each got these jammies from grandma.

Little twinners! They each got these jammies from grandma.

 I haven't seen the BYU campus in a while, so since we had some free time the next day we drove to Provo to visit the BYU Bookstore. It was Shelby and Haylie's first visit. They were so patient while we shopped for different goodies. I tried to get Shelby a BYU souvenir, but the only thing she was interested in was a $3 pinwheel. Fine by me!

After shopping, we let the little ones stretch their legs in the middle of campus. They ran around like they owned the place.

Shelby figured out how to get her pinwheel spinning in the wind and was mesmerized.

Friday was a gorgeous sunny day, and we decided to visit Hogle Zoo. We rode the carousel and the train, played at the playground, and saw all kinds of animals. Shelby also got to have her first ice cream cone. It was great until she squeezed it. Ice cream everywhere! 

Shelby picked this polar bear on her own. 

She has a book about a polar bear named Polo and she was excited to see a familiar face. She kept petting him and saying "Polo! Polo!".

This lion drinking fountain has been there forever! Since my parents were kids. I think Shelby was relieved that she wasn't being held in his mouth - if Tom had come, he'd have fed her to this guy in a heartbeat!

Thanks, daddy, for letting us crash your birthday party! We love you and hope it was a great birthday week. Happy 50th!