Kaylee, what a sweet story. That is so lovely that the older kids would help to comfort TaylorI know exactly what you mean about where does the time go too. Yesterday, my dear and precious daughter, Sara, was married. I can't believe where the years have gone. Even my younger brother(by 8 yrs) commented at the reception that it seemed like only yesterday he came home from grade 9 class(how sweet he still has a vivid memory of this) to be told he was an uncle to a beautiful baby girl. I'm still very emotional today. Yesterday was a beautiful day in our lives, and the beginning of a new journey for my daughter. Her husband is a wonderful , caring, loving man and I know they will have a wonderful and happy future together, but it is still a little sad letting go. Where, oh where, did all those years go.
Kathe
[my mom didn't raise no fool! free soda is free soda]. But even when I had them totally dressed up, we would get extremely dirty looks and unkind words. I spoke to the management about it because it was so uncomfortable (I overhead guests saying how they shouldn't allow children, etc). The manager said they have struggled with the decision as to whether to forbid kids in the concierge lounge. He said other Ritz do not allow children but they have decided to allow them although they do not "encourage" it. I told him I wish someone would have told me their philosophy before paying the premium price. They ended up giving us a whole night free (which saved us quite a bit). I felt justified because we stopped going to the lounge at all so I didn't feel we should have to pay for the difference. That being said, I would go there again with the kids in a heartbeat - just would NEVER ever stay in any Ritz concierge level again. I don't want to be with those type of people! 
Thanks for your comments Deb, but I'm just doing what any mom would do to make sure her kid's party is all he hopes it will be.As I've said before, Holly you are the BEST MOM EVER. After you explained everything to Tyler and hearing his response, he's not only the coolest dude, but he's also the BEST KID EVER. Most kids would not have reacted that way. He was so sweet and understanding and supportive. The two of you are an awesome family and you're so lucky to have each other. I can't wait to meet you and cruise together and I hope some day I will have the chance to sail with Tyler too.
Have an awesome party and share the pics please.
And he's just a really logical kid. He definitely has his moments, like they all do. I was going to let him open a present last night, but he being such a monster, he lost that privilege. Did I mention already about him climbing all over the seats at Subway? I wanted to strangle him by the time we finished all our running around last night. 
Sorry things didn't arrive but what a super little chap your Tyler is to be so understanding! Lovely!!
He's a good boy most of the time!
Holly - good luck today and have fun! I love parties!!
It was lots of fun! Pics coming as soon as I get caught up with posts here.
What an adorable picture! I always love all your pics, but this one is my absolute favorite! Such a doll.....and she knows it!
Holly....hope the party goes great! I have had that same issue with ordering party supplies before and it is so stressful...but after the party and all the smiles, you kind of forget about the "pre" stuff! Glad you were able to find most everything on short notice!
It went great! All the kids had fun.
Maybe it has something to do with kids that start with "T" Taylor is called the tornado as well!
Great pics John! Congrats to Alex!We are recovering today after the long graduation day yesterday. Everything went well - almost - the guy reading names mispronounced Alex's last name . . . But Alex is now a college graduate, Summa Cum Laude with a BS in biological science.
Here are my pics . . .
The whole family
Tyler loves those smiley fries! They're almost always on our grocery shopping list!this was the smiley face fries...tasted like a plain donut to me....
DITTO!!! Adorable girls!
Great pics! And YAY for Taylor! Quite an accomplishment!And...I forgot some big news....Taylor learned to swim on this trip without her floaties!!!!!!
Awwww, poor little sweetie!I forgot to share...
Taylor lost her first tooth last night. It was actually a bit traumatic. It has been loose forever and I tried to get her to wiggle it a ton in WDW because there Tinkerbell is the TF and leaves Disney Dollars! So last night we were at friends house and she was eating a strawberry and began to cry. She said something about her tooth and then we saw the hole. She swallowed the tooth with the strawberryand was hysterically crying. How could the TF come without a tooth? All of the older kids helped her write a note to leave under her pillow. Sure enough the TF came last night!
My baby is growing up...first she learns to swim and now she lost her first tooth. Where does the time go?!
I've never heard of a kid swallowing a tooth like that. 
For our last visit at the Ritz in SF, I thought it would be extraordinary fun to stay on the concierge level. It was the worse mistake. I just hated the concierge lounge - people were so snobby. It wasn't any of the staff - it was just the guests! They would look at me and my boys and literally their nose would go up in the air! Ok, one time we did deserve the looks b/c I dragged the kids in the lounge in their bathing suits just to grab the free soda.
Lisa
I had planned on ordering from Little Caesars Pizza and having it and breadsticks delivered to keep things simple. But when I called them this morning to place my order to be delivered at 1:00pm, they told me they don't do deliveries anymore. NONE of their locations deliver anymore (in our city at least)!!! 
Quick change of plans. I called quite a few other pizza places that I know deliver, but they all had recordings on their phone saying they don't open until 3pm or 4pm. 
Starting to panic slightly, trying to think of what to do, as I'm filling up helium balloons. I knew I wouldn't have time to go pick up pizzas because we still had lots of balloons to fill plus a couple other things. So I decided I'd call Little Caesars again (because they're the closest and cheapest place), order the pizzas, pay ahead of time over the phone with credit card, call the mom of one of Tyler's buddies (we've been friends a couple years), and ask her to pick up the pizzas on her way over. Little Caesars tells me they're not set up for credit card payments over the phone. Next I considered asking a neighbor if they'd go get our pizzas if I give them gas money. But then I remembered that my dad and stepmom are notoriously a 1/2 hour early for every occasion, so I figured I'd be able to do the pizza run when they got there. For the first time in my life, my dad was running late! Our first guest arrived 10 minutes early and must have seen my frazzled look because she asked if there's anything she could help with. So she was there to greet our guests while I did the pizza run. I was back in 15 minutes and the kids were all happily playing in the back yard. After that, everything was great and the kids all had a blast! Pics coming in a minute.
But doesn't it feel great to have the dinner behind you? That's sure how I feel today! Funny you mentioning needing a day off because when I finally got a chance to sit down after 7pm, I was thinking about calling in tomorrow!
Kaylee, what a sweet story. That is so lovely that the older kids would help to comfort Taylor
Kathe
Would love to see pictures!
Sorry, long....but have to vent. Tyler's party was fun for everybody, after I made it through the pizza fiasco.
