Seventeen - Seriously?

I cannot believe my baby girl is 17.  She is so grown up and responsible that I have to pinch myself just to think that I am her mother.

On February 12th, she had a gathering of friends over for a birthday party and then a sleepover of girlfriends.  It was a great time for the teenagers - and even for the adults in the house believe it or not. 

It was laughter and "Taboo" from the start, and then it was music.  Everyone had a good meal and then they all watched "Shawshank Redemption" as the movie of choice - no girly movies allowed.

Sarah's good friend Ryan complained a little about the fact that he had to sit through a girly movie last year at Sarah's 16th birthday.  Too funny.  Fortunately, everyone enjoyed the movie - even the guys.

She opened gifts.

And Walker sat beside her the whole time, enjoying just being beside her.

So he could make faces on occasion.

Or admire a gift as much as Sarah.

"Walker, isn't that neat?"

"Hey!  Give that back, that's my birthday gift!"

Yes, she and Walker are like 2 peas in a pod ...

2 cuddly bears ...

And, as is typical with most men, he was clueless when she frowned ...

But he tried to make up for it with funny faces ...

and hugs ...

and more funny faces ...

"How about one more hug" ...

because Walker likes to make Sarah laugh.  And, he loves to see her smile.  And, that was exactly what he wanted to do anyway, especially since we all knew that the only reason Sarah was frowning in the first place was because she wanted a birthday kiss from her sweetie.

And that was exactly what she got.  All of this solved the issue of turning Sarah's frown upside down.

But then the girls had a plan ...

And they called Walker over to sit with them on the sofa ...

"Aw no, do I hafta?"

Walker is so silly - I think that's part of the reason Sarah loves him so much.

But wait a minute - Walker isn't comfortable on the sofa with all these girls ...

Because he just wants to cuddle with one inparticular ...

Okay, enough silliness, even Hannah (our little puppy) wanted to get in on the action.

Of course, Walker took full advantage of being on a sofa with 8 females.

I mean full advantage.

"Hmmm, this must be what it's like to be on the Bachelor."

"Yes, I do believe that it would be fun to be on the Bachelor."

"I'm just kidding, Sarah.  I didn't mean it.  I was just having fun.  You forgive me, right?"

Everyone scattered, and some headed to the kitchen for goodies.

They hung out and talked.

And shared report card grades.

Ryan apparently had a tough semester.

"Are you kidding?  Ryan, I can't believe that!  Really? You made what on your Math test?"

"No way that's possible.  All you have to do is understand this ...

"But Sarah, my brain isn't wired for calculus functions, product formulas, and derivatives."

"Oh yes it is, Ryan.  Stop hiding behind your brother.  Even he knows you know this stuff."

Okay, enough of the functions already, girlfriends and boyfriends wanted to hang out and share chairs.

While Ryan just hung out - comfortably.

It was fun.  I enjoy observing all the fun and all the laughter.

Even Adolf enjoyed hanging out with the crowd until it was time for cake ...

The cake - oh the cake - I'm not sure anyone actually "ate" the cake.  They did, however, chase each other around the house and smeared cake and icing all over each other's face. 

They were laughing so hard their sides hurt.  It sure was fun.  How I managed to avoid having cake in my face is still questionable.

At one point, Blake was chasing Sarah around the house because Sarah had got him good with cake, right in the face.  Sarah and Blake ran up the back stairs and Sarah locked herself in her bedroom.  Matthew (our son) was unsuccessful at trying to get Sarah to come out of her bedroom because she knew that Blake was outside the door.

Then I came along.  "Sarah, what are you doing?" 

she said "I'm hiding from Blake." 

"Sarah, come out now."

"Is Blake out there?"

"Sarah, come out and join your party." (you see, I didn't actually lie, I just didn't answer her question)

"Cake is flying downstairs, and this is your party, you need to be a part of the cake fight."

So Sarah opened her bedroom door and Blake swirled around and got her right in the face with a big slab of cake and green icing.

"I'm going to get you!!!" she screamed as she chased Blake back down the stairs. 

Later she said to me "Mom, you're going to pay for that."  I just smile.

Walker got it good.  His entire face was covered in green icing at one point.

So was Ryan's. 

They both had to wash up in the kitchen sink.

And get the icing off their designer clothes.

And their handsome faces.

They were all covered in cake.

Sarah had to change clothes at one point.

but she was still smiling - the most adorable 17 y/o ever.

The sleepover was fun too.  Of course, it was only 7 of Sarah's girlfriends.  No boys allowed.  We pulled out the aerobeds and linens and got it all set up for the girls to sleep together in one big room - the boy's room which is the largest in our home with 2 queen beds.  Even I sat around and shared some girltalk with the girls after they had gotten ready for bed. 

Most of her friends went home early Sunday morning, but 2 of her friends, Sydney and Maria, joined us for church service and then Krispy Kreme donuts (we had coupons!). 

It was a great weekend all around and Sarah is all happy about her 17th birthday celebration.

She is growing up way too fast.  Even if she does chase her friends around the house for a cake fight.