Kevin's 40th Birthday Party!

The kids and I had so much fun putting this surprise party together for Kevin. We decided to invite lots of people and to just have Ice cream and cake. After I sent out all the invitation via evite we had so many people asking what they could bring or what they could do to help with the preparations. We decided that with the help of so many friends and family we could do a funeral dinner with funeral potatoes, Jello salad, ham etc. We had so much help that all that was left to supply was the ham.

I asked Lynette Zaugg in our ward to make a cake for the party. Well she went all out and made the most amazing cake. I love that it had the kids names listed on the back!

Bishop Michael Packham made me laugh so hard I cried. He came to the party dressed as an undertaker. As everyone was waiting for Kevin to come he instructed everyone on what to do when he arrived. He played Happy Birthday on the piano in a minor key and everyone sang along. Then he started measuring Kevin and talking about the different options for Kev's grave and coffin. It was really funny. He also played Taps on his Bugle. So funny! Before he sat down he said "At Packham's Mortuary our slogan is You sack 'em we Packham"!

We also had a special visitor the Grim Reaper (Josh King) come and give Kevin his 'YOUTH' in a box.

Bishop Brad Johnson conducted the funeral services. He did a great job!

Sister Julie Jewell played "Amazing Grace" on the piano and we watched a video that Krystal put together for us. There were about 100 plus people there. I think that Kevin was pretty surprised at how many people were there! On Friday night I told Kevin that the kids and I wanted to take him out for his birthday. I told him that I wasn't quite ready to go and that the kids and I had a few things we needed to do to get ready before we could go so could he please go pick up Bridgette from McKenna Watt's house while we finished getting ready. Than after he left the house we hurried and got in the car and went to the church. After a few minutes I called Kevin on his cell and told him that Bridgette just called me and said that they were at Sarah's (Bridgette's friend) ward holiday party and asked him if he could go pick her up there. So he turned around and headed for the church that Sarah go's to which was where we all were waiting for him to arrive. So when Kevin pulled up to the church and saw all the cars he just thought it was for the holiday party, until he pulled up right next to his bosses car and wondered why he was here. So when he walked in he knew right away what was going on but he was still really surprised I think.

The kids started off singing "I'm so glad when daddy comes home" and then they stopped after a few lines and made this circle to talk about what to do. After a few seconds they started singing the same song but in a minor key. Than they stopped after a few lines and conferenced again
and started singing again the same song but with different words.

It's so sad to watch our dad get older everyday.

He used to run but now he's done, his hair is turning grey.

I put my arm around his waist and help him up the stairs.

Don't worry dad it's not so bad......(than Regan said)

Just look at Bishop J!

Brett talked about Kevin and how he was the "perfect child" who never got into any trouble. He told a few funny stories about Kevin's early years of driving and how he hit a parked car. It was really fun!