Tony's 30th Birthday Luau

When Tony first got home, last Sunday, we immediately started trying to figure out what we were going to do for his birthday. This is a big one. THIRTY. I wanted it to be special, but I just didn't know what to do. So we thought. And thought. And thought a little more. And finally, on Wednesday we decided what we were going to do for his birthday, which was Friday.


We decided we'd have a cook-out and invite everybody that we know and expect them to show up. Wasn't that considerate of us? I thought so.


Thank goodness, we're well-loved, because most of the people we invited were actually there... with bells, I mean lei's, on.

I thought we were just going to have a normal cook-out with hamburgers, hotdogs, and the stereo blaring, but when I walked into party city to get the party wares.... I saw it. A whole aisle dedicated to having a luau. This is when I knew... we were destined to have a luau for Tony's thirtieth birthday party. So, a pile of money later, I was home with everything I needed to throw the perfect birthday party.

And boy was it! I am such a lucky girl. We had the best time EVER!


So much fun, in fact, that we've decided we're doing the exact same thing for Noah's first birthday. This way I can re-use my luau decorations that I spent waaaay too much on and this time I'll be even better prepared! I'm thinking.... everyone should come in Hawaiian shirts and we're gonna grill some pineapple and whatever else I can think of that is very luau-y. We're doing Noah's luau on May 16th, Saturday night, at 6 o'clock. So, I hope everyone can come!

Now, here's a ton of pictures from Tony's luau. The pictures are dark, grainy, and lots of them have an orange glow in the background. This is from the tiki torches we had lit up all over our yard. I hate the camera's pop-up flash, though, that's why the pics are dark, but I love the dark and grainy texture of them.. so, ANYWAY.. ENJOY! :)

Oh, but before I start with the party pictures, let me just ackowledge that Tony spent the first 9 hours of his birthday... day working on building our project... the cool new cedar playset. It was supposed to be done by the party for the kids to play on, but it wasn't... but he did try to get it done...

Now for the party pictures....

These are our future in-laws. Garrett's parents, Allison and Collins, and his little brother, Jack!

My handsome Daddy

Sweet little Bradon



My Aunt Dawn talking to my Mama.


My Uncle Curtis and Aunt Dawn

I think Granny was still talking to them even though they were posing for me.

Allison and Jack

The girls talking.... see the cute margarita glasses I bought for the luau!! And the Strawberry Margaritas were to die for!!!

My mom rode all the kids around on the golfcart. It's what Noah wants for his birthday. Everytime someone took him off it, it threw a fit!

My handsome baby brother, Jarrett.

My Mama and her brother

Ron and Heather

My mama

Noah was fussy, ready to go to bed...

How funny is this?!?! LOL...

Miles is 2 1/2 and he swings a bat like a pro. I couldn't believe it...

Isn't he the cutest?!?!

Michelle with her drank!

Now, I have to add a disclaimer here.... I am so disappointed in myself. There are so many people I did not get pictures of that were at the party. For the first two hours, I was so busy making drinks, food, mingling, laughing, entertaining, etc. that I completely forgot my camera even existed. So, by the time I started taking pictures, there were some party goers who had already left or who were just m.i.a. from the frame of the camera!

I cannot wait to do this again for Noah's birthday. It was definitely in the top five of best parties ever. So, you need to make sure you reserve the date.. May 16th for partying at the Arnold's!! :)

p.s. half my pictures are cut in half because I uploaded them from flickr. Sorry bout that. It's irritating, but they upload from there so much faster!