Waiting for me to get there . . . . .
SURPRISE!!!!!
I was so shocked - I started crying!!
My Grandma, who came from 7 hours away!
The gift table with pictures, scrapbook pages to sign and the beautiful bouquet of flowers from Elizabeth!
The beautiful cake - all of my favorite colors!
Our friends from Shawano:
Nate, Zack & Dad
Mipps, Mr. Batiansila & Dad (they went to high school together)
Great-Grandma Hammond, me & Aunt Val, who live six hours away! They were at the party for about 4 hours, then left to drive home that night!
Cuties - Elsie, Sarah, Emmy & Kate
Aunt Kari & Mrs. B
The pool table was quite popular!
Megan, Amy & Allison
Rachel & Sarah
Aunt Jana & Jacob
Jake was quite popular!
Grandpa Klahn & Jake
Grandma Klahn & her friend, Tricia, got the two babies!
Noah & Bob Asp - two of the greatest callers around!
Dancing
Dancing
Still dancing
Whaddya know? Still dancing!
It was the ultimate party - lots of fun, fellowship and . . . . . DANCING!!!
Happy 18th Birthday, Aliisa Joy!!! 
Our first meeting took place when I spent a week at her house- what a special visit!! We knew each other so well through our long correspondence, but getting to do things together was so fun!! We had a full week- swimming at a friends house, shopping for western shirts, cleaning at the farm, Ali sewing matching skirts, playing games, and of course, talking!! :) There were the square dance lessons, as Ali and her famly patiently tried to teach me to square dance in just 5 days. Then on Saturday, the WI State Square Dance Convention- the two hour drive during the morning as we bruised each-other over yellow cars, then square dancing all day and driving home that night. The next morning getting up early to drive to Des Moines to meet Dad and Mom because I had to go home. Saying goodbye after that wonderful week was so hard!! 
Then followed another two months of correspondence before Ali got to come down for a entirely too short, but simply wonderful visit in October. She arrived just as we were in the thick of a football game, and she joined right in, proving that she could certainly hold her own, and even out-do many of us!! Then the next two days at home- playing lots of games of Catch Phrase and more then one game of volleyball. And on Monday, thrift store shopping, where we found all sorts of interesting things, right Ali?? :) And two very late nights talking!!! Then on Tuesday morning came the very sad part of the visit-- saying goodbye!
Then this past October, when the Ansons were in Chicago, and Ali and Ike came and got me for the week-end. Short but sweet, we celebrated Mrs. Klahn's birthday, talked, played games, talked, took Ali's Senior pictures, talked, took their Family Pictures, and talked more!! Then there was the drive back to IL, with another good-bye, this one slightly more bearable because she had the promise of another visit in the near future!!
And then this past week- 8 days, in fact- as Ali flew down to be with us for a week. The week was off to a great start after our hilarious drive back from the airport!! Playing UNO attack at Ansons, where Lydia was voted the winner after she made us smoothies (okay, it did have a little something to do with her actual score too!!) and we laughed over the dictionary. Enjoying days here at home, with games of football and volleyball, because the weather was so nice!! Then on Wednesday, as the snow fell, donning coveralls to go out for a rousing game of 'snow-volleyball'!!! And on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as we spent Thanksgiving with my Great-Uncle and Aunt, then went on to Parsons to be with my sister Rebecca and her family. The drive back as we played Spades in the bus, in which I had the most points, but in the wrong direction. Sunday with fellowship together, then games of volleyball and football where nearly everyone in the family joined in. When it was too dark to play outside sports we moved to another game of Spades where Ali was the champion (but only by 5 points!!)!!! Then today, her 18th birthday, as we greeted her that morning in traditional Ulmer style!!! Spending the day together, and then that very sad part this evening, as we drove you to the airport for your flight home. And when we thought the trip was over-- it wasn't!! After a 2 1/2 hour delay for her flight, we sat in the airport terminal and played cards again. And then, when the plane really did come in, it brought with it tears and hugs as we had to say good-bye!!
Ali with cute little Jacob.
I made this calendar to help me count down the days!Well, they did it! I never thought if they did it, they'd be able to pull it off, but they did. I was absolutely clueless, caught with the "deer in the headlights" look.
Would you like me to explain? A few of you already know, but I won't leave the rest of you hanging in suspense.
On Saturday my family and friends threw me a surprise 18th birthday and graduation party. And boy, was it a surprise! I had absolutely no idea it was coming (which is the point, right?). The funny thing is, just a few days ago I was telling a friend "if my Mom was planning a surprise birthday party, I'd probably know about it". Boy, am I ever eating my words now!
Between 70 and 100 people were there (people were coming and going, so maybe there were more, I'm not sure!) for the party and square dance following, which was another surprise! And was I ever surprised! My favorite square dance caller came and called a square dance along with a friend. I was telling people "that was the ultimate icing on the cake!".
People came from as far as 7 hours just to be at the party for about 4 hours and drive back home! Some people I hadn't seen in over 2 years came! It was such a special time!
It took me basically all of Saturday, yesterday, today, probably the next week to get over what just happened! I mean, this was a big party, and I had absolutely no clue!
Well, that's all for now. I'm going to do a post with a bunch of pictures, and the story behind the surprise as soon as I get a chance. Right now we still have 22 people in the house, most of them are leaving today but we'll have a few leaving tomorrow.
