It is difficult to believe that Buddy turned 16 this past weekend.  How is it possible?

 Time just keeps flying by without my permission…

Birthdays have always been a big deal at our house.  Mr. Cabana and I started a tradition when we were dating, to celebrate our birthdays for a whole weekend.   For one entire weekend we can do whatever we want and the family has to just go along with it,  without any complaints.  {Because as you know, ONE day a year is just not enough!}

So with this “Birthdays are a big deal” thinking, we had been asking Buddy for months (and months…) what he would like to do for his big 16th birthday.  (Party? Hollywood?, Getty Museum? Drive In movie night?…)  And the answer we got over (and over, and over?)  “I. Don’t. Know.”

Now for a planner like me, do you have ANY idea how difficult it was to hear those three little words?  And it is not like I could take control and plan something for him on my own.  I mean, after all, I am dealing with a teenager.  I am not completely off my rocker!

I finally gave Buddy a deadline to decide whether or not he wanted a party about 7 weeks ago.  He decided, that “No, he did not want a party.”  Ok, fine.  {Well, to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t fine with it, but it was his decision.  I mean who doesn’t want a birthday party, am I a right?}

So flash forward to five (5!) days before his big day.  His best friend is at our house telling Grant that he going to be so disappointed come his birthday if he has nothing planned. He knows Buddy very well!

You see where this is going, right?

Five days before the BIG 1-6 and Buddy decides that “YES! I actually really do want a party!”

Really?!?  Seriously?!?  Are you KIDDING me?!?  NOW you decide to have a party?  With. 5. days. notice?

Did I tell him “No! You missed the deadline I set for you.”  Or “No! I can’t possibly plan a party in 5 days?” Ummm, you know me, right?

My answer went something like this, “Yes, I can pull it off.  But do not expect a whole lot.”

I had to get my mind around the fact there would be not a fabulous invitation being sent out (hello!  5 days people!), most custom items were out, ordering anything was out…You get my point, right?

So I immediately sent out an Evite {when in a pinch, these really are pretty great}, Buddy sent out a text with the Evite link {thank goodness for teens and their technology!}, I sent out an SOS text to my friends knowing that they have great items for me to borrow, and jumped onto Pinterest.  All of this probably within 10 minutes of Buddy telling me about a party.

Flash forward 5 days {Some things just were not able to be pulled off.  Movie of Buddy through the years? Not finished…Oh well}

{Buddy and his friends are off for a day of fun, while I work on the party}

It’s PARTY TIME!!!!

Buddy and Baby Girl
{his server for the night}

{Found this image by doing a search on Google Images}

{Yes, I reused the “Wet Your Whistle” chalkboard from another recent event. Hey, it saved me a few minutes to work on something else!}

{My girlfriend Pam had the bushel baskets and adorable burlap sign from her son’s recent HS grad party. We made butter and caramel corn for the baskets}

{Lunch bags for popcorn bar}

{I found these great bowls at Michael’s for just 99 cents! They had been marked down 70%!}

{My girlfriend Sherry’s mom made the fabulous mustache runners for Sherry’s son’s recent HS graduation. I told you my friends have great stuff to borrow!}

{Game Time!}

{Once it was dark, we played “The Princess Bride” outside at our drive in movie theatre}

{Chocolate Mustaches}

{Buddy and his cousins}

{Papa enjoying a Twinkie from the Sweets Bar}

{Mustache cake. Bake a cake in a round pan, when cool cut in half in the a mustache shape}

Until next time,

Butterscotch Lady

********************************************************************

{ Sources}

SunshineAndPop (Etsy) for Bottle labels and buffet cards

Michael’s for mustache molds

Bushel Baskets and cellophane bags from Shinoda