Hello, dearest readers. I'm still here. It's been quite a BUSY week, which is why I've been a little quiet. You'll see from the pictures below just what our family has been up to!
Dave's mom turned 70 this week, and we wanted to surprise her with a big celebration! It's wasn't easy planning a surprise party--and executing it from over 600 miles away, but I have to say it was WORTH IT to plan something special from one of the most giving, and serving people I know. My mother-in-law is always doing for others. She's usually the one planning special events for others, the one behind the counter quietly serving and cleaning for others. So, it was fun to do something totally for HER for a change. We did laugh a little during the party--because she didn't quite know what to do with herself when it was time to clean up. We absolutely would not let her help!
Here are a few peeks from her party. I have to say--the spring colors sure fit in with the gorgeous weather that day!
We asked friends and family to send special greetings, old pictures, or words of encouragement of what Betty has meant to them through the years. I'll write more about this scrapbook soon... But, it turned out great, and was such a fun gift to give Betty at the party.
We held the party at Dave's parent's church. We kept things simple with the long tables and folding chairs, using blue and yellow to brighten things up a bit. Rebecca and Sara Beth helped place some pretty silk daisies and pink cherry blossoms down the tables. We didn't even use vases--we pulled the flowers from their stems, and scattered the flower heads in little groups.
Mmm, my favorite part of every good party--the cake table! We decided to have a selection of cakes. There was a chocolate birthday cake with buttercream frosting, a very yummy coconut cream, and the most popular choice of the night, a carrot cake.
Look at these amazing sugar gum paste flowers on the birthday cake. Can you imagine someone hand-making these? Beautiful, beautiful. (Psst! Wanna know a secret? These delightful cakes are all from a Sam's Bakery, oh yes they are!)
The cake table gets a thumbs up from the granddaughters! One (little) granddaughter in particular visited the table more than once... She has a sweet tooth like her mama, I'm afraid.
There she is! There's the birthday girl!!! The one with the pretty corsage, of course! With her sisters-in-law, who were all a part of the super secret surprise conspiracy! (Try to say that 3 times in a row)
The party was truly a family effort. We all pitched in to pull it off. I know parties like this are always a lot of work--but it sure is FUN working together!
Even the granddaughters pitched in! They helped clear away the dishes, and offered more cake.
This may be my favorite picture of the night. THIS is what a birthday party is all about--dear friends and family sharing in a happy celebration.
Also? I love this picture because the ladies are at the center chatting...and the men are looking on. That's my Uncle Bob way in the background checking things out--from a safe distance. That Uncle Bob--he makes me laugh EVERY single time I'm around him. He's a keeper, for sure!
You know a party is successful when the people sit and sit and don't want to leave. That's what happened at this party. Finally, we had to start cleaning up around them. And like dear friends and family do--they continued chatting and laughing and helping us carry stuff out...all the way to our cars...before they said goodnight.
It was a good night. A night to celebrate 70 years of living well.
