Mercy's 16th

Mercedes' birthday fell during Stake Youth Conference this year and she was not happy about it. She did not want to attend, but being the all knowing mom I am I made her go because I knew that once she was there with her friends she would enjoy herself. Some of the kids that were attending were from out of town so they stayed at different member's homes. In order for the kids here in the area to have the same experience, they were able to stay at other people's homes as well. That way they would be able to feel like they went away and meet other kids not from around here.

Mercedes was so excited to find out she was staying at the Flower's home. She loves Laura Flowers and her sister Megan, so this made spending her birthday away a little more bearable.

Laura called me and thought that Mercedes would get a kick out of a surprise birthday party... at midnight. That way she wouldn't spend the day feeling forgotten.

I woke the girls up at around 11:30 pm and got them ready to meet Bobby in front of the Flower's house. Bobby's sister Joanne met me at home and Gage decided to skip the sleepover part of conference so he could be there for his sister. We showed up a little after midnight and surprised her. I think we pulled it off... here she is with her Aunt Joanne and cousin Jillian

Here is the ever-amazing Flower's family...

Laura told Mercedes she had to wear the hat. Only she could get her to do this... By the way, the cake was yummy!

Our kids get to pick a party or a present for the gift and she opted for a trip to New York City. I know, lucky. We stayed at Club Quarters in Rockerfeller Center in a very cute room on the 3rd floor.

We went to the Tribeca Festival and enjoyed the street festival they had. So much fun! We didn't get to see a movie there because I didn't know you had to purchase tix in advance, so maybe next year!

Ahhhh... only in New York, this is at Canal Street

We ate at the restaurant next door to the hotel called Johnny Utah's. There was a sign on the door that said they were going to be filming an episode of the 'Cake Boss' that evening and if you went in you'd be giving consent to be filmed. I thought Melisa was going to die. Apparently, 'Cake Boss' is one of her favorite shows and she loves Buddy's cakes (he designs and makes them). The restaurant has a cowboy theme and is equipped with a mechanical bull right in the middle of a ring in the middle of the dining area and we were seated with a perfect view of the bull and all the crazy patrons who were under the impression they could stay on for the minute you needed to be considered a winner. If we did nothing else during this trip, it still would have been worth it all to see some very colorful characters on that thing!

This, however, is not the bull but the cake that Buddy created for Johnny Utah's. It was put on a spring that allowed you to move the bull back and forth like the mechanical one!

Melisa was very thankful that we humored her. Watch out for this episode because we may be on it!

this is melisa with Buddy... she looks so dreamy there doesn't she? I think she died and went to heaven;)

Time Square... 45 minutes before the car bomb was found. We had just walked away from the very spot the truck was... creepy huh?

This is Phantom. The officer made him pose with me. You see how he looks all annoyed?

Enjoying our room

and the bed