What's More Embarrassing than Driving a "Grasshopper?"

Driving a "Grasshopper" that someone (or many someones) decorate for your birthday! Let me introduce you to "The GEO." I bought this cute little green Geo Metro, brand new off the lot, in 1993... about a month after my high school graduation! I loved that little car. It got KILLER gas mileage, and was just the right size for a single, college student. Fast forward 17 years... it's not quite as cute. It's been rear-ended, hit by an ambulance, hit and pushed out into the street by my dad's truck, hit on the side by my mom's car, pummeled with golf-ball-sized hail in Indiana. It's been the "rear-ender" in one accident (my first). The hood has flown off on the freeway, skidding across the street, then put in the back hatchback to bring home (ask Jared about THAT story). It's even been in a high-speed chase (no, Jared was NOT the one being chased... and I supposed that technically it was not high-speed, but we like to embellish the story a bit - another "ask Jared" story. He had the police convinced that their fleet should be made up of all Geos after he successfully followed a hit-and-run suspect while on the phone with 911. HEHE!!) It's been through a lot. And my poor, sweet husband is the one that has to drive it! Luckily he's only forced to drive it to the park-n-ride so he can get on a bus to SLC every day, and occasionally to mutual or the grocery store. It's "loved" by all... or should I say "made-fun-of" by all! Our kids have lovingly nicknamed it "the Grasshopper." So what do our sweet friends decide to do for Jared's birthday? Well, unfortunately a new car was not involved... but they did THIS:

Gotta love the sweet decals they added to the door:

Then my sweet sis-in-law went to the park and ride and added some streamers, and some balloons to the inside... Hayden and I had to drive over to check it out!

Needless to say, Jared was a little bit embarrassed. Our friends had come at 10pm the night before, so when Jared left at 5:30 am on his birthday he about DIED! He didn't have time to remove any of the decor (except the sweet hood ornament - a matchbox car), so he had to drive to the bus stop all decked out. He honked it's measly little horn as he drove past the home of the "decorators." He was surprised to find more from his sister when he arrived BACK at the park and ride later, and was dying when he had to drive it home in the light of day where EVERYONE could see him dragging milk jugs and rootbeer cans behind him. The road construction workers got quite a kick out of it ;)

Atleast he came home to his favorite cake: German Chocolate, and a sweet birthday sign. Welcome to the "even-closer-to-40" club, honey. Happy Birthday! We sure do love ya!!