Surprise, GiGi!!

GiGi turns 55 on Sept 28. (Hmm..hopefully she won't be mad since I posted her age...sorry, Mama!) On her 50th birthday, Chris, Liz, and I drove up to surprise her for the big event. I drove from Florida, met Chris and Liz in Atlanta, then we headed to Kentucky for an AMAZING birthday dinner Daddy was having catered at their house. We arrived right at the time we were told, rang the doorbell, and my mom came down to the door. She opened it, looked at us, then proceeded to shut the door in our faces. So, we don't really surprise her anymore. (In her defense, she did open it about 10 seconds later. To us standing there staring at her in disbelief. Apparently, she was VERY surprised, and had to take it all in. We still make fun of her for slamming the door in our faces after SOME of us had driven for 12 hours..) However, I thought that after 5 years, she may be ready again. So Liz and I packed up the girls, and helped them practice saying "Happy Birthday, GiGi" as we headed to North Carolina. The night before we helped the girls make her a GIANT card that said "Happy Birthday, GiGi" that they had colored. We went in with a plan, and the girls executed it PERFECTLY. GiGi was teaching until 7, so we killed a couple of hours in Tryon before heading to their house. (Luckily Jay and Betsy have LOTS of toys for little people, and are always nice enough to let us come over and destroy their living room with no notice. They're the best!)
Once we got to the house, we got the girls out, snuck through the back gate going to the pool house, and got them ready. GiGi's last lesson was over at 7, so right at 7 we had the girls each hold a side of the card and we sent them walking in front of the big glass doors where GiGi was teaching. She. Was. Shocked. Luckily these were sliding doors, so we knew they were safe from her closing them on the two of them.

She was speechless for a minute (and those of you who know her know that DOES NOT happen often), and then so very excited to hug on her sweet girls! (She did acknowledge Liz and I too, just after the little girls.) And Addie and Penny were VERY excited to FINALLY see their GiGi (after being promised numerous times that we were "going to see GiGi at GiGi's house", but then taking them to a million other places first).
As she was telling her last lesson goodbye, Addie and Penny escaped onto the pool cover. Liz and I immediately told them no, and started to grab them off of it, but Granddaddy was on their side. As usual. He told them they could play on it, and boy were they EVER SO HAPPY to hear that news. Apparently their pool cover is basically a giant water trampoline to two little people. (P.S. the promise that it would hold an elephant...yeah. not so much.) They had SO much fun though, and just laughed at each other non stop. Oh, and they got completely soaked.

We have lots of plans for GiGi's birthday week, so stay tuned!